"Hwa?Byung" considered by some to be a culture?related syndrome if not culture?bound, has long been known as a form of psychosomatic illness or as the reaction of anger in Korea.
The purpose of this study is to review the cultural, social, psychological background of the Wha?Byung and to explore ways toward nursing approach. The greater number of patients with hwa?byung were older, married women in the lower economic and educational classes. "Hwa" is a complex of various emotions, including frustration, anxiety, mortification, anger, apprehension, and disappointment, with physical manifestations. The concepts of hwa and hwabyung might have some relation to both the concept of "hwa" in the ancient Chinese science of nature and medicine, and the concept of "han" which means sorrow, depression, regret or grudge, and is known to be an emotional state especially characteristic of Koreans.
The precipitating factors were marital or family conflicts(especially mother?in?law in the cases of housewives), financial losses, poverty and hardship, separation from loved ones, and other chronic psychological stressed of daily life. As noted in the case histories, hwabyung is a chronic illness which developed from a conscious accumulation and suppression of various emotional reactions. The complex of emotions and their origins were not completely resigned nor repressed.
To approach with this "wha?byung", GaMyun?Keuk, Madang?Keuk, Pansory and Minnyo were developed in early Korean culture, and Group therapy, Group counseling, Music therapies are used as psychiatric nursing approachies.
Finally, this study suggests that more practical research has to be done to solve the "wha byung" because it is unique desease only in Korea society.
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