Background Despite the increasing prevalence of anxiety disorders in Korea, there have been no nationwide studies on the association between tobacco status and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Furthermore, despite the increasing number of people using noncombustible nicotine or tobacco products (NNTPs), the association between NNTP use and GAD remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the association between tobacco use and GAD.
Methods This nationwide study used data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2021) and included 5,454 adults aged ≥19 years who self-reported on the tobacco use and mental health sections. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the odds ratios (ORs) of GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≥10) according to tobacco status among Korean adults. The severity of anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale.
Results Compared to never tobacco users, the ORs of GAD for combustible cigarette smokers and NNTP users were 2.74 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.66–4.50) and 2.11 (95% CI, 1.16–3.83), respectively. The OR of GAD for former tobacco users was 1.63 (95% CI, 0.98–2.72).
Conclusion Tobacco use (combustible cigarettes and NNTP) was positively associated with GAD. However, in former tobacco users, there was no significant association with GAD when compared with never tobacco users. Given the OR of GAD among tobacco users, it is crucial to pay attention to screening for GAD and implement appropriate early interventions.
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Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Combustible Cigarette Smokers, Heated Tobacco Users, and Non-Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lithuania Liudas Vincentas Sinkevicius, Sandra Sakalauskaite, Karolis Rakauskas, Margus Lõokene, Rasa Pilkauskaite Valickiene, Danielius Serapinas Medicina.2026; 62(9): 1618. CrossRef
Comprehensive Health Strategies for the Post-pandemic Era: Integrating Physical Health, Psychological Resilience, Lifestyle Choices, and Occupational Well-being Su Hwan Cho Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(6): 303. CrossRef
Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent psychiatric disorders in the general population. The relationship between dyspepsia and particularly gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and psychiatric comorbidity such as anxiety is poorly defined. However, GERD was noted to be strongly associated and often coincident in onset with generalized anxiety disorder in the community. In this paper, we report the case of an adult man who presented with severe weight loss and underlying GERD, and was later found to have an anxiety disorder as the cause of both.
Background : It is reported that many types of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorder, are related with abnormal brain wave activity, and neurofeedback is associated with clinical improvement in generalized anxiety, OCD, phobic disorder, and PTSD. But in panic disorder, previous studies with neurofeedback are very lacking. Therefore, in this study, the author applied neurofeedback to patients with panic disorder, refractory to cognitive- behavioral therapy and medication.
Methods : From March 2 to May 15 in 2005, six patients with a panic disorder had received 20 sessions of neurofeedback training. The author evaluated the treatment effect by using the alteration of K-APPQ score, the frequency of panic attack, medication and individual handicap.
Results : All 6 patients completed 20 sessions of neurofeedback training. At the end, the score of total APPQ, agoraphobia, and interoceptive fear was decreased (P= 0.028) and the frequency of panic attack, medication, and individual handicap was also decreased.
Conclusion : Neurofeedback training was successful in reducing panic symptom severity, frequency and individual handicap. A controlled study on a larger population is strongly recommended.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is highly prevalent psychiatric disorder in primary care population and is a source of major morbidity. However, the underawareness and undertreatment of GAD, which is due to insufficient knowledge about the disorder, often hinder the proper management of this chronic condition. Other characteristic features such as chronic course of GAD, frequent comorbidity with other anxiety and depressive disorders, and the controversy regarding the best diagnostic criteria should be fully discussed. First of all, proper and accurate diagnosis is crucial for an appropriate management. Primary care management of GAD and associated comorbidities includes education about the nature of GAD and counseling about treatment alternatives and coping strategies is an important first step. The most effective treatment of GAD is combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacotherapeutic approach. The major psychotherapeutic approaches to GAD are cognitive-behavioral therapy with relaxation techniques. Pharmacological treatment for GAD includes benzodiazepine, buspirone, and antidepressants. In this review, these combined treatment at the view point of primary practitioners was described.
Background : Anxiety is a common disorder, but its diagnosis is often overlooked. Although there are several evaluating instruments, they are difficult to use in busy outpatient clinics because of its length. Furthermore, scales developed for screening are insufficient in the standardization. The purpose of this study is to measure reliability and validity of scale that can efficiently detect the anxiety patients in busy primary care setting.
Methods : With translation and assistance from psychiatrist, the questionnaire was developed. From March to July 2000, anxiety and control group at the department of family medicine in Seoul Joongang Hospital were tested with the questionnaire. After one week later, test was retaken. Reliability was verified by calculating Kappa value. Also validity was validity was verified by comparing the scores between the anxiety group and the control group. Then sensitivity and specificity were evaluated, and the cutoff point was determined.
Results : Kappa values were ranging from 0.65 to 0.88. For each cutoff point 3,4,5 and 6 in validity. As the purpose was screening, we determined score 5 as the best cutoff points.