Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (동의신경정신과학회지)

The Korean Society of Oriental Neuropsychiatry (대한한방신경정신과학회)
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Implementing a 1-Night, 2-Day Mental Health Healing Center Program for Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers

  • Seojae Jeon (Korea Institute of Integrated Medical Research) ;
  • Do-Eun Lee (Department of Korean Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Namju Lee (The Korean Medicine Center for Integrative Research, Wonkwang University) ;
  • Hyung Won Kang (Korea Institute of Integrated Medical Research)
  • Received : 2024.03.05
  • Accepted : 2024.03.21
  • Published : 2024.03.30
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Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effects of a 1-night, 2-day mental health healing center program on the physical stress, autonomic nervous system health, brain activity levels, brain stress, concentration levels, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores of dementia patients and their caregivers. Methods: Forty-eight dementia patients (average age 80 years, 14 males and 34 females) and 48 caregivers (average age 65.23 years, 14 males and 34 females) participated in the program. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted to measure the variables. Results: Dementia patients experienced reduced physical stress, increased brain activity levels, decreased brain stress, improved concentration levels, and a significant decrease in PHQ-9 scores (p<0.05). However, there was a tendency for a decline in autonomic nervous system health among dementia patients. A significant decrease in physical stress was seen in caregivers, but no other significant differences were observed. Conclusions: While the 1-night, 2-day mental health healing center program did not produce significant changes in the caregivers of dementia patients, it exhibited overall positive effects in dementia patients. Consequently, mental healing programs should be utilized effectively for dementia patients. Furthermore, investigating the significance of ongoing programs for the mental well-being of dementia caregivers is imperative, mirroring the attention given to dementia patient care.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number HI20C1951).

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