Korean J Psychosom Med.
2012 Jun;20(1):32-39.
Current Situation of Psychiatry in North Korean : From the Viewpoint of North Korean Medical Doctors
- Affiliations
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- 1Center for Korean, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. smpark.snuh@gmail.com
- 2Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Anthropology, Seoul National University College of Social Science, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Psychiatry in North Korea is believed to seem very different from psychiatry in South Korea. However, there is nearly no information regarding psychiatry in North Korea until now. Our study aimed to get information about North Korean psychiatry.
METHODS
Three North Korean defectors in South Korea, whose clinical experience as medical doctors in North Korea was over 10 years, were recruited. They underwent the semi-structured interview, content of which included the clinical experience with psychiatric patients, the details of psychiatry, the treatment of psychiatric patients, the stigma of mental illness, and the suicide, in North Korea.
RESULTS
In North Korea, psychiatric department was called as 49th(pronounced as Sahsip-gu-ho in Korean). Only patients with vivid psychotic symptoms came to psychiatric department. Non-psychotic depression or anxiety disorders usually were not dealt in psychiatry. The etiology of mental illness seemed to be confined to biological factors including genetic predisposition. Psychosocial or psychodynamic factors as etiology of mental illness appeared to be ignored. Psychiatry was apparently separated from political or ideological issues. The mainstay of psychiatric treatment is the inpatient admission and out-of-date therapy such as insulin coma therapy. Stigma over mental illness was common in North Korea. Suicide is considered as a betrayal to his/her nation, and has been reported to be very rare.
CONCLUSION
The situation of psychiatry in North Korea is largely different from that of South Korea. Although some aspects of North Korean psychiatry are similar to psychiatry in former socialist countries, North Korean psychiatry is considered to have also its unique characteristics.
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