Treatment and Prognosis of Hwabyung

Special Article

Psychiatry Investigation 2004;1(1):29-36.

Sung Kil Min, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea

Abstract

 Objectives：
This paper is to review studies on treatment and prognosis of hwabyung, an anger-related culture-bound syndrome in Korea.

Materials and Methods

：
Clinical studies into the treatment and prognosis of hwabyung were reviewed with a brief description of the clinical correlates of hwabyung.

Results


：
As in the case of other psychiatric disorders, hwabyung should be treated in an integrated way, by combining psychosocial therapy, including psychoanalytic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug therapy. It is also necessary for psychiatrists to enrich their treatment strategies by borrowing from traditional healing methods and religious healing methods. Few clinical studies have been performed on its prognosis, however it seems to be a chronic illness.

Conclusion


：
Further research is needed for the purpose of conceptualizing this anger disorder, based on studies of both hwabyung itself and other clinical syndromes related to subjective anger.