Chronic Anger-Related Somatic Symptom Disorder in Korea: Development and Validation of the Hwa-Byung Symptom Scale
Ji-Su Kim
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
Hyeyoung Shin
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
Soyoung Park
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
sunga Park
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
So-Yeon Kim
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
Jong Woo Kim
(Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
Sun Yong Chung
(Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
Seok-In Yoon
(Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
Hui-Yeong Park
(Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
Sungwon Choi
(Department of Psychology, Duksung Women’s University)
Korean Journal of Clinical Psychology / Korean Journal of Clinical Psychology, (E)2733-4538
2026, v.45 no.2, pp.63-71
https://doi.org/10.15842/kjcp.2026.45.2.001
Kim,
J., Shin,
H., Park,
S., Park,
s., Kim,
S., Kim,
J. W., Chung,
S. Y., Yoon,
S., Park,
H., &
Choi,
S.
(2026). Chronic Anger-Related Somatic Symptom Disorder in Korea: Development and Validation of the Hwa-Byung Symptom Scale, 45(2), 63-71, https://doi.org/10.15842/kjcp.2026.45.2.001
Abstract
This study aimed to develop and validate a theory-informed, psychometrically robust measure to assess Hwa-Byung symp- toms, addressing limitations of earlier tools such as the Hwa-Byung Scale (HBS). Items were developed based on prior litera- ture and reviewed by Korean medicine neuropsychiatrists. A total of 300 Hwa-Byung patients and 93 controls completed the Hwa-Byung Symptom Scale (HBSS). Factor analysis, convergent validity testing, regression, and ROC analysis were con- ducted. The HBSS revealed two factors, namely, psychological and physical symptoms, with Cronbach’s α values of .90 and .82, respectively. Scores were significantly correlated with the HBS, Korean Version of the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Edition, Korean Version of the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Korean Version of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory, and Eogul scale. Regression analysis supported its diagnostic validity. The optimal cutoff score was 21 (sensitivity=.970, specific- ity=.925). The HBSS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing the core symptoms of Hwa-Byung. It may be used cautiously as a screening instrument in both clinical and community settings, pending further validation.
- keywords
-
Hwa-Byung,
Hwa-Byung diagnostic tool,
scale development,
psychometric validation
- Received
- 2025-11-13
- Revised
- 2026-02-10
- Accepted
- 2026-02-24
- Published
- 2026-05-30
E-ISSN : 2733-4538
