Mindfulness and Qigong Training for Self-Healing (MQT-SH) significantly reduced symptoms of Hwabyung, depression, anxiety, and anger while increasing subjective vitality in patients diagnosed with both Hwabyung and depressive disorder. In a randomized controlled trial with 64 participants, those who received MQT-SH for six weeks showed improvements maintained at a six-week follow-up. Physical vitality mediated the effect on Hwabyung, while psychological vitality mediated the effect on depression. Only one adverse event was reported, indicating the intervention is safe. Home practice was not significantly linked to changes. The findings suggest MQT-SH is an effective and safe intervention for these conditions.
Hwabyung, a Korean culture-bound syndrome involving anger-related symptoms, frequently co-occurs with depressive disorder. For such patients, combined treatment addressing both conditions is important. Mindfulness and Qigong may help regulate emotions like depression, anxiety, and anger. This planned trial will test whether Mindfulness and Qigong Training for Self-Healing (MQT-SH) improves emotional problems in patients with both Hwabyung and depressive disorder. It is a two-arm block randomized controlled trial recruiting 64 participants. The experimental group will receive MQT-SH for six weeks while the control group receives no treatment; then the control group will receive MQT-SH for ethical equity. Outcomes include Hwabyung, depression, anxiety, anger, and vitality, measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks.