Effectiveness of mindfulness and Qigong training for self-healing in patients with Hwabyung and depressive disorder: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Hwabyung is a Korean culture-bound syndrome characterized by anger-related physical and psychological symptoms. Depressive disorder is a common mental illness occurring worldwide, and has been reported to have a high comorbidity rate with Hwabyung. For patients with depressive disorders, differential diagnosis and combined treatment for Hwabyung should be considered. Mindfulness and Qigong may be effective alternatives for regulating emotions such as depression, anxiety, and anger. This study aims to investigate whether Mindfulness and Qigong Training for Self-Healing (MQT-SH) would improve emotional problems in patients with Hwabyung and depressive disorder.