This paper reports a clinical case study on the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT) in treating panic attack with agoraphobia in a local health psychology clinic. M.N., a 24 year old male, complained of nightmares, heart palpitations, sweating, tremors and fearful feelings for the past one and a half years. He felt anxious about going to crowded places such as bus stations, night markets, supermarkets, and mosques and being left alone in any place which he was not familiar with. This case study adopted an ABC design whereby the subject was assessed at three different phases: pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment. Four standard assessment measures were administered: Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Anxiety Scale of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The subject responded well to 12 sessions of intervention employed in the study based on CBT model and this could be noticed by minimal score on the entire psychological test administered. The application of behavioral and cognitive strategies became more effective due to patient’s ability to understand and also due to his cooperative behavior. He responded well to imagery exposure and in-vivo gradual exposure and successfully went to shopping malls, used lifts at Kuala Lumpur Tower, went to night markets and used public transport.
Satu kajian awal bagi menyaring kecelaruan psikogeriatrik di kalangan warga tua telah dijalankan. Tujuan kajian ini dijalankan adalah untuk menentukan peratusan kes kecelaan kognitif, strok dan kemurungan dalam sampel populasi yang berumur di antara 60-89 tahun. Seramai 40 orang subjek dan pemberi maklumat subjek di sekitar Lembah Kelang, Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor dipilih. Alat penyaringan yang digunakan dalam kajian ini ialah Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS). Psychogeriatric Assessment Scale (PAS) terdiri daripada dua bahagian iaitu laporan subjek dan laporan pemberi maklumat subjek. Laporan subjek digunakan untuk menyaring kecelaan kognitif, strok dan kemurungan. Manakala laporan pemberi maklumat subjek digunakan untuk menyaring kemerosotan kognitif, strok dan perubahan tingkah laku subjek. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan peratusan kes kecelaan kognitif (lelaki 67% kes, perempuan 64.3% kes) dan strok (lelaki 75% kes, perempuan 64.3% kes) yang tinggi di kalangan subjek lelaki dan wanita. Terdapat juga hubungan yang signifikan di antara laporan subjek dengan laporan pemberi maklumat subjek mengikut setiap skala PAS. Alat ujian psikologi PAS mampu menyaring masalah psikogeriatrik di kalangan warga tua dan ketepatan penyaringan dapat dinilai dengan data pemberi maklumat daripada alat ujian PAS. Penyaringan psikogeriatrik adalah penting untuk mengenal pasti kehadiran kecelaan fungsi kognitif dan kemurungan di kalangan warga tua pada peringkat awal.
Introduction: There are increasing trend in using information and communication technology to enhance the deliverance of reminiscence work for people with dementia. Thus this study aimed to explore the feasibility of Digital Memory Album (DMA) to support reminiscence work and subsequently evaluate the psychosocial benefits of the DMA system for older adults with dementia living in community. Method: This was an exploratory case study involved five participants with mild to moderate dementia and their primary caregivers. Each participant had an opportunity to review their own life history using Life Review Experience Form (LREF) with the researcher for 8 consecutive weeks in which subsequently facilitated in development of a personalised digital life story. Caregivers provided additional information to support the development of DMA. The whole process was audio recorded. The digital life story was presented in multimedia format and displayed using the DMA. The DMA was given to the participants for review. Qualitative data was collected using semi structure questions with the participants and caregivers immediately after the completion of DMA and 6 weeks after having the DMA as a gift. Results: Analysis of the audio-records and interview data indicated that DMA promoted psychosocial wellbeing which included enjoyment, comfort, stimulate long term memory and enhanced communication and social interactions with family members and friends. Caregivers expressed the DMA helped them in recollecting the past and better understanding of their loved ones. It also reoriented their focus on their loved ones from their disability to the remaining strength. Conclusion: For the first time, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using DMA in improving the psychosocial wellbeing for people with dementia in Malaysia.
Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti perkaitan antara tahap kemurungan, kesihatan mental, kesan sokongan sosial dan kesejahteraan psikologi di kalangan mangsa rogol dengan aspek demografik. Subjek kajian seramai 30 wanita telah dipilih dari Pusat Perlindungan dan Pemulihan Wanita, di Batu Caves, Selangor. Kaedah ujian yang digunakan terdiri daripada Beck Depression Inventory, General Health Questionnaire-28, Provision Social Relation dan soalan demografik. Soalan diedarkan di kalangan mangsa diikuti dengan penerangan ringkas ke atas kaedah ujian. Analisis data menunjukkan terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan di antara faktor umur dan kesejahteraan psikologi mangsa (p = 0.004). Selain itu, kemurungan didapati mempengaruhi secara signifikan ke atas kesihatan mental (R' = 0.60, [F (1, 27) = 40.312, p < 0.0011). Kajian inijuga mendapati hubungan yang positif antara kesihatan mental dan kemurungan (r = 0.77). Ini bermaksud semakin tinggi kemurungan yang dialami mangsa, semakin tinggi kesan ke atas kesihatan mentalnya.
Perkembangan kognitif dan pertumbuhan fizikal di kalangan kanak-kanak bergantung kepada status pemakanan mereka, termasuklah tabiat pengambilan sarapan pagi. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk melihat pengaruh pengambilan sarapan pagi sebelum ke sekolah ke atas pencapaian kognitif kanak-kanak sekolah rendah. Satu kajian hirisan lintang dijalankan di kalangan kanak-kanak sekolah rendah di bandar dan luar bandar. Subjek kajian mengandungi 165 pelajar Melayu yang berusia 10 tahun. Tiga jenis subskala daripada ujian Wechsler Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children-III digunakan untuk mengukur tahap kognitif kanak-kanak tersebut iaitu arithmatik, pengkodan dan digit span. Hasil kajian didapati kanak-kanak yang mengambil sarapan pagi mencatatkan pencapaian yang tinggi secara signifikan dalam arithmetik (p
Objective: This study examined the symptoms of PTSD among survivors of the December 26th 2004 Malaysian tsunami disaster, as well as differences among sexes in terms of coping styles and availability of social support. Methods: A total of 64 (28 males and 36 females) respondents from several affected districts of Kuala Muda and Langkawi in Kedah and Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang were recruited through purposive sampling. The Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS) was used to measure the posttraumatic stress disorder/symptoms, while the Social Support Questionnaire and Significant Others Scale (Form A) were used to measure the quality and quantity of social support. The COPE Questionnaire was used to measure two coping styles; adaptive and maladaptive coping. Results: Fifty two (81%) respondents did not fulfill the DAPS-PTSD criteria while only 12 (19%) fulfilled the criteria. There was no significant difference between men and women in terms of posttraumatic stresstotal, and the quantity and quality of social support. However, there is a significant difference in adaptive and maladaptive coping styles among victims who fulfill the PTSD diagnosis and those who did not. It was also found that there is no relationship between PTSD symptoms and emotional support, whereas there is a significant
relationship between PTSD symptoms and practical support. Conclusion: This research showed that only a small number of respondents fulfilled the diagnosis of PTSD following their experience of a disaster. There were no difference between genders in terms of PTSD symptoms and social support. Among victims who fulfill the PTSD diagnosis and those who do not, there is a significant difference in the adaptive and maladaptive coping styles. As for the relationship between PTSD symptoms and social support, there is a significant
relationship between PTSD symptoms and practical support but not with emotional support.