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Psychiatric morbidity of migrant workers in Malaysia - For IRPA study on health problems of foreign worker

Mohd Hussain H

JUMMEC, 2002;1:62-66.

Malaysia has been swamped by migrant workers from nearby countries like Indonesia, Phillipine and also Bangladesh since 1980's. The main pulling forces which motivated them to migrate to Malaysia are better economy, political stability and religious freedom in Malaysia. Another way of classifying migration pattern is to divide it into push and pull migration or a combination of the two. Pull migrants are those who migrate to obtain better economic opportunity while push migrants are those who try to run away from being prosecuted or due to fear of political and religious suppression. Whatever the push and the pull factors, they are bound to encounter some acculturation challenges. This will inevitably produce certain psychological sequelae. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the point prevalence of psychiatric morbidity experienced by the migrant population. The psychological impact of push and pull migrations is fundamentally distinct. There were significant numbers of migrants admitted to University Hospital psychiatric units who suffered from psychological distress and para suicide. The reasons for these problems are multi-faceted. Hence, another purpose of this study was to investigate factors which make them to be at risk of developing psychiatric morbidity. The findings of this study can be used as a basis for making recommendations to the government of the rationale to include psychological assessment as one of the important components in the pre-employment selection criteria.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders
Fulltext Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as treatments for psychiatric disorders: a guide for mental health professionals

Izaida I

Jurnal Psikologi Malaysia, 2018;32:55-69.

Given the increased popularity and use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the treatment of psychiatric disorders, it is crucial for mental health professionals to be informed about this treatment approach. Accordingly, this paper critically reviews the pro and con arguments for the use of CAM treatment modalities in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Given that there are potential dangers in adopting the CAM approach without appropriate supervision, it begs the question of what roles and responsibilities mental health professionals have in the matter. Thus, this article proceeds to address the roles and the recommended strategies for mental health professionals when working with patients or clients who use CAM for their treatment of psychopathological issues. Finally, it goes further to discuss the practice of integrating both conventional treatment and CAM to treat mental disorders and issues associated with such disorders. Importantly, this article highlights the need for knowledgeable, confident, and trained mental health professionals to provide patient counselling about the complementary and alternative approach.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders
Fulltext Does culture moderate the relationships between rumination and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression?

Li H, Lee B, Reyneke T, Haque S, Abdullah SZ, Tan BKW, et al.

PLoS One, 2022;17(11):e0278328.
PMID: 36445879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278328

Brooding rumination is positively associated with symptoms of both depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, non-clinical cross-cultural research indicates that culture may influence these associations. This study aimed to examine the moderating effect of cultural group (Australian versus Malaysian) on the associations between brooding rumination and symptoms of depression and PTSD. European Australians (n = 109) and Malaysians of varying Asian heritages (n = 144) completed an online questionnaire containing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, PTSD checklist for DSM-5 and the Ruminative Response Scale-Short Form. First, Malaysian participants had higher brooding rumination than Australian participants. Second, higher levels of brooding rumination were positively associated with depression and PTSD symptom severity. Third, contrary to our expectations, cultural group did not moderate the relationships between brooding rumination and symptoms of depression and PTSD. If replicable, these results suggest that existing assessment and treatment approaches that target brooding rumination may apply to Malaysian individuals with depression and PTSD.

Matched MeSH terms: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Fulltext Comprehensive SDG goal and targets for non-communicable diseases and mental health

Minas H, Tsutsumi A, Izutsu T, Goetzke K, Thornicroft G

Int J Ment Health Syst, 2015;9:12.
PMID: 25774216 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-015-0003-0

The negotiations on the SDG goals and targets, leading to the sustainable development Declaration in September 2015, are now in the final stages. Ensuring that people with mental disorders are not left behind in the global development program from 2015 to 2030 will require specific and explicit commitments and targets against which progress in mental health can be measured and reported. The arguments for inclusion of explicit mental health targets in the SDGs are compelling. The final negotiations on the SDG goals and targets will now determine whether people with mental illness and psychosocial disabilities will continue to be neglected or will benefit equitably from inclusion in the post-2015 development program.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders
Fulltext Assessing the Effectiveness of a Mental Health Literacy Programme for Refugee Teachers in Malaysia

Tay KW, Ong AWH, Pheh KS, Low SK, Tan CS, Low PK

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Nov;26(6):120-126.
PMID: 31908593 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.6.12

Background: Children and young refugees often experience negative events that affect their mental health. Their caregivers may also be in the same predicament, implying that the teachers in schools are a potential source of help and support. However, most teachers have little understanding of mental health and are, thus, clueless in helping their students. To address this need, a newly developed one-day mental health literacy programme was conducted among 68 refugee teachers in Malaysia.
Methods: Participants learned the symptoms of mental health issues among children and adolescents in the context of post-trauma, provision of early intervention, and channel for professional supports. They also answered a packet of measurements of mental health literacy before and after the programme.
Results: The paired sample t-test showed that participants reported higher willingness to contact with people having mental health problems (t = 2.787, P = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.394), less stereotypes toward mental illness (t = 4.603, P < 0.001, d = 0.651) and a better understanding of self-help strategies (t = 2.16, P = .036, d = 0.322) than baseline.
Conclusion: The results of this study offered preliminary empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the programme as a promising channel for alleviating mental health issues among refugees.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders
Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among juvenile offenders in Malaysian prisons and association with socio-demographic and personal factors

Aida SA, Aili HH, Manveen KS, Salwina WI, Subash KP, Ng CG, et al.

Int J Prison Health, 2014;10(2):132-43.
PMID: 25764076 DOI: 10.1108/IJPH-06-2013-0029

The number of juvenile offenders admitted to Malaysian prisons is alarming. The purpose of this paper is to determine the presence of any psychiatric disorders and their association with personal characteristics of juvenile detainees in prisons across Peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/epidemiology*
Fulltext Do workplace physical activity interventions improve mental health outcomes?

Chu AH, Koh D, Moy FM, Müller-Riemenschneider F

Occup Med (Lond), 2014 Jun;64(4):235-45.
PMID: 24850815 DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqu045

Mental health is an important issue in the working population. Interventions to improve mental health have included physical activity.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/prevention & control
Psychometric properties and validation of the Satisfaction with Life Scale in psychiatric and medical outpatients in Malaysia

Aishvarya S, Maniam T, Karuthan C, Sidi H, Nik Jaafar NR, Oei TP

Compr Psychiatry, 2014 Jan;55 Suppl 1:S101-6.
PMID: 23602389 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.03.010

The present study evaluated the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in a sample of clinical outpatients in Malaysia. The SWLS is a measure designed to assess subjective life satisfaction. Four hundred eighty-three participants (283 with psychiatric illnesses and 200 with other medical illnesses) completed the SWLS and other self-report instruments. Results of the EFA and CFA supported the fit for the one-factor model as the best-fitting model. The internal consistency of the SWLS (α=0.86) was found to be high. Correlational analyses showed that SWLS had adequate concurrent validity. Scores on SWLS, which differentiated psychiatric patients and medical patients, supported criterion validity. The logistic regression analyses showed good discriminative validity of SWLS. The SWLS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the satisfaction with life among psychiatry and clinical outpatients in Malaysia.
Study site: medical and psychiatric clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology*
The characteristics of people with mental illness who are under treatment in traditional healer centres in Sudan

Sorketti EA, Zainal NZ, Habil MH

Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2012 Mar;58(2):204-16.
PMID: 21609984 DOI: 10.1177/0020764010390439

To determine the general characteristics of people with mental disorders in traditional healers centres in Sudan in terms of sociodemographic profile, common clinical presentations and diagnostic features, and to look at the treatment methods and intervention procedures used in these centres for treating people with mental illness.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/therapy*
Fulltext Barriers to the utilization of primary care services for mental health prolems among adolescents in a secondary school in Malaysia

Aida J, Noor Azimah M, Mohd Radzniwan AR, Tuti Iryani MD, Ramli M, Khairani O

Malays Fam Physician, 2010;5(1):31-5.
PMID: 25606183

OBJECTIVE: To study the barriers toward the utilization of primary care services for mental health problems among adolescents in a secondary school in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in July 2008 at a secondary school in Hulu Langat, Selangor. The respondents were selected using randomised cluster sampling among Form Four and Form Five students. Students were given self-administered questionnaire, consisting socio-demographic data and questions on their help-seeking barrier and behaviour. Help-seeking behaviour questions assess the use of medical facility and help-seeking sources. The formal help-seeking sources include from teachers, counsellors and doctors. The informal help-seeking sources include from friends, parents and siblings.
RESULTS: A total of 175 students were included in the study. None of the students admitted of using the primary health care services for their mental health problems. Majority of the students were not aware of the services availability in the primary health care (97.1%). More than half of them thought the problems were due to their own mistakes (55.4%) and the problems were not that serious (49.1%). With regard to perception of the primary health care services, (43.2%) of the students were worried about confidentiality, half of them were concerned about other people's perception especially from their family members (44.6%) and friends (48.6%). Minority of them (10.8%) thought that nobody can help them. Few of them thought smoking (3.4%), alcohol (3.4%) and recreational drugs (1.1%) can solve their emotional problems.
CONCLUSION: One of the major barriers identified in the students' failure to use the health care facilities was their unawareness of the availability of the service for them in the community. Thus there is a need to promote and increase their awareness on this issue.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders*
Beliefs in genetic determinism and attitudes towards psychiatric genetic research: psychometric scale properties, construct associations, demographic correlates, and cross-cultural comparisons

Voracek M, Swami V, Loibl LM, Furnham A

Psychol Rep, 2007 Dec;101(3 Pt 1):979-86.
PMID: 18232457

Using two new scales, this study examined beliefs in genetic determinism and attitudes towards psychiatric genetic research in student samples from Austria, Malaysia, Romania, and the United Kingdom. For both constructs, effects of culture were detectable, whereas those related to key demographics were either small and inconsistent across samples (political orientation and religiosity) or zero (sex and age). Judged from factorial dimensionality and internal consistency, the psychometric properties of both scales were satisfactory. Belief in genetic determinism had lower prevalence and corresponded only modestly to positive attitudes towards psychiatric genetic research which had higher prevalence. The correlations of both constructs with a preference of inequality among social groups (social dominance orientation) were modest and inconsistent across samples. Both scales appear appropriate for cross-cultural applications, in particular for research into lay theories and public perceptions regarding genetic vs environmental effects on human behavior, mental disorders, and behavioral and psychiatric genetic research related to these.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/genetics*
Lived experiences of family caregivers of mentally ill relatives

Chang KH, Horrocks S

J Adv Nurs, 2006 Feb;53(4):435-43.
PMID: 16448486 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.03732.x

AIM: The aim of this paper is to report a study conducted to explore the meanings of the lived experiences that Chinese family caregivers in Malaysia ascribed to the care they provided to relatives with severe and persistent mental illness.
BACKGROUND: In the past, many researchers have used quantitative approaches to explore the experiences of family caregivers of relatives with severe and persistent mental illness. However, the results of these studies have been far from conclusive because of serious methodological flaws. In addition, a large majority of these studies were conducted in western cultures, and it has been difficult to transfer the results to family caregivers in oriental cultures.
METHOD: The philosophy of Martin Heidegger underpinned the study. Qualitative data were collected mainly through in-depth interviews with 19 criterion-selected Chinese family caregivers of relatives with severe and persistent mental illness in 2002.
FINDINGS: We present the emergent themes reflecting the meaning structures of managing, enduring, and surviving the day-to-day experiences of the Chinese family caregivers. The impact of the stigma of the relatives' mental illness on family caregivers and families is pervasive and strong. As a result, family caregivers tried to avoid talking about their relative's mental illness with extended family or friends in order to protect their families from 'losing face'. In addition, most family caregivers believed that adopting positive behaviours and attitudes helped them cope with caregiving.
CONCLUSION: Mental health nurses need to help Chinese family caregivers to cope with the stresses and stigmas of their relatives' mental illnesses through psychosocial education or family intervention, and to provide them with culturally-congruent care. They should also educate the public about mental health and ill health through health promotion and education.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology*
[Stability of the "amok runner syndrome"]

Adler L, Marx D, Apel H, Wolfersdorf M, Hajak G

Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr, 2006 Oct;74(10):582-90.
PMID: 16586259

Running amok is considered a rare but dangerous act of violence which has been investigated predominantly on a case by case basis. German-wide data on amok cases covering the decades 1980 - 1989 and 1991 - 2000 were used to perform the first epidemiological study world-wide on the stability of socio-demographic, criminological and psychiatric variables of amok behaviour.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology
Fulltext Does clinical exposure to patients in medical school affect trainee doctors' attitudes towards mental disorders and patients?--A pilot study

Tan SMK, Azmi MT, Reddy JP, Shaharom MH, Rosdinom R, Maniam T, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):328-37.
PMID: 16379188

Stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness may improve with clinical exposure during medical school training. Attitudes of 48 fourth year medical students in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia were assessed before and after their compulsory attachment in Psychiatry, using the Attitude Towards Psychiatry-30 (ATP) and the Attitude towards Mental Illness (AMI) questionnaires. ATP scores improved significantly with training (104.8 and 114.4, pre- and post-attachment respectively) as did AMI scores (63.4 and 68.1 respectively). Both improvements were statistically significant. (ATP: z = 4.55, p < 0.0005) (AMI: z = 3.75, p < 0.0005). Attitudes towards mental illness appeared to have become more favourable with clinical training in psychiatry.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders*
Strategies of social and sexual control of Malaysian women in psychiatric institutional care

Crabtree SA

Health Care Women Int, 2004;25(6):581-95.
PMID: 15354623 DOI: 10.1080/07399330490444849

An ethnographic study of female psychiatric patients was undertaken in East Malaysia. Findings indicate that these service users were subject to a number of sexist and oppressive practices that militate against their freedom of movement on the wards as well as their social interaction in the wider context of the hospital. Stereotypic notions of female sexuality and morality act as forms of moral containment and are interpreted in the hospital context as requiring heavy custodial care by the hospital authorities.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/therapy
The effect of a clinical posting in psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry and mental illness in a Malaysian medical school

Reddy JP, Tan SM, Azmi MT, Shaharom MH, Rosdinom R, Maniam T, et al.

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2005 Sep;34(8):505-10.
PMID: 16205829

INTRODUCTION: The stigma attached to mental illness and the mentally ill is a universal phenomenon and a major barrier to the provision of mental health services. Stigmatising attitudes among doctors themselves can result in compromised patient care. The aim of this research project is to study the impact of a clinical posting in psychiatry on the attitudes of medical students to mental illness and to psychiatry. This paper reports the results of the first phase of a longitudinal study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 122 year 4 medical students responded to this study. The Attitudes Towards Mental Illness (AMI) and Attitudes Towards Psychiatry (ATP) questionnaires were administered before and after an 8-week attachment in psychiatry.
RESULTS: We found that students had somewhat favourable attitudes towards psychiatry and mental illness at the start of their attachment, with a mean score of 108.34 on ATP (neutral score, 90) and 68.24 on AMI (neutral score, 60). There was a significant increase in the mean scores of both scales following the psychiatric attachment for female students (ATP: P = 0.003; AMI: P <0.0005), but not male students (ATP: P = 0.435; AMI: P = 0.283).
CONCLUSIONS: An 8-week clinical posting of fourth-year medical students in psychiatry was associated with an increase in positive attitudes to mental illness and to psychiatry among female students but not among male students.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology*
Topical Review: Mind Your Language-Translation Matters (A Narrative Review of Translation Challenges)

Kiing JS, Rajgor D, Toh TH

J Pediatr Psychol, 2016 11;41(10):1110-1119.
PMID: 27189689

OBJECTIVE: Translation of developmental-behavioral screening tools for use worldwide can be daunting. We summarize issues in translating these tools. METHODS: Instead of a theoretical framework of "equivalence" by Pena and International Test Commission guidelines, we decided upon a practical approach used by the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS). We derived vignettes from the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status manual and published literature and mapped them to AAOS. RESULTS: We found that a systematic approach to planning and translating developmental-behavioral screeners is essential to ensure "equivalence" and encourage wide consultation with experts. CONCLUSION: Our narrative highlights how translations can result in many challenges and needed revisions to achieve "equivalence" such that the items remain consistent, valid, and meaningful in the new language for use in different cultures. Information sharing across the community of researchers is encouraged. This narrative may be helpful to novice researchers.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/diagnosis*
Changing undergraduate attitudes to mental illness

Bharathy A, Foo PL, Russell V

Clin Teach, 2016 Feb;13(1):58-62.
PMID: 26036961 DOI: 10.1111/tct.12372

BACKGROUND: Promoting positive experiences of patient contact during psychiatry clerkships may be important in influencing medical students' attitudes to people with mental illness. Here we report findings from a focus group study that explored the impact on undergraduate attitudes of participation in a novel social interaction programme for people with mental illness and their carers, provided by a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
METHOD: An audio-taped focus group interview was undertaken with 14 medical students using a semi-structured interview guide. The recorded discussion was transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was performed.
RESULTS: Initial apprehension about interacting with patients lessened as the students engaged in shared activities. Students described their increased awareness of the normality and competence of psychiatric patients. As future doctors, they reported a greater understanding of the benefits of social inclusion for patients and carers alike. Promoting positive experiences of patient contact … may be important in influencing medical students' attitudes to people with mental illness
DISCUSSION: Medical students' joint participation in a group activity programme for people with mental illness in non-hospital settings may have advantages in promoting positive attitudinal change. Clinical teachers could usefully incorporate this type of experience into the undergraduate psychiatry curriculum.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology*
Fulltext Maternal filicide among women admitted to forensic psychiatric institutions in Malaysia: case series

Razali S, Salleh RM, Yahya B, Ahmad SH

East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2015 Jun;25(2):79-87.
PMID: 26118747

Objectives: To examine the characteristics of maternal filicide and describe the adverse life events experienced by women who have committed filicide and been hospitalised in forensic psychiatric institutions in Malaysia.
Methods: Registration records from 2000 through 2012 of female patients from 2 main forensic psychiatric institutions in Malaysia were reviewed. The medical records of patients who had committed maternal filicide were selected and descriptively evaluated.
Results: A total of 18 cases of maternal filicide were identified. Family dysfunction that presented with marital discord, domestic violence, or husband with substance abuse was the main stress experienced by the women. Three social circumstances, including an adolescent who became a victim of date rape; immigrants who experienced sexual abuse; and filicide-suicide precipitated by financial difficulties were highlighted.
Conclusion: Women who committed filicide had experienced various difficulties in their life. The presence of such life events might alert mental health professionals to investigate the possibility of filicide among their patients.
Key words: Depressive disorder; Domestic violence; Infanticide; Maternal behavior

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology
Mental illness beliefs in Malaysia: ethnic and intergenerational comparisons

Edman JL, Koon TY

Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2000;46(2):101-9.
PMID: 10950358

Two groups of college students in Malaysia, ethnic Malay and ethnic Chinese, completed a mental illness attribution and help seeking questionnaire, and these responses were also compared with the responses of their mothers. As expected, ethnic Malays rated religious items, such as God and prayer, higher than the Chinese. However, both groups rated the social and psychological causes higher than religious, supernatural or physical causes. Contrary to our predictions, there were no intergenerational differences among either ethnic group. Medical pluralism was demonstrated, as a variety of apparently contradictory help seeking behaviors received quite high ratings including doctor/pharmacy, prayer, herbal medicine and traditional healers.

Matched MeSH terms: Mental Disorders/psychology*

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