This narrative review present and critically appraise the evidence of psychosocial interventions in enhancing post- traumatic growth (PTG) and spirituality in cancer patients and survivors. A comprehensive search of published En- glish language literatures which include both quantitative and qualitative studies was conducted via Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science up to September 2018. Out of an initial 17,000 articles, 10 studies were finally included in the review. There were three randomized controlled trials, two non-randomized comparison trials, three time series/pre and post-intervention designs, one mixed design study and one qualitative study which demonstrated psychosocial interventions enhanced PTG and spirituality in cancer patients and survivors. We concluded mindfulness-based interventions may be promising to enhance PTG and spirituality in cancer patients and survivors. On the contrary, evidence for psycho-spiritual therapy, cancer sup- port group, health behavioural change intervention and individual psychotherapy were lacking and poor.
Objective: This case reported highlighted psychotic disorder due to dengue fever
is rare. Hence we describe a case which clearly presented with psychotic
symptoms during the illness.
Methods: We reported a case of psychotic disorder
due to dengue fever who presented with psychotic symptoms of auditory and
visual hallucination, and persecutory delusion, which had significant temporal
correlation with dengue fever symptoms. There were no neurological deficits
noted, no altered sensorium and cognitive impairment during the episode. He
has no past and family history of mental illness and there was no evidence of
encephalitis and metabolic disturbances.
Results: Our case suggests that
prominent psychotic symptoms can occur during an episode of dengue fever,
which remitted when one recovering from dengue fever.
Conclusion: We
demonstrated that patients who presented with the acute onset of psychosis
accompanied by symptoms of viral fever should be screened for dengue fever,
particularly if the person lived in or visited the area where dengue fever is
endemic.
Objective: Lysergic-acid-diethylamide (LSD) users are the hidden population of drug users as they do not present to medical personal for treatment. The method of transporting the drug is usually by-pass the law enforcers’ monitoring. We describe a rare case of LSD use in Malaysia Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) which is difficult to capture as LSD users remained as a hidden population of drug users in the country.
Methods: We reported a 23-year-old male with chronic use of Lysergic-acid-diethylamide (LSD) presented with retrospective history of acute intoxication. Later, he presented with depressive symptoms, occasional flashbacks and physical complications such as premature ejaculation (PE), urinary incontinence, reduced sweating and headache despite abstinence from LSD and other drugs. The reported physical complications remitted after 4 months of abstinence.
Result: Our case report suggested that LSD use not only causes acute intoxication but leads to several complications, which may persist even after cessation of LSD use.
Conclusion: This case-report had pointed out the importance of future studies to look into the complications of LSD and the case-report as well demonstrated the harmful psychological and physical effects of LSD use, which would warrant proper surveillance and interventions curbing the emergence of LSD use in Malaysia.
Introduction: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth) dependence is a common psychiatric complication associated with regular kratom use in Malaysia. Hence, it is important to assess the severity of kratom dependence among regular kratom users. The Kratom Dependence Scale (KDS) was introduced to evaluate the degree of severity of kratom dependence among users. This study aimed to translate the original English version of the KDS into Malay and examine the psychometric properties of the KDS (Malay) among Malaysian kratom users.
Methods: Initially, parallel translation and back translation of the original English version of the KDS was performed. The KDS (Malay) then was administered to 20 active Malaysian kratom users to assess face and content validities in a pilot study. Finally, the final version was administered to 150 active kratom users to evaluate its internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), face and content validities, discriminative validity, and construct validity, i.e. via exploratory factor analysis (EFA).
Results: The KDS (Malay) Cronbach’s α of 0.94 exhibited excellent internal consistency. It also demonstrated construct validity, as EFA showed that all items of the KDS (Malay) fit into a single domain, similar to the original English version. Discriminative validity was also demonstrated by the KDS (Malay), as it could differentiate kratom dependent users from non-kratom dependent users.
Conclusion: The KDS (Malay) has acceptable psychometric properties and is suitable to assess severity of kratom dependence in Malaysian kratom users.
Introduction: Kratom which is a tropical plant use as traditional remedy in rural areas of Malaysia and Thailand has recently been a research focus worldwide due to its potential as substitution therapy for opioid addiction. However, data on its effect on the quality of life of kratom users is scarce. This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic and history of kratom use as well as assessing the quality of life and its associated factors in Malaysian kratom users. Methods: This cross-sectional survey recruited 150 kratom users and they were administered with socio-demograph- ic and substance history questionnaires, the World Health Organization Quality of Life- BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess quality of life and the Kratom Dependence Scale (KDS) to assess severity of kratom dependence. Results: Respondents were all males with mean age of 34.4 years old (SD= 11.2). Sixty-percent of respondents use kratom
> 6 years (mean duration = 8.5 years, SD= 5.3) while 55% (n=83/150) used >3 glasses of kratom daily. Duration of kratom use, quantity of kratom use and severity of kratom dependence were not associated with all the domains of quality of life except severe kratom dependence users had significant lower physical quality of life score when compared to that of users with mild to moderately severe kratom dependence. Conclusion: Based on our study, kra- tom consumption does not cause impairment in quality of life of kratom users except for severe kratom dependence which may cause deterioration in physical well-being of users.
Hope leads to lower depression and anxiety and is associated with improved quality of life of cancer patients. In this
study, Hope Scale (HS) was translated into Malay, and the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Hope
Scale were investigated among Malaysian cancer patients. Concurrent translation and back translation of the original
English version of the Hope Scale were performed, and the Malay version was administered to 195 cancer patients
with different cancer diagnoses at baseline assessment and 2 months later at follow-up. The Hope Scale (Malay) total
score (Cronbach’s α = 0.72; intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.67) and its domains (Cronbach’s α [pathway] =
0.7; Cronbach’s α [agency] = 0.7; ICC[Pathway] = 0.64; ICC[Agency] = 0.70) demonstrated acceptable internal consistencies and
test-retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validities were also achieved by the Hope Scale (Malay). The Hope
Scale (Malay) demonstrated construct validity, as confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the items in the Hope
Scale (Malay) best fit into two domains, which was true for the original English version. The Hope Scale (Malay) had
acceptable psychometric properties and thus is suitable for assessing hope in Malaysian cancer patients.
Objective: It is important to investigate the association between spousal support
and psychology of cancer patients, thus a validated instrument to measure the
degree of perceived spousal support is required. We translated and evaluated the
psychometric properties of the Sources of Social Support Scale-Malay version
(SSSS-Malay) among Malaysian cancer patients.
Methods: In this study, the
SSSS-Malay and Hope Scale-Malay [used to compare with the SSSS-Malay to
assess discriminant validity] were administered to 195 Malaysian cancer patients
during baseline assessment. The SSSS-Malay was re-administered 2 months
after the baseline assessment during follow-up.
Results: The SSSS-Malay total
score (Cronbach’s α = 0.70, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.72) and
its domains (Cronbach’s α ranging from 0.70 to 0.83, intraclass correlation
coefficient ranging from 0.6 to 0.76) exhibited good internal consistencies and
good test-retest reliability. The SSSS-Malay also demonstrated good convergent
and discriminant validities. However, confirmatory factor analysis of the SSSSMalay
showed that it was best fit into a 3-factor model instead of the 4-factor
model of the original English version.
Conclusion: The SSSS-Malay
demonstrated good psychometric properties for use in Malaysian cancer
patients.
Introduction: Posttraumatic growth (PTG) is a positive psychological change in
life that occurs as a result of struggle with highly challenging life crises. There is
a growing need to explore posttraumatic growth (PTG) in cancer patients, as
higher PTG may enhance well-being of patients.
Objectives: The aim of this
study was to translate the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form (PTGISF)
into the Malay language and evaluate its psychometric properties for
assessing Malaysian cancer patients in future studies.
Methods: Two parallels
forward and backward translations of the PTGI-SF into the Malay language
were conducted. The test was administered to 195 cancer patients. Reliability
was evaluated by testing internal consistency (Cronbach’s α) and calculating the
test-retest intra-class correlation coefficient, and validity was examined by
determining face, convergent, and discriminant validities and using
confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).
Results: The Malay version of the PTGI-SF
and its five domains demonstrated good internal consistencies and acceptable
test-retest reliability. All 10 items of this version were highly correlated with
their own domains and thus exhibited convergent validity. Discriminant validity
was achieved, as all domains of the Malay PTGI-SF was not highly correlated
with the domains of the Source of Social Support Scale. CFA resulted in a bestfitting
5-factor model.
Conclusion: The Malay version of the PTGI-SF is a
suitable tool for measuring PTG in Malaysian cancer patients.