Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 65 in total

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  1. Association between painful physical symptoms and clinical outcomes in East Asian patients with major depressive disorder: a 3-month prospective observational study
    Ang QQ, Wing YK, He Y, Sulaiman AH, Chiu NY, Shen YC, et al.
    Int J Clin Pract, 2009 Jul;63(7):1041-9.
    PMID: 19570122 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02107.x
    Reports from non-Asian populations indicate that painful physical symptoms (PPS) are associated with poorer clinical and functional outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study is to report comparative changes in disease severity, treatment patterns and quality of life observed in East Asian patients with MDD, with and without PPS, as assessed prospectively over a 3-month observation period.
  2. Fulltext Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk among patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotics in Malaysia
    Said MA, Sulaiman AH, Habil MH, Das S, Bakar AK, Yusoff RM, et al.
    Singapore Med J, 2012 Dec;53(12):801-7.
    PMID: 23268153
    INTRODUCTION:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotics in Malaysia.
    METHODS:This cross-sectional study, conducted at multiple centres, involved 270 patients who fulfilled the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia, were on antipsychotic medications for at least one year, and were screened for metabolic syndrome. Patients receiving mood stabilisers were excluded. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III criteria modified for Asian waist circumference. Risk for cardiovascular disease was assessed by using Framingham function (all ten-year CHD events).
    RESULTS:The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 46.7% (126/270). Among all the antipsychotics used, atypical antipsychotics (monotherapy) were most commonly used in both the metabolic and non-metabolic syndrome groups (50.8% vs. 58.3%). The ten-year risk for CHD was significantly higher in patients with metabolic syndrome. The proportion of patients with high/very high risk for CHD (Framingham ≥ 10%) was greater in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those with non-metabolic syndrome (31.5% vs. 11.0%, odds ratio 3.9, 95% confidence interval 2.0-7.6; p < 0.001). The mean body mass index was higher in patients with metabolic syndrome than in those without (29.4 ± 5.1 kg/m2 vs. 25.0 ± 5.6 kg/m2; p < 0.001).
    CONCLUSION:Patients with schizophrenia receiving antipsychotics in Malaysia have a very high incidence of metabolic syndrome and increased cardiovascular risk. Urgent interventions are needed to combat these problems in patients.
  3. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of aripiprazole for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence and associated psychosis
    Sulaiman AH, Gill JS, Said MA, Zainal NZ, Hussein HM, Guan NC
    Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract, 2013 Jun;17(2):131-8.
    PMID: 22486597 DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2012.667116
    The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole for treatment of psychosis, retention and abstinence in patients with methamphetamine dependence.
  4. Hearing risk associated with the usage of personal listening devices among urban high school students in Malaysia
    Sulaiman AH, Seluakumaran K, Husain R
    Public Health, 2013 Aug;127(8):710-5.
    PMID: 23474376 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2013.01.007
    To investigate listening habits and hearing risks associated with the use of personal listening devices among urban high school students in Malaysia.
  5. The risk and associated factors of methamphetamine psychosis in methamphetamine-dependent patients in Malaysia
    Sulaiman AH, Said MA, Habil MH, Rashid R, Siddiq A, Guan NC, et al.
    Compr Psychiatry, 2014 Jan;55 Suppl 1:S89-94.
    PMID: 23433219 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2013.01.003
    The objective of this study was to determine the risk of lifetime and current methamphetamine-induced psychosis in patients with methamphetamine dependence. The association between psychiatric co-morbidity and methamphetamine-induced psychosis was also studied.
  6. Comparable efficacy and safety of 8 weeks treatment with agomelatine 25-50mg or fluoxetine 20-40mg in Asian out-patients with major depressive disorder
    Shu L, Sulaiman AH, Huang YS, Fones Soon Leng C, Crutel VS, Kim YS
    Asian J Psychiatr, 2014 Apr;8:26-32.
    PMID: 24655622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2013.09.009
    OBJECTIVE: This randomized, double-blind study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine, using fluoxetine as an active comparator, in Asian patients suffering from moderate to severe major depressive disorder (MDD).
    METHOD: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either agomelatine (25-50mg/day, n=314) or fluoxetine (20-40mg/day, n=314) during an 8-week treatment period. The main outcome measure was the change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 items (HAM-D17) scores. Secondary efficacy criteria included scores on Clinical Global Impression Severity of illness (CGI-S) and Improvement of illness (CGI-I), patient sleeping improvement using the self-rating Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) and anxiety using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) scores. Tolerability and safety evaluations were based on emergent adverse events.
    RESULTS: Agomelatine and fluoxetine exert a comparable antidepressant efficacy in the Asian population. Mean changes over 8 weeks were clinically relevant and similar in both groups (-14.8±7.3 and -15.0±8.1 on HAM-D17 scale in agomelatine and fluoxetine groups, respectively). The between-group difference reached statistical significance on non-inferiority test (p=0.015). Clinically relevant decreases in CGI-S and CGI-I scores were observed over the treatment period in both groups. The two treatments were equally effective on the symptoms of both anxiety and sleep. The good tolerability profile and safety of both doses of agomelatine was confirmed in the Asian population.
    CONCLUSIONS: Agomelatine and fluoxetine are equally effective in the treatment of MDD-associated symptoms in Asian depressed patients.
    KEYWORDS: Agomelatine; Antidepressant; Asian population; Fluoxetine
    Study site in Malaysia: Psychiatric clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  7. Rapid response to methylphenidate as an add-on therapy to mirtazapine in the treatment of major depressive disorder in terminally ill cancer patients: a four-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study
    Ng CG, Boks MP, Roes KC, Zainal NZ, Sulaiman AH, Tan SB, et al.
    Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2014 Apr;24(4):491-8.
    PMID: 24503279 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.01.016
    This is a 4 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the effects of methylphenidate as add-on therapy to mirtazapine compared to placebo for treatment of depression in terminally ill cancer patients. It involved 88 terminally ill cancer patients from University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were randomized and treated with either methylphenidate or placebo as add on to mirtazapine. The change in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to day 3 was analyzed by linear regression. Changes of MADRS and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) over 28 days were analyzed using mixed model repeated measures (MMRM). Secondary analysis of MADRS response rates, defined as 50% or more reduction from baseline score. A significantly larger reduction of Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score in the methylphenidate group was observed from day 3 (B=4.14; 95% CI=1.83-6.45). Response rate (defined as 50% or more reduction from baseline MADRS score) in the methylphenidate treated group was superior from day 14. Improvement in Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) was greater in the methylphenidate treated group from day 3 until day 28. The drop-out rates were 52.3% in the methylphenidate group and 59.1% in the placebo group (relative risk=0.86, 95%CI=0.54-1.37) due to cancer progression. Nervous system adverse events were more common in methylphenidate treated subjects (20.5% vs 9.1%, p=0.13). In conclusions, methylphenidate as add on therapy to mirtazapine demonstrated an earlier antidepressant response in terminally ill cancer patients, although at an increased risk of the nervous system side effects.
  8. Differences in psychiatric symptoms among Asian patients with depression: a multi-country cross-sectional study
    Sulaiman AH, Bautista D, Liu CY, Udomratn P, Bae JN, Fang Y, et al.
    Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2014 Apr;68(4):245-54.
    PMID: 24829935
    The aim of this study was to compare the symptomatic and clinical features of depression among five groups of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) living in China, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
  9. Fulltext Validation of Malay Version of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale: Comparison between Depressed Patients and Healthy Subjects at an Out-Patient Clinic in Malaysia
    Ng CG, Chin SC, Yee AH, Loh HS, Sulaiman AH, Sherianne Sook Kuan W, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2014 May;21(3):62-70.
    PMID: 25246837
    BACKGROUND: The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a self-assessment scale designed to evaluate anhedonia in various psychiatric disorders. In order to facilitate its use in Malaysian settings, our current study aimed to examine the validity of a Malay-translated version of the SHAPS (SHAPS-M).
    METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 44 depressed patients and 82 healthy subjects were recruited from a university out-patient clinic. All participants were given both the Malay and English versions of the SHAPS, Fawcett-Clark Pleasure Scale (FCPS), General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess their hedonic state, general mental health condition and levels of depression.
    RESULTS: The results showed that the SHAPS-M has impressive internal consistency (α = 0.96), concurrent validity and good parallel-form reliability (intraclass coefficient, ICC = 0.65).
    CONCLUSION: In addition to demonstrating good psychometric properties, the SHAPS-M is easy to administer. Therefore, it is a valid, reliable, and suitable questionnaire for assessing anhedonia among depressed patients in Malaysia.
    KEYWORDS: Malaysia; anhedonia; depression; neuroscience; pleasure; psychiatry; psychology; validation
    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  10. Evaluation of early hearing damage in personal listening device users using extended high-frequency audiometry and otoacoustic emissions
    Sulaiman AH, Husain R, Seluakumaran K
    Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2014 Jun;271(6):1463-70.
    PMID: 23812554 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-013-2612-z
    Although sound exposure from personal listening devices (PLDs) could potentially lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the actual hearing risk associated with the use of these devices is still unclear. In this study, early hearing effects related to PLD usage were evaluated in 35 young adult PLD users (listening for >1 h/day, at >50% of the maximum volume setting of their devices) and their age- and sex-matched controls using a combination of conventional and extended high-frequency audiometry as well as transient-evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) and distortion product of otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) measurements. The mean listening duration of the PLD users was 2.7 ± 1.0 h/day while their estimated average listening volume was 81.3 ± 9.0 dBA (free-field corrected). Typical signs of NIHL were not detected in the audiogram of PLD users and their audiometric thresholds at most of the conventional test frequencies (0.25-8 kHz) were comparable with those obtained from controls. However, compared with the controls, mean hearing thresholds of PLD users at many of the extended high-frequencies (9-16 kHz) were significantly higher. In addition, TEOAE and DPOAE amplitudes in users were reduced compared with controls. The deterioration of extended high-frequency thresholds and the decrease in DPOAE amplitudes were more evident in the users' right ears. These results indicate the presence of an early stage of hearing damage in the PLD user group. Preventive steps should be taken as the initial hearing damage in these users could eventually progress into permanent NIHL after many years of PLD use.
  11. Youth–adult partnership: exploring contributions to empowerment, agency and community connections in Malaysian youth programs
    Krauss SE, Collura J, Zeldin S, Ortega A, Abdullah H, Sulaiman AH
    J Youth Adolesc, 2014 Sep;43(9):1550-62.
    PMID: 24122395
    Youth–adult partnership (Y–AP) has emerged as a key practice for enacting two features of effective developmental settings: supportive adult relationships and support for efficacy and mattering. Previous studies have shown that when youth, supported by adults, actively participate in organizational and community decision making they are likely to show greater confidence and agency, empowerment and critical consciousness, and community connections. Most of the extant research on Y–AP is limited to qualitative studies and the identification of organizational best practices. Almost all research focuses on Western sociocultural settings. To address these gaps, 299 youth, age 15 to 24, were sampled from established afterschool and community programs in Malaysia to explore the contribution of Y–AP (operationalized as having two components: youth voice in decision-making and supportive adult relationships) to empowerment, agency and community connections. As hypothesized, hierarchical regressions indicated that program quality (Y–AP, safe environment and program engagement) contributed to agency, empowerment and community connections beyond the contribution of family, school and religion. Additionally, the Y–AP measures contributed substantially more variance than the other measures of program quality on each outcome. Interaction effects indicated differences by age for empowerment and agency but not for community connections. The primary findings in this inquiry replicate those found in previous interview and observational-oriented studies. The data suggests fertile ground for future research while demonstrating that Y–AP may be an effective practice for positive youth development outside of Western settings.
  12. Conceptualizing and measuring youth-adult partnership in community programs: a cross national study
    Zeldin S, Krauss SE, Collura J, Lucchesi M, Sulaiman AH
    Am J Community Psychol, 2014 Dec;54(3-4):337-47.
    PMID: 25216734 DOI: 10.1007/s10464-014-9676-9
    Youth participation in program and community decision making is framed by scholars as an issue of social justice, a platform for positive youth development and effective citizenry, and a strategy for nation building. Recent literature reviews have consistently identified youth-adult partnership (Y-AP) as an effective type of youth participation across highly diverse contexts. These same reviews, however, note that indicators of Y-AP have not been conceptualized and validated for measurement purposes. The present study addresses this limitation by developing a brief measure of Y-AP that is explicitly grounded in current theory, research, and community practice. The measure was administered to youth in the United States, Malaysia, and Portugal (N = 610). Validation was assessed through factor analysis and tests of factorial, discriminant, and concurrent validity. Results confirmed the two predicted dimensions of the Y-AP measure: youth voice in decision making and supportive adult relationships. These two dimensions were also found to be distinct from other measures of program quality: safety and engagement. As predicted, they also significantly correlated with measures of agency and empowerment. It is concluded that the measure has the potential to support community efforts to maximize the quality of youth programs.
  13. Comparison of psychotropic prescriptions between oncology and cardiology inpatients: result from a pharmacy database in a teaching hospital in Malaysia
    Ng CG, Mohamed S, Wern TY, Haris A, Zainal NZ, Sulaiman AH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2014;15(10):4261-4.
    PMID: 24935381
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity.

    RESULTS: A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use.

    CONCLUSIONS: Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.

  14. Relationship between sunlight and the age of onset of bipolar disorder: an international multisite study
    Bauer M, Glenn T, Alda M, Andreassen OA, Angelopoulos E, Ardau R, et al.
    J Affect Disord, 2014;167:104-11.
    PMID: 24953482 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.05.032
    The onset of bipolar disorder is influenced by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. We previously found that a large increase in sunlight in springtime was associated with a lower age of onset. This study extends this analysis with more collection sites at diverse locations, and includes family history and polarity of first episode.
  15. Influence of light exposure during early life on the age of onset of bipolar disorder
    Bauer M, Glenn T, Alda M, Andreassen OA, Angelopoulos E, Ardau R, et al.
    J Psychiatr Res, 2015 May;64:1-8.
    PMID: 25862378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2015.03.013
    Environmental conditions early in life may imprint the circadian system and influence response to environmental signals later in life. We previously determined that a large springtime increase in solar insolation at the onset location was associated with a younger age of onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. This study investigated whether the hours of daylight at the birth location affected this association.
  16. Fulltext Hearing Risk among Young Personal Listening Device Users: Effects at High-Frequency and Extended High-Frequency Audiogram Thresholds
    Sulaiman AH, Husain R, Seluakumaran K
    J Int Adv Otol, 2015 Aug;11(2):104-9.
    PMID: 26380997 DOI: 10.5152/iao.2015.699
    The usage of personal listening devices (PLDs) is associated with risks of hearing loss. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of music exposure from these devices on high-frequency hearing thresholds of PLD users.
  17. Clinical and sociodemographic correlates of severe insomnia in psychotropic drug-free, Asian outpatients with major depressive disorder
    Srisurapanont M, Likhitsathian S, Chua HC, Udomratn P, Chang S, Maneeton N, et al.
    J Affect Disord, 2015 Nov 1;186:26-31.
    PMID: 26226430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.06.032
    BACKGROUND: Little has been known regarding the correlates of severe insomnia in major depressive disorder (MDD). This post-hoc analysis aimed to examine the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of severe insomnia in psychotropic drug-free, Asian adult outpatients with MDD.
    METHODS: Participants were psychotropic drug-free patients with MDD, aged 18-65 years. By using the Symptom Checklist-90 Items, Revised (SCL-90-R), a score of 4 (severe distress) on any one of three insomnia items was defined as severe insomnia. Other measures included the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the nine psychopathology subscales of SCL-90-R, the Physical and Mental Component Summaries of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36 PCS and SF-36 MCS), and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS).
    RESULTS: Of 528 participants, their mean age being 39.5 (SD=13.26) years, 64.2% were females, and 239 (45.3%) had severe insomnia. The logistic regression model revealed that low educational qualifications (less than secondary school completion), high SCL-90-R Depression scores, high SCL-90-R Anxiety scores, and low SF-36 PCS scores were independently correlated with severe insomnia (p's
  18. Fulltext Anxiety, depression, perceived social support and quality of life in Malaysian breast cancer patients: a 1-year prospective study
    Ng CG, Mohamed S, See MH, Harun F, Dahlui M, Sulaiman AH, et al.
    Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2015;13:205.
    PMID: 26715073 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-015-0401-7
    Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a lack of study examining the correlation between depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) with perceived social support (PSS) among breast cancer patients. This study aims to study the level of depression, anxiety, QoL and PSS among Malaysian breast cancer women over a period of 12 months and their associations at baseline, 6 and 12 months.
  19. Anhedonia in depressed patients on treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor anti-depressant--A two-centered study in Malaysia
    Yee A, Chin SC, Hashim AH, Harbajan Singh MK, Loh HS, Sulaiman AH, et al.
    Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract, 2015;19(3):182-7.
    PMID: 25874350 DOI: 10.3109/13651501.2015.1031139
    Anhedonia is the reduced ability to experience pleasure. It is a core symptom of depression and is particularly difficult to treat. This study aims to compare the level of anhedonia between depressed patients on anti-depressants and healthy subjects.
  20. Fulltext Depression and associated factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
    Hashim NA, Ariaratnam S, Salleh MR, Said MA, Sulaiman AH
    East Asian Arch Psychiatry, 2016 Jun;26(2):77-82.
    PMID: 27377489
    OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of major depressive disorder and its association with socio-demographic and clinical factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended the hospital-based primary care clinics at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The patients were interviewed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to diagnose depression based on the DSM-IV criteria. The socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained by interviewing the patients and subsequently verified against their respective case notes.

    RESULTS: A total of 204 patients were recruited. The prevalence of major depressive disorder was 15.7%. Major depressive disorder was significantly associated with younger age of patients (mean ± standard deviation, 57.8 ± 15.1 years, p = 0.04), younger age at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (46.2 ± 13.0 years, p = 0.01), having secondary education (p = 0.02), and having a history of depression (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that current age (p = 0.04), duration of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.04), age at diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01), and secondary education (p = 0.01) were significant factors.

    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of major depressive disorder was high among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Screening of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus for depression should be performed periodically or routinely, especially in the primary care setting.
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