MyMedR

Lamprell BA

Med J Malaya, 1948;3:34-40.

The author during a long tropical service has seen a distressing number of cases of tropical neurasthenia including a number that ended in suicide. The condition is common in Malaya of which he is writing. In a group of rubber plantations with an average staff of 75 (presumably Europeans) in the past two years, one has committed suicide, eight have been repatriated for nervous breakdown, and two have been sent on home leave for the same reason. In a series of 33 invalidings analysed by SQUIRES [no reference given] 45 per cent. [15] were for psychological reasons. Neurasthenia in the tropics differs from that seen in practice in temperate countries by the predominance of cerebral over spinal symptoms. The mild cases show increased irritability with occasional outbursts of uncon rolled rages, restlessness, and moderate amnesia. In the intermediate cases these symptoms are worse and periods of worry and depression occur, often amounting to delusions of persecution with insomnia. In the severe cases, the depression is predominant; to this is added procrastination and indecision, loss of confidence, fear of insanity and of loss of employment, which constitute a vicious cycle that may end in suicide. The author classes the causes as personal and environmental, the former being the more important; the prominence of the personal factor is due to the tendency for social misfits and others who are dissatisfied with home conditions to seek employment in the tropics where they hope to find life easier. The environmental factors are (i) Exile from one's own country and loss of firm roots in a place that one calls home, (ii) The excessive stimuli of the tropics; under this heading the author includes the direct effects of the climate and discusses the sexual factor, (iii) Overwork and excessive responsibility, (iv) Isolation and monotony; under this last heading [the sequence of thought is obscure to the reviewer] he includes a suggestion that the recent increased rate of breakdown in Malaya may be due to years of war strain and present economic and political difficulties. The preventive measures he advocates include more careful selection of candidates for service in the tropics and the suggestion that a psychiatric assessment as well as a physical examination should be made; more frequent home leave; annual local leave to a hill station; shorter office hours; more security of tenure of appointments in commercial undertakings; and freedom to marry early in his service. Finally, the author suggests that, since this problem is an admittedly serious one, the Malayan branch of the British Medical Association should make a study of its aetiology and prevention, and convey their conclusions to the Government and to commercial and industrial associations. L. E. Napier.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

A case of spasmodic torticollis with depression

Haq SM

Med J Malaya, 1966 Sep;21(1):99-102.

PMID: 4224888

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/complications*

Coma and consciousness

Black W, Arumugasamy N

Med J Malaya, 1971 Jun;25(4):241-9.

PMID: 4261293

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/complications

Depressive illness in private practice

Hock CB

Med J Malaya, 1971 Sep;26(1):34-41.

PMID: 4258573

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/epidemiology*

Sibling rank of Malay psychiatric patients and juvenile delinquents

Hartog J

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1972 Mar;3(1):124-37.

PMID: 5028858

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/epidemiology

Psychiatric sequelae to a civil disturbance

Tan ES, Simons RC

Br J Psychiatry, 1973 Jan;122(566):57-63.

PMID: 4509384

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/etiology

Psychotropic medication in depression

Woon TH

Family Practitioner, 1973;1(1):13-16.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

Running amok

Schmidt K, Hill L, Guthrie G

Int J Soc Psychiatry, 1977;23(4):264-74.

PMID: 608813

This study examines twenty-four cases of amok, believed the largest number of cases ever collected. They were observed in Sarawak, East Malaysia. They occurred in all indigenous groups in Sarawak, excluding the Chinese, such as Malay, Sea Dayak, Land Dayak, Kayan, Punan and Melanau at frequencies more or less following the proportion of these groups in the total population. No differences were found according to religion, the Malay being Muslim and the other groups either predominantly Christian like the Iban or animistic. Only slight diminution in the frequency was observed from 1954 to 1968. The education level of the amok runners was much lower than that of the average population. The weapons used were those immediately at hand be it parang (short sword), ax, sticks, knives, guns, bare hands or a lorry. The classical four stages were largely present: (a) brooding and withdrawal, (b) homicidal paroxysm, (c) continuation of homicidal behaviour until killed, restrained or falling into stupor of exhaustion, (d) complete or partial amnesia. While in 14 no motive could be ascertained, insult, jealousy and paranoid ideation was present in the others. Both family history of mental illness and personal psychiatric history were predominant. All cases fell into accepted diagnostic categories from organic and endogenous psychosis to neurosis and behaviour disorder.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/complications

Fulltext Depressant action of Averrhoa carambola

Muir CK, Chan KL

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):279-80.

PMID: 7191048

The presence, in the fruit of Averrhoa carambola (star fruit), of a depressant agent with properties similar to those of tranquilizers was demonstrated.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/chemically induced*

Fulltext Tolerance of daily single compared to space dose of Merital

Haq SM, Buhrich N

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Jun;34(4):358-62.

PMID: 7219263

Merital is a recently introduced antidepressant agent which is structurally unrelated to the traditional antidepressant agents and which is reported to have minimal side effects. This study aimed to establish the olerance of a single compared to a spaced dose .schedule of Merital. It was found that a single morrung dose of Merital 100 mgs compared to a similar dose of the drug given in two divided doses did not appreciably increase the frequency or severity of side effects.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/drug therapy

Fulltext Depressant action of an extract of Vernonia cinerea

Muir CK

Med J Malaysia, 1981 Jun;36(2):119-21.

PMID: 7201065

The effect of an aqueous extract of Vernonia cinerea (VX) on mice was determined. It is suggested that VX contains a depressant agent whose primary effect is that of analgesia.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/chemically induced

Screening for depression

Wong YC

Family Practitioner, 1981;4<I> </I>:27-30.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

Depression in children

Woon TH

Family Practitioner, 1982;5:53-54.

Three iIIustrative cases of children with depression managed at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur; showed similar features of depressive illness and the association with family problems and depressed parents as described in Western countries. The Multi-Axia System of classification (MAS), as suggested in a WHO publication provided a useful means of classification as well as management. Two of the axes are biological and psycho-social factors in the aetiology of psychiatric syndromes (the third axis) and the intellectual level (the second axis of the child). Appropriate counselling of the parents is an important part in the management of depression in children.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

Fulltext Somatization of depression in psychiatric out-patients

Salleh MR

Med J Malaysia, 1989 Dec;44(4):275-82.

PMID: 2520035

The severity of anxiety and depression in 72 patients presenting with somatic complaints to the psychiatric clinic were assessed after excluding organic illnesses. Majority of the patients were females, between 15 to 34 years of age and came from lower socio-economic background. A high percentage of patients were brought up by dominant mothers and the married patients had passive husbands or active wives controlling the family. Generally the severity of depression was correlated with the severity of anxiety (C.C = 0.704, P less than 0.01). Majority of the patients were found to have both mixed anxiety depressive symptoms and the anxiety symptoms masking the underlying depressive symptomatology.
Study site: Psychiatric Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/complications*; Depression/diagnosis; Depression/psychology

Depression in the elderly - the diagnostic dilemma

Lau BWK

Family Physician, 1991;3:53-56.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

Fulltext Psychiatric disorder in Malaysians with systemic lupus erythematosus

Chin CN, Cheong I, Kong N

Lupus, 1993 Oct;2(5):329-32.

PMID: 8305928 DOI: 10.1177/096120339300200510

All 79 patients who attended a University Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Clinic over a 6 month period were assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule for psychiatric disorder. Using the ICD-9 Classification, 40 were found to have psychiatric disorder, 26 having depressive neurosis, six anxiety neurosis, five endogenous depression and three dementia. The group with psychiatric disorder had significantly poor family support as well as lack of a confidant compared to the group without psychiatric disorder (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the group with psychiatric disorder and those without psychiatric disorder in terms of age, duration of illness, ethnicity and severity of SLE. Psychiatric disorder is common affecting more than half the subjects and depression was the most frequent diagnosis.
Study site: SLE clinics, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/etiology

Fulltext Psychiatric presentation of Huntington's disease in a Malaysian family

Chin CN, S'ng KH, Philip G, Rosdinom R, Wahidah A

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Mar;51(1):153-6.

PMID: 10968000

A 32-year-old Chinese lady presented to the Psychiatric Clinic with a history of change in personality for 2 years and abnormal movements for a year. After thorough investigations and observation a diagnosis of Huntington's Disease was made. Her elder brother was traced and found to have Huntington's Disease as well. He had a long standing history of antisocial behaviour and substance abuse long before the onset of the choreiform movements. Her younger brother also has choreiform movements for the last 2 years and had recent change in personality. Their mother also had abnormal movements and was recorded to be depressed and attempted suicide. The maternal grandfather had a mental illness and was warded at a mental institution till his death in 1942. Psychiatric presentation of Huntington's Disease in this Malaysian family is prominent and preceded the characteristic movements in the present generation.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/etiology*

Incidence of postnatal depression in Malaysian women

Kit LK, Janet G, Jegasothy R

J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 1997 Feb;23(1):85-9.

PMID: 9094824

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of postnatal depression of Malaysias women at 6 week postpartum and a survey of their sociocultural practices.

METHODS: A hundred and fifty-four women who were 6 weeks postpartum attending the postnatal clinic between May and July 1995 at Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Seremban, Malaysia. Maternal socio-demography, depression by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), postnatal care and practices e.g. pantang larang (prohibited behaviour and practices), diet and partnering were evaluated.

RESULTS: Postnatal depression was 3.9%. Indians had the highest rate at 8.5% as compared to Malays (3.0%) and none in Chinese (p < 0.05). There were no demographic differences in the study groups. Average score of EPDS was 4.05 which ranged from 0 to 20. During the confinement 85.7% of women took special diet; 64.3% followed pantang larang and 78.8% had someone to look after them. The incidence of postnatal depression is low in Malaysia at 3.9%. Majority of Malaysian women still observed the traditional postnatal beliefs and practices.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression, Postpartum/epidemiology*

Detection of polymorphonuclear leukocyte dysfunctioin via chemilumi-nescence assay in children with recurrent bacterial infections

Noah, R.M., Yusuff, Z., Jais, M.R., Noh, L.M.

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1997;9(2):170-173.

MyJurnal

Chemiluminescence assay was used to assess the respiratory burst activities of polymorpho-nuclear leukocytes from paediatric patients reported to manifest with several episodes of recurrent bacterial infections. From this group of patients evaluated, only 10 cases of severe recurrent bacterial abscess exhibited more than 80% depression in the phagocytic chemilumi-nescence responses. The assay, being a sensitive method, was able to provide further useful laboratory investigation in diagnosing 4 patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression

Do the Chinese somatize depression? A cross-cultural study

Parker G, Cheah YC, Roy K

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2001 Jun;36(6):287-93.

PMID: 11583458

A large literature argues for the Chinese--whether in mainland China or elsewhere--being highly likely to express depression somatically, leading to predictable detection and diagnostic difficulties. If true, detection might be assisted if a set of somatic proxies of depression were identified, and this was the principal initial objective in mounting this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Depression/complications*; Depression/ethnology*

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