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  1. Subramaniam, Ponnusamy, Azlina Wati Nikmat, Shazli Ezzat Ghazali
    MyJurnal
    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.
  2. Normah Che Din, Soo, Siew Bee, Subramaniam, Ponnusamy, Ng, Lai Oon
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2010;11(2):158-170.
    MyJurnal
    Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the prevalence and factors influencing PTSD among a sample of help-seeking women experiencing domestic violence. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study of 40 women in two shelters in Malaysia from 2007 to 2008. Measures include the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress; the Measure of Wife Abuse; the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory; the Coping Scale for Adults; and the Provision of Social Relations. Results: Results showed that 60% of subjects
    exhibited patterns of symptoms consistent with the diagnosis of PTSD. The most prominent posttraumatic symptoms reported were re-experience, avoidance, dissociative responses, and symptoms of increased arousal. Both negative appraisals about themselves and self blame for the abusive situations were positively associated with increased tendency to develop PTSD. The greater use of optimism coping style and the higher quality social
    support appeared to lead to a significantly reduced tendency of developing PTSD. Negative appraisals about themselves were found to be the strongest positive predictor of PTSD [R² = 0.32, F(1,38)=17.67, p
  3. Subramaniam P, Woods B
    Clin Interv Aging, 2016;11:1263-1276.
    PMID: 27698556
    There is increasing interest in using information and communication technology to help older adults with dementia to engage in reminiscence work. Now, the feasibility of such approaches is beginning to be established. The purpose of this study was to establish an evidence-base for the acceptability and efficacy of using multimedia digital life storybooks with people with dementia in care homes, in comparison with conventional life storybooks, taking into account the perspectives of people with dementia, their relatives, and care staff.
  4. Subramaniam, Ponnusamy, Shazli Ezzat Ghazali, Mahadevan, Raynuha, Chin, Hak Ying, Sinniah, Aishvarya
    ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, 2009;10(1):32-42.
    MyJurnal
    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.
  5. Sinniah A, Maniam T, Oei TP, Subramaniam P
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:718367.
    PMID: 24672358 DOI: 10.1155/2014/718367
    The aim of this paper is to review the literature on suicide attempts in Malaysia. PsycINFO, PubMed, and Medline databases from 1845 to 2012 and detailed manual search of local official reports from the Ministry of Health and the Malaysian Psychiatric Association and unpublished dissertations from 3 local universities providing postgraduate psychiatric training were included in the current review. A total of 38 studies on suicide attempts in Malaysia were found and reviewed. Twenty-seven (76%) of the studies on suicide attempts were descriptive studies looking at sociodemographic data, psychiatric illnesses, and methods and reasons for suicide attempts. No study has been conducted on treatment and interventions for suicide attempts and the impact of culture was rarely considered. The review showed that in order for researchers, clinicians, and public health policy makers to obtain a better understanding of suicide attempts in Malaysia, more systematic and empirically stringent methodologies and research frameworks need to be used.
  6. Tay KW, Subramaniam P, Oei TP
    Psychogeriatrics, 2019 May;19(3):264-275.
    PMID: 30548731 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12391
    Dementia is a neurocognitive disorder that affects a person's abilities in daily functioning. Anxiety and depression symptoms are common among persons with dementia. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been tested to manage their depression and anxiety symptoms. However, the purpose of CBT in managing these symptoms is unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to clarify whether CBT can be used to reduce depression and anxiety symptoms in persons with dementia. The electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL were used to locate relevant studies. Eleven studies, which involved a total of 116 older adults, were identified. The findings suggest that CBT can be effective in reducing depression and anxiety symptoms. Based on our current review, the findings from previous studies form a promising foundation on which to conduct a major randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size. This review discusses some of the most important considerations in applying CBT to persons with dementia, and these may be beneficial for future studies that explore this area and seek more conclusive evidence on the use of CBT.
  7. Toh HM, Ghazali SE, Subramaniam P
    Int J Alzheimers Dis, 2016;2016:5131570.
    PMID: 27478677 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5131570
    Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based therapy for individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia. Past reviews have only synthesized outcomes obtained through quantitative study which does not fully represent the understanding on the acceptability and usefulness of CST. Therefore, the present review aims to integrate outcomes obtained from both quantitative and qualitative studies to provide a deeper understanding on the acceptability and usefulness of CST for older adults with dementia. Findings of literature were retrieved from searches of computerized databases in relation to CST for people with dementia. Literatures were selected according to selection criteria outlined. Results obtained in previous studies pertaining to the effects of CST were discussed in relation to variables such as cognitive function, quality of life, and family caregivers' wellbeing. The review also explores the use of CST in different cultural context, the perception on its effectiveness, and individualized CST (iCST). There is considerable evidence obtained through quantitative and qualitative studies on the usefulness and acceptability of CST for older adults with dementia. Recommendations for future research are provided to strengthen the evidence of CST's effectiveness.
  8. Vasantha Kumar P, Subramaniam P, Che Din N
    Asian J Psychiatr, 2021 Jun;60:102646.
    PMID: 33873045 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102646
    BACKGROUND: The effects of aging and its associated cognitive decline is particularly acute in Asia given the exponential growth of older adults as a proportion of the population as a whole. Many structured cognitive interventions have been proposed to prevent the cognitive decline typically seen in older age, but their utility as a viable means of achieving these goals is questionable.

    OBJECTIVES: To summarize and synthesize evidence on the utility and methodological quality of cognitive-based interventions on cognitive performance and associated secondary outcomes among healthy older adults in Asia, as well as novel, culture-specific components of cognitive interventions across the region.

    DATA SOURCES: The PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched through May 2020.

    ELIGIBILITY: Studies including individuals aged 60 years and above, who had no previous history of physical and/or mental illness. Few restrictions placed on intervention design, duration and mode of delivery, provided that participants were randomized to study conditions, and intervention included components addressing at least one cognitive domain.

    RESULTS: A total of 17 studies from six countries met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final review. Evidence from those studies indicated that cognitive interventions may be most effective when the design and aims were directed towards improvement in specific cognitive domains, but evidence regarding long-term effectiveness in preventing progression to clinical-level cognitive deficits is still unclear. Several studies highlighted culture-specific activities as components of their interventions, though these will need to be further outlined and standardized clearly in future research.

  9. Sinniah A, Oei TPS, Maniam T, Subramaniam P
    Psychiatry Res, 2017 08;254:179-189.
    PMID: 28463716 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.04.026
    The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of Individual Cognitive Behavior Therapy (ICBT) in treating patients with mood disorders with suicidal ideation. A total of 69 patients (48 females, 21 males) with the diagnoses above were randomly allocated to either the group of Treatment As Usual (TAU)+ICBT (n=33) or the TAU group (n=36). All participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS), Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (PANSI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). These questionnaires were administered at pre-treatment, midway through treatment (week 4), post-treatment (week 8), and at follow-ups after three months (week 20) and six months (week 32). Factorial ANOVA results showed that the TAU+ICBT patients improved significantly and at faster rate as compared to the TAU group, which showed improvement only from pre to mid treatment on DASS-D and BHS-T measures. The effect size (Cohen's d), for the TAU+ICBT group showed large effect (1.47) for depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (1.00). These findings suggest that ICBT used in addition to the TAU, was effective in enhancing treatment outcome of patients with unipolar mood disorders as well as, reducing risk for suicide behavior.
  10. Baharudin AD, Din NC, Subramaniam P, Razali R
    BMC Public Health, 2019 Jun 13;19(Suppl 4):447.
    PMID: 31196141 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-6868-0
    BACKGROUND: The main aim of this study was to determine the association between Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) and caregiver burden, and the mediating role of coping strategy and personality style of caregivers to patients with dementia (PWD).

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 202 caregivers to PWD in home-based settings. Recruited caregivers were administered questionnaires regarding BPSD which was measured using Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q), caregiver burden using Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Brief COPE for coping strategies and Big-Five Inventory which measured personality traits.

    RESULTS: Majority of the caregivers were female (71.3%), aged 50 and above (55%), single (46%), married (43.6%), working full time (45%) while the rest work part time (22.3%), unemployed (7.4%) and retiree (25.2%), and majority were parents (58.9%) and spouse (18.3%). The duration of caregiving was less than a year (33.7%) while the rest are more than a year. Results demonstrated that the most frequent types of BPSD exhibited by PWD was irritability, followed by apathy and agitation. All of the types of BPSD showed to be significantly correlated to caregiver burden except for anxiety, elation and appetite. Of personality traits, only conscientiousness was found to mediate the relationship between BPSD and caregiver burden (p 

  11. Subramaniam P, Thillainathan P, Mat Ghani NA, Sharma S
    PLoS One, 2023;18(10):e0291620.
    PMID: 37796820 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291620
    The Life Story Book has been commonly used in promoting person-centred care in older adults, especially for persons with dementia. This involves collecting the life stories and memories of the person living with dementia and compiling them into a book or folder, which is used by staff or family to assist the person recall these memories. Evidence on the use, benefits and influences of the Life Story Book in dementia care is limited. This systematic literature review aimed to collect past reviews and provide a thorough overview of the use, benefits, and impact of the Life Story Book for the person with dementia, the relatives, family, and caregivers. The electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science as well as grey literature through Google Scholar were searched to select the relevant studies. Seven studies that meet the inclusion criteria were selected and data synthesised. Findings revealed that the use of the Life Story Book has no specific guidelines and has been described with numerous characteristics and varied implementation methods. The Life Story Book intervention is found to provide positive outcomes for the person with dementia and the carers involved. Six out of the seven studies reported that Life Story Book enhanced communication between persons with dementia, relatives, care staff, and residents. The review extends the current evidence on the usage of the Life Story Book in dementia care and confirms that the use of life stories leads to better care in various settings. However, more research is needed to reveal the potential of the Life Story Book in enhancing communication. Guidelines and training are also required to make the best use of the Life Story Book.
  12. Murukesu RR, Singh DKA, Shahar S, Subramaniam P
    Front Public Health, 2020;8:471.
    PMID: 33014971 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00471
    Following the rapid increase of the aging population, health promotion and prevention of physical disability and dementia in older persons are essential for healthy aging. For example, there may be a potential to prevent or reverse cognitive frailty, the co-existence of both physical frailty and cognitive impairment in older persons. However, evidence-based interventions targeting the prevention or potential reversibility of cognitive frailty among community dwelling older adults are scarce. In this paper, we described the rationale, development and delivery of a multi-domain intervention comprising multi-component physical exercise prescription, cognitive training, dietary counseling and promotion of psychosocial support, called the WE-RISE trial. The aim of WE-RISE intervention is to potentially reverse cognitive frailty. This is a two-armed, single blinded, randomized controlled trial conducted over a duration of 6 months, at senior citizen activity centers within the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Ambulating, community dwelling older adults aged 60 years and above with cognitive frailty are randomized into two groups; (1) intervention group: which receives an instructor based "WE-RISE" intervention for the first 3 months, and then a home-based "WE-RISE at Home" intervention for the following 3 months; (2) control group: usual care with no modifications to their daily routine. Primary outcome is cognitive frailty status and secondary outcome include physical function, cognitive performance, nutritional status, psychosocial status and quality of life which are obtained during baseline screening and subsequent follow ups at 3rd and 6th month. Description of the intervention is done using the template for intervention description and replication (TIDieR) checklist. This trial protocol has received approval from Research Ethics Committee of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM PPI/111/8/JEP-2018-558) and the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (MyResearch Reference: JKMM 100/12/5/2: 2018/405). Trial registration number: ACTRN12619001055190.
  13. Murukesu RR, Singh DKA, Shahar S, Subramaniam P
    Clin Interv Aging, 2021;16:415-429.
    PMID: 33692620 DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S290851
    PURPOSE: Older persons have been identified as a vulnerable population with respect to the novel coronavirus outbreak, COVID-19. Aiming to "flatten the curve" a strict Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented in Malaysia. Older adults with cognitive frailty are prone to physical, cognitive and psychosocial decline. This study aims to compare physical activity patterns, psychological wellbeing and coping strategies of older persons with cognitive frailty in the "WE-RISE" trial (intervention versus control) throughout this period.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted as a sub-analysis of the ongoing "WE-RISE" randomized controlled trial. This study included 42 community-dwelling older adults, aged 60 years and above, with cognitive frailty, stratified into intervention (n=21) and control (n=21) groups who are receiving a multi-domain intervention and usual care, respectively, within the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Phone call interviews were conducted during the MCO period. Physical activity patterns were assessed using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Psychological wellbeing was assessed using Flourishing Scale (FS) and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) assessed coping strategies. Data were analysed descriptively and with independent samples t-test.

    RESULTS: The WE-RISE intervention group had significantly higher levels of estimated resting energy expenditure (MET) for "walking activity" (I:μ=1723.1±780.7;C:μ=537.4±581.9)(p<0.001), "moderate activity" (I:μ=1422.8±1215.1;C:μ=405.7±746.9)(p=0.002) and "total physical activity" (I: μ=3625.9±3399.3;C:μ=994.6±1193.9)(p=0.002). The intervention group was also significantly more independent in functional activities (μ=1.76±1.73) as compared to the control group (μ=5.57±8.31) (p<0.05). Moreover, significant higher self-perception of living a meaningful life and feeling respected (p<0.05) was demonstrated in regard to psychological well-being in the intervention group. Regarding coping strategies, the intervention group relied significantly on the domains of religion (I:μ=6.43±0.99;C:μ=6.09±1.09)(p<0.05) and planning (I:μ=4.81±0.75; C:μ=4.04±1.28)(p<0.05) whilst the control group relied on humour (C:μ=3.14±1.19; I:μ=2.38±0.74)(p<0.05).

    CONCLUSION: Participants of the WE-RISE intervention group were more physically active, functionally independent and had higher self-perceived social-psychological prosperity regarding living a meaningful life and feeling respected; whilst both groups relied on positive coping strategies during the MCO. These results indicate that it is vital to ensure older persons with cognitive frailty remain physically active and preserve their psychosocial wellbeing to be more resilient in preventing further decline during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

  14. Ikbar RR, Amit N, Subramaniam P, Ibrahim N
    PLoS One, 2022;17(12):e0278635.
    PMID: 36454972 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278635
    BACKGROUND: This systematic review aims to review research manuscripts during the COVID-19 pandemic that focus on the relationship between self-efficacy, adversity quotient, COVID-19-related stress and academic performance on a range of undergraduate student.

    METHODS: The authors will perform comprehensive searches of published studies in electronic databases such as PMC, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science by using the following search terms: 'self-efficacy' AND 'adversity quotient' AND 'stress' AND 'academic performance' AND 'student' AND 'COVID-19 pandemic'. Only full-text articles in English language are included. Two reviewers will independently conduct the article selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. Any possible disagreement will be resolved by discussion, and one arbitrator (NA) will adjudicate unresolved disagreements.

    RESULTS: This review will provide an updated overview of investigating the relationship between self-efficacy, adversity quotient, COVID-19-related stress and academic performance on a range of undergraduate student during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, based on this systematic review, we will recommend the direction for future research.

    CONCLUSION: The result of the study may help the researchers to find an updated overview of various studies in related topic.

    ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Data from published studies will be used. Therefore, ethical approval is not required prior to this systematic review. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

  15. Mohd Zulkifly MF, Ghazali SE, Che Din N, Subramaniam P
    Malays J Med Sci, 2016 Mar;23(2):53-64.
    PMID: 27547115 MyJurnal
    This study aims to estimate the prevalence and explore the predictors for post-stroke cognitive impairment at the community level in Malaysia.
  16. Mohd Zulkifly MF, Ghazali SE, Che Din N, Singh DK, Subramaniam P
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2016;2016:3456943.
    PMID: 27340686 DOI: 10.1155/2016/3456943
    In this review, we aimed to identify the risk factors that may influence cognitive impairment among stroke survivors, namely, demographic, clinical, psychological, and physical determinants. A search from Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases was conducted for papers published from year 2004 to 2015 related to risk factors of cognitive impairment among adult stroke survivors. A total of 1931 articles were retrieved, but only 27 articles met the criteria and were reviewed. In more than half of the articles it was found that demographical variables that include age, education level, and history of stroke were significant risk factors of cognitive impairment among stroke survivors. The review also indicated that diabetes mellitus, hypertension, types of stroke and affected region of brain, and stroke characteristics (e.g., size and location of infarctions) were clinical determinants that affected cognitive status. In addition, the presence of emotional disturbances mainly depressive symptoms showed significant effects on cognition. Independent relationships between cognition and functional impairment were also identified as determinants in a few studies. This review provided information on the possible risk factors of cognitive impairment in stroke survivors. This information may be beneficial in the prevention and management strategy of cognitive impairments among stroke survivors.
  17. Sinniah A, Oei TP, Chinna K, Shah SA, Maniam T, Subramaniam P
    Front Psychol, 2015;6:1934.
    PMID: 26733920 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01934
    The PANSI is a measure designed to assess the risk and protective factors related to suicidal behaviors. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation (PANSI) Inventory in a sample of clinical outpatients at a major hospital in Malaysia. In this study, 283 psychiatric patients and 200 medical (non-psychiatric) patients participated. All the patients completed the PANSI and seven other self-report instruments. Confirmative factor analysis supported the 2-factor oblique model. The internal consistency of the two subscales of PANSI-Negative and the PANSI-Positive were 0.93 and 0.84, respectively. In testing construct validity, PANSI showed sizable correlation with the other seven scales. Criterion validity was supported by scores on PANSI which differentiated psychiatric patients from medical patients. Logistic regression analyses showed PANSI can be used to classify the patients into suicidal or non-suicidal. The PANSI is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the severity of suicidal ideation among clinical outpatients in Malaysia.
    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Medical clinic, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic, Ophthalmology clinic and orthopedic clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Scale, Questionnaire and Device: Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation Inventory (PANSI), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), Reasons for Living Inventory (RFL), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Provision of Social Relations (PSR), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSE), The Adult Trait Hope Scale (ATHS)
  18. Kan KC, Subramaniam P, Shahrizaila N, Kamaruzzaman SB, Razali R, Ghazali SE
    Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra, 2019 02 08;9(1):66-76.
    PMID: 31043965 DOI: 10.1159/000495107
    Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of the Malay version of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III (ACE-III) for detecting mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia.

    Methods: A total of 152 participants (dementia = 53, MCI = 38, controls = 61) were recruited from two teaching hospitals. The Malay version of ACE-III was translated following the standard guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of measure. All the participants were assessed with the Malay version of ACE-III and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE).

    Results: The reliability of the Malay version of ACE-III was good with Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.829 and intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.959. There was a strong positive correlation between the Malay version of ACE-III and MMSE (r = 0.806). Age (r = -0.335) and years of education (r = 0.536) exerted a significant correlation with total score performance. The cutoff score to discriminate dementia from healthy controls was 74/75 (sensitivity = 90.6%, specificity = 82.0%) whereas to discriminate MCI, the cutoff score was 77/78 (sensitivity = 63.2%, specificity = 63.9%). The diagnostic accuracy of ACE-III was higher than that of MMSE in the detection of dementia (area under the curve: ACE-III = 0.929 vs. MMSE = 0.915).

    Conclusions: The Malay version of ACE-III demonstrated to be a reliable and valid screening tool for dementia.

  19. Gough N, Brkan L, Subramaniam P, Chiuccariello L, De Petrillo A, Mulsant BH, et al.
    PLoS One, 2020;15(2):e0223029.
    PMID: 32092069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223029
    With technological advancements and an aging population, there is growing interest in delivering interventions at home. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Cognitive Remediation (CR) as well as Cognitive Training (CT) have been widely studied, but mainly in laboratories or hospitals. Thus, the objectives of this review are to examine feasibility and the interventions components to support the domiciliary administration of tDCS and CR. We performed a systematic search of electronic databases, websites and reference lists of included articles from the first date available until October 31, 2018. Articles included had to meet the following criteria: original work published in English using human subjects, majority of tDCS or CR intervention administered remotely. A total of 39 studies were identified (16 tDCS, 23 CR/CT, 5 using both tDCS & CT). Four studies were single case studies and two were multiple case studies. The remaining 33 studies had a range of 9-135 participants. Five tDCS and nine CR/CT studies were double blind randomized controlled trials. Most studies focused on schizophrenia (8/39) and multiple sclerosis (8/39). Literature examined suggests the feasibility of delivering tDCS or CR/CT remotely with the support of information and communication technologies.
  20. Ng JK, Subramaniam P, Ismail F, Ahmad M, Shamsudin NL
    J Pain Symptom Manage, 2022 Nov;64(5):e235-e249.
    PMID: 35931402 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.07.016
    CONTEXT: Life Review Intervention (LRI) has started to shift in emphasis of focus onto persons with cancer and its effectiveness in improving their psychological well-being. The process has now begin integrating into healthcare settings as a complementary treatment for this population.

    OBJECTIVES: The current systematic review aims to synthesize existing feasibility studies on LRI among persons with cancer.

    METHODS: A literature search was conducted from the databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychArticles, Scopus, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, Cochrane, EBSCO, and other methods. Eligible articles were selected based on the predetermined inclusion criteria and data extraction revolved around the study design, intervention procedure, and feasibility and psychological outcome measures.

    RESULTS: The search yielded 8,627 articles, to which respondents simultaneously receiving other forms of psychological interventions were excluded. Eight were selected for evaluation. Four were integrated interventions while the remaining were conducted with the standard intervention. The sample size range from 5 to 90 persons with cancer. All reviewed articles reported optimum feasibility, as presented by recruitment capability, participant retention rate, acceptability and satisfaction, intervention implementation, and evaluation of intervention outcome measures. However, a majority of psychological outcome measures indicated no statistical significance.

    CONCLUSION: LRI is feasible to be implemented among persons with cancer, given the high acceptability and availability of resources for its implementation. The present review highlighted the preliminary knowledge on the feasibility of the intervention.

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