Displaying all 14 publications

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  1. Parker G, Cheah YC, Parker K
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2003 Nov;108(5):367-73.
    PMID: 14531757
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of language and culture on the temperament and character (TCI) measure in a Chinese sample.

    METHOD: We translated the TCI into Mandarin and had a non-psychiatric sample of Malaysian Chinese subjects complete the TCI at baseline and at a 1-month retest, with subsets completing English or Mandarin versions alternatively or on both occasions. Analyses examine the TCI factor structure and any impact of language and culture on TCI scoring.

    RESULTS: We identified age, gender, occupation and language effects on TCI scale scores. Test-retest reliability was high and not compromised by language. Scale internal consistency was also high. Factor analyses of separate sets of TCI scales corresponded strongly to the structure identified in the TCI development studies.

    CONCLUSION: The results indicate that TCI is likely to have applicability to Chinese subjects, and argue against properties being constrained by the English language or by western culture.

  2. Varma SL, Chary TV, Singh S, Azhar MZ, Dharap AS
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1995 Mar;91(3):213-5.
    PMID: 7625199
    Schizophrenics (n = 250) and normal controls (n = 90) were studied to investigate and compare their dermatoglyphic patterns. Their fingerprint patterns were studied. The frequency of arches in the patient and control groups was similar. The frequency of loops in the control group was higher than in the patient group, and the trend was consistent in all the digits. The whorls in the patient group showed an increase over the control group in all the digits, although this finding was not statistically significant.
  3. Bartholomew RE
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1993 Sep;88(3):178-82.
    PMID: 8249649
    François Sirois' influential paradigm for diagnosing episodes of epidemic hysteria is discussed. The part of his schema addressing the large diffuse outbreak should be eliminated as it does not possess characteristic features of mass hysteria and overlooks the potential social, cultural, political, ritualistic and institutional patterning of collective behavior. A case study involving the collective delusion of phantom rockets over Sweden during 1946 illustrates the complexities of such episodes.
  4. Salleh MR
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1994 Mar;89(3):180-5.
    PMID: 8178676 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb08089.x
    Deinstitutionalization has shifted much of the burden of care of chronic schizophrenia from mental institutions to the family. The aim of this study is to asses the prevalence of mental disorders among 210 primary carers of Malay schizophrenic patients, explored the burden and hardship experienced by them. This is a two-stage psychiatric screening procedure. All the cases suspected from initial screening with WHO Self-Reporting Questionnaires (SRQ-20) were called for clinical interview. Patients' behavioural problems and the burden of relatives were assessed by the Social Behaviour Schedule and the Interview Schedule respectively. It was found that about 23% of the carers developed neurotic disorders resulting from the stress; nearly half of them had neurotic depression. Despite their burden, they do not complaint about it. Neurotic carers compared with non-neurotic carers had significantly more subjective burden and distress related to the product of active psychosis. The carers were generally able to tolerate the negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The number of problem behaviours and previous admissions were significantly correlated with the severity of burden.
  5. Kasmini K, Kyaw O, Krishnaswamy S, Ramli H, Hassan S
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1993 Apr;87(4):253-7.
    PMID: 8488745
    This is the first epidemiological survey of mental disorders among children in a Malaysian village. The WHO Research Questionnaire for Children (RQC) was used for initial screening followed by a semistructured interview, the Follow-up Interview for Children (FIC) at its second stage. Diagnosis was obtained by using Rutter's multi-axial classification. The prevalence rates obtained for the diagnostic categories were described in 3 age groups, in accordance with the age of attending school in Malaysia. Of 507 children screened aged 1-15, 6.1% were classified as having a mental disorder.
  6. Razali SM, Khan UA, Hasanah CI
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1996 Oct;94(4):229-33.
    PMID: 8911557
    The concept of aetiology of mental illness in 134 Malay patients was investigated by means of a 20-item checklist. About 53% of the patients attributed their illnesses to supernatural agents. Witchcraft and possession by evil spirits were regarded as common causes of illness. The number of patients who believed in supernatural causes of their mental illness was significantly higher among those who had consulted bomohs (Malay traditional healers) than among those who had not consulted them. The belief that mental illness is caused by supernatural agents is firmly held by bomohs, who reinforce this notion in those who seek their advice. Belief in supernatural causes of mental illness was not significantly associated with age, gender, level of education or occupation of the patients. Patients who believed in supernatural causes of mental illness were also found to show poor drug compliance, and the number of such patients at 6 months follow-up was significantly lower than the corresponding figure for those who did not believe in supernatural causes. The importance of understanding the patients' cultural background when treating psychiatric patients is highlighted.
  7. Azhar MZ, Varma SL
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1995 Apr;91(4):233-5.
    PMID: 7625203
    This study was aimed at determining the effect of psychotherapy in patients in bereavement. Fifteen patients in a control group were given brief psychotherapy and 15 study group patients received psychotherapy with a religious perspective. The patients in the study group showed consistently significant improvements as compared with the control group at the end of 6 months. The results indicate that highly religious patients with grief and bereavement tend to improve faster when a religious psychotherapy is added to a cognitive-behaviour approach.
  8. Azhar MZ, Varma SL, Dharap AS
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1994 Jul;90(1):1-3.
    PMID: 7976440
    Religious patients with generalized anxiety disorder were given religious psychotherapy in addition to supportive psychotherapy anxiolytic drugs. Those receiving religious psychotherapy showed significantly more rapid improvement in anxiety symptoms than those who received supportive psychotherapy and drugs only. Thus, religious patients may require a different form of psychotherapy.
  9. Razali MS, Yahya H
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1995 May;91(5):331-5.
    PMID: 7639089
    The compliance with drug regimens and follow-up visits of 225 known cases of relapsed schizophrenia was assessed. About 27% of the patients met the criteria for good compliance. The compliance was found to be significantly related to the patients' view of usefulness of the medication, treatment duration of less than 5 years, dosage schedule of once or twice per day and the supervision of medication at home. Patients with poor compliance who were prescribed drug dosage of not more than twice per day throughout follow-up and underwent counseling to enhance treatment compliance had a significantly lower relapse rate than the controlled group at the end of 1 year of follow-up. The importance of family support and understanding patients' cultural background in ensuring good compliance was highlighted.
  10. Kua EH, Tsoi WF
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1985 Mar;71(3):227-9.
    PMID: 3984765
    In a study of suicide in Singapore in 1980 there were 230 cases and the suicide rate for the general population was 9.5 per 100,000. The age-specific rates increased steeply after 50 years and there was a male preponderance especially in the age group 60 years and over. Comparing the three major ethnic groups in Singapore, the highest rate was seen in the Indians and Chinese, whereas the Malays had the lowest. Amongst the suicides there were 59 (25.7%) with mental illness, mainly schizophrenia, and they were of a younger age group, 20-39 years. The commonest method of suicide was jumping from high-rise flats.
  11. Ong SB, Lee CT
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 1981 Mar;63(3):198-207.
    PMID: 7015790
    A double-blind study was carried out to compare the efficacy and tolerability of nomifensine and amitriptyline in 17 Malaysian patients with moderate to severe depression. The two drugs did not differ with regard to antidepressant effect but nomifensine-treated subjects report fewer side-effects with no complaints of palpitations. Nomifensine also increases capacity for work and activity.
  12. Bauer M, Glenn T, Alda M, Aleksandrovich MA, Andreassen OA, Angelopoulos E, et al.
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2017 Dec;136(6):571-582.
    PMID: 28722128 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12772
    OBJECTIVE: To confirm prior findings that the larger the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation in springtime, the younger the age of onset of bipolar disorder.

    METHOD: Data were collected from 5536 patients at 50 sites in 32 countries on six continents. Onset occurred at 456 locations in 57 countries. Variables included solar insolation, birth-cohort, family history, polarity of first episode and country physician density.

    RESULTS: There was a significant, inverse association between the maximum monthly increase in solar insolation at the onset location, and the age of onset. This effect was reduced in those without a family history of mood disorders and with a first episode of mania rather than depression. The maximum monthly increase occurred in springtime. The youngest birth-cohort had the youngest age of onset. All prior relationships were confirmed using both the entire sample, and only the youngest birth-cohort (all estimated coefficients P < 0.001).

    CONCLUSION: A large increase in springtime solar insolation may impact the onset of bipolar disorder, especially with a family history of mood disorders. Recent societal changes that affect light exposure (LED lighting, mobile devices backlit with LEDs) may influence adaptability to a springtime circadian challenge.

  13. Stubbs B, Koyanagi A, Schuch FB, Firth J, Rosenbaum S, Veronese N, et al.
    Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2016 12;134(6):546-556.
    PMID: 27704532 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12654
    OBJECTIVE: Physical activity (PA) is good for health, yet several small-scale studies have suggested that depression is associated with low PA. A paucity of nationally representative studies investigating this relationship exists, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study explored the global association of PA with depression and its mediating factors.
    METHOD: Participants from 36 LMICs from the World Health Survey were included. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were undertaken exploring the relationship between PA and depression.
    RESULTS: Across 178 867 people (mean ± SD age = 36.2 ± 13.5 years; 49.9% male), the prevalence of depression and the prevalence of low PA were 6.6% and 16.8% respectively. The prevalence of low PA was significantly higher among those with depression vs. no depression (26.0% vs. 15.8%, P < 0.0001). In the adjusted model, depression was associated with higher odds for low PA (OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.24-1.63). Mediation analyses demonstrated that low PA among people with depression was explained by mobility limitations (40.3%), pain and discomfort (35.8%), disruptions in sleep and energy (25.2%), cognition (19.4%) and vision (10.9%).
    CONCLUSION: Individuals with depression engage in lower levels of PA in LMICs. Future longitudinal research is warranted to better understand the relationships observed.
    Study name: World Health Survey (Malaysia is a study site)
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