Methods: We utilised 2,179 referrals between January and December 2015 from six general hospitals and three mental health institutions that provide clinical psychology services.
Results: The percentage of male referrals (60.3%) is higher than that of female referrals (39.7%). Adult cases had the highest percentage of referrals (48.2%). Children (48.8%) and adolescent (28.1%) cases were mainly referred for psychological assessment. Meanwhile, adult cases (74.8%) were mainly referred for psychological intervention. Neurodevelopmental disorders was the diagnosis with the highest percentage of referrals recorded (41.4%), followed by depressive disorders (13.3%) and anxiety disorders (12.7%), and the combination of other disorders. Psychiatrists provided the highest number of referrals (82.2%), which is unsurprising as both fields are closely related.
Conclusion: Clinical psychology services within the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia play an important role in mental health care.