Validation of the Malay Translation of Drug Attitude Inventory.

INTRODUCTION: The Drug Attitude Inventory 9 (DAI-9) is a nine-item self-rated questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed positive and negative attitudes of patients toward taking medication, presence of medication side effects and perceived autonomy in treatment decision. Aim: This study aimed to validate the psychometric properties of the Malay translation of Drug Attitude Inventory 9 (MDAI-9). METHOD: DAI-9 was translated from English to Malay via forward and backward translation process to produce MDAI-9. MDAI-9 was then validated on patients with psychosis who were attending psychiatry out-patient clinics. Results: There were 54 participants in this study. The subscale (attitude towards psychotropic medications) has a Cronbach's α of 0.93, whereas the subscale that assesses the presence of side effect problems has a Cronbach's α of 0.86. Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor model. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin's measure of sampling adequacy was 0.64 and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (​​​​​X2   (36) = 281.8, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, MDAI-9 is reliable and valid.

Psychometric Properties of the Malay Translation of the Medication Adherence Rating Scale.

INTRODUCTION: The Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) is a self-rated questionnaire that assesses medication compliance. AIM: This study aimed to validate the Malaysian language translation of the MARS (MARS-M). METHOD: The original scale was translated to Malay via forward and backward translation process. The psychometric properties of the MARS-M were validated on clinical samples (N = 54). RESULTS: The MARS-M was filled by 54 participants. Exploratory factor analysis supported a two-factor model. Factor 1 of the MARS-M consisted of four items (α = 0.84), while factor 2 consisted of three items (α = 0.78).Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.60, and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (X2 (28) = 66.4, p <0.001). CONCLUSION: The MARS-M is reliable and valid.

An Illustration of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Perinatal Depression.

This is a case of a 38-year-old married woman presenting with major depressive disorder one month after the birth of her third child. The depressive episode began in the context of interpersonal difficulties with her husband. In addition, she was also battling an internal conflict of continuing to pursue her career dream as an obstetrician and fulfilling her responsibility as a wife and a mother. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) was selected as the treatment choice as an evidence-based peripartum treatment that could specifically address the two presenting problem areas, i.e., marital interpersonal dispute and role transition. This paper provides an illustration of IPT sessions conducted with verbatim selections of the sessions.

When all else fails: supervised treatment in outpatient for schizophrenia (STOPS).

This was about a case of a patient requiring admission to psychiatry ward twice a year for relapse schizophrenia due to medication non-compliance. Medication adherence was previously monitored by her husband. However, following the death of her husband, she stopped treatment. The lack of insight and poor family support further contributed to her relapse. She presented with positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia during her relapse, neglecting her hygiene and oral intake. She was also found to have anaemia as a result of poor diet when she was in relapse. Community psychiatry services had attempted to ensure compliance with postdischarge plan but failed as patient was not present every home visits. Supervised treatment in outpatient for schizophrenia (STOPS) provided an alternative method to ensure compliance in this patient. Patient has remained in remission for 1 year since the use of STOPS.