Social anhedonia in Malaysian schizophrenia patients and healthy participants.

The reduced capacity for social and interpersonal interactions, social anhedonia, is an important aspect of various psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The goal of the present study was to validate a Malay translation of the adult version of the Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS; Gooding and Pflum, 2014), a relatively short and easy to administer indirect measure of social anhedonia. This cross-sectional study included 95 (47 male, 48 female) schizophrenia patients and 300 (77 male, 223 female) healthy subjects. Participants were given Malay versions of the ACIPS, Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS-M), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-M). The ACIPS exhibited good internal consistency (Ordinal alpha = 0.966). Total ACIPS scores were inversely correlated with the BDI-M scores, and positively correlated with total SHAPS-M scores. Factor analysis yielded a three-factor solution which accounted for 52.06% of the variance. As expected, the schizophrenia patients scored significantly lower than the healthy community participants on the ACIPS, t(130) = 4.26, p < 0.001. The Malay translation of the ACIPS showed good concurrent validity and excellent internal consistency. Taken together, these data provide further validation for the utility of the ACIPS in a cross-cultural context.

Fear of Covid-19 and Burnout Among Healthcare Providers in Malaysia: Is Resilience a Missing Link?

@#Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers have been in great fear due to the high risk of contracting COVID-19 infection at any time. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of resilience on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout in primary care healthcare providers in Malaysia. Methods: This was an online cross-sectional study involving 1280 healthcare providers aged 18 years and older from 30 government primary care clinics in Malaysia. We used the COVID-19 Fear Scale, the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory Scale, and the Short Brief Resilience Scale to collect data from the respondents. Smart-PLS was used to perform mediation analysis. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36 years old and mean duration of working experience was 11 years. The majority of the respondents were female (82.4%) and Malays (82.3%). The study population consisted of nurses (47.4%), doctors (26%), medical assistants (11.9), healthcare assistant (7.1%), medical laboratory technicians (6.4%) and drivers(1.3).The results show that fear of COVID-19 positively predicts burnout. According to the results, resilience mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and all the three burnout domains, namely personal burnout (β=0.175,p<0.001), work-related burnout (β=0.175,p<0.001) and client-related burnout (β=0.172,p<0.001). Additionally, resilience reduces the impact of COVID-19 fear on the three domains of burnout. Conclusion: Our study has reported a mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and burnout.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies validating Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in fathers.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a reliable measure for detecting paternal postpartum depression. The study's purpose is to determine the appropriate cut-off scores of EPDS for fathers. Our research was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The time frame of the search was from the issuance of EPDS in 1987 until January 2021. The analysis comprised of studies that compared EPDS scores for depression from validated diagnostic interviews. For EPDS cut-off values of 7-13, a bivariate random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity, as well as the diagnostic odds ratio. Seven studies with a total of 2393 participants were identified. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were satisfactory at cut-off values of 7-10, with significant diagnostic odds ratio. The EPDS accuracy was unaffected by the prevalence of depression, the fathers' mean age, or the translated language. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale has acceptable properties for detecting paternal postpartum depression, with cut-off scores ranging from 7 to 10.

The Malay version of smartphone addiction scale: Development, factor structure and validation of a short form for Malaysian adolescents

@#Introduction: This study aimed to validate the Malay version of the short form Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M-SF) and to examine its psychometric properties in a cohort of pre-university adolescents. Methods: We obtained the validity and reliability evidence for the SAS-M-SF using a group of 307 pre-university students in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia with a mean age of 18.4±0.2 years (70.4% female and 29.6% male). A questionnaire containing the Malay version of Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M), the Malay version of the short form Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-M-SF), and the Malay version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT-M) was administered on the adolescents. Results: The SAS-M-SF displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.80). Using principle component analysis, we identified a 4-factor SAS-M-SF model. A significant correlation between the SAS-M-SF and the IAT-M was found, lending support for concurrent validity. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 54.5% based on cut-off score of ≥36 with a sensitivity of 70.2% and a specificity of 72.5%. Conclusions: The 10-item SAS-M-SF is a valid and reliable screening tool for smartphone addiction among adolescents. The scale can help clinicians or educators design appropriate intervention and prevention programs targeting smartphone addiction in adolescents at clinical or school settings.

Effects Of A School-Based Substance Use Prevention Program On Students In Malaysia

Background: The rise in substance-use-related problems among Malaysian adolescents called for a study to assess the efficacy of an anti-drug educational program to improve the knowledge, attitudeand perception (KAP) of Malaysian students regarding substance use. Methods: This study involved 573 students from four Malaysian Chinese schools in Malacca. Each student filled out a Likert-scale mandarin translated questionnaire (KAP-C) on substance use ( Pre-test). Following an educational program on substance use, the KAP-C questionnaire was given again to the students, immediately following the program (PT 1), and after a month (PT 2) and two months (PT3) of the programme. Results: The students showed improvement in knowledge of the types of substance use in PT 1 (p<0.001), PT 2 (p<0.001) and PT 3 (p<0.001). The study also showed persistent changes in their attitude towards drug treatment strategies at two months following the program (p < 0.05). Changes were also noted in their attitudestowards harm reduction strategies. Perceptions towards the substance-related problems changed following the module (p=0.001), and remained even after two months (p<0.001). Conclusion: This module effectively changed the KAP of students on substance use.

Prevalence and factors associated with internet addiction among medical students - A cross-sectional study in Malaysia

Introduction: Internet is important to university students, especially for medical students who use it to search for literature and relevant information. However, some of the users are experiencing a gradual loss of the ability to reduce the duration and frequency of their internet activities, despite the negative consequences. The literature on internet usage among Malaysian medical students is limited. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with internet usage among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among all the medical students (Year 1-5). Students were assessed on their internet activities using the internet addiction questionnaires (IAT). A Multiple Logistic Regression was used for data analysis. Results: The study was conducted among 426 students. The study population consisted of 156 males (36.6%) and 270 females (63.4%). The mean age was 21.6 ±1.5 years. Ethnicity distribution among the students was: Malays (55.6%), Chinese (34.7%), Indians (7.3%) and others (2.3%). According to the IAT, 36.9% of the study sample was addicted to the internet. Using the multivariate logistic regression analysis, we have found that the use of internet access for entertainment purposes (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-12.00), male students (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.01-3.21) and increasing frequency of internet usage were associated with internet addiction (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.09- 1.67). Conclusion: Internet addiction is a relatively frequent phenomenon among medical students. The predictors of internet addiction were male students using it for surfing and entertainment purposes.

Association of brain-derived neurotrophic factor valine to methionine polymorphism with sexual dysfunction following selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment in female patients with major depressive disorder.

INTRODUCTION: The occurrence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) treatment gives negative impacts on patients' quality of life and causes treatment discontinuation. We aimed to investigate whether genetic polymorphism of identified candidate gene is associated with FSD in our study population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 95 female patients with MDD who met the criteria of the study were recruited and were specifically assessed on the sexual function by trained psychiatrists. Patients' DNA was genotyped for BDNF Val66Met polymorphism using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The prevalence of FSD in this study is 31.6%. In the FSD group, patients with problematic marriage were significantly more frequent compared with patients who did not have problematic marriage (P = 0.009). Significant association was detected in the lubrication domain with BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (P = 0.030) using additive genetic model, with even stronger association when using the recessive model (P = 0.013). DISCUSSION: This study suggested that there was no significant association between BDNF Val66Met with FSD. However, this polymorphism is significantly associated with lubrication disorder in patients treated with SSRIs.

Factorial validity and reliability of the Malaysian simplified Chinese version of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-SCV) among a group of university students.

This study was aimed at validating the simplified Chinese version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Support (MSPSS-SCV) among a group of medical and dental students in University Malaya. Two hundred and two students who took part in this study were given the MSPSS-SCV, the Medical Outcome Study social support survey, the Malay version of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Malay version of the General Health Questionnaire, and the English version of the MSPSS. After 1 week, these students were again required to complete the MSPSS-SCV but with the item sequences shuffled. This scale displayed excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = .924), high test-retest reliability (.71), parallel form reliability (.92; Spearman's ρ, P < .01), and validity. In conclusion, the MSPSS-SCV demonstrated sound psychometric properties in measuring social support among a group of medical and dental students. It could therefore be used as a simple screening tool among young educated Malaysian adolescents.

Duration of hypertension and antihypertensive agents in correlation with the phases of female sexual response cycle.

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the construct of the phases of the female sexual response cycle (SRC) in women with hypertension and their association with the duration of hypertension and types of antihypertensive agents. METHODS: The sexual response phases were measured with a validated Malay version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). The correlations structure of the items of the SRC's phases (i.e. desire, arousal, orgasm, satisfaction and pain) was determined using principal component analysis (PCA), with varimax rotation method. The number of factors obtained was decided using Kaiser's criteria. A total of 348 hypertensive women were recruited for this study. Four constructs were extracted in the analysis of all subjects. RESULTS: Using the factor analysis, the six domains (i.e. sexual desire, arousal, etc.) of the women's SRC among hypertensive women merged into 4 constructs. They were composed of (i) sexual desire and arousal, (ii) orgasm and sexual satisfaction, (iii) vaginal lubrication and (iv) sexual pain. Interestingly, vaginal lubrication stood out alone as one construct, compared to the non-hypertensive women. It was also observed that the duration of hypertension, beta blocker and diuretic antihypertensive medications had different influence on the SCR (in terms of constructs). CONCLUSION: Duration of hypertension and types of antihypertensive drugs may affect the components of the SRC. A clear understanding would help the clinician in strategizing the treatment approach of sexual dysfunction in women with hypertension.

Factorial Validity And Reliability Of The Simplified-Chinese Version Of Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale : A Study Among Depressed Patients At An Out-Patient Clinic In Malaysia

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a self-assessment scale designed to evaluate anhedonia in various psychiatric disorders. To facilitate its use in Malaysian settings, our current study aimed to examine the validity of the Simplified-Chinese translated version of the SHAPS (SHAPS-SC) in a group of subjects at a university out-patient clinic. Method: A total of 40 depressed patients were recruited in this cross sectional study. They were given both the Simplified Chinese and Malay versions of SHAPS, General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to assess their hedonic state, general mental health condition and level of depression. Results: Our study showed that SHAPS-SC had impressive internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.84) and concurrent validity, and fair parallel-forms reliability (Pearson’s correlation 0.39). Conclusion: SHAPS-SC demonstrate good psychometric properties in the evaluation of hedonic state among a group of Chinese speaking depressed patients in an out-patient setting. It is easy to administer and suitable as a valid and reliable questionnaire in assessing anhedonia among depressed patients in Malaysia.

Factorial validity and reliability of the Tamil version of multidimensional scale of perceived social support among a group of participants in university malaya medical centre, malaysia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was done to validate the Tamil version of Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-TV) among a group of Indian participants in University Malaya. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-four people who took part in this study were given MSPSS-TV, Medical Outcome Study (MOS) social support survey, Malay version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Malay version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and English version of MSPSS. After a week, these participants were again required to complete the MSPSS-TV, but with the item sequences shuffled. RESULTS: Internal consistency of this scale was excellent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.924), and both test-retest reliability (0.71) and parallel form reliability (0.92) were high (Spearman's rho, P<0.01). MSPSS-TV was negatively correlated with GHQ and BDI. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The MSPSS-TV demonstrated sound psychometric properties in gauging the social support among a group of participants. It could therefore be used as a simple screening tool among the young educated Malaysians.

Exhaled carbon monoxide levels among Malaysian male smokers with nicotine dependence.

We studied the use of exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) to identify nicotine dependence among adult Malaysian male smokers. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 107 male smoking staff at a university hospital. We measured their exhaled CO using a piCO+ Smokerlyzer and diagnosed nicotine dependence using a Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The optimal cut-off value for exhaled CO was determined. The correlation between exhaled CO level and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) was also assessed. The mean exhaled CO level among subjects with nicotine dependence (15.78 ppm) was significantly higher than subjects without nicotine dependence (9.62 ppm). The cut-off value used to identify smokers with nicotine dependence was set at 10 ppm (specificity = 0.721, sensitivity = 0.731, positive predictive value = 0.817 and negative predictive value = 0.617). Psychometric properties were stable with various durations of smoking. Exhaled CO correlated positively with FTND scores (Pearson's rho = 0.398, p = 0.01). Our findings show exhaled CO can be used to identify nicotine dependence among adult Malaysian male smokers.