Developing a Psychosocial Recovery Model for Depressed Young People in Malaysia Using an Adapted Grounded Theory Approach

Depression has become a severe health concern and there is an alarming rise in the depression rate in Malaysia. The main objective of this study is to investigate the role of psychosocial aspects in the depression recovery process among young people in Malaysia. We aimed to develop a depression recovery model from a psychosocial aspect. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants aged 18 to 40. The recruitment of participants was through referral from clinical settings and snowball sampling via online advertisements. This case study sheds light on our understanding of depression recovery from a non-biomedical model. In this case, we share the challenges faced when conducting this study and how we overcame them by adopting openness and flexibility. Other relevant issues will be discussed, namely, ethical consideration when research participants were researchers’ students or patients, sensitivity needed when conducting interviews related to mental health issues, dealing with the seemingly contradictory issue of non-assumption when adopting a grounded theory approach in research, and integration of the personal experience of recovery into the existing normative definition of recovery

The risk factors of self-destructive behaviours among Malaysian young adults : a preliminary finding

Young adulthood has been identified as the developmental stage with highest suicidal risks in Malaysia. This study aimed to examine the risk factors associated with self-destructive behaviours (i.e. non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt) among Malaysian young adults. This is a preliminary finding of a survey on 531 university students aged 18 to 25 years old based on a self-reported questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire – 28(GHQ-28). The prevalence for non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt was 8.5%,8.4%, 5.8% and 3.6% 3.5% respectively. Further analysis found that severe depression were positively associated with these self-destructive behaviours as well as overall psychological distress. Furthermore, some chronic physical health problems found to be associated with self-destructive behaviours. Insights on the risk factors of self-destructive behaviours among Malaysian youth are crucial in comprehensive mental health management of this alarming problem, as most research rarely focuses on effective measures of treatment and intervention of such behaviours. The findings of the current study may of benefits to policy makers, parents and mental health professional as self-destructive behaviours may be a signal of psychological distress among young adulthood

Effectiveness of online Mindfulness-Based Intervention (iMBI) on inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and executive functioning in college emerging adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a study protocol

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a common neurodevelopmental disorder, often persists into adulthood. In Malaysia, the prevalence rate of hyperactivity symptoms is highest among Chinese Malaysians. There are limited evidence-based treatment options targeting the core symptoms of ADHD, as well as executive functioning. In addition, conventional psychotherapeutic approaches for adults with ADHD have been found to be highly labor-intensive. The present study will evaluate the effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based intervention to reduce inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity and improve executive functioning among Chinese Malaysian college emerging adults with ADHD. Informed by established literature, we will design an 8-week online mindfulness-based intervention (i.e., iMBI). We will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing an iMBI plus treatment-as-usual group (n = 54) and an enhanced treatment-as-usual control group (n = 54). Outcome measures of inattention, hyperactivity-impulsivity, and executive functioning will be collected at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 1-month post-intervention. The findings of the present study will not only demonstrate the implementation of iMBI as a new treatment modality but also inform practitioners on the effectiveness of iMBI in reducing the burden of adults living with ADHD

Assessing the effectiveness of a mental health literacy programme for refugee teachers in Malaysia

Background: Children and young refugees often experience negative events that affect their mental health. Their caregivers may also be in the same predicament, implying that the teachers in schools are a potential source of help and support. However, most teachers have little understanding of mental health and are, thus, clueless in helping their students. To address this need, a newly developed one-day mental health literacy programme was conducted among 68 refugee teachers in Malaysia. Methods: Participants learned the symptoms of mental health issues among children and adolescents in the context of post-trauma, provision of early intervention, and channel for professional supports. They also answered a packet of measurements of mental health literacy before and after the programme. Results: The paired sample t-test showed that participants reported higher willingness to contact with people having mental health problems (t = 2.787, P = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.394), less stereotypes toward mental illness (t = 4.603, P < 0.001, d = 0.651) and a better understanding of self-help strategies (t = 2.16, P = .036, d = 0.322) than baseline. Conclusion: The results of this study offered preliminary empirical evidence on the effectiveness of the programme as a promising channel for alleviating mental health issues among refugees

A review on phonological awareness and visual-spatial ability among children with dyslexia

This review aims to present an overview of current research findings on the possible relationship between phonological awareness and visual-spatial skills among individuals with dyslexia. Narrative review of the relevant articles were obtained through computerized searches of databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC) and Google Scholar which included articles from SAGE, Taylor & Francis and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Press from the year 2000 to 2014. The key words were explored, both exclusively and in combination with each other, so as to provide a better understanding of the relationship between them among individuals with dyslexia. Although it is evident that there is a phonological deficit in individuals with dyslexia, however, it is inconclusive with regards to the visual-spatial deficit and strength. There is a consensus on the nature of phonological awareness skill deficits but not on the visual spatial abilities in dyslexia. In fact, the relationship between phonological awareness and visual spatial abilities in dyslexia is dependent on the area of visual ability measured

The mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between executive functioning deficits and employee well-being

Executive functioning and its related components have been found to promote well-being. However, there is a limited understanding of the underlying mechanism. Drawing from the job demands–resources and PERMA models, the present study examined the hypothetical mediating role of work engagement in the relationship between executive functioning deficit and well-being among 314 working adults in Malaysia. Participants answered a survey consisting of the Executive Skills Questionnaire-Revised (ESQ-R; a new measure of executive functioning deficits for working adults), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Employee Well-Being Scale, and Self-Rated Creativity Scale. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the ESQ-R score was negatively associated with all other target variables, while the latter was positively related to each other. Moreover, supporting the hypotheses, the results of mediation analysis using PROCESS macro found that work engagement mediated the negative relationship between executive functioning deficits and well-being after statistically controlling for the creativity score. The findings not only replicate the beneficial role of executive functioning in employees’ well-being but also shed light on the underlying process of the relationship. Implications and directions for future studies are discussed

Ultra-Brief Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention Effects on Mental Health During the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak in Malaysia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The federal government of Malaysia recently implemented a nationwide Movement Control Order (MCO) to control the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the MCO has had a negative impact on people’s mental well-being. Interventions that can improve people’s mental health when their movement is restricted are therefore urgently needed. The present study investigated the impact of an ultra-brief online mindfulness-based intervention on mental health using a two-arm randomized controlled trial design. A total of 161 participants self-reported their distress, anxiety, psychological insecurity, and well-being at baseline and post-treatment, while 61 of them answered the same set of measures and the fear of COVID-19 scale in a follow-up study two weeks later. A multivariate analysis of covariance found the intervention reduced psychological insecurity levels measured during post-treatment. Moreover, gender, the experience of practicing mindfulness, and participants’ experiences of undergoing quarantine were found to play a role in post-treatment measures. No significant difference was found between the baseline and follow-up treatment. However, hierarchical multiple regression found that psychological insecurity measured at baseline positively predicted the level of fear after controlling for demographic variables. Overall, the findings suggest that an online mindfulness intervention is a potentially useful tool for alleviating people’s mental health difficulties

Data_Sheet_1_Anxiety and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of staff and students from a tertiary education center in Malaysia.PDF

AimWe examined the anxiety levels and coping strategies among staff and students of a tertiary educational institution during the COVID-19 pandemic and determined the association between anxiety level and coping strategies.MethodThrough an online survey, we used Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) to measure the level of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 crisis and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE) to assess the coping responses adopted to handle stressful life events. Coping strategies were classified as adaptive and maladaptive, for which the aggregate sores were calculated. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the predictors of anxiety adjusted for potentially confounding variables. Results from 434 participants were available for analysis.ResultsThe mean score (SD) of the CAS was 1.1 (1.8). The mean scores of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were 35.69 and 19.28, respectively. Multiple linear regression revealed that maladaptive coping [Adjusted B coefficient = 4.106, p-value ConclusionMaladaptive coping and presence of comorbidities were the predictors of coronavirus anxiety. The apparent lack of anxiety in relation to COVID-19 and movement restriction is reflective of the reported high level of satisfaction with the support and services provided during the COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia. Adaptive coping strategies were adopted more frequently than maladaptive. Nevertheless, public education on positive coping strategies and anxiety management may be still be relevant to provide mental health support to address the needs of the general population.</p

Traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants of depression among university students in Malaysia: a pilot study

Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students

Identification of potential protein biomarkers in a depressed chinese malaysian university student using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Depression is a serious psychological disorder with high prevalence rates, especially among university students. Serum proteins related to the immune system and oxygen and lipid transfer could have contributing roles in the development of depression and could act as biomarkers for depression. Currently, there is a lack of accurate biological methods that can be used to diagnose depression. Biomarkers could be an inexpensive and convenient way to predict depression and understand its pathophysiology. This study aimed to screen the serum proteome profile of a depressed student for the identification of potential depression biomarkers. A Malaysian private university student who was recruited from the pre-test study (n = 10) was further analyzed for serum proteome due to the fact that he was depressed, with scores of 15 out of 27 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). After depleting the high-abundance proteins from the serum sample, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed to identify the expressed proteins. A total of 224 proteins were identified. Globins, globulins, apolipoproteins and glycoproteins were most commonly detected. Here, we show the potential biomarkers that can be used to identify depression vulnerable individuals. These findings may be relevant to the development of new diagnostic and treatment strategies. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and healthy controls are needed to confirm the role of these candidate biomarkers for the prediction and diagnosis of depression