Psychiatric services in primary care settings: a survey of general practitioners in Thailand

BACKGROUND: General Practitioners (GPs) in Thailand play an important role in treating psychiatric disorders since there is a shortage of psychiatrists in the country. Our aim was to examine GP's perception of psychiatric problems, drug treatment and service problems encountered in primary care settings. METHODS: We distributed 1,193 postal questionnaires inquiring about psychiatric practices and service problems to doctors in primary care settings throughout Thailand. RESULTS: Four hundred and thirty-four questionnaires (36.4%) were returned. Sixty-seven of the respondents (15.4%) who had taken further special training in various fields were excluded from the analysis, giving a total of 367 GPs in this study. Fifty-six per cent of respondents were males and they had worked for 4.6 years on average (median = 3 years). 65.6% (SD = 19.3) of the total patients examined had physical problems, 10.7% (SD = 7.9) had psychiatric problems and 23.9% (SD = 16.0) had both problems. The most common psychiatric diagnoses were anxiety disorders (37.5%), alcohol and drugs abuse (28.1%), and depressive disorders (29.2%). Commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs were anxiolytics and antidepressants. The psychotropic drugs most frequently prescribed were diazepam among anti-anxiety drugs, amitriptyline among antidepressant drugs, and haloperidol among antipsychotic drugs. CONCLUSION: Most drugs available through primary care were the same as what existed 3 decades ago. There should be adequate supply of new and appropriate psychotropic drugs in primary care. Case-finding instruments for common mental disorders might be helpful for GPs whose quality of practice was limited by large numbers of patients. However, the service delivery system should be modified in order to maintain successful care for a large number of psychiatric patients

Reliability and validity of the Thai version of the PHQ-9

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most depression screening tools in Thailand are lengthy. The long process makes them impractical for routine use in primary care. This study aims to examine the reliability and validity of a Thai version Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for major depression in primary care patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The English language PHQ-9 was translated into Thai. The process involved back-translation, cross-cultural adaptation, field testing of the pre-final version, as well as final adjustments. The PHQ-9 was then administered among 1,000 patients in family practice clinic. Of these 1,000 patients, 300 were further assessed by the Thai version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Thai version of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). These tools served as gold-standards for diagnosing depression and for assessing symptom severity, respectively. In the assessment, reliability and validity analyses, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Complete data were obtained from 924 participants and 279 interviewed respondents. The mean age of the participants was 45.0 years (SD = 14.3) and 73.7% of them were females. The mean PHQ-9 score was 4.93 (SD = 3.75). The Thai version of the PHQ-9 had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79) and showed moderate convergent validity with the HAM-D (r = 0.56; P < 0.001). The categorical algorithm of the PHQ-9 had low sensitivity (0.53) but very high specificity (0.98) and positive likelihood ratio (27.37). Used as a continuous measure, the optimal cut-off score of PHQ-9 ≥ 9 revealed a sensitivity of 0.84, specificity of 0.77, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.21, negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.99, and positive likelihood ratio of 3.71. The area under the curve (AUC) in this study was 0.89 (SD = 0.05, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.92).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The Thai version of the PHQ-9 has acceptable psychometric properties for screening for major depression in general practice with a recommended cut-off score of nine or greater.</p

Asia-Pacific consensus on long-term and sequential therapy for osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to present the Asia-Pacific consensus on long-term and sequential therapy for osteoporosis, offering evidence-based recommendations for the effective management of this chronic condition. The primary focus is on achieving optimal fracture prevention through a comprehensive, individualized approach. METHODS: A panel of experts convened to develop consensus statements by synthesizing the current literature and leveraging clinical expertise. The review encompassed long-term anti-osteoporosis medication goals, first-line treatments for individuals at very high fracture risk, and the strategic integration of anabolic and antiresorptive agents in sequential therapy approaches. RESULTS: The panelists reached a consensus on 12 statements. Key recommendations included advocating for anabolic agents as the first-line treatment for individuals at very high fracture risk and transitioning to antiresorptive agents following the completion of anabolic therapy. Anabolic therapy remains an option for individuals experiencing new fractures or persistent high fracture risk despite antiresorptive treatment. In cases of inadequate response, the consensus recommended considering a switch to more potent medications. The consensus also addressed the management of medication-related complications, proposing alternatives instead of discontinuation of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus provides a comprehensive, cost-effective strategy for fracture prevention with an emphasis on shared decision-making and the incorporation of country-specific case management systems, such as fracture liaison services. It serves as a valuable guide for healthcare professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to the ongoing evolution of osteoporosis management

Asia–Pacific consensus for the management of osteoporosis in men

Summary Osteoporosis in men is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition that leads to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the aging population. This consensus report provides tailored guidelines for diagnosing, preventing, and treating male osteoporosis in the Asia–Pacific region by integrating global best practices with regional adaptations. Purpose To establish evidence-based, region-specific guidelines for the management of male osteoporosis in the Asia–Pacific region, addressing demographic and lifestyle factors. Methods Expert feedback was gathered through premeeting reviews, consensus conferences, and collaborative discussions. A life-course approach was employed to align international best practices with Asia–Pacific-specific needs, emphasizing continuous monitoring and intervention from middle age onward. Results The 12 consensus strategies systematically approach male osteoporosis management, addressing screening, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term follow-up. Recommendations include the assessment of fracture risk for men aged 50 years and above, use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) testing for men aged 70 years and above, lifestyle modifications, and pharmacological interventions such as bisphosphonates, denosumab, and anabolic agents for high-risk patients. Secondary causes of osteoporosis were highlighted, along with the establishment of fracture liaison services (FLSs) to improve long-term care. A life-course approach was proposed to optimize bone health throughout men’s lives. Conclusion This consensus provides a comprehensive framework tailored to the Asia–Pacific region for diagnosing, preventing, and managing osteoporosis in men. By addressing region-specific challenges and promoting evidence-based interventions, the latest guidelines incorporating the consensus may depict the conceptual direction in reducing fracture risk and improving long-term bone health outcomes for osteoporosis in men

No additional benefit of shortwave diathermy over exercise program for knee osteoarthritis in peri-/post-menopausal women: an equivalence trial

SummaryObjectiveTo evaluate the benefit of shortwave diathermy (SWD) supplemented to an exercise program for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in peri-/post-menopausal women.MethodsA double-blind randomized placebo-controlled equivalence trial was conducted in a university hospital. Participants including 113 women aged 50–85 years with primary knee OA were instructed to do regular quadriceps exercise, and randomized to control (n=60) and treatment (n=53) groups receiving sham SWD and therapeutic SWD, respectively. The treatment being evaluated was continuous SWD, 20min/session, 3sessions/week for 3 weeks. The outcomes including Thai Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA (WOMAC) index, 100-m walking speed, stair ascent-and-descent time, global assessment, patient's satisfaction, and adverse events were assessed at baseline and end of treatment.ResultsAt the end of treatment, both groups had trivial but statistical improvement in all outcomes. Intention-to-treat analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in all outcomes. Per protocol analysis demonstrated the equivalence in Thai WOMAC total score, as the 95% confidence interval of difference (−0.62, 0.92) was within confidence limits of ±1cm.ConclusionThe addition of SWD to an exercise program for knee OA in peri-/post-menopausal women is not superior to the exercise program alone

Design of an Underwater Treadmill System for rehabilitation of older obese adults: a pre-post study

Abstract Background Patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who are obese have problems performing land-based exercises. The reduced joint stress associated with aquatic exercise may benefit these patients. This study aimed to develop an underwater treadmill (UTM) machine that is affordable and suitable for use in developing countries, and to evaluate its efficacy in decreasing pain and increasing functional improvement. Methods Clinical testing of the UTM machine was performed in an outpatient setting at Siriraj Hospital during January–June 2017. Patients with knee OA, aged 50–85 years, numerical rating scale (NRS) ≥5/10, and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m 2 were recruited. The UTM exercise protocol was 30 min/session, 3 days/week, for 4 weeks. The main outcomes were NRS pain score, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), quadriceps strength (QS) and body weight. Those outcomes were evaluated at baseline and at week 4. Results The UTM was constructed with safety, ergonomically designed and user-friendly control panel with push button for emergency stopping. Thirty patients were included for clinical testing. The mean age was 62.8 years, and almost all were female. The mean BMI was 28.9 kg/m 2. Most patients (65.0%) developed bilateral knee OA, used pain medication (56.7%), and engaged in regular knee exercise (73.3%). Of the 30 enrolled patients, 6 withdrew. All of the remaining 24 patients attended all 12 sessions. The mean difference between baseline and the end of the study was − 2.3 (95% CI: − 3.0, − 1.5; p &lt; 0.001) for NRS pain; 34.9 m (95% CI: 14.1, 55.8; p = 0.002) for 6MWD; and, 1.8 kg (95% CI, 1.1, 2.6; p &lt; 0.001) for QS. Concerning adverse events, 4 patients (15.4%) developed muscle pain, 2 patients (7.7%) had joint pain, and 1 patient (3.9%) withdrew due to severe knee pain. Two-thirds of patients described themselves as being ‘very satisfied’ with UTM exercise, and approximately 90% of participants rated their symptoms as ‘improved’ or ‘much improved’. Conclusions 4-week exercise with UTM can significantly improve NRS pain, 6MWD, and QS. UTM could be an alternative treatment for patients with knee OA who are obese due to small size, durability, and ecofriendly design as an exercise modality. </jats:sec