Взаємодія органів прокуратури з іншими державними органами та органами місцевого самоврядування в контексті нагляду за додержанням законів щодо захисту прав і свобод дітей

Стаття присвячена дослідженню окремих аспектів взаємодії органів прокуратури з іншими державними органами і органами місцевого самоврядування в контексті нагляду за додержанням законів щодо захисту прав і свобод дітей. Окрім того, автор досліджує завдання, суб’єктний склад і форми такої; діяльності, а також критерії визначення ефективності взаємодії із зазначеними суб’єктами. Ключові слова: прокуроський нагляд, права і свободи дітей, координація, взаємодія, суб’єкти взаємодії, форми взаємодії, ефективність взаємодії.Статья посвящена исследованию отдельных аспектов взаимодействия органов прокуратуры с иными государственными органами и органами местного самоуправления в контексте надзора за соблюдением законов относительно защиты прав и свобод детей. Кроме того, автор исследует задания, субъектный состав и формы такой деятельности, а также критерии определения эффективности взаимодействия с указанными субъектами. Ключевые слова: прокурорский надзор, права и свободы детей, координация, взаимодействие, субъекты взаимодействия, формы взаимодействия, эффективность взаимодействия.Article is devoted to research of separate aspects of interaction of bodies of Office of Public Prosecutor with other state structures and local governments in a context of supervision of observance of laws concerning protection of the rights and freedoms of children. Besides, the author investigates tasks, subjective structure and forms of such activity, and also criteria of definition of efficiency of interaction with the specified subjects. Key words: public prosecutor’s supervision, the rights and freedom of children, coordination, interaction, subjects of interaction, the interaction form, efficiency of interaction

Diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in cancer patients: a review

<p>Objectives: The lack of universal criteria makes diagnosing clinical depression in cancer patients a challenging task. We therefore review the current state of evidence regarding such diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder in cancer patients. Methods: We conducted a literature search for studies which compare two or more sets of diagnostic criteria for depression in cancer patients. The results were extracted and summarized. Results: Three original studies were included in this review. One study supported the use of substitutive (Endicott) criteria. Another study showed the potential of an increased threshold approach and one had no conclusive findings. Conclusion: There was no standard reference test and precise definition of alternative criteria in these studies. There are no recognized diagnostic criteria for depression in cancer patients despite an apparent need for such criteria.</p>

Validation of the Malay version of the multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS-M) among a group of medical students in Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the Malay version of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS-M) among a group of medical students in Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya. Methods: 237 students participated in the study. They were given the Malay version of MSPSS, medical outcome study (MOS) social support survey, Malay version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Malay version of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and English version of MSPSS. A week later, these students were again given the Malay version of MSPSS. Results: The instrument displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.89), parallel form reliability (0.94) and test�retest reliability (0.77) (Spearman's rho, p < 0.01). The negative correlation of the total and subscales of the instrument with the Malay version of GHQ and BDI confirmed its validity. Extraction method of the 12 items MSPSS using principle axis factoring with direct oblimin rotation converged into three factors of perceived social support (Family, Friends and Significant Others) with reliability coefficients of 0.88, 0.82 and 0.94, respectively. Conclusion: The Malay version of the MSPSS demonstrated good psychometric properties in measuring social support among a group of medical students from Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya and it could be used as a simple instrument on young educated Malaysian adolescents

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of aripiprazole for the treatment of methamphetamine dependence and associated psychosis

Objectives. The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy and safety of aripiprazole for treatment of psychosis, retention and abstinence in patients with methamphetamine dependence. Methods. This was a double-blind study where 37 methamphetamine dependent patients with history of psychosis were randomly assigned to receive aripiprazole (5-10 mg daily, N = 19) or placebo (N = 18) for 8 weeks. Follow-up evaluation was scheduled on day 7, 14, 28, 42 day 56 after enrolment. Results. Participants on aripiprazole were retained significantly longer in treatment (48.7 days, SD = 4.0) compared to placebo (37.1 days, SD = 5.0). The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that participants on aripiprazole were less likely to drop out of the study than the placebo group (P = 0.02, x(2) = 5.3). Psychotic symptoms significantly decreased among those on aripiprazole as compared to placebo (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significance was found between the two groups in maintaining abstinence (generalised estimation equation (GEE) analysis, P = 0.41). No serious adverse events were reported in either group. Conclusion. Aripiprazole was no more effective than placebo in maintaining abstinence from methamphetamine use. However, it facilitated treatment retention and reduced the severity of psychotic symptoms. Aripiprazole was found to be generally safe and well tolerated

Association of ADRA2A and MTHFR gene polymorphisms with weight loss following antipsychotic switching to aripiprazole or ziprasidone

ObjectivesVarious genetic polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with antipsychotic-induced weight gain. In this study, we aimed to determine whether risk polymorphisms in 12 candidate genes are associated with reduction in body mass index (BMI) of patients following switching of antipsychotics to aripiprazole or ziprasidone. MethodsWe recruited 115 schizophrenia patients with metabolic abnormalities and who have been on at least 1year treatment with other antipsychotics; they were then switched to either aripiprazole or ziprasidone. They were genotyped, and their BMI monitored for 6months. ResultsSignificant associations with reduction in BMI at 6months following switching were found in two of these genes: with rs1800544 of the ADRA2A gene (CC+CG -0.321.41kg/m(2) vs GG -1.04 +/- 1.63kg/m(2), p=0.013) and with rs1801131 of the MTHFR gene (AA -0.36 +/- 1.53 vs AC+CC -1.07 +/- 1.53, p=0.015). ConclusionThe study data indicated that carriage of the ADRA2A rs1800544 GG genotype and the MTHFR rs1801131 C allele are associated with BMI reduction in this population following switching of antipsychotics to aripiprazole and ziprasidone. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Factorial validation of the Malay version of multidimension scale of perceived social support among a group of psychiatric patients

Introduction: There is increasing awareness of the contribution of perceived social support (PSS) to emotional and physical well-being. Numerous scales measuring PSS have been developed, including the widely used Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The psychometric properties of the MSPSS have been demonstrated in diverse samples, however mostly are conducted in English. Malay is the official language in Malaysia, and this study was conducted to provide evidence of the validity and reliability of a Malay version MSPSS (MSPSS-M) suited for our population. Methods: This is a cross sectional study. The sociodemographic and clinical information of the selected patients from psychiatric outpatient clinic over a 3-month period, were obtained via predesigned questionnaire, interviews and medical records. Assessment of psychiatric symptoms and social support were measured by various instruments including the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS-E), Depressive, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and MSPSS-M. Results: Data were reported for 228 psychiatric outpatients with the mean age of 40.3 years old. The 3-factor structure of the MSPSS-M (significant others, family, and friends) fitted the data well. The MSPSS-M showed good internal consistency (Cronbach a of 0.89) and validity. The scores of the total subscales for MSPSS-M were negatively correlated with the depression subscale in DASS (p<0.05). BPRS was negatively correlated with significant others (P<0.01) compared to the other two subscales in MSPSS-M. Conclusions: The Malay version MSPSS (MSPSS-M) is a psychometrically valid instrument with high internal consistency, which is useful in assessing perceived social support in Malaysian population

Rapid response to methylphenidate as an add-on therapy to mirtazapine in the treatment of major depressive disorder in terminally ill cancer patients: a four-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

This is a 4 week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to examine the effects of methylphenidate as add-on therapy to mirtazapine compared to placebo for treatment of depression in terminally ill cancer patients. It involved 88 terminally ill cancer patients from University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were randomized and treated with either methylphenidate or placebo as add on to mirtazapine. The change in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score from baseline to day 3 was analyzed by linear regression. Changes of MADRS and Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) over 28 days were analyzed using mixed model repeated measures (MMRM). Secondary analysis of MADRS response rates, defined as 50 or more reduction from baseline score. A significantly larger reduction of Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score in the methylphenidate group was observed from day 3 (B=4.14; 95 CI =1.83-6.45). Response rate (defined as 50 or more reduction from baseline MADRS score) in the methylphenidate treated group was superior from day 14. Improvement in Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S) was greater in the methylphenidate treated group from day 3 until day 28. The drop-out rates were 52.3 in the methylphenidate group and 59.1 in the placebo group (relative risk=0.86, 95CI=0.54-1.37) due to cancer progression. Nervous system adverse events were more common in methylphenidate treated subjects (20.5 vs 9.1, p=0.13). In conclusions, methylphenidate as add on therapy to mirtazapine demonstrated an earlier antidepressant response in terminally ill cancer patients, although at an increased risk of the nervous system side effects. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. and ECNP All rights reserved

Anxiety, depression, perceived social support and quality of life in Malaysian breast cancer patients: a 1-year prospective study

Background: Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a lack of study examining the correlation between depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) with perceived social support (PSS) among breast cancer patients. This study aims to study the level of depression, anxiety, QoL and PSS among Malaysian breast cancer women over a period of 12 months and their associations at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Methods: It is a 12 months prospective cohort study. Two hundred and twenty one female patients were included in the study. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 6 months and 12 month using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30), Version 3.0 of the EORTC Study Group and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). The information of age, ethnicity, types of treatment, and staging of cancer were collected. Results: The HADS anxiety and depression subscales scores of the subjects were relatively low. The level of anxiety reduced significantly at 6 and 12 months (Baseline - 6 months, p = 0.002; Baseline - 12 months, p < 0.001). There were no changes in the level of depression over the study period. The global status of QoL and MSPSS scores were relatively high. Correlation between the global status of QoL and MSPSS for the study subjects was positive (Spearman's rho = 0.31-0.36). Global status of QoL and MSPSS scores were negatively correlated with anxiety and depression. Conclusion: Malaysian breast cancer women had relatively better QoL with lower level of anxiety and depression. Perceived social support was an important factor for better QoL and low level of psychological distress. It reflects the importance of attention on activities that enhance and maintain the social support system for breast cancer patients