ABSTRACT
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in gynaecological cancer patients is a disabling illness with signifi cant mental and physical suffering. Determining the risk factors of MDD in cancer patients enables us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and treatment. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of MDD and its associated risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 120 gynaecological cancer patients in Gynae-Oncology Unit in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI) was used for diagnosis of MDD. Socio-demographic data and clinical variables were collected. MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index) was used to determine sexual dysfunction, and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization – Quality of Life-26) was performed to assess quality of life. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients in the study was 18%. The variables found to be signifi cantly associated with MDD were lack of perceived social support, greater physical pain perception, presence of past psychiatric history, and poorer quality of life. Meanwhile, sexual dysfunction was not associated with MDD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only the psychological health domain of QOL was signifi cantly associated with MDD, and contributed to 60% of the variation in MDD. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients is higher than those in the general population. In view that MDD can compromise cancer prognosis and patient’s well-being, psychosocial intervention is recommended as a part of multidisciplinary and comprehensive management of gynaecological cancer.
ABSTRACT
Clinical vampirism in psychiatric practice is very rare and usually associated with schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder or paraphilia. An Asian case of clinical vampirism is described. It is about a 24-year-old Malay female, paramedic student, who craved for blood since childhood. She injured her sister and herself so that she could access and drink blood. There was no associated psychosis or medical problems. The craving for blood may represent her underlying craving for parental love and attention.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Help-seeking pathway in psychiatry is the important link between the onset of a mental disorder and mental health service provision. Understanding of the help-seeking pathway can help us to device more effective strategies for early detection and treatment. Objectives: To determine the help-seeking pathways and treatment delaying factors of in-patients with first-episode psychosis in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Methods: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 50 in-patients with first-episode psychosis in HKL. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV - Clinical Version for Axis I Disorders (SCID-CV) was used for establishing diagnosis. Socio-demographic data, information on help-seeking pathways, and treatment delaying factors were determined through faceto- face interview and semi-structured questionnaires. Results: The number of non-psychiatric helpseeking contacts prior to first consultation with psychiatric service ranged from 0 to 10. The mean number of contacts was 2.3 ( 2.6), and median was 1 (IQR = 0 to 3). About a third of them (32%) had three or more non-psychiatric contacts. The most common point of first non-psychiatric contact was with traditional healer 24 (48%), followed by general practitioners 12 (24%), and only 14 (28%) of them sought help directly from psychiatric service. The most common reason reported for delay in seeking psychiatric treatment was, “not aware that changes were related to mental illness” (74%). Conclusions: History of contacts with traditional healers was common among in-patients with first episode psychosis in HKL. Treatment delay was mainly contributed by factors related to lack of awareness on psychosis. More strategic mental health education program is needed for early detection and treatment of psychosis.