Salina Mohamed | Universiti Teknologi Mara (original) (raw)

Papers by Salina Mohamed

Journal of depression & anxiety, 2019

Introduction: Clinical reports have indicated that a significant number of lower limb amputees ar... more Introduction: Clinical reports have indicated that a significant number of lower limb amputees are experiencing psychological adjustment problems. To date, there is a dearth of studies documenting depression among lower limb amputees (LLA) in Malaysia. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of depression among LLA and its associated factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 196 LLA who attended the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinics at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar. Beck Depression (BDI), Multi-Dimensional Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) were used. Results: 47.4% of LLA had depressive symptoms. 24.5% of these patients were diagnosed to have major depression. The findings revealed depression was associated with younger age, being single, low educational, bilateral side of amputati...

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Background: Medical students are not spared from the challenges related to the Covid-19 lockdown.... more Background: Medical students are not spared from the challenges related to the Covid-19 lockdown. The fear and uncertainties may lead to traumatic symptoms and test their resilience and sense of coping. Thus, this study aims to determine the prevalence of peri-traumatic distress symptoms and its association with the level of resilience and the coping strategies used during the lockdown among medical students.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey involving medical students from a public university in Malaysia. It was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown or Movement Control Order (MCO) where the students were asked to fill in the COVID-19 Peri-traumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Brief COPE Inventory, and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS-25).Results: A total of 282 clinical and 172 pre-clinical medical students were involved. Peri-traumatic distress symptoms were reported by 27% out of the total students. This study found that those who were...

International Journal of Higher Education

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout and its associated... more ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout and its associated risk factors among the University staff involving both academician and non-academician and relate these to their job satisfaction.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM) staff involving both academician and non-academician. The participants were emailed the questionnaires through their university email and alternative email addresses. They were asked to complete questionnaires on their sociodemographic and work details, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS).ResultsAmong the 411 participants who participated, 53% were academicians (n= 216). Academician demonstrated greater burnout levels and psychological distress when compared to non-academician. Correlational analyses indicated moderate to high correlation between psychological distress and burnout due to work, ...

International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background: Infertility is an intense situation experienced by couples that causes emotional disc... more Background: Infertility is an intense situation experienced by couples that causes emotional discomfort and worsening of their quality of life (QoL). The husband and wives of the infertile couples may reacted differently to stress.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 infertile couples attending fertility clinics. Cases were selected by systematic random sampling. The severity of depression, anxiety and stress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and QoL was assessed with the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire.Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that depression, anxiety and stress-related difficulties were reported at a higher level by wives (p<0.001). Total Ferti QoL scores were significantly higher in husbands (p<0.001). The female gender (wives) was the only significant variable associated with the severity of all three DASS-21 sub-scale scores (p <0.001) and considered as a high-risk factor for psycho...

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences

Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae is an important condition which commonly occur during recovery ... more Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae is an important condition which commonly occur during recovery from acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Typical presentation would be apathy, disorientation, amnesia, hypokinesia, bizarre behavior, insomnia and neurological manifestations such as gait disturbance, hypertonia and tremor. We report here a case of a man presented with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae one month after the carbon monoxide poisoning in his suicidal attempt. He presented with the typical presentation and diagnosis confirmed with the MRI findings. His MRI showed abnormal signal in subcortical hemisphere white matter of both temporo-fronto-parietal-occipital regions along the insula and both globus pallidus. He was treated with Olanzapine, Fluvoxamine, Chlorpromazine and Levodopa and his condition slowly improved. It is important for clinicians to recognize the symptoms and risk factors to develop delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae in patients who previously had carbon monoxide ...

PloS one, 2017

Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a bro... more Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a broad construct encompass both depression and anxiety. Previous studies in examining which of these psychological symptoms (either anxiety or depression) were more significantly associated with the distress level in breast cancer patients is lacking. This study aims to compare the level of depression and anxiety between patients with different level of distress. The correlation between the changes in distress level with depression or anxiety over 12 months was also examined. This study is from the MyBCC cohort study. Two hundred and twenty one female breast cancer patients were included into the study. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 6 months and 12 month using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and distress thermometer. The information on age, ethnicity, treatment types and staging of cancer were collected. 50.2%, 51.6% and 40.3% of patients had perceived high level ...

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2016

Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their... more Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their psychological distress. The benefit of psychotherapies was documented, but the types of psychotherapies proposed are varied. Given that the previous literature review was a decade ago and no quantitative analysis was done on this topic, we again critically and systematically reviewed all published trials on psychotherapy in cancer patients. Method We identified 17 clinical trials on six types of psychotherapy for cancer patients by searching PubMed and EMBASE. Result There were four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy which were included in quantitative analysis. Each trial demonstrated that psychotherapy improved the quality of life and coping in cancer patients. There was also a reduction in distress, anxiety, and depression after a psychological intervention. However, the number and quality of clinical trials for each type of psychotherapy were poor. The meta-analysis of the four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy showed no significant change in depression, with only significant short-term improvement in anxiety but not up to a year-the standardized mean differences were -0.37 (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57, -0.16) at 2 months, -0.21 (95% CI = -0.42, -0.01) at 4 months, and 0.03 (95 % CI = -0.19, 0.24) at 12 months. Conclusion The evidence on the efficacy of psychotherapy in cancer patients is unsatisfactory. There is a need for more rigorous and well-designed clinical trials on this topic.

Journal of Religion and Health, 2016

There is a lack of studies looking into religiosity and religious coping in cancer patient. In th... more There is a lack of studies looking into religiosity and religious coping in cancer patient. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the religiosity using Duke University Religion Index, religious coping using Brief Religious Coping Scale, anxiety and depression based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale among 200 cancer patients. The association between religiosity and religious coping with anxiety and depression was studied. The findings showed that subjects with anxiety or depression used more negative religious coping and had lower non-organization religiosity. Hence, measurements in reducing negative religious coping and encouraging religious activities could help to reduce psychological distress in cancer patients.

Procedia Computer Science, 2015

2015 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2015

Procedia Computer Science, 2014

ABSTRACT Abstract Children born with disabilities are now under the spotlight where researchers w... more ABSTRACT Abstract Children born with disabilities are now under the spotlight where researchers worldwide are exploring the applications of robots for possible intervention methods. However, these children are in the most ‘vulnerable’ group of research subjects and ethical considerations are paramount towards research developments in human-robot interaction (HRI) that are accurate and responsible. Based on prior and current experiences, this paper focuses specifically on the clinical applications of robots in therapy for children with autism. A set of procedures is proposed to serve as guidelines to researchers who are looking into this research area. Considerations of the technical and ethical context, plus the role of multidisciplinary teams from engineering and medical backgrounds need to come together to fulfill the research aim. Then only the increased validity of robotic applications in therapeutic context for autism intervention can be established.

2014 IEEE REGION 10 SYMPOSIUM, 2014

ABSTRACT This paper embarks on the initial development of a telerehabilitation system in assistiv... more ABSTRACT This paper embarks on the initial development of a telerehabilitation system in assistive therapy for children with disabilities. The goal is specifically for children with autism and cerebral palsy at various locations to gain access to robotic intervention. Ten learning modules targeting at specific therapy outcomes have been developed for this system. Here, this research proposes to link various stakeholders including engineers, parents, clinicians and therapists in a network that promotes robotic and telecommunication technology as a rehabilitation platform for children with disabilities. Field trials involving real users will be executed in the next phase of study.

4th International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics, 2014

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2014

To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolyt... more To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in c...

Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 2014

To determine the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and its relationship with depression, ... more To determine the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and its relationship with depression, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables. This was a cross-sectional study in which a total of 120 epilepsy patients were recruited from a neurology outpatient clinic. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) were used to screen and diagnose for depression, respectively. Quality of Life Inventory of Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) was used to assess quality of life. Patients with epilepsy with major depression had poorer quality life (36.4 ± 1.8) compared to those without depression (41.7 ± 3.8, P < 0.001). Depression, having one seizure or more per month and having seizures within one month of interview were correlated with poorer quality of life, P < 0.001. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that depression and recent seizures predicted having poorer qual...

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2014

Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drug... more Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. Results: A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Conclusions: Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.

Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 2014

Liver transplant candidates are vulnerable to develop depression. This paper aims to ascertain th... more Liver transplant candidates are vulnerable to develop depression. This paper aims to ascertain the prevalence of depression in liver transplant candidates and its psychosocial factors in a systematic review. An extensive review via electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL) and hand search were carried out to retrieve published articles up to December 15, 2013, using (Incidence OR Prevalence) AND Depress* AND liver transplant as the keywords. Information on the study design, patient characteristics, prevalence of depression, and its associated risk factors were extracted from included studies. There were 22 studies included in this review with a total of 3055 patients. The prevalence of depression in the liver transplant candidates ranges between 2% and 80%. Studies that used diagnostic tools found a narrower range of prevalence (4.5-43%) as compared to the self-administered questionnaires (2-80%). Studies that used Beck Depression Inventory reported a higher prevalence than those studies which used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (median = 28%, range = 2-80% versus median 17%, range 6.1-25.8%). A number of socio-demographic factors, illness-related and psychosocial factors were found to be associated with depression. Prevalence of depression in liver transplant candidates is high, and early detection will improve survival and quality of life.

Health and quality of life outcomes, Jan 30, 2015

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a l... more 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. 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. The HADS anxiety and depression subscales scores of the subjects were relatively low....

Health and quality of life outcomes, Jan 30, 2015

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a l... more 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. 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. The HADS anxiety and depression subscales scores of the subjects were relatively low....

The overall context proposed in this paper is part of our long-standing goal to contribute to a g... more The overall context proposed in this paper is part of our long-standing goal to contribute to a group of community that suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); a lifelong developmental disability. The objective of this paper is to present the development of our pilot experiment protocol where children with ASD will be exposed to the humanoid robot NAO. This fully programmable humanoid offers an ideal research platform for human-robot interaction (HRI). This study serves as the platform for fundamental investigation to observe the initial response and behavior of the children in the said environment. The system utilizes external cameras, besides the robot's own visual system. Anticipated results are the real initial response and reaction of ASD children during the HRI with the humanoid robot. This shall leads to adaptation of new procedures in ASD therapy based on HRI, especially for a non-technical-expert person to be involved in the robotics intervention during the therapy session.

Journal of depression & anxiety, 2019

Introduction: Clinical reports have indicated that a significant number of lower limb amputees ar... more Introduction: Clinical reports have indicated that a significant number of lower limb amputees are experiencing psychological adjustment problems. To date, there is a dearth of studies documenting depression among lower limb amputees (LLA) in Malaysia. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of depression among LLA and its associated factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 196 LLA who attended the Rehabilitation Medicine Clinics at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar. Beck Depression (BDI), Multi-Dimensional Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Scale (WHOQOL-BREF) and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) were used. Results: 47.4% of LLA had depressive symptoms. 24.5% of these patients were diagnosed to have major depression. The findings revealed depression was associated with younger age, being single, low educational, bilateral side of amputati...

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Background: Medical students are not spared from the challenges related to the Covid-19 lockdown.... more Background: Medical students are not spared from the challenges related to the Covid-19 lockdown. The fear and uncertainties may lead to traumatic symptoms and test their resilience and sense of coping. Thus, this study aims to determine the prevalence of peri-traumatic distress symptoms and its association with the level of resilience and the coping strategies used during the lockdown among medical students.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey involving medical students from a public university in Malaysia. It was conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown or Movement Control Order (MCO) where the students were asked to fill in the COVID-19 Peri-traumatic Distress Index (CPDI), Brief COPE Inventory, and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CDRS-25).Results: A total of 282 clinical and 172 pre-clinical medical students were involved. Peri-traumatic distress symptoms were reported by 27% out of the total students. This study found that those who were...

International Journal of Higher Education

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout and its associated... more ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout and its associated risk factors among the University staff involving both academician and non-academician and relate these to their job satisfaction.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UITM) staff involving both academician and non-academician. The participants were emailed the questionnaires through their university email and alternative email addresses. They were asked to complete questionnaires on their sociodemographic and work details, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Job Satisfaction Scale (JSS).ResultsAmong the 411 participants who participated, 53% were academicians (n= 216). Academician demonstrated greater burnout levels and psychological distress when compared to non-academician. Correlational analyses indicated moderate to high correlation between psychological distress and burnout due to work, ...

International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background: Infertility is an intense situation experienced by couples that causes emotional disc... more Background: Infertility is an intense situation experienced by couples that causes emotional discomfort and worsening of their quality of life (QoL). The husband and wives of the infertile couples may reacted differently to stress.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 infertile couples attending fertility clinics. Cases were selected by systematic random sampling. The severity of depression, anxiety and stress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and QoL was assessed with the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQoL) questionnaire.Results: Multivariate analysis revealed that depression, anxiety and stress-related difficulties were reported at a higher level by wives (p<0.001). Total Ferti QoL scores were significantly higher in husbands (p<0.001). The female gender (wives) was the only significant variable associated with the severity of all three DASS-21 sub-scale scores (p <0.001) and considered as a high-risk factor for psycho...

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences

Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae is an important condition which commonly occur during recovery ... more Delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae is an important condition which commonly occur during recovery from acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Typical presentation would be apathy, disorientation, amnesia, hypokinesia, bizarre behavior, insomnia and neurological manifestations such as gait disturbance, hypertonia and tremor. We report here a case of a man presented with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae one month after the carbon monoxide poisoning in his suicidal attempt. He presented with the typical presentation and diagnosis confirmed with the MRI findings. His MRI showed abnormal signal in subcortical hemisphere white matter of both temporo-fronto-parietal-occipital regions along the insula and both globus pallidus. He was treated with Olanzapine, Fluvoxamine, Chlorpromazine and Levodopa and his condition slowly improved. It is important for clinicians to recognize the symptoms and risk factors to develop delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae in patients who previously had carbon monoxide ...

PloS one, 2017

Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a bro... more Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a broad construct encompass both depression and anxiety. Previous studies in examining which of these psychological symptoms (either anxiety or depression) were more significantly associated with the distress level in breast cancer patients is lacking. This study aims to compare the level of depression and anxiety between patients with different level of distress. The correlation between the changes in distress level with depression or anxiety over 12 months was also examined. This study is from the MyBCC cohort study. Two hundred and twenty one female breast cancer patients were included into the study. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 6 months and 12 month using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and distress thermometer. The information on age, ethnicity, treatment types and staging of cancer were collected. 50.2%, 51.6% and 40.3% of patients had perceived high level ...

The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2016

Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their... more Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their psychological distress. The benefit of psychotherapies was documented, but the types of psychotherapies proposed are varied. Given that the previous literature review was a decade ago and no quantitative analysis was done on this topic, we again critically and systematically reviewed all published trials on psychotherapy in cancer patients. Method We identified 17 clinical trials on six types of psychotherapy for cancer patients by searching PubMed and EMBASE. Result There were four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy which were included in quantitative analysis. Each trial demonstrated that psychotherapy improved the quality of life and coping in cancer patients. There was also a reduction in distress, anxiety, and depression after a psychological intervention. However, the number and quality of clinical trials for each type of psychotherapy were poor. The meta-analysis of the four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy showed no significant change in depression, with only significant short-term improvement in anxiety but not up to a year-the standardized mean differences were -0.37 (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57, -0.16) at 2 months, -0.21 (95% CI = -0.42, -0.01) at 4 months, and 0.03 (95 % CI = -0.19, 0.24) at 12 months. Conclusion The evidence on the efficacy of psychotherapy in cancer patients is unsatisfactory. There is a need for more rigorous and well-designed clinical trials on this topic.

Journal of Religion and Health, 2016

There is a lack of studies looking into religiosity and religious coping in cancer patient. In th... more There is a lack of studies looking into religiosity and religious coping in cancer patient. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the religiosity using Duke University Religion Index, religious coping using Brief Religious Coping Scale, anxiety and depression based on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale among 200 cancer patients. The association between religiosity and religious coping with anxiety and depression was studied. The findings showed that subjects with anxiety or depression used more negative religious coping and had lower non-organization religiosity. Hence, measurements in reducing negative religious coping and encouraging religious activities could help to reduce psychological distress in cancer patients.

Procedia Computer Science, 2015

2015 IEEE International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2015

Procedia Computer Science, 2014

ABSTRACT Abstract Children born with disabilities are now under the spotlight where researchers w... more ABSTRACT Abstract Children born with disabilities are now under the spotlight where researchers worldwide are exploring the applications of robots for possible intervention methods. However, these children are in the most ‘vulnerable’ group of research subjects and ethical considerations are paramount towards research developments in human-robot interaction (HRI) that are accurate and responsible. Based on prior and current experiences, this paper focuses specifically on the clinical applications of robots in therapy for children with autism. A set of procedures is proposed to serve as guidelines to researchers who are looking into this research area. Considerations of the technical and ethical context, plus the role of multidisciplinary teams from engineering and medical backgrounds need to come together to fulfill the research aim. Then only the increased validity of robotic applications in therapeutic context for autism intervention can be established.

2014 IEEE REGION 10 SYMPOSIUM, 2014

ABSTRACT This paper embarks on the initial development of a telerehabilitation system in assistiv... more ABSTRACT This paper embarks on the initial development of a telerehabilitation system in assistive therapy for children with disabilities. The goal is specifically for children with autism and cerebral palsy at various locations to gain access to robotic intervention. Ten learning modules targeting at specific therapy outcomes have been developed for this system. Here, this research proposes to link various stakeholders including engineers, parents, clinicians and therapists in a network that promotes robotic and telecommunication technology as a rehabilitation platform for children with disabilities. Field trials involving real users will be executed in the next phase of study.

4th International Conference on Development and Learning and on Epigenetic Robotics, 2014

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2014

To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolyt... more To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in c...

Asia-Pacific psychiatry : official journal of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists, 2014

To determine the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and its relationship with depression, ... more To determine the quality of life of patients with epilepsy and its relationship with depression, and the clinical and sociodemographic variables. This was a cross-sectional study in which a total of 120 epilepsy patients were recruited from a neurology outpatient clinic. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) were used to screen and diagnose for depression, respectively. Quality of Life Inventory of Epilepsy (QOLIE-31) was used to assess quality of life. Patients with epilepsy with major depression had poorer quality life (36.4 ± 1.8) compared to those without depression (41.7 ± 3.8, P < 0.001). Depression, having one seizure or more per month and having seizures within one month of interview were correlated with poorer quality of life, P < 0.001. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that depression and recent seizures predicted having poorer qual...

Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP, 2014

Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drug... more Objective: To examine the prescription rates in cancer patients of three common psychotropic drugs: anxiolytic/ hypnotic, antidepressant and antipsychotic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, data were extracted from the pharmacy database of University Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) responsible for dispensing records of patients stored in the pharmacy's Medication Management and Use System (Ascribe). We analyzed the use of psychotropics in patients from the oncology ward and cardiology from 2008 to 2012. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender and ethnicity. Results: A total of 3,345 oncology patients and 8,980 cardiology patients were included. Oncology patients were significantly more often prescribed psychotropic drugs (adjusted OR: anxiolytic/hypnotic=5.55 (CI: 4.64-6.63); antidepressants=6.08 (CI: 4.83-7.64) and antipsychotics=5.41 (CI: 4.17-7.02). Non-Malay female cancer patients were at significantly higher risk of anxiolytic/hypnotic use. Conclusions: Psychotropic drugs prescription is common in cancer patients. Anxiolytic/hypnotic prescription rates are significantly higher in non-Malay female patients in Malaysia.

Asia-Pacific Psychiatry, 2014

Liver transplant candidates are vulnerable to develop depression. This paper aims to ascertain th... more Liver transplant candidates are vulnerable to develop depression. This paper aims to ascertain the prevalence of depression in liver transplant candidates and its psychosocial factors in a systematic review. An extensive review via electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL) and hand search were carried out to retrieve published articles up to December 15, 2013, using (Incidence OR Prevalence) AND Depress* AND liver transplant as the keywords. Information on the study design, patient characteristics, prevalence of depression, and its associated risk factors were extracted from included studies. There were 22 studies included in this review with a total of 3055 patients. The prevalence of depression in the liver transplant candidates ranges between 2% and 80%. Studies that used diagnostic tools found a narrower range of prevalence (4.5-43%) as compared to the self-administered questionnaires (2-80%). Studies that used Beck Depression Inventory reported a higher prevalence than those studies which used Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (median = 28%, range = 2-80% versus median 17%, range 6.1-25.8%). A number of socio-demographic factors, illness-related and psychosocial factors were found to be associated with depression. Prevalence of depression in liver transplant candidates is high, and early detection will improve survival and quality of life.

Health and quality of life outcomes, Jan 30, 2015

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a l... more 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. 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. The HADS anxiety and depression subscales scores of the subjects were relatively low....

Health and quality of life outcomes, Jan 30, 2015

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a l... more 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. 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. The HADS anxiety and depression subscales scores of the subjects were relatively low....

The overall context proposed in this paper is part of our long-standing goal to contribute to a g... more The overall context proposed in this paper is part of our long-standing goal to contribute to a group of community that suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); a lifelong developmental disability. The objective of this paper is to present the development of our pilot experiment protocol where children with ASD will be exposed to the humanoid robot NAO. This fully programmable humanoid offers an ideal research platform for human-robot interaction (HRI). This study serves as the platform for fundamental investigation to observe the initial response and behavior of the children in the said environment. The system utilizes external cameras, besides the robot's own visual system. Anticipated results are the real initial response and reaction of ASD children during the HRI with the humanoid robot. This shall leads to adaptation of new procedures in ASD therapy based on HRI, especially for a non-technical-expert person to be involved in the robotics intervention during the therapy session.