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High demands of academic life and social changes caused relatively high prevalence of psychological distress among university students compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among university students and to examine the factors associated with them. This was cross sectional study involving 467 Bachelor degree students from various faculties in Universiti Teknologi MARA. Participants were assessed using the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), the Hatta Islamic Religiosity Index 1996 (HIRS96) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21). This study highlighted relatively high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among the students of UiTM Shah Alam. We also found consistent significant association between negative religious coping with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Consistent with the earlier studies done among Muslim samples, the positive religious coping is not significantly associated with better psychological outcomes although only small effect was observed towards the depressive symptoms.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of burnout and its associated risk factors among the University staff, involving both academicians and non-academicians and relate these to their job satisfaction. A cross-sectional study was conducted among the university staff involving both academicians and non-academicians. 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). Among the 411 participants who participated, 53% were academicians (n = 216). Academicians demonstrated greater burnout levels and psychological distress when compared to non-academicians. Correlational analyses indicated a moderate to high correlation between psychological distress and burnout due to work, personal and client where higher burnout was associated with higher psychological distress. Non-academicians demonstrated greater job satisfaction levels when compared to academicians. Correlational analyses indicated a high correlation between job satisfaction and burnout due to work, with higher burnout levels associated with lower job satisfaction among staff. This study showed that academicians suffer from high levels of burnout in aspects of personal, work and client-related matters, and this has contributed to higher psychological distress among them and significantly affect their job satisfaction.

IntroductionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic various degrees of lockdown were applied by countries around the world. It is considered that such measures have an adverse effect on mental health but the relationship of measure intensity with the mental health effect has not been thoroughly studied. Here we report data from the larger COMET-G study pertaining to this question.Material and methodsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, data were gathered with an online questionnaire from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Anxiety was measured with the STAI, depression with the CES-D and suicidality with the RASS. Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively.Statistical analysisIt included the calculation of Relative Risk (RR), Factorial ANOVA and Multiple backwards stepwise linear regression analysis RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds were currently living under significant restrictions due to lockdown. For both males and females the risk to develop clinical depression correlated significantly with each and every level of increasing lockdown degree (RR 1.72 and 1.90 respectively). The combined lockdown and psychiatric history increased RR to 6.88 The overall relationship of lockdown with severity of depression, though significant was small.ConclusionsThe current study is the first which reports an almost linear relationship between lockdown degree and effect in mental health. Our findings, support previous suggestions concerning the need for a proactive targeted intervention to protect mental health more specifically in vulnerable groups.

IntroductionThere are few published empirical data on the effects of COVID-19 on mental health, and until now, there is no large international study.Material and methodsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, an online questionnaire gathered data from 55,589 participants from 40 countries (64.85% females aged 35.80 ± 13.61; 34.05% males aged 34.90±13.29 and 1.10% other aged 31.64±13.15). Distress and probable depression were identified with the use of a previously developed cut-off and algorithm respectively.Statistical analysisDescriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests, multiple forward stepwise linear regression analyses and Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tested relations among variables.ResultsProbable depression was detected in 17.80% and distress in 16.71%. A significant percentage reported a deterioration in mental state, family dynamics and everyday lifestyle. Persons with a history of mental disorders had higher rates of current depression (31.82% vs. 13.07%). At least half of participants were accepting (at least to a moderate degree) a non-bizarre conspiracy. The highest Relative Risk (RR) to develop depression was associated with history of Bipolar disorder and self-harm/attempts (RR = 5.88). Suicidality was not increased in persons without a history of any mental disorder. Based on these results a model was developed.ConclusionsThe final model revealed multiple vulnerabilities and an interplay leading from simple anxiety to probable depression and suicidality through distress. This could be of practical utility since many of these factors are modifiable. Future research and interventions should specifically focus on them.

Background: Managing chronic pain was not only a major challenge but also a source of significant disability associated with mental illness. Studies on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in chronic pain population was rather limited. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of GAD and its associated factors among patients attending a pain clinic at a general hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 201 patients. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) was used to determine anxiety level. Subsequently, patients who had scored 8 and above on the HADS were interviewed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I) to ascertain the diagnosis of GAD. Whilst the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) assessed pain severity. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with GAD. Results: Among those patients with chronic pain, the prevalence of GAD was 18.9%. Gender (AOR:7.94; 95% CI:2.34, 26.93), duration of the pain (AOR:1.30; 95% CI:1.03,1.63) and pain severity (AOR:18.75; CI:1.23,285.13) were significant factors associated with GAD. Conclusion: GAD is a prevalent condition among chronic pain patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Malaysia, academic personnel are under pressure to build international reputation, increase funding and are expected to perform in the key performance indicators to bring education to an international standard. A cross sectional study was conducted among the academicians in Science and Technology faculties in UiTM. The participants were emailed the questionnaires and asked to complete questionnaires on their sociodemographic, Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, Job Satisfaction Survey and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. A total of 129 academicians participated in the study with the mean age of 39 years old (SD=7.8). Majority were female, Malays and married. The average teaching hours per week was 13 hours (SD=5.3). The prevalence of stress was 6.2%, depression 11.7% and anxiety 18.7%. Majority has mild to moderate work, personal and client-related burnout. There is inverse correlation between job satisfaction and burnout. Academicians from science and technology faculties have high prevalence of anxiety and moderate prevalence of depression compared to general population. There is low job satisfaction level due to high work-related burnout. It needs to be addressed to ensure academicians have good mental wellbeing to execute their roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parental stress in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder and the contributing factors. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 115 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder who were attending an outpatient psychiatric clinic, recruited through universal sampling. Those who fulfilled the selection criteria and gave informed consent were selected. Sociodemographic data, perceived parenting capacity, children's data, and illness data were obtained from the patient during interview as well as from the clinical notes. Presence of parental stress and severity of psychiatric symptoms were measured using Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) respectively. Descriptive analysis was performed, followed by univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis, using International Business Machines (IBM®) Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 24. Results: 60 out of 115 participants (52.2%) had parental stress. Factors associated with parental stress include ethnicity (p=0.032), total household income (p=0.004), parenting children with mental or learning disability (p=0.022), perceived financial inadequacy (p=0.049), perceived food inadequacy (p=0.049), and presence of psychiatric symptoms (p=0.001). Ethnicity, total household income, parenting children with mental or learning disability, and presence of psychiatric illness were the predictors for parental stress among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Conclusion: Parental stress is prevalent in this group. Hence, health care professionals should be able to identify the risk factors and to provide them with necessary support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is a fundamental human right. Despite the obstacles and challenges, students with mental illness have the right to pursue their education without discrimination and stigmatisation. The Rehabilitation of Illness and Support for Education (RISE) program aimed to provide comprehensive mental health support for students of higher learning in the largest university in Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi MARA. This pioneer-supported education program comprises three tiers of strategies for students to achieve academic excellence. The first tier of RISE is the primary intervention, the crucial stage to empower students with biopsychosocial and spiritual approaches to healthy lifestyles. This stage also serves to inculcate knowledge on psychological skills, introducing symptoms of mental illness and accessible mental health services for students of UiTM all over Malaysia. The "Health and Wellness @ Uni" module has been launched and is available via Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and Micro-Credential Course. It also comes in a hardcopy and softcopy flipbook. This module may also raise awareness regarding mental illness among academic and non-academic staff lecturers. The second tier is the secondary intervention, which includes screening and early detection of mental health problems at Health and Wellness @ Uni, Klinik Minda Sihat and Counselling and Career Unit available all over UiTM campuses. The third tier is the tertiary intervention which provides supported education for students with mental illness, a collaborative effort between the Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah (HASA) and various stakeholders including Students' Welfare Unit, Unit Perkhidmatan OKU (UPO), Zakat, Sedekah dan Wakaf (ZAWAF), Medical Social Welfare, HASA, Students and Academic Affairs, Universiti Teknologi MARA. Through this concerted effort, students with mental illness will excel to their full academic potential, live with optimum mental health conditions and RISE to their best health and wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:The evaluation of quality of life (QoL) among older adults has become increasingly important, and living arrangements play a pivotal role in determining the QoL of people with cognitive impairment (PWCI). Although informal care (home-based) is favored, transition to formal care (residential care) often becomes necessary, especially in the later stages of cognitive impairment. The primary objective was to compare the QoL of PWCI in the community and nursing homes. Additionally, factors differentiate the QoL of PWCI in these two settings were identified.Methods:This is a quasi-experimental study design involving 219 older adults with cognitive impairment, aged 60–89 years old from both nursing home and home care. Participants completed the EUROPE Health Interview Survey-QoL (WHO-8), the Short Mini-Mental State Examination (SMMSE), the Barthel Index (BI), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and the Friendship Scale (FS).Results:There were significant differences in QoL, depression, social connectedness (p < 0.01) and cognitive functions (p = 0.01) between home care recipients and nursing home participants. No significant differences were observed with regards to health condition, co morbidities and physical functions between study cohorts.Conclusions:Older adults with cognitive impairment living at home experienced higher QoL, had better cognitive function, were less depressed and reported higher social connectedness compared to those living in institutional care. Therefore, support should be provided in enabling home care and empowering caregivers to provide better care for PWCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]