Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews - Volume 16, Issue 4, 2020

Background: A large body of evidence suggested that disruption of neural rhythms and synchronization of brain oscillations are correlated with a variety of cognitive and perceptual processes. Cognitive deficits are common features of psychiatric disorders that complicate treatment of the motivational, affective and emotional symptoms. Objective: Electrophysiological correlates of cognitive functions will contribute to understanding of neural circuits controlling cognition, the causes of their perturbation in psychiatric disorders and developing novel targets for the treatment of cognitive impairments. Methods: This review includes a description of brain oscillations in Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, major depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia and autism. Results: The review clearly shows that the reviewed neuropsychiatric diseases are associated with fundamental changes in both spectral power and coherence of EEG oscillations. Conclusion: In this article, we examined the nature of brain oscillations, the association of brain rhythms with cognitive functions and the relationship between EEG oscillations and neuropsychiatric diseases. Accordingly, EEG oscillations can most likely be used as biomarkers in psychiatric disorders.

Background: The Movement Control Order (MCO) due to COVID-19 has brought people’s life to almost a standstill. How people across different ages and income groups are mentally and physically adjusting to the unprecedented situation in Malaysia is yet to be documented. Hence, an empirical study was conducted to capture this real-time situation during COVID-19 MCO. Objective: To describe the mental and emotional wellbeing of Malaysians and how they care for themselves and their family during the COVID-19 pandemic and during MCO. Methods: A survey on 3,288 respondents was conducted towards the end of the first phase of MCO. The questionnaire was administered through various online social media platforms using snowball and convenience sampling. Results: About 90% of the respondents gave their priority to health needs and in providing food, shelter and clothing for their family, while education is at the bottom of their priority list. The overall index of mental wellbeing and emotional stability went beyond 57% up to 95%, indicating that people are mentally and emotionally disturbed with COVID-19. The index ranges between 49% up until 90% in the ability to care for themselves and family. Conclusion: Health needs were at the top of the priority list of the high income group and least in the low income group. While for the low income group, the top most priority concerns their financial stability. Education was given the least priority by all income groups. Their greatest fear is the infection of COVID-19 that would harm their family’s health. They were also stressed with the COVID-19 pandemic that could affect the Malaysian economy and thus worried about losing their sources of income if this pandemic prolongs over an indefinite period.

Background: Clinical features and treatment response in catatonia is unpredictable and needs to be studied further. Objective: The aim of this research is to study clinical presentations of catatonia and its response to various modalities of treatment. Methods: This study recruited 50 patients in the age group of 15-65 years, with a diagnosis of catatonia as per DSM 5 criteria, selected by a stepwise process of sample selection. Patients with significant medical or surgical illness warranting immediate intervention were excluded. A detailed history and clinical information was obtained following informed consent from patient’s caregivers and other significant relatives. Rating on the severity of symptoms as well as treatment response was done using the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) on 1st, 3rd, 7th, and 14th day of admission. Modified Electro-Convulsive Therapy (MECT) was administered to patients who had an inadequate response to intravenous lorazepam. Results: It was found that 32 (64%) patients had a psychotic disorder, and 18 (36%) patients had mood disorders as an underlying diagnosis in catatonic presentation. Mutism was the most common catatonic sign-on rating with BFCRS, found in 50 (100%) of the patients. Complete resolution of catatonia was observed in 26 (52%) of patients following the use of intravenous lorazepam, while 24 (48%) required MECT. Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia required higher doses of intravenous lorazepam (p=0.001) and showed a lesser response to intravenous lorazepam compared to patients with diagnoses of mood disorders and other psychotic disorders. Conclusion: Most common diagnosis in patients of catatonia was found to be psychotic disorder. Retarded signs of catatonia were found to be the commonest presentation. MECT was required to achieve resolution of catatonic symptoms in around half (48%) of the cases. The patients with diagnoses of schizophrenia required higher doses and also showed a lesser response to intravenous lorazepam, hence MECT was required in a higher proportion of such cases.

Background: Preliminary studies support the clinical effect of acupressure in managing neuropsychiatric diseases. However, procedures for the selection of intervention and Tele-acupressure self-practice implementation techniques are lacking. This lack of information hinders further studies on the effect of Tele-acupressure self-practice and its subsequent clinical uses. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Tele-acupressure self-practice on the improvement of mental health as well as depression, anxiety and well-being during COVID-19 in Malaysia. Methods: The goal of this work was to manage Tele-acupressure self-practice for mental health during COVID-19. All the participants (N=80) enrolled in this study were staying at one of the same communities. The participants were randomly allocated to one of the two groups; 40 participants were involved in the Tele-acupressure self-practice group, and 40 participants were involved in the Nonacupressure group. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and personal well-being (using the four Office for National Statistics personal well-being questions, ONS-4) were used to assess measurement. Data were collected at baseline and after four weeks of treatment. Results: The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (6.29±1.65), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (7.20±0.65), anxiety score in well-being ONS-4 (3.34±0.38) were significantly lower; the happiness score in well-being ONS-4 (8.82±0.86) was significantly higher in the Tele-acupressure self-practice group compared with the Non-acupressure group in the after four week’s assessments. The two groups were not statistically different regarding satisfaction with life and sorthwhile in the well-being ONS-4 questionnaires. Conclusions: Tele-acupressure self-practice had an effect than Non-acupressure in participants during COVID-19 pandemic. But, satisfaction with life and worthwhile in the well-being was better in both of the groups, which proved the participants became more relaxed. Tele-acupressure self-practice being used for the COVID-19 pandemic period facilitates the development of Malaysian public mental health intervention.

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disability disorder that affects all life aspects, including life functioning, general well-being, and overall life skills resulting in prominent impairments in life functioning. Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess life skills and disabilities and its correlates among Jordanian patients with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used. A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 250 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Data were collected using a questionnaire that consisted of demographic variables, Life Skills Profile, Global Assessment of Functioning, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results: The level of disability in life skills was 89.23. The highest disability level was observed in social contact and in communication domains, and the lowest level was in the responsibility domain. The disability levels regarding family history of psychiatric illness, marital and employment status, and the number of previous hospitalizations were statistically different (p < .05). The presence of negative symptoms, global assessment of functioning, psychopathology symptoms, duration of treatment, and positive symptoms were identified as predictors of the disability in life skills and accounted for 65% of the total variance. Conclusion: Planning and conducting life skills programs that help enhance the communication and social interaction are required to improve life skills.

Misinformation, in most cases, is the reconfigured content using basic tools. Fake information related to casualties, infections, contacts, lockdowns, investments, exam schedules, and immigration, leads to confusion, fears, phobophobia, discrimination, harassment, physical injuries, deaths, financial damages, reputational losses, and many more long-lasting side effects. Objective: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the many ways in which misinformation and information leakage related to COVID-19 can influence the stakeholders, such that it gives policymakers and citizens a greater understanding of both direct and indirect risks and harms when assessing the challenges their countries are facing. Methods: An extensive literature review was done on the prevalence of the COVID-19 related misinformation and its associated significant psychological, reputational, physical, and societal implications on Indians. The novel and possible approaches to fight against the misinformation are described.

Background: Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) comprise a group of heterogeneous hereditary connective tissue disorders [1, 2]. Psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, agoraphobia, schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, personality disorder, eating disorders, substance misuse and interpersonal issues have been reported in the literature to be associated with EDS [1-3]. Objectives: The case of a 15-year old male who was hospitalized after a suicide attempt by gunshot, who was discovered to have symptoms suggestive of EDS, is presented in this paper along with the results of a literature search of psychiatric manifestations of EDS in children and adolescents. Methods: Literature review was conducted on the UpToDate website on March 11, 2020 to review symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome for the purpose of preliminary diagnosis of this patient. Additional literature search was conducted on PubMed on 4/2/20 at 12:10 P.M. and on 4/9/20 at 10:51 P.M. and on the search engine Google on 4/2/20 at 12:25 P.M. On May 11, 2020 at 2 P.M., another web search was conducted with a review of 6 different websites pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Results: A systematic review of psychiatric manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes revealed a strong incidence of psychiatric symptoms. Conclusion: Our patient’s psychiatric symptoms of depression, suicidal ideations, anxiety and social and educational struggles may have been at least partially due to chronic pain- abdominal, headache and musculoskeletal, and social ostracization associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Education regarding this illness helped our patient’s recovery as he came to understand why he was so “odd” and the cause of his multisystemic chronic pain.