This paper summarizes a lecture on psychiatry and spirituality, which examined research onthe relationship between religion, spirituality and mental health, and discussed theimportance of addressing spiritual issues in psychotherapy. In this article, religion andspirituality are first differentiated from one another. Next, research on the relationshipbetween religion and mental health is examined. Third, a theoretical model is presentedexplaining how religious involvement may affect mental and social health. Fourth, a review of religious/spiritually-integrated psychotherapy is presented with a focus ondepression/anxiety, moral injury, and PTSD. Finally, further resources for more informationabout the topic is provided. Because many people in the Philippines are religious, and religionaffects mental health one way or the other, it cannot be ignored by psychiatrists who practicein this country.
Religion ; Spirituality ; Depression ; Anxiety ; Suicide ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Psychotherapy

On behalf of all of our Hawai‘i-based colleagueswith ties to the Philippines, we send warmgreetings and aloha to all. In this article, we aimto: 1) highlight the importance of understandingculture and history in optimizing individual andpopulational mental health and in addressingmental health disparities; 2) review studies fromHawai‘i investigating the potential role of acculturative stress in indigenous and immigrantpopulations; and 3) propose internationalcollaborations and friendships to understandand provide care for the people we serve.
Mental Health

While the regular evaluation of academic courses is an essential exercise for qualityassurance and improvement, among other purposes, the courses developed and offeredin the abrupt shift to remote learning during the pandemic merit monitoring andevaluation. An implementation assessment is recommended and the use of anIlluminative Approach is illustrated.
Pandemics

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore qualitatively Facebook engagement amongyoung adult university students and the perceived effects of their use. Methodology: The study utilized a qualitative design using in-depth interview. Recruitment wasdone using maximum variation purposive sampling via Facebook advertisement and posters withinthe university. Interested students were asked to contact the principal investigator for aninterview schedule. Prior to interview, the respondents answered a socio-demographicquestionnaire. Results: Among the 19 students, the average time spent on social media was 4.3 hours or 260minutes. On Facebook, specifically, the average time spent daily was 2.9 hours or 176 minutes.Positive and negative experiences when viewing Facebook posts was found to be influenced bythe level of closeness between the student who posted and the reader. Commemoration posts byclose friends elicited happiness and benign envy. Factors that point to a positive experienceinclude positive social comparison, ease of communication and purpose of use, especiallyacademics. However, negative experiences also included witnessing meanness online and readingabout opposing views on sociopolitical issues, which led to depressive symptoms. Negative socialcomparison also led to feelings of envy and sadness, which the respondents described to be moresevere in adolescence than in young adulthood. Conclusion The study explored how social media, especially Facebook, has shaped the way inwhich people engaged with the world. Positive experiences were related to the level of closenessof relationship while negative experiences were mostly due to negative encounters with friendsand the general tone of the feed. The study also determined that experiential change fromadolescent to young adulthood influence their perception of Facebook.
Young Adult ; Philippines

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a phenotypically heterogenous group of neurodevelopmental syndromes characterized by a wide range of impairments in socialcommunication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. (1) The majority of individualswith ASD go through puberty and experience the same physical and psychosexual aspectsof sexual development as their peers. However, there are notable problems with regardsto sexuality especially at the start of puberty when the development of social skillscannot keep up with the increasing social demands, and the difficulties of formingromantic and sexual relationships become evident. (2)The case presented here is a 26-year-old male with a history of engaging in paraphilicactivities that showed the complexities of ASD (Asperger Syndrome) in their sexualbehavior.PJPCASE REPORTTYING IT ALL TOGETHER:CASE OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WITH PARAPHILIC ACTIVITIESMELANIE TONGOL, MDTHE MEDICAL CITYDEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY34 · PJP 2023 · Volume 4 (1-2) · ISSN 2980-4884CASE PRESENTATIONChief ComplaintJay was a 26-year-old Filipino male, Christian,single, seeking consult for intrusive thoughts withthemes of bondage & discipline, dominance& submission and sadism &masochism (BDSM).History of Present IllnessJay described himself as curious, ambitious, andpeculiar. Despite trying to be sociable andextroverted, he had difficulty connecting withfriends and he often ended up alone. This hasbeen a recurring experience since childhood.Five years prior to consult, Jay’s excitement washyped, as a female chatmate opened up thetopic of BDSM.He shared his long-term fantasies of tying up agirl and subjecting her to pain, humiliation andsexual stimulation, which was never realizedgiven his Christian belief that it was wrong.After meeting someone who shared his hiddendesires, he was able to muster the strength to liveout his fantasies and met with the said chatmate.They planned their BDSM roles and restrictions,with Jay as the dominant and the chatmate assubmissive. On the day of their meeting, Jaypacked ropes in his bag, as he remembered hispast fascination with them when he was still aboy scout. he met his chatmate at the deliveryarea of a mall and there began his string of novel sexual pursuits. He started binding herhands and legs behind her. Both lying on thefloor, fully clothed, he kept on tying her as if hewas in a trance. Merely having his partner
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Asperger Syndrome

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes related to theintroduction of Paliperidone Palmitate in a specialty hospital in the Philippines. Methodology: Cross-sectional study among patients with Schizophrenia seen at thepsychiatry service of a specialty hospital catering to war veterans who were initiated onPaliperidone Palmitate. We reviewed and abstracted baseline patient data from themedical record of eligible patients. Outcome of treatment was collected through a one-time objective assessment of the patient by a third-party psychiatrist using theStructured Clinical Interview for Symptoms of Remission (SCI-SR) tool. Results: A total of 30 patients were recruited for the study from August 2020 and June2021, the majority of whom were males (80%), residents of the National Capital Region(50%) and single (20%). The median duration from schizophrenia diagnosis to initiation of Paliperidone treatment was 19.50 years (IQR: 16.60 – 33.50). In eight patients (22.67%),other antipsychotic drugs were discontinued following initiation of Paliperidonetreatment; in the remaining 22 participants (73.33%), Paliperidone was taken concurrentlywith other antipsychotic drugs. The median duration from the initiation of Paliperidonetreatment to follow-up assessment was 27.20 months (IQR: 24.73 – 30.50), with allparticipants having at least 6 months of treatment. At follow-up assessment, allparticipants were classified to be in remission. Conclusion In this study among patients with schizophrenia seen in a specialtyhospital in the Philippines, we found evidence that clinical outcomes with PaliperidonePalmitate were comparable to those given a combination of oral and long- actingantipsychotics.
Paliperidone Palmitate ; Schizophrenia

It has been more than a decade since the Committee on Standardization and Accreditation of Residency Training was renamed Board of Accreditation of the Specialty Board of Philippine Psychiatry (SBPP). The SBPP is composed of two bodies namely the Boards of Accreditation and Certification. These bodies are mandated to uphold the highest standards of accrediting psychiatry residency training programs (Board of Accreditation) and granting diplomate status to graduates of these programs (Board of Certification). Guided by the biopsychosocial and spiritual model of health, the Board of Accreditation remains steadfast in ensuring that psychiatry residency training programs continue to be relevant to current demands of mental health and psychiatric care in the country. In addition, it sees to it that these programs are in harmony with global standards. As psychiatry faces new challenges in the third millennium, certain innovations and iterations in the manner by which mental illnesses are diagnosed, treated, and prevented must be set in place. Through its Millennium Developmental Goals, the United Nations has declared that the achievement of gender equality is an effective way of combating disease. Mental health problems and psychiatric disorders are closely linked with gender-related issues. Yet, many residency training programs in the Philippines have not formally and systematically integrated gender sensitivity into their curricula. The same can be said of the concepts of religion and spirituality. Numerous researches have established the positive link between religion and spirituality and mental health.
Psychiatry ; Internship and Residency

Most medical faculty members assume various roles such as educator, administrator, clinician, and researcher. (1) Furthermore, they act as role models for students and instruments to improve student wellness. Strategies geared towards the faculty can therefore promote a top-down approach to enhancing student wellness. (2) Unfortunately, there is a dearth of data about this. If we expect the faculty to take care of students’ wellness, then we must ascertain the faculty’s wellness as well.
Faculty, Medical ; Students

Objective: This study aimed to describe mental health practice patterns, perceptions, perceived responsibility, confidence, barriers, and supports of pediatric residents in a tertiary government hospital to arrive at recommendations in enhancing their mental health competencies. Methodology: As part of needs and baseline assessment within an existing collaboration, written self-administered questionnaires were distributed among pediatric residents of the hospital. Frequency of answers were tallied to see clustering and trends. RESULTS: Most of the 37 Pediatric residents had positive perceptions i.e. 78.83% - 83.78% and planned to incorporate all aspects mental healthcare in their future practice as consultants i.e. 89.19 %- 97.29 %. However, they did not get to practice or apply it as much during training. All respondents perceived that diagnosing the neurodevelopmental disorders of Autism Spectrum, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity, Intellectual Disability and Learning was their responsibility. When it came to confidence in diagnosing other psychiatric disorders less than half to 3/5 (45.9%- 64/9%) were confident or very confident in doing so. Approximately three fifths (56.75% -67.56%) of them were confident in managing neurodevelopmental disorders. There was an even lower proportion i.e. one fourth (16.21% - 32.43%) of pediatric residents who were confident in managing other psychiatric disorders. Time was the most often perceived barrier while more exposure and training were the supportive factors for integrating mental healthcare into practice. Conclusion With such positive perceptions already in place, programs to improve knowledge and skills can be developed to increase confidence, focusing on diagnosing and managing psychiatric conditions. Target areas as guided by this research can be on how to use screening tools and psychotropics, diagnosing anxiety and behavioral addictions, and managing psychosis and trauma. These should be incorporated in a time-efficient manner into usual patient interviews. Training and added exposure can be utilized in the short-term as well as institutionalization of collaboration, liaison, and feedback systems in the future.
Mental Health

Objectives: In the light of increased suicide risk among adolescents, this research aimed at determining the prevalence and severity of suicidal ideations and behaviors of senior high school students in a public secondary school in Metro Manila using the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional school-based study, conducted on 236 senior high school students, 18 years old and above, in San Juan National High School (SJNHS) in San Juan, Metro Manila. The study employed convenience sampling. Upon selection, the C-SSRS was administered. Data on four constructs of suicide were gathered: 1) suicidal ideation severity; 2) intensity, which was quantified in terms of frequency, duration, control, deterrents and reasons for suicidal ideation; 3) suicidal behavior rated on a nominal subscale as actual, aborted, interrupted, preparatory behavior and non-suicidal injurious behavior; and lastly 4) lethality of actual suicide attempts on a 6-point ordinal scale, and if actual lethality was zero, potential lethality was further rated on a 3-point ordinal scale. Results: The majority (67.8%) had mild suicidal ideations; 37.71% had active suicidal ideations with intent but not necessarily a specific plan and only 13.98% had active suicidal ideation with intent to act and a specific plan. The intensity of suicidal ideation was not that frequent in 35.59% of the respondents i.e.18.64% 1x/ week and 16.95% less than 1x/ week. About a third (30.07%) had very short duration of suicidal ideations i.e. fleetingly (19.92%) or less than an hour/ day (11.02%). A third (32.62%) were able to easily control (18.64%) or control with minimal difficulty (13.98%). Reason for suicidal ideation were either to get attention (10.59%) or to end the emotional pain (11.02%). A third (30.93%) had actual attempts (15.25%) and Non -Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI) (15.68%); while another 35.06 % had interrupted (16.53%) or aborted (19.07%) attempts. Those who had actual attempts, 41.67% had no physical injury while 50 % incurred minor injuries. Thirty- two (88.89%) had suicidal attempt that was likely to result in injury but not likely to cause death. Conclusion In light of these relatively high prevalence rates for suicidal ideation and behaviors, schoolwide intervention on education or awareness programs, gatekeeper training, peer leadership, skills training and screening or assessment may have to be instituted to curb the increased suicide risk of the senior high school students and further prevent suicide attempts.
Prevalence ; Suicidal Ideation