The Interpretation Of Depressive Symptoms In Urban And Rural Areas In Sabah, Malaysia
- Author:
Wendy Diana Shoesmith
;
Nicolas Pang
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Depressive Symptoms;
Interpretation;
Rural Sabah
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry
2016;17(1):1-12
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: The treatment gap for mental health disorders in Sabah, Malaysia is
estimated to be over 90%. Probable reasons include how the depressive
symptoms are interpreted. The aim of this study was to explore the
interpretation of depressive symptoms in Sabah in rural and urban areas in
order to find ways of reducing the treatment gap. Methods: Subjects were given
an instrument which consisted of a vignette identification exercise and a set of
statements about causes and treatment of depression, which the subjects were
asked to rate. Results: One hundred and ninety eight subjects from an urban
area and 180 subjects from a rural area were sampled. The most common cause
given for the vignette identification was “Stress”, with “Counseling” the
preferred treatment option. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the causes of
depression revealed five factors: “Lifestyle” (11 items), “Stress and Pressure”
(10 items), “Supernatural” (9 items), “Environmental” (6 items) and
“Biological” (5 items), with the “Environmental” and “Stress and Pressure”
items the most heavily endorsed. PCA of the treatment options showed seven
factors, of which five were retained for further analysis: “Psychological
treatment and lifestyle,” “Traditional” and “Lifestyle”, “Religion”,
“Psychology” with “Religion” and “Psychological treatment and lifestyle” the
most heavily endorsed and “Supernatural” the least heavily endorsed.
Conclusion: Improving the treatment gap in mental health in Sabah will require
educating people on the differences between stress and depression, making
services more acceptable by increasing the provision for psychological therapies
and working with religious leaders
- Full text:P020160302021266848141.pdf
