1.Managing ‘Schizophrenia in the Midst of Schizophrenia’- The Role of Assertive Community Treatment
Ahmad Nabil MR ; Marhani M ; Azlin B
Medicine and Health 2014;9(2):139-142
This case report emphasizes the role of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)in managing a family with four members suffering from mental illness, mainly schizophrenia. We report a case of middle-aged lady who was diagnosed with treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) living with two other family members with the same illness and their carer who developed major depression from shouldering the burden of caring for mentally ill family members. ACT, through its holistic approach, proved to have reduced hospitalizations and improve symptom control
and quality of life in this family.
Schizophrenia
2.Clinical Correlates of Erectile Dysfunction among Male Patients on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) in Kuala Lumpur
NJ Nik Ruzyanei ; M Noormazita ; B Azlin ; I Normala ; Z Hazli ; S Abdul Aziz ; S Hatta
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2012;8(1):27-35
Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is common but not often assessed in the routine clinical care among
males on opiate substitute treatment. Objective: To determine the association between clinical variables
and erectile dysfunction (ED) among men on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT). Methods: A
cross-sectional study involving 108 participants who attended the Drug Clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
The instruments used include the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorder (SCID-I),
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15). Results:
Concurrent heroin abuse was significantly associated with presence of ED (p=0.024). Treatment factors
including methadone dose and duration of methadone treatment were not significantly associated with
ED. Conclusion: Education on sexual dysfunction as a potential adverse effect and its association
with illicit heroin use should be considered in the doctor-patient consultation to encourage treatment
adherence and abstinence from heroin.