Patterns of Referral to Clinical Psychology Services in the Ministry of Health Malaysia
10.21315/mjms2019.26.6.11
- Author:
Manal Martadza
1
;
Umi Izzatti Saedon
2
;
Nooraini Darus
3
;
Tunku Saraa-Zawyah Tunku Badli
4
;
Siti Aisyah Ghazalan
5
;
Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus
6
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
3. Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
4. Hospital Bahagia Ulu Kinta, Tanjung Rambutan, Perak, Malaysia
5. Hospital Permai, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
6. Department of Psychology, School of Human Resource Development and Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Keywords;
pattern, referrals, clinical psychology, services, mental health
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2019;26(6):111-119
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: This descriptive study identifies the demographic characteristics and
patterns of referral to clinical psychology services, which include types of diagnosis, types of
referral and source of referrals in child, adolescent, adult and geriatric cases in Malaysia.
Methods: We utilised 2,179 referrals between January and December 2015 from six
general hospitals and three mental health institutions that provide clinical psychology services.
Results: The percentage of male referrals (60.3%) is higher than that of female referrals
(39.7%). Adult cases had the highest percentage of referrals (48.2%). Children (48.8%) and
adolescent (28.1%) cases were mainly referred for psychological assessment. Meanwhile, adult
cases (74.8%) were mainly referred for psychological intervention. Neurodevelopmental disorders
was the diagnosis with the highest percentage of referrals recorded (41.4%), followed by depressive
disorders (13.3%) and anxiety disorders (12.7%), and the combination of other disorders.
Psychiatrists provided the highest number of referrals (82.2%), which is unsurprising as both
fields are closely related.
Conclusion: Clinical psychology services within the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia
play an important role in mental health care.
- Full text:3.2019my0830.pdf
