BACKGROUND

In response to the need to provide for mental health services to address gender-related concerns in a higher education institute, the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila Center for Gender and Women Studies (CGWS) commissioned a project to formulate a framework for the increasing volume of referrals.

METHODOLOGY

A mixed methods study was done in order to gather data to create a responsive and practical mental health care service provision framework with and for service providers and service users in the university. An online survey (N=135), focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and a round table discussion were conducted, with constituents of the university recruited through purposive sampling.

RESULTS

A stepped-care model was proposed, consisting of: 1. Preventive Well-Being Resources, 2. Supportive Well-Being Interventions and Initial Screening Resources, 3. Structured Interventions, and 4. Interventions for Severe Mental Health Problems.

CONCLUSION

The framework formulated in collaboration with service providers and service users in the university addresses the goals of optimizing existing resources and enhancing service provision. Implementation and evaluation of this framework, as well as further information regarding the target population and their use of this model, are proposed avenues for further research.

Human ; Gender ; Gender Identity ; Sexual Harassment ; Mental Health ; Mental Health Services ; Lgbtq ; Sexual And Gender Minorities ; Psychiatry ; Psychology

The paper reviews systematically Professor FU Wenbin's academic thinking and clinical experience of integrative acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for cranial tinnitus. Professor FU believes that cranial tinnitus refers to psychosomatic comorbidity. This disease is associated mainly with the brain and liver in terms of the disease location. In pathogenesis, the dysfunction of qi movement, disharmony of internal organs and unhealthy conditions of body and mind are involved. In treatment, based on psychosomatic medicine, from the perspective of the integration of body and mind, and in line with the mode of the integrative acupuncture-moxibustion therapy, holistic regimens are used, including acupuncture, moxibustion, auricular acupuncture, etc. to consolidate the therapeutic effect of "tranquilizing the mind and relieving tinnitus".
Humans ; Tinnitus/psychology* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion ; Psychosomatic Medicine

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is an emerging area with potential clinical application of guiding medication choice and dosing. Interest has been fanned by commercial pharmacogenomic providers who have commonly marketed combinatorial panels that are direct-to-consumer. However, this has not been adopted widely due to a combination of barriers that include a varying evidence base, clinician and patient familiarity and acceptance, uncertainty about cost-effectiveness, and regulatory requirements. This review aims to examine recent updates in this field and provide a contextualised summary and recom-mendations for Asian populations in order to guide healthcare professionals in psychiatric practice. METHOD: A review of recent literature about current evidence and guidelines surrounding pharmacoge-nomics in psychiatric practice was carried out with particular attention paid to literature evaluating Asian populations. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation Evidence to Decision framework was applied. Consensus meetings comprising workgroup psychiatrists from the public and private sectors were held prior to arriving at the key recommendations. RESULTS: Pharmacogenomic testing should be mainly limited to drug-gene pairs with established clinical evidence, such as antidepressants and CYP2C19/ CYP2D6. Direct-to-consumer pharmacogenomic panels that assay multiple genes and analyse them via proprietary algorithms, are not presently recommended in Singapore's psychiatric setting due to inconclusive evidence on clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION Pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is not recommended as standard clinical practice. Exceptions may include concerns about drug concentrations or potential severe adverse drug reactions. Studies investigating newly identified drug-gene associations, and clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of utilising pharmacogenomic testing in psychiatry is encouraged.
Humans ; Psychiatry/methods* ; Pharmacogenetics ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2C19/genetics* ; Asian People/genetics* ; Pharmacogenomic Testing/methods* ; Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6/genetics* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Singapore ; Mental Disorders/genetics* ; Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use*

BACKGROUND

E-learning has emerged as a crucial technique that educators embrace and apply. Two effective e-learning materials are video-based learning (VBL) and e-book-based remote learning (EBRL). While several studies have proven their effectiveness, none have compared these e-learning materials, especially regarding caregivers’ knowledge of delirium, dementia, and depression (3Ds). Based on the extant literature, many caregivers are untrained and often lack the knowledge and skills to lessen the burden on delirious, demented, and depressed older adults. Hence, there is a growing need to explore how e-learning materials will address caregivers’ lack of knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry.

OBJECTIVES

This study ascertained the effects of e-learning materials on caregivers’ knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry and determined significant differences within and between groups.

METHODS

A three-arm, quasi-experimental study, which included 63 informal caregivers in Baguio City who met the inclusion criteria and were chosen through purposive sampling, was conducted. Data were gathered using the Delirium-related knowledge tool, the Bangladesh version of the Depression Literacy Questionnaire, and the Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool version 2. Data collection was done face-to-face and was conducted from March to April 2023. Data were treated with descriptive and inferential statistics using means, paired t-test, one-way omnibus ANOVA, and the post hoc Scheffé’s test. Ethics approval was provided by the Saint Louis University Research Ethics Committee (SLU-REC-UG 2023-004).

RESULTS

All the pretest mean scores of respondents in the VBL, EBRL, and control groups increased in the posttest. Additionally, the paired t-test revealed that the VBL and EBRL materials significantly affected the caregivers’ knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry, evidenced by a t-statistic of -5.80 (p=0.00001) and -4.48 (p= 0.00023), respectively. Lastly, one-way ANOVA revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in mean scores between at least two groups (F(2,60) = [7.060], p=0.002). Post hoc analysis using Scheffé’s test for multiple comparisons found that the mean values significantly differed between the VBL and the waitlist control group (Scheffé=10.589), and between the EBRL and the waitlist control group (Scheffé=10.589). There was no statistically significant difference between the VBL and the EBRL groups (Scheffé=0).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that informal caregivers in Baguio City are moderately knowledgeable about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry. Moreover, both VBL and EBRL materials showed effectiveness in improving caregivers’ knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry, highlighting the substantial equivalence of both materials. Lastly, caregivers’ knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry increases as they engage in e-learning materials. Thus, it is acknowledged that VBL and EBRL materials are valuable, cost-effective, and practical interventions in improving caregivers’ knowledge about the 3Ds of geriatric psychiatry.

Human ; Geriatric Psychiatry ; Delirium ; Dementia ; Depression

As artificial intelligence technology rapidly advances, its deployment within the medical sector presents substantial ethical challenges. Consequently, it becomes crucial to create a standardized, transparent, and secure framework for processing medical data. This includes setting the ethical boundaries for medical artificial intelligence and safeguarding both patient rights and data integrity. This consensus governs every facet of medical data handling through artificial intelligence, encompassing data gathering, processing, storage, transmission, utilization, and sharing. Its purpose is to ensure the management of medical data adheres to ethical standards and legal requirements, while safeguarding patient privacy and data security. Concurrently, the principles of compliance with the law, patient privacy respect, patient interest protection, and safety and reliability are underscored. Key issues such as informed consent, data usage, intellectual property protection, conflict of interest, and benefit sharing are examined in depth. The enactment of this expert consensus is intended to foster the profound integration and sustainable advancement of artificial intelligence within the medical domain, while simultaneously ensuring that artificial intelligence adheres strictly to the relevant ethical norms and legal frameworks during the processing of medical data.
Artificial Intelligence/legislation & jurisprudence* ; Humans ; Consensus ; Computer Security/standards* ; Confidentiality/ethics* ; Informed Consent/ethics*

Objectives: Psychological distress is more prevalent among medical students compared to the general population. This study describes the factors which contribute to the well-being of medical students enrolled in the UP College of Medicine, and their relationship with the students’ demographic characteristics. Methods: The modified Cardiff Medical School Well-being Questionnaire was administered to 598 students of the UP College of Medicine. The following domains were explored: acquisition of knowledge and skills, work-life balance, demands, travel and orientation, safety, culture, finances, perceived support in academics and perceived support in personal/health matters. Students also shared their insights regarding potential areas of change to enhance their engagement and performance. Demographics are presented as frequency and percentage; the relationship between the demographic characteristics and factors was analyzed through multiple linear regression. Results: The mean age of the medical student participants was 22.6 years, with an almost equal male to female ratio. The majority were single, Roman Catholic, lateral entrants, having a high socioeconomic status, and with residence in the City of Manila while in training. Medical students were least concerned about culture, safety at work, travel and orientation, and perceived support for academics. However, they were most concerned about work-life balance, demands, finance, and perceived support on personal and health matters. Conclusion Medical students expressed more concern about work-life balance, demands, finance, and perceived support on personal and health issues, and marked less concern about culture, safety at work, travel and orientation, and perceived support for academics. Across all domains, there are areas for improvement and limitations which can be further explored in future studies.
psychiatry ; mental health ; medical students ; well-being ; education

The traditional life concept of "body-mind holism" in Chinese medicine has drawn a special attention with the development of modern psychosomatic medicine. The "body-mind holism" is valuable in the guidance for clinical acupuncture practice, but, it is only remained on the theoretical significance by the medical masters in the past dynasties. In the paper, based on the understanding of Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic), the similarities and differences are compared between the body-mind theory and psychosomatic medicine. In association with clinical observation, from three aspects, i.e. body-mind pathogenesis, acupoint detection and observing the mind, and body-mind treatment, the guidance of "body-mind holism" is explored for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion; the referents of "body" and "mind" are clarified in views of disease, diagnosis and treatment; and the treatment strategies of acupuncture and moxibustion are discussed in the perspective of "body-mind holism".
Moxibustion ; Psychosomatic Medicine ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture ; Acupuncture Points ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Meridians

Background: In recent years, both mental health (MH) and substance use (SU) have emerged as important issues among Filipinos. Not all clients need specialized services and can be treated in non-specialized settings. However, no previous study has examined integration of MH and SU in the Philippines. Objectives: This qualitative study explored the current practices, gaps, and potential for integration of MH and SU treatment in communities. Methodology: In-depth interviews were conducted among eight subject matter experts from five Department of Health (DOH) Centers for Health Development and three local government units. Data was analyzed using Framework analysis and the SAMHSA-HRSA Framework. Results: Findings suggest very low levels of integration of mental health and substance use services given inadequate resources and divergent policies and governance structures. However, findings show the potential for integration of community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) and community-based mental health (CBMH) especially for low and moderate risk clients. Conclusion: CBDR programs appear to be a promising model for care and lay the groundwork for implementation of CBMH. However, policy changes are needed to decriminalize drug use and implement an integrated flow for MH and SU. In addition, incorporating screening and early interventions in primary care are key to decreasing mental health inequity in the Philippines.
Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry) ; Philippines

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

With the establishment of the Republic Act No. 11036, more popularly known as the Mental Health Act, improvement in the mental, neurologic, and psychosocial health took a step forward in the Philippines. This law, which was signed on June 2018, gave specific provisions in different aspects of delivery of mental health services to Filipinos. This law proved very useful in the dilemma faced in the following case where a potential problem in confidentiality was encountered.
Mental Health Services ; Confidentiality ; Mental Health ; Philippines