1.Patterns of Referral to Clinical Psychology Services in the Ministry of Health Malaysia
Manal Martadza ; Umi Izzatti Saedon ; Nooraini Darus ; Tunku Saraa-Zawyah Tunku Badli ; Siti Aisyah Ghazalan ; Wan Mohd Azam Wan Mohd Yunus
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2019;26(6):111-119
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			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.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            

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