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Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2019) | Viewed by 29978

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Edimansyah Abdin

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Guest Editor

Research Division, Institute of Mental Health, 10 Buangkok View, Singapore 539747, Singapore
Interests: psychiatric epidemiology; biostatistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Global Burden of Disease Study, which measured disease burden, estimated that mental and behavioural disorders accounted for 22.7% of all years lived with disability (YLD), which was an increase of 37% from 1990 to 2010 (Vos et al., 2012). Asia Pacific is a region characterised by rapid changes in economic and technological development, population growth, migration, and demographics. Across this region, mental illness causes a significant health and socioeconomic burden, which on average accounts for more than 20% of the total YLDs and 9.3% of the DALYs of the economy (Ng, 2018). While the impact of mental illness in this region is growing, very few papers in the literature to date have updated the current trends of research on mental health in this region. Hence, this Special Issue will provide up to date current research findings in the area of mental health. We invite authors to submit manuscripts related to all aspects of mental health research that have been conducted recently in the Asia Pacific region.

Dr. Edimansyah Abdin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

psychiatry epidemiology
mental health
health services research
Asian

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 320 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Exploration of Differences Between Deliberate Self-Harm with and without Suicidal Intent Amongst a Clinical Sample of Young People in Singapore: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Ellaisha Samari, Shazana Shahwan, Edimansyah Abdin, YunJue Zhang, Rajeswari Sambasivam, Wen Lin Teh, Say How Ong, Siow Ann Chong and Mythily Subramaniam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1429; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17041429 - 23 Feb 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4040

Abstract

This study examined differences between young people with mental illness who engage in deliberate self-harm with and without suicidal intent, as well as socio-demographic and clinical factors that are related to the increased likelihood of suicide attempt amongst self-harming young people. A total of 235 outpatients with mental illness who had engaged in deliberate self-harm were recruited from a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Singapore. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire which collected information on their socio-demographic background, self-harm history, diagnosis, depressive symptoms and childhood trauma. A total of 31.1% had reported a history of attempted suicide. Multiple logistic regression conducted found that engaging in self-harm ideation between 1 and 7 days (OR = 4.3, p = 0.30), and more than 1 week (OR = 10.5, p < 0.001) (versus no engagement in any self-harm ideation at all), were significantly associated with greater likelihood of attempted suicide. This study reports a relatively high prevalence rate of reported suicide attempts amongst young people with mental illness who engaged in self-harm. Identifying self-harm behaviors and treating it early could be the first step in managing potential suicidal behaviors among those who engage in self-harm. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

9 pages, 545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Validity of the Brief Resilience Scale and Brief Resilient Coping Scale in a Chinese Sample

by Sai-fu Fung

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1265; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17041265 - 16 Feb 2020

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 10231

Abstract

This study presents a cross-cultural examination of the psychometric properties of two commonly used brief self-report resilience scales, the 6-item Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the 4-item Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS). Five hundred and eleven Chinese university undergraduate students were recruited for this cross-sectional research. Various psychometric evaluation tools were used to evaluate the internal consistency, criterion validity, factorial validity and construct validity of these resilience scales. The results showed that both scales had good criterion validity, with well-established measures of well-being, optimism, self-esteem, self-efficacy and mental health, as suggested in the resilience literature. The BRS (a = 0.71) showed better internal consistency than the BRCS (a = 0.59). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results also indicated that the BRS, with a two-factor structure, had better construct validity than the BRCS. The CFA results for the BRS met all of the criteria for a good model fit. The BRS was found to have better psychometric properties than the BRCS in the Chinese context. The findings will help researchers to select an appropriate resilience measure when conducting epistemological surveys of Chinese university students or the Chinese diaspora in other contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

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12 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subjective Quality of Life and Its Associations among First Episode Psychosis Patients in Singapore

by Pratika Satghare, Edimansyah Abdin, Shazana Shahwan, Boon Yiang Chua, Lye Yin Poon, Siow Ann Chong and Mythily Subramaniam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(1), 260; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17010260 - 30 Dec 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2370

Abstract

Background—Mental disorders have been found to affect quality of life (QOL) in patients. The current study aimed to determine QOL among first episode psychosis (FEP) patients and explore its associations with sociodemographic as well as clinical factors. Methods—Data for this study were collected as a part of an Early Psychosis Intervention Program (EPIP)-Smoking and Alcohol use survey. At baseline, 280 outpatients aged 15–40 years old diagnosed with FEP, with no prior or minimal treatment, no history of medical or neurological disorder, and no history of substance abuse, were recruited. Sociodemographic details, diagnosis, length of duration of untreated psychosis (DUP), and World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment—abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF) scores were obtained. Results—After adjusting for all covariates, older age (p = 0.036), females, and participants diagnosed with brief psychotic disorder (p = 0.04) were associated positively, whereas separated/divorced participants, those with lower education, unemployed (p = 0.01), and longer DUP were seen to be negatively associated with different domains of QOL. Conclusion—Higher WHOQOL-BREF scores denote better QOL. Overall, female participants as compared to male participants and those diagnosed with brief psychotic disorder in this sample reported better QOL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

12 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Relative Associations of Body Image Dissatisfaction among Psychiatric Out-Patients in Singapore

by Pratika Satghare, Mithila Valli Mahesh, Edimansyah Abdin, Siow Ann Chong and Mythily Subramaniam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(24), 5162; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16245162 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4003

Abstract

Background: Adults with body image dissatisfaction (BID) are more likely to be depressed, anxious, and suicidal when compared to those without intense dissatisfaction over their appearance. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with BID among out-patients with mental illness in Singapore. Methods: Data was collected from 310 psychiatric out-patients using a self-administered questionnaire. Measurements used were socio-demographic characteristics, Body Mass Index scores, Body Shape Questionnaire, Binge Eating Scale, Eating Attitudes Test, Beck’s Depression Inventory, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Results: A prevalence of 30.9% of BID was established among psychiatric out-patients in Singapore. Being female, having higher BMI scores, binge eating behavior, eating disorders, and those diagnosed with depression were positively associated with BID. Conclusion: BID is prevalent among those with psychiatric illnesses which could lead to a higher degree of psychological distress and the emergence of eating disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

9 pages, 300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Association between Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Type 2 Diabetes Comorbidity in Serious Mental Illness

by Ramya Walsan, Darren J Mayne, Xiaoqi Feng, Nagesh Pai and Andrew Bonney

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(20), 3905; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16203905 - 15 Oct 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2518

Abstract

This study examined the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage and serious mental illness (SMI)–type 2 diabetes (T2D) comorbidity in an Australian population using routinely collected clinical data. We hypothesised that neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage is positively associated with T2D comorbidity in SMI. The analysis considered 3816 individuals with an SMI living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions of NSW, Australia, between 2010 and 2017. Multilevel logistic regression models accounting for suburb (neighbourhood) level clustering were used to assess the association between neighbourhood disadvantage and SMI -T2D comorbidity. Models were adjusted for age, sex, and country of birth. Compared with the most advantaged neighbourhoods, residents in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had 3.2 times greater odds of having SMI–T2D comorbidity even after controlling for confounding factors (OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.42–7.20). The analysis also revealed significant geographic variation in the distribution of SMI -T2D comorbidity in our sample (Median Odds Ratio = 1.35) Neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage accounted for approximately 17.3% of this geographic variation. These findings indicate a potentially important role for geographically targeted initiatives designed to enhance prevention and management of SMI–T2D comorbidity in disadvantaged communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

14 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Coworkers Aid in Coping with Emotional Exhaustion? An Experience Sampling Method Approach

by Jing Xiu, Zhenduo Zhang, Zhigang Li and Junwei Zheng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(16), 2919; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16162919 - 14 Aug 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2915

Abstract

The present study emphasizes the indirect influences of coworker helping behavior on emotional exhaustion through psychological availability and the moderating role of perceived task demands on a daily basis. Using a two-wave experience sampling method with data collected via mobile phones, we collected 345 matched data from 69 samples over five consecutive days in mainland China. We developed a moderated mediation model to test our conceptual model, with the following significant results: (1) Daily coworker helping behavior decreased employee emotional exhaustion; (2) daily psychological availability mediated the influence of coworker helping behavior on employee emotional exhaustion; (3) through psychological availability, perceived task demands moderated the indirect influence of daily coworker helping behavior on emotional exhaustion. The indirect influence of daily coworker helping behavior only emerged with a low perception of job demands. This research explores the mechanism and boundary conditions of the relationship between daily coworker helping behavior and employee emotional exhaustion with the job demands-resources model framework. In practice, leaders should adopt beneficial interventions to enhance team cohesion, to facilitate team members’ helping behavior, and to manage task demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

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10 pages, 1428 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Suicide Trends over Time by Occupation in Korea and Their Relationship to Economic Downturns

by Jin-Ha Yoon, Sun Jae Jung, Jaesung Choi and Mo-Yeol Kang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(11), 2007; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph16112007 - 05 Jun 2019

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3114

Abstract

We analyzed suicide mortality by occupation using administrative data from 1993 to 2016. Methods: National death records from 1993 to 2016 of the Korea National Statistical Office (KNSO) were used. Suicidal death was taken from Korean Classification of Disease codes as intentional self-harm (X60–X84) and sequelae of intentional self-harm (Y870). Occupational groups were categorized into “Manager,” “Officer,” ”Service-Trade,” “Agricultural-Fishery-Forestry” (AFF), “Skilled Manual,” and “Unskilled Manual.” Direct standardized mortality (DSM) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated. Overall, suicide rates increased during economic downturns, especially among lower socio-economic occupation classes. Both DSM and SMR were highest in AFF, followed by Unskilled Manual, Service-Trade, Officer, Skilled Manual, and Manager categories among men, whereas women showed the highest DSM and SMR in AFF, followed by Service-Trade, Officer, Unskilled Manual, Manager, and Skilled Manual categories. The age-stratified analysis showed that age groups with increasing trends in suicide differed according to occupation and gender. In certain occupational groups, the time-point prevalence fluctuated with socio-economic background in suicidal mortality and differed by age and gender. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Trends in Mental Health Research in Asia Pacific Region)

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