exudates and Hallucinations

The symptom profile of schizophrenia can vary between ethnic groups. We explored selected symptom variables previously reported to be characteristic of schizophrenia in the Iban of Sarawak in transethnic populations from Australia, India, and Sarawak, Malaysia. We tested site differences to confirm previous research, and to explore implications of differences across populations for future investigations.. We recruited schizophrenia samples in Australia (n = 609), India (n = 310) and Sarawak (n = 205) primarily for the purposes of genetic studies. We analyzed seven identified variables and their relationship to site using logistic regression, including: global delusions, bizarre delusions, thought broadcast/insertion/withdrawal delusions, global hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and prodromal duration.. We identified a distinct symptom profile in our Sarawak sample. Specifically, the Iban exhibit: low frequency of thought broadcast/insertion/withdrawal delusions, high frequency of auditory hallucinations and disorganized behavior, with a comparatively short prodrome when compared with Australian and Indian populations.. Understanding between-site variation in symptom profile may complement future transethnic genetic studies, and provide important clues as to the nature of differing schizophrenia expression across ethnically distinct groups. A comprehensive approach to subtyping schizophrenia is warranted, utilizing comprehensively ascertained transethnic samples to inform both schizophrenia genetics and nosology.

Topics: Adult; Australia; Delusions; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia; Symptom Assessment

The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS) is the most widely used validated scale to measure the specific symptoms of auditory hallucination and delusion. The aim of this study was to validate and to examine the psychometric properties of the auditory hallucination component of the Malay PSYRATS (MyPSYRATS). The research was done in the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Center (UKMMC) among 51 schizophrenia inpatients and outpatients who had experienced or reported verbal auditory hallucination. The psychometric properties of MyPSYRATS (auditory hallucination) were studied and a comparison was made between the psychometric properties obtained and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The internal consistency of MyPSYRATS was good as revealed by Cronbach's alpha value. Factor analysis replicated three components (emotional, cognitive, and physical) similar to the factorial structure of the original auditory hallucination scale. However, two items were regrouped under the emotional component. Spearman's rank-order correlation showed a significant positive relationship between the total score of auditory hallucinations and PANSS auditory hallucinations item (P3). In conclusion, the auditory hallucination domain of MyPSYRATS is a reliable and valid assessment tool for further clinical applications.

Topics: Adult; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychometrics; Reproducibility of Results; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology

There is significant variation in the expression of schizophrenia across ethnically different populations, and the optimal structural and diagnostic representation of schizophrenia are contested. We contrasted both lifetime frequencies of DSM-IV criterion A (the core symptom criterion of the internationally recognized DSM classification system) symptoms and types/content of delusions and hallucinations in transethnic schizophrenia populations from Australia (n = 776), India (n = 504) and Sarawak, Malaysia (n = 259), to elucidate clinical heterogeneity. Differences in both criterion A symptom composition and symptom content were apparent. Indian individuals with schizophrenia reported negative symptoms more frequently than other sites, whereas individuals from Sarawak reported disorganized symptoms more frequently. Delusions of control and thought broadcast, insertion, or withdrawal were less frequent in Sarawak than Australia. Curiously, a subgroup of 20 Indian individuals with schizophrenia reported no lifetime delusions or hallucinations. These findings potentially challenge the long-held view in psychiatry that schizophrenia is fundamentally similar across cultural groups, with differences in only the content of psychotic symptoms, but equivalence in structural form.

Topics: Adult; Australia; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Delusions; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; India; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Schizophrenia

In a cross-sectional study of 21 children with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 15 (71%) were found to have neuropsychiatric manifestations. The most common finding was generalised seizures (42.8%) followed by encephalopathy (19%) and hallucinations (19%). One child (4.76%) had hemichorea. In 3 children neurological manifestations were the first symptom of SLE. Computerised Axial Tomograms (CAT scans) showed cerebral atrophy in 7 of 12 scans available for review. Ten children had abnormal EEGs. Although none of the children had clinical evidence of a peripheral neuropathy, 8 had neurophysiological evidence of a neuropathy. One child died of intracranial haemorrhage. Six children had residual neuropsychiatric sequalae.

Topics: Adolescent; Brain Diseases; Child; Electroencephalography; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; Incidence; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System; Malaysia; Male; Seizures; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Topics: Culture; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Reflex, Startle

Thirty-seven cases of latah are examined within the author's Malay extended family (N = 115). Based on ethnographic data collected and a literature review, cases are readily divisible into two broad categories: habitual (N = 33) and performance (N = 4). The first form represents an infrequent, culturally conditioned habit that is occasionally used as a learned coping strategy in the form of a cathartic stress response to sudden startle with limited secondary benefits (i.e., exhibiting brief verbal obscenity with impunity). In this sense, it is identical to Western swearing. Performers are engaged in conscious, ritualized social gain through the purported exploitation of a neurophysiological potential. The latter process is essentially irrelevant, akin to sneezing or yawning. It is concluded that latah is a social construction of Western-trained universalist scientists. The concept of malingering and fraud in anthropology is critically discussed.

Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Culture; Ethnicity; Exhibitionism; Family; Female; Fraud; Habits; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Malingering; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Reflex, Startle; Syndrome

Two hundred and seventy patients with schizophrenia (104 patients in Kelantan and 166 patients in Penang) were interviewed using the Present State Examination to elicit the differences in the phenomenology of their hallucinations. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the phenomenology of hallucinations between the Malays of Penang and Kelantan and also among some Chinese patients. These findings indicate that culture does affect the phenomenology of schizophrenia, even among people of the same race but of different regions.

Topics: China; Female; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Schizophrenic Psychology

Topics: Adult; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Psychotic Disorders

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Buddhism; China; Christianity; Depression; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Female; Guilt; Hallucinations; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Race Relations; Riots; Schizophrenia; Sleep Wake Disorders; Violence