Easing the burden of a brain in chaos

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One in 10 Malaysians has psychological problems, mainly anxiety and depression.
Mental illness emerged in 2001 as the second-largest factor in "disability-adjusted life years (Dalys)", defined as potential years of healthy life lost through premature death and disability, according to the National Mental Health Registry (NMHR) 2003-2004 report.
The registry was set up to help reduce the burden of mental disorders, through ensuring accurate information is available and accessible to the mental health sector.
The registry, established in 2003 and still in its first phase, currently focuses only on new cases of schizophrenia.
NMHR director Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Abdullah (picture) said the 4,684 cases recorded in 2003-2004 were fewer than expected.
"The incidence of schizophrenia is one in 20,000 people," he said. "Thus, an average of 4,000 is certainly quite low."
The total included 104 cases involving non-Malaysians.
"Our data is contributed by all psychiatric and mental facilities under the Ministry of Health, as well as university hospitals and some private local psychiatrists," Dr Aziz said.
Schizophrenia is an incurable but highly treatable disorder that affects thinking and judgment and impairs a person’s ability to reason logically. It is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain.
"Every case is treatable," Dr Aziz said. "There are all kinds of medication out there. With modern treatment, those afflicted can be placed back into, and function within, society."
Currently, about 20 to 25 per cent of schizophrenic patients use atypical medication to reduce symptoms.
"The atypical drugs work very well. Unfortunately the cost is high, about RM700 to RM900 a month per person," Dr Aziz said.
For patients in the lower-income bracket, Dr Aziz said the Government would have to provide assistance.
"The Government is in the process of allocating funds so that all sufferers can get access to the drugs," he said, adding that the worst cases of schizophrenia occurred among the poor due to the higher stress levels and bad living conditions.
He noted the lack of psychiatric experts in the country.
"We currently have 150-160 psychiatric experts. We need approximately 300 more," he said, adding that this would include psychologists, professional therapists and nurses.
The NMHR is also collecting data on other mental illnesses such as depression, deliberate self-harm, substance abuse and suicide.
Dr Aziz said that he had also requested that psychiatrists dealing with children and teenagers compile a mental health registry.
"I understand that there will be discussions to form a registry on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)."
He said the Malaysian Psychiatric Association was working with the ministry to get insurance companies to provide adequate coverage to schizophrenic sufferers.
"It is a very unfair situation, and we are trying to rectify it."
It was reported last year that insurance companies that do not provide for mentally-ill patients in Malaysia do so for such patients overseas.