BUKU ABSTRAK - Universiti Putra Malaysia

Identifying Psychiatric Disorders among Older Persons Living in the Community:
A Comparison between Clinical Diagnosis and GMS-AGECAT in Johor, Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tengku Aizan Hamid
Suraya Yusoff, Esther Gunaseli Ebenezer, Chai Sen Tyng and Siti Suhailah Abdullah
Institute of Gerontology, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8947 2750; tengkuaizan06@gmail.com
Keywords: Psychogeriatrics, validity, GMS-AGECAT, community
Computer Games Development and Appreciative Learning Approach for Creative
Perception Enhancement
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Zah Wan Ali
Eow Yee Leng, Rosnaini Mahmud and Roselan Baki
Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
+603-8946 8174; wanzah@educ.upm.edu.my
Keywords: Creative perception, appreciative learning approach, appreciative inquiry theory
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Social Sciences
The Geriatric Mental State (GMS) is a widely used psychiatric assessment for older persons, with a
computerized algorithm (AGECAT) generating diagnosis for nine (9) syndromes. This study aims to investigate
the level of agreement between a GMS-AGECAT diagnosis and clinical diagnosis of mental disorder among older
persons living in the community. A two-phase epidemiological design was used where trained, lay interviewers
first administered translated versions of the GMS (B3) to an nationwide older Malaysian sample (n = 2,980) in
a door-to-door survey. The GMS B3 generates diagnoses for organicity, depression and anxiety disorder on six
levels of confidence (0 - 5), with levels 3 and greater representing likely cases warranting professional intervention.
Out of 381 respondents in the state of Johor, 120 older persons were randomly selected for home examination
by a clinical psychiatrist (geriatrics) who is blind to the Phase 1 results. A comparison of the diagnoses derived
from the lay interviewers and the clinician yielded an overall agreement of 76.2% (n = 105) with a moderate
Kappa value of 0.502 (95% CI 0.319 - 0.649) [sensitivity = 67.4%; specificity = 82.3%]. Further analysis showed
that the GMS-AGECAT (B3 version) reported higher agreement for organic disorders but not depression. In
addition, higher level of education was associated with increased sensitivity, especially for organicity. Due to
limitations of a small sample size, attrition and lapse of time in between the two phases, further studies are
needed to determine the cross-cultural validity and reliability of the GMS-AGECAT algorithm among the older
population in Malaysia. Its adoption would enable a rapid and accurate screening assessment of mental disorders
by non-clinicians in a community setting.
Creativity is an important entity in developing human capital while computer games are the current generation’s
contemporary tool. A research had carried out to enhance creative perception among lower secondary school
students. The study applied randomised subjects, with control group experimental design, which involved 69
Malaysian form one students, aged 13-14 year-old. Appreciative learning approach, which based on Appreciative
Inquiry (AI) theory, was administered on treatment group. Meanwhile, control group adopted self-paced learning,
followed by do-it-yourself session. Previous studies showed that although appreciative learning approach is still
at its infancy stage of development, the approach is gaining its momentum in educational settings as it focuses on
strengthening a person’s capacities and potential. In this study, students’ creative perception was assessed through
Khatena-Torrance Creative Perception Inventory (KTCPI). Treatment group gained a mean score of 71.82, which
was significantly higher at .05 level of significance compared to the mean score of 50.49 exhibited by the control
group. Therefore, appreciative learning approach has the potential to be a new pedagogical strategy in enhancing
students’ creative perception in educational settings.