Psychological Medicine Department

The Department of Psychological Medicine was estabilished in 1965, soon after the founding of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya in 1964. The department was the nheaded by Professor N.N.Wagner from the United State of America, a clinical psychologist. Professor Tan Eng Seong was the first Malaysian psychiatrist to head the department. In 1976, Associate Professor Teoh Jin Inn became the head of the department followed by Assosiate Professor Woon Tai Hwang in 1977, Associate Professor M. Subramaniam in 1991, Professor M. P. Deva in 1992 and Associate Professor Hussain Habil since 1998. The postgraduate training in psychological Medicine wa launched in 1973 to address the shortage of psychiatrist in Malaysia. It was initially started as a two-year MPM (Master in Psychological Medicine).

Research Activities
The Department also considers its mission to share the knowledge gaine in its various activities, to provide a forum for discussion and to disseminate information to the staff of UMMC, the Medical Faculty, General Practitioners, other Psychiatrist, as well as other medical and health workers. This will be achieved in various ways including the conduct of short courses and workshops. Research activities include:

1. Interdisciplinary/ multidisciplinary : medical, psychiatry, infectious disease
2. Local and international organizations : Ministry of Health, Yale University, King’s College London

Ongoing Research

1. Prevalence and pattern of substance use among inmates receiving treatment in Pusat Serenti, Malaysia.
2. Outcome of substance use and symptomatology among schizophrenic patients with comorbid stimulant dependence treated with partial dopamine agonist in UMMC, K.L.
3. Depression and anxiety disorders among heroin dependence receiving Buprenorphine maintenance therapy in a community based drug rehabilitation (PROKIM, Malaysia, K.L).
4. Attitude and practice of drug substitution therapy and harm reduction strategy among clients seeking treatment in drug rehabilitation centers in Malaysia.
5. Psychiatric and medical comorbidities among drug users on the street of Kuala Lumpur.
6. Psychiatric morbidity and characteristics of clients seeking treatment for ‘daun ketum’ in Alor Star district, Kedah.
7. Outcomes of Methadone Maintenance Therapy versus standard care treatment among drug dependence inmates release from SERENTI centers.
8. Pilot study on methadone maintenance therapy in Prison, Malaysia.