Emotional blunting among depressed patients in Malaysia teaching hospitals / Chan Mei Ling

Chan, Mei Ling (2022) Emotional blunting among depressed patients in Malaysia teaching hospitals / Chan Mei Ling. Masters thesis, Universiti Malaya.

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Abstract

Emotional blunting is a condition characterized by a restriction in emotions which presents clinically as emotional indifference and detachment, reduced in both positive and negative emotion. It is related to adverse effects of antidepressants and residual symptoms of depression. Emotional blunting may predict functional impairment and depressive relapse. Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) was created to measure emotional blunting among depressed patient. The goal of the study was to translate ODQ into Malay language and validate the scale. It also studied the association factors between emotional blunting among depressed patients. Method The study was cross-sectional in design and consisted of 245 depressed patients. Participants were given ODQ, SHAPS-M, PHQ-9 to assess emotional blunting, hedonic state and also depression. SDS also was used to assess the functional disability. The ODQ was translated into Malay language and to be validated to be used in Malaysia context. Internal consistency test, and construct validity of the ODQ in Malay version was tested. Result Malay version of the ODQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.9) and good concurrent validity. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) resulted a four- factor solution. Item 1, item 13, item 15 and item 17 on the scale showed low factor. Factor loading Item 19 showed cross loading to other items. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis demonstrated a cut-off value of 66.5 on the Malay version of the ODQ to determine substantial emotional blunting. There were statistically significant association between age, ethnic, religion and fluoxetine with emotional blunting. Both PHQ-9 and ODQ in Malay version were good predictor to emotional blunting. Conclusion Malay version of the ODQ established good validity and reliability for assessing emotional blunting. It showed high acceptability and easy to be administered.

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