UNAIR NEWS – The Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga held the 123rd Airlangga Webinar Conference Series (AWCS) under the theme of “Psychiatric and Mental Health”. This year, the event was held in collaboration with the alumni association of the core branch (IKA PCI) of the Faculty of Medicine of Universitas Airlangga, UK, on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

“We’re aware of the increasing psychiatric and mental disorder cases. It occurs anywhere, even in developed countries and Indonesia. It encourages us to explore the mental health issues for the AWCS of the year,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine Prof Dr. Budi Santoso dr SpOG Subsp FER.

Understanding psychosis
The unfamiliarity of psychosis around the community has encouraged Winson Chuanardi, MD MSc, UNAIR Medicine alumnus, to present his research titled “Red Flags and Routine Investigation for Secondary Psychosis: Preliminary Findings from a Survey of UK Psychiatrists”.

The term “psychosis” is relatively unknown in Indonesia. Some people are more familiar with “schizophrenia” or severe mental disorders. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, these conditions share key features or symptoms, including hallucinations, disordered thinking speech, and negative symptoms.

Though they may appear similar, schizophrenia and psychosis are different. In the UK, the term “schizophrenia” is not used for patients with psychosis. It is reserved for patients with a progressively deteriorating condition.

“If we were to compare it, psychosis is a large house. Inside the house, you can find schizophrenia. It requires a deeper understanding of both because they encompass a broader spectrum,” he said.

Red Flags for secondary psychosis
The “Red Flags” are one of the solutions to categorize patients with psychosis or schizophrenia. Winson believed that the method is effective in detecting primary or secondary psychosis without laboratory tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

The Red Flags method has been conducted on the secondary headache in neurology. The LPDP awardee hoped that the method could be applied to secondary psychosis. The goal is to understand the psychiatrist’s perspective on these two aspects and to have early detection of warning signs for further investigation.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all the stakeholders, Universitas Airlangga, and the LPDP scholarship provider who have assisted me in completing my studies and research in the UK,” he said.

Author: Satrio Dwi Naryo

Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia

Source : unair.ac.id/en/unair-alumnus-examines-red-flag-for-secondary-psychosis-detection