Scientific Programme

Three days of engaging plenary sessions, symposia, workshops, and paper presentations

MCPM 2026

Programme at a Glance

View sessions by day and time. Symposium tracks are grouped for easier reading.

Friday

Pre-Conference Workshop · 23 October 2026

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TIME	BALLROOM 1
0730-0830	Registration
0830-1200	PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP 1 Handling Difficult Conversations: Tips for Health Care Professionals Dr Johari Khamis (Chairperson) Dr Suhaila Mohd Som Dr Nusrat Najmin Khan Dr Ng Boon Seng Dr Farah Nabila Bt Abdul Majid

TIME	BALLROOM 1	JUNIOR BALLROOM
1400-1430	Registration
1430-1800	PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP 2 From Synapses to Clinical Practice: Understanding Neuromodulation Therapies Dr Sivenanthini Visvanathan (Chairperson) Dr Kenny Ong Kheng Yee Dr Chhoa Keng Hong Dr Mohamad Iqbal Mohaini	PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP 3 By Invitation Only Insomnia Across the Psychiatry Spectrum: Translating Sleep Science into Clinical Practice

Saturday

Conference Day 1 · 24 October 2026

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TIME	BALLROOM 2 & 3
0700-0830	Registration
0830-0900	Plenary 1 / Keynote Address Building Hope: Shaping the Future of Mental Health Care Dr Ng Chong Guan Chairperson: Dr Ting Joe Hang
0900-0945	Opening Ceremony Masters of Ceremony • Dr Aliaa Binti Juares Rizal • Dr Ng Boon Seng Bacaan Doa • Dr Muhammad Hanif Abd Latif Opening Address • Dr Mohd Fadzli Bin Mohamad Isa, President, Malaysian Psychiatric Association Tribute and Remembrance • Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr M. Mahadevan • Professor Dato' Dr N. Rajagopal • Prof Marhani Midin • Dr Susan Ong • Dr Haji Mohd Aminuddin bin Mohd Yusof Prof M. Parameshvara Deva Excellence Award Tribute Narration • Dr Abdul Rasyid Sulaiman • Dr Aishah Siddiqah Alimuddin • Dr Farah Nabila bt. Abdul Majid Masters of Ceremony • Dr Farah Nabila bt. Abdul Majid • Dr Muhammad Hanif Abd Latif Award Citation • Dr Abdul Rasyid Sulaiman Presentation of the Award • Dr Mohd Fadzli Bin Mohamad Isa President, Malaysian Psychiatric Association • Dr Ng Chong Guan President-Elect, Malaysian Psychiatric Association
0945 -1000	Tea Break
1000-1030	Plenary 2 (Sponsor: Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd) Breaking the Cycle: Recognising and Managing MDD in Patients with Substance Use Disorder Dr Munidasa Winslow Chairperson: Dr Noor Melissa Nor Hadi
1030-1100	Plenary 3 (Sponsor: Servier Malaysia Sdn Bhd) Uncovering the Hidden Burden: Assessing Anxious Distress in MDD Dr Ng Chong Guan Chairperson: Dr Ting Joe Hang
1100-1130	Plenary 4 (Sponsor: Marubeni Malaysia Sdn Bhd) LATUDA in Bipolar Depression: Translating Evidence into Treatment Choices in Clinical Practice Dr Lu Tsung Hua Chairperson: Dr Chow Soon Ken
1130-1200	Plenary 5 (Sponsor: Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd) Leading A New Era in Managing Agitation Associated with Alzheimer's Dementia (AAD) Assoc Prof Dr Esther Gunaseli A/P M. Ebenezer Chairperson: Dr Sivenanthini Visvanathan
1200-1245	Lunch Symposium (Sponsor: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Malaysia Sdn Bhd) Beyond Diagnoses: One Molecule, Multiple Dimensions. "The Transdiagnostic Potential of Cariprazine" Prof Dr Jesjeet Singh Gill Jeswant Singh Chairperson: Dr Chow Soon Ken
1245-1400	Lunch
	BALLROOM 2 & 3	JUNIOR BALLROOM	BALLROOM 1
1400-1530	SYMPOSIUM 1 *The Silver Tsunami and Geriatric Mental Health in Malaysia: Breaking Barriers, Building Hope* Chairperson: Dr Aishah Siddiqah Alimuddin Breaking the barrier of Ageism: Finding Meaning and Hope in Later Life Dr Bharathi Vengadasalam Biomarkers in dementia: Latest trend and clinical implications Dr Chan Yee Fai The Silver Tsunami: Are We Ready as Psychiatrists? Dr Surina Zaman Huri	SYMPOSIUM 2 *Breaking Barriers, Building Hopes - The role of Community & Rehabilitation Psychiatry Services* Chairperson: Dr Siti Hazrah Binti Selamat Din Co-Chairperson: Dr Firdaus Dato' Abdul Ghani Breaking Barriers in Access to Treatment I - Community Psychiatry Team Dr Vicky Loo Tsui Huei Breaking Barriers in Access to Treatment 2 – Integrating quality mental healthcare in primary care settings through the MIND program Dr Mohd Zulqisti bin Mohd Zulkifli Breaking barriers in Education – The PERINTIS Program Dr Zuri Shahidii bin Kadir Breaking Barriers in Employment – The RESTART Program Dr Muhammad Adib bin Baharom	SYMPOSIUM 3 *Psychiatry in the Digital Era: Elevating Care & Training Through AI and Digital Innovation* Chairperson: Dr Yuen Wai Chong FlexMinda & Psych Ease : Augmenting Psychiatric Care with an AI-Powered Mobile Platform Assoc Prof Dr Nur Faizah Ali, & Dr Mohd Zuhairi Zainuddin FlexMinda: Beyond Innovation: Evidence, Validation, and Sustainable Funding Assoc Prof Dr Salina Mohamed V-PROB - Web-Based Interventions in Psychiatry: Expanding Access to Mental Health Care & Empowerment Prof Dr Salmi Razali & Dr Nor Hidayah Jaris Learning and Mental Health Interventions Through MOOCs and Virtual Reality Assoc Prof Dr Nurul Azreen Hashim
	JUNIOR BALLROOM	BALLROOM 1	BALLROOM 2 & 3
1530-1700	SYMPOSIUM 4 *The Medical Student Journey: Mind, Motivation and Meaning* Chairperson: Dr Farah Nabila bt Abdul Majid Beyond Knowledge: Metacognitive Awareness and Academic Achievement among Medical Students Dr Abdul Rasyid Sulaiman Understanding Success: How Academic Self Concept and Metacognitive Awareness Shape Medical Student Achievement Dr Shane Varman A/L Pannir Selvam Faith as a Source of Resilience: Religious Coping in Medical Students Dr Tesini M. Paramannantha Veloo	SYMPOSIUM 5 *The Architecture of Recovery: Dismantling Therapeutic Asymmetry and Rewiring Neurocircuitry in Addiction Psychiatry* Chairperson: Dr Muhamad Arif Mohamad Rasat Co-Chairperson: Dr Mohd Fadzli Bin Mohamad Isa The Same Patient, A Different Standard: Stigma in Addiction Psychiatry Dr Mohd Hazreen bin Abdul Rashid Breaking Barriers: Relapse Prevention in Addiction Recovery Dr Sia Siaw Khing Dopamine Detours: Rocking the Rhythm and Rewiring the Brain via Exercise and Music in Addiction Psychiatry Dr Amir Zulhilmi bin Yahaya	SYMPOSIUM 6 *Interpersonal Psychotherapy with Cultural Adaptations for Conflictual Couples Relationships* Chairperson: Dr Ng Boon Seng Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) with Cultural Adaptations for Conflictual Couple Relationships Dr Xavier Vincent Pereira When Love Speaks Different Languages: IPT in Neurodiverse Relationships Dr Umi Adzlin Silim Interpersonal Psychotherapy in Marital Conflict: Breaking the Negative Loop Dr Stephanie Ong Boon Kheng When Silence Becomes Conflict: Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Marital Interpersonal Dispute Dr Farah Deena Abdul Samad
1730-1900	Ballroom 2 & 3 23rd BIENNIAL GENERAL MEETING

Sunday

Conference Day 2 · 25 October 2026

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TIME	JUNIOR BALLROOM
0730-0830	Registration
0800-0915	E-Poster Presentation Chairpersons: Dr Ling Shiao Ling & Dr Yuen Wai Chong Judges: Prof Normala Ibrahim & Prof Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar

TIME	BALLROOM 2 & 3
0900-0930	Plenary 6 (Sponsor: Luye Pharma (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd) A Lifetime of Women: The Art of Versatility Dr Umi Adzlin Silim Chairperson: Dr Noor Melissa Nor Hadi
0930-1000	Plenary 7 (Sponsor: DKSH Malaysia Sdn Bhd) Individualising Antidepressant Therapy: Where Does Mirtazapine Fit? Prof. Dr Ahmad Hatim Sulaiman Chairperson: Dr Johari Khamis
1000-1030	Tea Break
	JUNIOR BALLROOM	BALLROOM 1	BALLROOM 2 & 3
1030-1200	SYMPOSIUM 7 *Psychiatrist with Faith: Religiosity & Psychospirituality in a Multireligious and Multicultural Community* Chairperson: Dr Ahmad Rostam Md Zin & Dr Ling Shiao Ling Cognitive Dissonance in the Pew: Navigating the Clash Between Personal Theology and Clinical Reality in Christianity Dr Vicky Loo Tsui Huie Healing the Fractured Ego: Advaita Vedanta (Non Dualism) and Existential Distress Dr Sabbitan Balakrishnan Integrated Islamic Psychospiritual Intervention for High-Risk Sexual Behavior Dr Radhiahtul Akmal Razali Ancient Wisdom, Modern Healing: Mental Health Through the Lens of Buddhist Psychiatrist Dr See Torng Lei	SYMPOSIUM 8 *Reframing Suicide Postvention for Psychiatrists: From Prediction to Compassionate Containment* Chairperson: Dr Aliaa Binti Juares Rizal Core Truths About Suicide: From Prediction and Blame to Compassionate Understanding Dr Rachel Gibbons *Developing a National Online Suicide Postvention Balint Group for Psychiatrists in Malaysia:* A NADIM Initiative Dr Nur Iwana Abdul Taib Feasibility of a Postvention Framework for Psychiatrists After Patient Suicide: Early Insights from Malaysia Dr Muhammad Hanif Abd Latif	SYMPOSIUM 9 *Women at the Edge: Forensic Perspectives on Female-Perpetrated Homicide & Infanticide* Chairperson: Prof Normala Ibrahim Invisible Profiles: The Overlooked Demographics of Mentally Ill Women in the Justice System Dr Muhammad Farhan Fitri Bin Jacob Cloak of Silence: Women Who Kill Dr Chua Sze Hung Silent Tragedies: Socioeconomic Roots of Infanticide in Malaysia Prof Dr Salmi binti Razali
1200-1230	Lunch Symposium (Sponsor: INNO ASIA Distribution Sdn Bhd) Clinical Effectiveness of Standardized Saffron Extract Versus Methylphenidate in Children and Adolescents with ADHD Dr Hilario Blasco-Fontecilla Chairperson: Dr Firdaus Dato' Abdul Ghani
1230-1400	Lunch
	BALLROOM 2 & 3	BALLROOM 1	JUNIOR BALLROOM
1400-1530	SYMPOSIUM 10 *Narcissism or Autism? When Psychotherapy Helps- and When It Harms* Chairperson: Prof Dr Nik Ruzyanei Nik Jaafar Narcissism or Autism or Both? The Power and Peril of Naming Assoc Prof Dr Chong Seng Choi Same Process, Different Perspectives: ACT Focused Psychological Flexibility for Autism and Narcissism Dr Marina binti Abd Rahman Sabri The Self as a System: Rethinking Autism and Narcissism through Family Therapy Assoc Prof Dr Ruziana Masiran	SYMPOSIUM 11 *Behind Closed Doors: Sexual Distress and Mental Health in Men and Women* Chairperson: Dr Aishah Siddiqah Alimuddin Understanding Sexual Distress: Culture, Development, and the Stories Patients Never Tell Dr Maryam Amaran Ten Years of Practice-Based Insights from a Specialist Clinic: Psychological Profiles, Treatment Trajectories, and Lessons Learned in Vaginismus Management Dr Umi Adzlin Silim Beyond Performance: Erectile Dysfunction, Shame and The Silent Struggle of Intimacy Dr Ahmad Faizal Shamsuddin	SYMPOSIUM 12 *Local Communities, Global Minds: Advancing Community Mental Health in Southeast Asia* Chairperson: Dr Iwana Abdul Taib (Malaysia) Continuity Beyond Crisis: A Case-Based Journey Through Community Psychiatry for High-Risk Mental Illness Dr Pongsakorn Lengdee (Thailand) Assertive Community Treatment in Malang, Indonesia: Principles, Practice, and a One-Year Implementation Report on Community Mental Health Empowerment Dr Kresna Septiandy (Indonesia) Building a Safer Ward, Building a Stronger Community: Lessons from a District Psychiatry Transformation in Malaysia Dr Tow Zhen Jiang (Malaysia)
1530-1700	Ballroom 2 & 3 Conference Review and Closing Ceremony Masters of Ceremony • Dr Ling Shiao Ling • Dr Yuen Wai Chong • Address by the incoming ECP Chair: The Future of Early Career Psychiatrists • Address by the incoming MPA President-Elect: The Direction of Psychiatry in Malaysia: A Four-Year Vision E-Poster Award Ceremony Closing Remarks • Dr Ng Chong Guan