Responding to a Major Disaster: The Trauma Assessment and Support Clinic in Beirut.

The Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, traumatized the Lebanese population. It also revealed a lack of disaster mental health preparedness in a country subject to significant political, economic, and security challenges. The Trauma Assessment and Support Clinic at the American University of Beirut Medical Center was one of many initiatives set up nationally as a dedicated emergency benevolent service. The authors recommend anticipating the psychiatric consequences of such rare events at a professional and systemic level. The experiences of clinicians and the challenges faced in Lebanon can guide the improvement of disaster mental health care on a global level.

Psychological needs and response during the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon.

Lebanon was 1 of the countries to be affected early by the COVID-19 pandemic while in the midst of political upheaval. The stress implicated by this dual challenge allowed for mental health to take a center stage, prompting a nationwide official and informal response. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment of primary care patients presenting with psychological disorders.

Mental disorders affect a great number of people worldwide. Four out of the 10 leading causes of disability in the world are mental disorders. Because of the scarcity of specialists around the world and especially in developing countries, it is important for primary care physicians to provide services to patients with mental disorders. The most widely researched and used psychological approach in primary care is cognitive behavioral therapy. Due to its brief nature and the practical skills it teaches, it is convenient for use in primary care settings. The following paper reviews the literature on psychotherapy in primary care and provides some practical tips for primary care physicians to use when they are faced with patients having mental disorders.