Psychiatry Residents' Attitudes towards Spirituality in Psychiatric Practice in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined residents' attitudes and practices regarding the relevance of spirituality in psychiatry within Saudi residency training programs; their experiences and comfort levels in addressing patients' spiritual concerns; and their interest and past learning experiences in this area of training and practice. METHODS: This cross-sectional study targeted trainees and recent graduates of residency programs across Saudi Arabia. The study materials consisted of an electronic questionnaire that was adapted with permission. RESULTS: The total number of respondents was 71 out of 180 potential participants (39.44%). Most residents (64.8%) felt that it was appropriate to inquire about the spiritual aspects of patients' lives and that it was essential to address spiritual problems or needs that patients may have within the clinical setting (71.8%). Many participants (40.80%) described themselves as being both religious and spiritual. Most respondents (94.4%) did not receive any training on spirituality and psychiatry, and 80.3% said they would like to learn more about the subject. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that residents have an overall high level of personal spirituality and that they feel it is relevant in clinical practice. However, they have not had much training in this area and are interested in learning more. Educational initiatives would be beneficial for improving the effectiveness of residents and patient care in this untapped area of spirituality in psychiatry.

Antidepressant-induced burning mouth syndrome: A case report.

Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by oral pain in the absence of intraoral clinical signs. The pathogenesis and etiology of burning mouth syndrome are not fully understood. Both men and women of all ages are at risk of developing this syndrome, but women are at an even higher risk. The management of burning mouth syndrome usually consists of the use of antidepressants. In this case report, we present a case of a 75-year-old lady who presented to the psychiatric clinic for management of her depressive symptoms. She was prescribed escitalopram and her dose was later increased. She then started experiencing a burning sensation in her mouth. She was seen by dental, medical, and psychological specialties regarding her symptoms. After careful historical and clinical evaluation, she was finally diagnosed with antidepressant-induced burning mouth syndrome. Antidepressant-induced burning mouth syndrome is a rare but very important condition to recognize. It has a huge effect on patients' quality of life. The management of patients with antidepressant-induced burning mouth syndrome needs the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Further high-quality studies are needed to help healthcare professionals better approach such patients.

Prevalence, Correlates, and Impact of Psychiatric Disorders and Treatment Utilization Among Muslims in the United States: Results from the National Epidemiological Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions.

There is a paucity of research on the true prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Muslim Americans. This research aims to explore the prevalence, correlates and impact of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) in Muslims as compared with a non-Muslim sample. We used propensity scores to match 372 individuals who self-identified as Muslims from The National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III with a control group (n = 744) from the same dataset. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was similar in Muslim Americans and non-Muslims. Help-seeking was generally low, but Muslims with a lifetime history of PTSD were less likely than non-Muslims with PTSD to seek help through self-help groups (2.2% vs. 21.1%, p < 0.05). Moreover, Muslims with mood disorders experienced lower mental health scores compared to non-Muslims with mood disorders. Efforts need to be made to identify psychiatric disorders in this faith group and engage in treatment.

The Effect of Delivery Mode, ABO Blood Type, and Passive Smoking on Postpartum Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a form of depression that can occur after childbirth and is characterized by feelings of sadness. It is a common psychological problem that affects women and children. This study aimed to assess the association between PPD and risk factors, such as delivery mode, ABO blood group, and passive smoking in Saudi Arabia. Methods PPD was assessed in this cross-sectional using an Arabic version of the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale through an online questionnaire distributed to women in Saudi Arabia between January and March 2022. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 354 postpartum women completed the questionnaire within six weeks of giving birth. Their mean age and BMI were 30.1±6.78 years and 25.98±5.84 kg/m2, respectively. PPD occurred in 56.2% of the participants. Elective cesarean section and operative vaginal delivery were associated with the presence of PPD symptoms in 17.6% and 7% of the women, respectively. The majority of those with third and fourth degrees and those who had instrumental assisted delivery had postpartum depression and this was statistically significant (p=0.017). About 26.6% of the participants were exposed to passive smoking, and 21.9% of them developed PPD. However, it was not statistically significant. Moreover, women with PPD were more likely to have blood type O+, followed by A+. Demographic factors did not show a significant correlation with developing PPD except for age (p=0.01), those who developed PPD were much younger on average than those who did not develop PPD (29.28±6.61 years vs. 31.15±6.86 years). Conclusion A significant association was found between PPD and the type of delivery. The association between PPD and passive smoking, ABO blood groups was insignificant. However, women who developed PPD were younger on average than those who did not develop PPD.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Associated With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Among the Saudi Population.

Objectives In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) was reported to be 29%. As a result, our goal was to examine the association between GAD and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) within the general Saudi Arabian population, as well as to access the risk factors for GAD in order to gain a better understanding. Method This cross-sectional study involved 4,224 participants who completed a questionnaire. Anxiety was assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale, and the GerdQ tool was used to evaluate GERD. Result The prevalence of anxiety among participants was 29% at cutoff 10, with 73% of anxiety-positive participants being female and only 26.9% being male. Furthermore, the associations between anxiety and GERD were significant as 31.4% of participants with anxiety had GERD, compared to 15.0% of those without anxiety. Conclusion In our finding, there was a significant association between anxiety and GERD among the general Saudi population. In terms of anxiety risk factors, female, younger age, social status, body mass index, eating fried food, caffeinated drinks, diabetes miletus, high blood cholesterol, NSAID use, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medication were found to have a significant association.

Prevalence of Postpartum Depression Among Mothers Giving Birth at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia From 2020 Until 2022.

Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is common among women worldwide. PPD affects women after giving birth and can impact the relationship between mothers, their babies, and their spouses, and is associated with considerable economic and personal burdens. This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of PPD among women who gave birth at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and identify significantly correlated variables using a cross-sectional approach. Methodology This cross-sectional study included a sample size of 483 mothers from the obstetrics inpatient ward at KAUH, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants were selected randomly and interviewed using a questionnaire consisting of two parts. The first part included demographic data and the studied variables, and the second part was the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Patients were followed up for six weeks using the same questionnaire in 354 participants. Results Of the 483 postpartum women, 15.1% (n = 73) were more likely to exhibit PPD on day one, with a cutoff of 13 points using the EPDS. A smaller proportion of participants were more likely to exhibit PPD at week six (5.1%, n = 18). This finding suggests a positive improvement in the prevalence of PPD from day one to week six. The most significant predictors identified in the regression analysis were family monthly income and family support (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively), which positively impacted prevalence. Conclusions The calculated PPD prevalence in this cross-sectional study was high. Because PPD negatively impacts the relationship between a mother and her child, with consequences potentially affecting the entire family, we suggest increasing awareness of PPD and focusing on the most significant modifiable risk factors. In addition, early screening programs and continuous follow-up are recommended to provide early intervention and support, which may decrease the harmful impacts of PPD.

Depression Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH): A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND:  Depression can increase the risk of diabetes-related complications, healthcare expenditures, and morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). There have been increasing cases of diabetes in Saudi Arabia; however, research correlating depression with diabetes is lacking. The aim of this study was to find out how common depression is among T2DM patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, and assess any additional risk factors for depression in these patients. METHODOLOGY:  A cross-sectional study using computer-assisted telephone interviews was conducted among patients with T2DM from June to August 2021. A total of 215 participants completed the survey. Symptoms and signs of depression were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses were used to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression. RESULTS: Depression was shown to be prevalent in 54% of type 2 diabetes patients, with the most common associated risk factors being not exercising (p=0.00) and having at least one diabetes-related complication (p=0.001). There was no evidence of a significant relationship between depression and gender or age, although females were, in general, more depressed than males. CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients have a significantly high prevalence of depression; therefore, it is vital to conduct regular screening for depression in patients diagnosed with T2DM.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children and Adolescents Taking Atypical Antipsychotic Medications: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atypical antipsychotics (AAP) are commonly prescribed to children and adolescents and are associated with important adverse effects including weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is not only the most common pediatric liver disease but is also associated with serious complications including liver cirrhosis. OBJECTIVE: Given that NAFLD and AAP are associated with metabolic syndrome, we aim to comprehensively examine the association between AAP and NAFLD in children and adolescents. METHODS: We will conduct a systematic review of studies exploring NAFLD in subjects younger than 18 years on AAP published in English between 1950 and 2020 following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. RESULTS: A PRISMA flowchart will be used present the study results after comprehensively reviewing studies on NAFLD in children and adolescents taking AAP. The first and second systematic searches will be conducted during December 2021. The results are expected to be published in June 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This research project will serve as a foundation for future studies and assist in devising interventions and reforming clinical guidelines for using AAP to ensure improved patient safety. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/20168.

Creating a Multisite Perinatal Psychiatry Databank: Purpose and Development.

Mental health issues during the perinatal period are common; up to 29% of pregnant and 15% of postpartum women meet psychiatric diagnostic criteria. Despite its ubiquity, little is known about the longitudinal trajectories of perinatal psychiatric illness. This paper describes a collaboration among six perinatal mental health services in Quebec, Canada, to create an electronic databank that captures longitudinal patient data over the course of the perinatal period. The collaborating sites met to identify research interests and to select a standardized set of variables to be collected during clinical appointments. Procedures were implemented for creating a databank that serves both research and clinical purposes. The resulting databank allows pregnant and postpartum patients to complete self-report questionnaires on medical and psychosocial variables during their intake appointment in conjunction with their clinicians who fill in relevant medical information. All participants are followed until 6 months postpartum. The databank represents an opportunity to examine illness trajectories and to study rare mental disorders and the relationship between biological and psychosocial variables.

The Public's Awareness and Willingness to Undergo Plastic Surgery Procedures during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, the Saudi Ministry of Health implemented mitigation measures to control the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, including media campaigns, a nationwide lockdown, and closures of plastic surgery clinics. The aim of this study was to explore the public's knowledge of COVID-19, their willingness to undergo cosmetic surgery during the pandemic, and the factors influencing their decisions. METHODS: An internet-based cross-sectional survey was conducted. We collected data on demographic information, knowledge about COVID-19, and willingness to undergo cosmetic procedures. Participants also completed the cosmetic procedure screening questionnaire to assess body dysmorphic disorder. RESULTS: The sample included a total of 1643 participants (women, n = 1002; 61%). A total of 613 (37.3%) participants were aged between 30 and 40 years. The majority (n = 1472; 89.6%) referred to official government accounts for information regarding COVID-19. Most participants (n = 1451; 88.3%) felt that the pandemic was serious, and 1387 (85%) said they would not leave home to undergo cosmetic procedures during the outbreak. Being women, the presence of body-image concerns, and higher cosmetic procedure screening questionnaire scores were associated with an increased willingness to undergo cosmetic procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to explore the public's willingness to undergo cosmetic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The public was well educated about the pandemic, via government actions. This was reflected in participants who wished to undergo a cosmetic plastic procedure; we identified factors associated with an increased willingness to undergo procedures, which may help design awareness initiatives.