Any better? A follow-up content analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health inclusion in Global Financing Facility country planning documents.

BACKGROUND: The Global Financing Facility (GFF) supports national reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition needs. Previous analysis examined how adolescent sexual and reproductive health was represented in GFF national planning documents for 11 GFF partner countries. OBJECTIVES: This paper furthers that analysis for 16 GFF partner countries as part of a Special Series. METHODS: Content analysis was conducted on publicly available GFF planning documents for Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, CAR, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Vietnam. Analysis considered adolescent health content (mindset), indicators (measure) and funding (money) relative to adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs, using a tracer indicator. RESULTS:  Countries with higher rates of adolescent pregnancy had more content relating to adolescent reproductive health, with exceptions in fragile contexts. Investment cases had more adolescent content than project appraisal documents. Content gradually weakened from mindset to measures to money. Related conditions, such as fistula, abortion, and mental health, were insufficiently addressed. Documents from Burkina Faso and Malawi demonstrated it is possible to include adolescent programming even within a context of shifting or selective priorities. CONCLUSION: Tracing prioritisation and translation of commitments into plans provides a foundation for discussing global funding for adolescents. We highlight positive aspects of programming and areas for strengthening and suggest broadening the perspective of adolescent health beyond the reproductive health to encompass issues, such as mental health. This paper forms part of a growing body of accountability literature, supporting advocacy work for adolescent programming and funding.

Main findings: Adolescent health content is inconsistently included in the Global Financing Facility country documents, and despite strong or positive examples, the content is stronger in investment cases than project appraisal documents, and diminishes when comparing content, indicators and financing.Added knowledge: Although adolescent health content is generally strongest in countries with the highest proportion of births before age 18, there are exceptions in fragile contexts and gaps in addressing important issues related to adolescent health.Global health impact for policy and action: Adolescent health programming supported by the Global Financing Facility should build on examples of strong country plans, be more consistent in addressing adolescent health, and be accompanied by public transparency to facilitate accountability work such as this.

Young people in foster care and substance use.

Adolescents are at high risk for using substances and for young people in foster care, substance use rates are estimated to be as high as 49 %. Adolescence is an important period for preventing substance use and SUD. Universal screening, brief interventions, and substance use treatment can be used to decrease substance use and substance use disorders among adolescents. Brief interventions often used with adolescents include motivational interviewing and contingency management. Of the many types of outpatient therapies utilized to treat adolescents with substance use disorder, some of the most established include cognitive behavioral therapy, family-based therapy, and a combination of different types of interventions. Medication treatment is less frequently offered to adolescents due to buprenorphine being the only drug FDA approved for youth under the age of 18. Residential treatment is also an option if lower levels of care are not adequate to safely support youth. Lastly, limited research has looked at the effectiveness of continuing care options to support youth in maintaining treatment results.

Hypothalamic Transcriptome Response To Simulated Diel Earthen Pond Hypoxia Cycles In Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Commercial culture of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) occurs in earthen ponds that are characterized by diel swings in dissolved oxygen concentration that can fall to severe levels of hypoxia which can suppress appetite and lead to suboptimal growth. Given the significance of the hypothalamus in regulating these processes in other fishes, an investigation into the hypothalamus transcriptome was conducted to identify specific genes and expression patterns responding to hypoxia. Channel catfish in normoxic water were compared to catfish subjected to 12 hours of hypoxia (20% oxygen saturation; 1.8 mg O2/L; 27 °C) followed by 12 hours of recovery in normoxia to mimic 24-hours in a catfish aquaculture pond. Fish were sampled at 0-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-hour time points, with the 6- and 12-hour samplings occurring during hypoxia. A total of 190 genes were differentially expressed during the experiment, with most occurring during hypoxia and returning to baseline values within 6 hours of normoxia. Differentially expressed genes were sorted by function into Gene Ontology biological processes and revealed that most were categorized as "response to hypoxia", "sprouting angiogenesis", and "cellular response to xenobiotic stimulus". The patterns of gene expression reported here suggest that transcriptome responses to hypoxia are broad and quickly reversibly with the onset of normoxia. Although no genes commonly reported to modulate appetite were found to be differentially expressed in this experiment, several candidates were identified for future studies investigating the interplay between hypoxia and appetite in channel catfish, including adm, igfbp1a, igfbp7, and stc2b.

Dental hygiene students' and recent graduates' intentions, attitudes, and perceptions of academic careers.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore dental hygiene students' and recent graduates' awareness, attitudes, perceived barriers, motivators, and intentions to pursue a career in academia as a dental hygiene educator. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey research was conducted with a non-probability sample of dental hygiene students and recent graduates (n = 451). The survey included sections for familiarity regarding academic careers for dental hygienists, attitudes toward academic careers, barriers and motivating factors for this career path, and future academic career intentions. Analysis included descriptive, correlations, and regression. RESULTS: Of 451 surveys started, 296 were at least 80% complete for a completion rate of 66%. The most reported barrier to a career in academia was the cost to obtain the required degree to become an educator (67.6%, n = 200), and for motivating factors was a sense of accomplishment (62.8%, n = 186). Regression analysis of likelihood to pursue a higher education degree showed two main predictors; belief that higher education would advance the dental hygiene profession (ß = 0.35, p < 0.001) and willingness to take a pay cut to become an educator (ß = 0.24, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Overall dental hygiene students and recent graduates were familiar with and had a positive view of careers in academia. However, barriers included cost and time for obtaining a higher degree, as well as the pay differential between academia and private practice. The educator shortage in dental hygiene may be alleviated by providing educators with loan forgiveness and offering salaries comparable to clinical practice.

An Umbrella Review and a Meta-analysis of Meta-analyses of Disordered Eating Among Medical Students.

Objective: To prevent eating disorders in future physicians, this umbrella review and meta-analysis of previous meta-analyses estimates the prevalence of disordered eating (DE) among medical students worldwide and identifies key risk factors. Methods: Four databases were searched electronically between their inception and February 1, 2023. The search was later updated to December 31, 2023. Results: The search yielded prevalence rates for medical students who scored above established cutoffs on validated assessment measures for DE. These were computed to provide an overall pooled estimate. The data was taken from 2 previous reviews. Both these systematic reviews found a 15.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.7%-15.6%) prevalence rate of DE among medical students. The equivalent Hedges' G = 0.30 (95% CI: 0.29-0.31), the equivalent odds ratio = 1.74 (95% CI: 1.71-1.77), I2 = 97.6%, and the excess of statistical significance is P = .001. The trim and fill adjusted effect size was 16.0% (95% CI: 14.0%-20.0%). Conclusion: Because eating disorders put students' safety and well-being at risk and because the health of early-stage physicians is vital to the welfare of a country, early signs of disordered eating must become a priority of medical schools and a signal for effective prevention and intervention. The recommendation is to ensure supportive environments, provide easy access to effective care, and hold clear expectations for student eating behavior.

Influence of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation on arsenic methylation: A double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in Bangladeshi children.

BACKGROUND: Inorganic arsenic is metabolized to monomethyl- (MMAs) and dimethyl- (DMAs) species via one-carbon metabolism (OCM); this facilitates urinary arsenic elimination. OCM is influenced by folate and vitamin B12 and previous randomized control trials (RCTs) showed that folic acid (FA) supplementation increases arsenic methylation in adults. This RCT investigated the effects of FA + B12 supplementation on arsenic methylation in children, a key developmental stage where OCM supports growth. METHODS: A total of 240 participants (8-11 years, 53 % female) drinking from wells with arsenic concentrations > 50 µg/L, were encouraged to switch to low arsenic wells and were randomized to receive 400 µg FA + 5 µg B12 or placebo daily for 12-weeks. Urine and blood samples were collected at baseline, week 1 (only urine) and week 12. Generalized estimated equation (GEE) models were used to assess treatment effects on arsenic species in blood and urine. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean ± SD total blood and urinary arsenic were 5.3 ± 2.9 µg/L and 91.2 ± 89.5 µg/L. Overall, total blood and urine arsenic decreased by 11.7% and 17.6%, respectively, at the end of follow up. Compared to placebo, the supplementation group experienced a significant increase in the concentration of blood DMAs by 14.0% (95% CI 5.0, 25.0) and blood secondary methylation index (DMAs/MMAs) by 0.19 (95% CI: 0.09, 0.35) at 12 weeks. Similarly, there was a 1.62% (95% CI: 0.43, 20.83) significantly higher urinary %DMAs and -1.10% (95% CI: -1.73, -0.48) significantly lower urinary %MMAs in the supplementatio group compared to the placebo group after 1 week. The direction of the changes in the urinary %iAs, %MMAs, and %DMAs at week 12 were consistent with those at week 1, though estimates were not significant. Treatment effects were stronger among participants with higher baseline blood arsenic concentrations. Results were consistent across males and females, and participants with higher and lower folate and B12 status at baseline. CONCLUSION: This RCT confirms that FA + B12 supplementation increases arsenic methylation in children as reflected by decreased MMAs and increased DMAs in blood and urine. Nutritional interventions may improve arsenic methylation and elimination in children, potentially reducing arsenic toxicity while also improving nutritional status.

Investigation of inherited noncoding genetic variation impacting the pharmacogenomics of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment.

Defining genetic factors impacting chemotherapy failure can help to better predict response and identify drug resistance mechanisms. However, there is limited understanding of the contribution of inherited noncoding genetic variation on inter-individual differences in chemotherapy response in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Here we map inherited noncoding variants associated with treatment outcome and/or chemotherapeutic drug resistance to ALL cis-regulatory elements and investigate their gene regulatory potential and target gene connectivity using massively parallel reporter assays and three-dimensional chromatin looping assays, respectively. We identify 54 variants with transcriptional effects and high-confidence gene connectivity. Additionally, functional interrogation of the top variant, rs1247117, reveals changes in chromatin accessibility, PU.1 binding affinity and gene expression, and deletion of the genomic interval containing rs1247117 sensitizes cells to vincristine. Together, these data demonstrate that noncoding regulatory variants associated with diverse pharmacological traits harbor significant effects on allele-specific transcriptional activity and impact sensitivity to antileukemic agents.

The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the dieting beliefs scale (DBS).

Background: There are relatively few data about the association between locus of control and weight loss in Arabic populations. A tool does exist, the Dieting Belief Scale (DBS), that was designed to measure individuals' beliefs regarding their ability to control their body weight. The aim of this study was to translate this tool into Arabic and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: The forward translation of the DBS from English to Arabic was completed by two professional bilingual translators, while the back translation from Arabic to English was independently performed by another two different professional bilingual translators. An online survey using the tool was then completed by 245 participants, fully aware of the study's purpose. Psychometric analyses were subsequently conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the Arabic DBS.Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω coefficients. Test-retest reliability was also assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the fit of a three-factor model, with indices including Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Convergent validity was assessed by examining the correlation between the Arabic DBS and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) previously translated into Arabic, the latter identifying attitudes, feelings and behaviors related to eating. Results: The Arabic translated DBS scale demonstrated high translation accuracy and content validity estimates. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω reliability coefficients for the translated scale were approximately 0.91. Test-retest reliability was 0.96. The three-factor model showed an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSE = 0.08, SRMR = 0.06). The Arabic version of the DBS was found to have good convergent validity, as evidenced by the significant correlation between the EAT-26 and DBS questionnaires (r = 0.53, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The Arabic version of the DBS is highly reliable and has sufficient content validity to measure belief about personal ability to control one's weight.

Development and Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire for Evaluating the Nutritional Status of Patients with Serious Mental Illnesses (DIETQ-SMI) in Bahrain.

General food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) have not been tailored for or validated in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Given the unique eating behaviors of patients with serious mental illnesses (SMIs), custom-made tools are needed. Therefore, we developed and validated an FFQ customized to individuals with SMIs. A total of 150 adults with SMIs (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) were recruited from Bahrain. The participants completed the 50-item Dietary Intake Evaluation Questionnaire for Serious Mental Illness (DIETQ-SMI) FFQ and a 3-day food record (FR). The validity of the FFQ was assessed by comparing nutrient intake to FR intake using correlation and reliability statistics. The DIETQ-SMI demonstrated a good ranking validity compared to the FR based on correlation coefficients (rho 0.33 to 0.92) for energy and macro- and micronutrients. The FFQ had high internal consistency (McDonald's omega = 0.84; Cronbach's alpha = 0.91) and test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.90). The FFQ tended to estimate higher absolute intakes than the FR but adequately ranked the intakes. The FFQ value was correlated with the FR for all the items (p < 0.001). The DIETQ-SMI is a valid and reliable FFQ for ranking dietary intake in individuals with an SMI. It can help assess nutritional status and, subsequently, guide interventions in high-risk psychiatric populations.

The Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Ghosting Questionnaire in Urdu.

BACKGROUND: "Ghosting" refers to the practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with a person with whom you have been in constant correspondence. The break comes without warning and without understandable provocation. The term most commonly applies to online romantic relationships. The motives for and effects of ghosting have been studied, and validated research questionnaires have been developed; however, there are no such questionnaires available for Urdu speakers. The purpose of this study was to adapt the "Ghosting Questionnaire (GQ)" for use in Pakistan and India, two of the world's most populous countries-a process that involves translation, adaptation, and validation. METHODS: The study's methodology involved translating the GQ into Urdu using both forward and backward translation techniques. Convergent validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and goodness of fit were all components of the psychometric analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The Urdu version of the GQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with the Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega both exceeding 0.90. It also showed a high test-retest reliability-(0.96). The one-factor structure was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis, which agreed with the original English version of the GQ.

'Suspension Palatoplasty' - A method of surgical correction of VPI post Cleft Palate repair.

OBJECTIVE: To design the technique of 'Suspension Palatoplasty' for Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI) post Cleft Palate (CP) based on optimal spatial positioning of palate at the time of VPI correction, by using a non-obstructive, high, midline pharyngeal flap for predictable velopharyngeal closure and normal speech. To evaluate the results of CP patients with VPI operated using the technique of 'Suspension palatoplasty'. DESIGN: An ambi-spective longitudinal clinical study. SETTING: Comprehensive cleft care clinic in a private trust hospital. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Patients operated using the 'Suspension Palatoplasty' technique for VPI post CP repair between 2014 and 2018 with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years. INTERVENTIONS: 'Suspension Palatoplasty' - Double Opposing Z (DOZ) plasty with palatal myoplasty is used to revise soft palate and a narrow superiorly based pharyngeal flap is used to suspend it for a dynamic velopharyngeal closure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Speech outcome and surgical complications. RESULTS: 70 out of 119 studied were found to have normal speech (59%), and another 25 patients (21%) had acceptable speech. Thus 95 out of 119 patients (80%) had normal or near-normal speech and did not require any further speech therapy or surgeries. 12 patients had snoring without difficulty in breathing. One patient had symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnea. Younger patients had a higher percentage of normal speech outcomes. Many of our adult patients also attained normal speech. CONCLUSION: 'Suspension Palatoplasty' aims to achieve normal speech with little effort. It has minimal side effects. The author has performed 403 cases to date.

A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of the prevalence of self-reported disordered eating and associated factors among athletes worldwide.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of self-reported disordered eating (SRDE) in athletes based on the available literature, and to identify risk factors for their occurrence. METHODS: Across ten academic databases, an electronic search was conducted from inception to 7th January 2024. The proportion of athletes scoring at or above predetermined cutoffs on validated self-reporting screening measures was used to identify disordered eating (DE). Subgroup analysis per country, per culture, and per research measure were also conducted. Age, body mass index (BMI), and sex were considered as associated/correlated factors. RESULTS: The mean prevalence of SRDE among 70,957 athletes in 177 studies (132 publications) was 19.23% (17.04%; 21.62%), I2 = 97.4%, τ2 = 0.8990, Cochran's Q p value = 0. Australia had the highest percentage of SRDE athletes with a mean of 57.1% (36.0%-75.8%), while Iceland had the lowest, with a mean of 4.9% (1.2%-17.7%). The SRDE prevalence in Eastern countries was higher than in Western countries with 29.1% versus 18.5%. Anaerobic sports had almost double the prevalence of SRDE 37.9% (27.0%-50.2%) compared to aerobic sports 19.6% (15.2%-25%). Gymnastics sports had the highest SRDE prevalence rate, with 41.5% (30.4%-53.6%) while outdoor sports showed the lowest at 15.4% (11.6%-20.2%). Among various tools used to assess SRDE, the three-factor eating questionnaire yielded the highest SRDE rate 73.0% (60.1%-82.8%). Meta-regression analyses showed that female sex, older age, and higher BMI (all p < 0.01) are associated with higher prevalence rates of SRDE. CONCLUSION: The outcome of this review suggests that factors specific to the sport affect eating behaviors throughout an athlete's life. As a result, one in five athletes run the risk of developing an eating disorder. Culture-specific and sport-specific diagnostic tools need to be developed and increased attention paid to nutritional deficiencies in athletes.

Disordered eating (DE) refers to eating behaviors that limit food choices, reduce or exaggerate food intake, cause physical discomfort, create a sense of loss of control, or lead to negative emotions like shame or guilt. The DE label does not signify the presence of a diagnosed mental health disorder, but, rather, describes self-reported, regular eating patterns that psychiatrists consider to fall into the at-risk category for an eating disorder. In this review, we performed a search of academic databases to find all relevant studies that measured the frequency of self-reported DE in athletes. We analyzed 177 studies involving over 70,000 athletes in total. In this study, DE was defined as a score above cut-off on validated screening tests for problematic eating behaviors. Our goal was to estimate the prevalence of DE in athletes globally and to determine the factors that increase risk. We found that approximately 1 in 5 athletes (19%) endorsed DE behaviors such as, among others, restrictive dieting, bingeing, and purging. These behaviors were seen most commonly in indoor sports like gymnastics and less commonly in the context of outdoor sports. Rates were highest in female athletes, older athletes, athletes with high body mass index (BMI) scores, and those from Eastern countries and cultures. Australia had the highest rates (over 50%), while rates were lowest in Iceland. We suggest the development of screening tests specifically tailored and applicable to athletes. In addition, we recommend raising public awareness of the health effects of nutrition in sports.

Ommaya reservoir use in pediatric ALL and NHL: a review at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

PURPOSE: The intraventricular route of chemotherapy administration, via an Ommaya Reservoir (OmR) improves drug distribution in the central nervous system (CNS) compared to the more commonly used intrathecal administration. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with intraventricular chemotherapy, focused on methotrexate, in patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). METHODS: Twenty-four patients (aged 7 days - 22.2 years) with 26 OmR placements were identified for a total of 25,009 OmR days between 1990 and 2019. Methotrexate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations (n = 124) were analyzed from 59 courses of OmR therapy in 15 patients. Twenty-one courses involved methotrexate dosing on day 0 only, whereas 38 courses involved booster dosing on days 1, 2, or both. We simulated the time CSF methotrexate concentrations remained > 1 µM for 3 days given various dosing regimens. RESULTS: CSF methotrexate exposure was higher in those who concurrently received systemic methotrexate than via OmR alone (p < 10- 7). Our simulations showed that current intraventricular methotrexate boosting strategy for patients ≥ 3 years of age maintained CSF methotrexate concentrations ≥ 1 µM for 72 h 40% of the time. Alternatively, other boosting strategies were predicted to achieve CSF methotrexate concentrations ≥ 1 µM for 72 h between 46 and 72% of the time. CONCLUSIONS: OmR were able to be safely placed and administer intraventricular methotrexate with and without boost doses in patients from 7 days to 22 years old. Boosting strategies are predicted to increase CSF methotrexate concentrations ≥ 1 µM for 72 h.

Factors Associated With Food Insecurity Among a Community-Based Sample of Older Adults in a North Florida County.

Food insecurity impacts the lives of 7.6 million U.S. adults aged 60 and older and is linked to numerous life challenges. This study examined the nature of food insecurity among community-based participants ≥65 years in a north Florida county and conceptualized food insecurity as encompassing the lack of food and individual adaptability. Thus, food insecurity was measured using three dependent variables: (1) worrying that food would run out, (2) cutting meal size or skipping meals, and (3) food not lasting. Logistic regression revealed that older participants, those with better-perceived health status, and those who were confident that they could find solutions to their problems had lower odds of reporting food insecurity. However, respondents who lived in low-income, low-access zip codes and those who received food assistance were more likely to report food insecurity. To improve outcomes and reduce healthcare disparities, solutions to food insecurity must vary in focus and approach.

Additive effects of TPMT and NUDT15 on thiopurine toxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia across multiethnic populations.

BACKGROUND: Thiopurines such as mercaptopurine (MP) are widely used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Thiopurine-S-methyltransferase (TPMT) and Nudix hydrolase 15 (NUDT15) inactivate thiopurines, and no-function variants are associated with drug-induced myelosuppression. Dose adjustment of MP is strongly recommended in patients with intermediate or complete loss of activity of TPMT and NUDT15. However, the extent of dosage reduction recommended for patients with intermediate activity in both enzymes is currently not clear. METHODS: MP dosages during maintenance were collected from 1768 patients with ALL in Singapore, Guatemala, India, and North America. Patients were genotyped for TPMT and NUDT15, and actionable variants defined by the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium were used to classify patients as TPMT and NUDT15 normal metabolizers (TPMT/NUDT15 NM), TPMT or NUDT15 intermediate metabolizers (TPMT IM or NUDT15 IM), or TPMT and NUDT15 compound intermediate metabolizers (TPMT/NUDT15 IM/IM). In parallel, we evaluated MP toxicity, metabolism, and dose adjustment using a Tpmt/Nudt15 combined heterozygous mouse model (Tpmt+/-/Nudt15+/-). RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (1.2%) were TPMT/NUDT15 IM/IM in the cohort, with the majority self-reported as Hispanics (68.2%, 15/22). TPMT/NUDT15 IM/IM patients tolerated a median daily MP dose of 25.7 mg/m2 (interquartile range = 19.0-31.1 mg/m2), significantly lower than TPMT IM and NUDT15 IM dosage (P < .001). Similarly, Tpmt+/-/Nudt15+/- mice displayed excessive hematopoietic toxicity and accumulated more metabolite (DNA-TG) than wild-type or single heterozygous mice, which was effectively mitigated by a genotype-guided dose titration of MP. CONCLUSION: We recommend more substantial dose reductions to individualize MP therapy and mitigate toxicity in TPMT/NUDT15 IM/IM patients.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Faith Healers and Psychiatric Illnesses: A Systematic Review of the Literature in the Arab World.

Faith healing is a traditional healing method involving spiritual and faith-based practices performed by a religious medicine man referred to here as a faith healer. The practice of faith healing is widespread in the Arab World for treating a range of mental disorders. This research aims to review the literature concerned with faith healing practice in the Muslim Arab population. Based on the results of the review, there are seven distinct aspects of faith healing. These include the characteristics of persons who visit faith healers, the rate of visits, the symptoms for which visits are made, the treatment methods, the general stigma and prevalent attitudes toward mental disorders in the Arab world, and the perceived effectiveness of faith healing as applied to mental disorders. The results of the review show that many patients with mental disorders, as a first resort, prefer to seek the help of faith healers (or other non-professional trusted counselors) rather than approach mental health services. This is due to several factors: the misconceptions around causes of mental illness in Arab traditions and culture and the stigma associated with mental illness. As an overall determination derived from the literature, Arabs remain highly reliant on faith healers as helpful resources for dealing with mental health problems. In conclusion, the recommendation to public health authorities is to consider including faith healers in the support system for mental health and cease viewing them as barriers to optimal care.