Prevalence and Clinical Profile of Adults with ADHD Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital for Five Years.

(1) Objectives: This study aimed to assess the 5-year prevalence and clinical profile of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) among adult patients seeking care in a tertiary care hospital in Oman. (2) Methods: The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and standardised prevalence estimates were calculated. (3) Results: Of the 39,881 hospital visits, 1.77% were made by adults with ADHD. This is equivalent to 17.8 visits per 1000 outpatients. The year 2021 saw the highest prevalence among the five years considered, while 2020 had the lowest prevalence. Although the age distribution indicated that the age group 'under 20' had the highest prevalence, the gender distribution showed that ADHD was more common among adult men. Among the various subtypes of ADHD, inattention was the most common. (4) Conclusions: This study specifically compared the prevalence and associated factors between an adult cohort with ADHD and those other psychiatric clinic attendees during the same period. The study offers important information on the prevalence and clinical profile of adults with ADHD in the population under consideration.

Factors associated with anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents during COVID-19 in Oman: a cross-sectional study.

Reports from different parts of the world suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown and social distancing measures have heralded unprecedented mental health challenges among children and adolescents. To date, there is a dearth of studies emerging from the Arabian Gulf, where the majority of its population are children and adolescents. The study aims to examine the prevalence of anxiety-related symptoms and their covariates among children and adolescents in an Arabian Gulf country, Oman. This is a cross-sectional analytic study carried out over two weeks (1st to 15th of August 2020) during the COVID-19 pandemic across Oman. Parents were asked to complete the online survey, which consisted of the parent version of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) instrument and questions regarding basic socio-demographic information. Logistic regression was used to identify the contributing variables associated with anxiety-related symptoms. A total of 790 valid responses were received. Among the 790 children, 33.3% (n = 263) were diagnosed with anxiety-related symptoms by the SCARED instrument. Logistic regression analysis suggested that anxiety-related symptoms in children and adolescents were significantly associated with three demographic variables. The model shows that children with divorced or separated parents were 1.9 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than children of married couples (OR = 1.93, p = 0.035). Children living in families with an income below USD 1000/month, were 1.8 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than a family with an income of USD 4000/month (OR = 1.833, p = 0.018). Children in grades 3-6 were 1.8 times more likely to have anxiety-related symptoms than those in grades 1-2 (OR = 1.79, p = 0.024). Anxiety-related symptoms are common among Omani children and adolescents. They are more likely to be reported in middle scholastic grade levels and children from families with marital discord and low socioeconomic status. It is not clear whether the presently observed rates of anxiety exceed the prevalence that would have been observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. More studies are therefore warranted using children and adolescents' self-reported scales.

An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for the Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression with Somatic Attributes: A Hospital-Based Study in Oman.

Depressive illnesses in non-Western societies are often masked by somatic attributes that are sometimes impervious to pharmacological agents. This study explores the effectiveness of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for people experiencing treatment-resistant depression (TRD) accompanied by physical symptoms. Data were obtained from a prospective study conducted among patients with TRD and some somatic manifestations who underwent 20 sessions of rTMS intervention from January to June 2020. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) was used for clinical evaluation. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential techniques (multiple logistic regression) in SPSS. Among the 49 participants (mean age: 42.5 ± 13.3), there was a significant reduction in posttreatment HAMD scores compared to baseline (t = 10.819, p < 0.0001, and 95% CI = 8.574-12.488), indicating a clinical response. Approximately 37% of the patients responded to treatment, with higher response rates among men and those who remained in urban areas, had a history of alcohol use, and were subjected to the standard 10 HZ protocol. After adjusting for all extraneous variables, the rTMS protocol emerged as the only significant predictor of response to the rTMS intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effectiveness of rTMS in the treatment of somatic depression.

Exploring Hikikomori-like idiom of distress a year into the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Oman: Factorial validity of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire, prevalence and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Existing literature that examines the Hikikomori-like idiom of distress (HLID) initially labelled this phenomenon as a culture-bound syndrome. However, the increasing number of reports from other parts of the world suggest that HLID could instead be a culture-reactive idiom of distress, originating from biopsychosocial disequilibrium and cultural upheaval. The impact of imposed social withdrawal due to the Coronavirus 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the growing prevalence of HLID has not yet been adequately explored. Aims: The first objective is to examine the factorial validity of the 25-item Hikikomori Questionnaire (HQ-25) in Oman. Second, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of HLID following the lifting of SARS-COV-2 restrictions in the Arabian Gulf country of Oman. The third related objective is to examine factors associated with the variation of HLID. METHODS: This cross-sectional online survey was widely distributed across the diverse socio-demographic population residing in Oman. After the validation of the questionnaire and the factorial validity, the Arabic version of HQ-25 was used to explore the prevalence and factors associated with HLID. RESULTS: A total of 1529 participants were included in the study (response rate = 76.5%), of whom 44% (n = 673) expressed HLID. We randomly split it into half, one for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 764) and the other half for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (n = 765). From the EFA results, a three-factor model was found for the Omani version of HQ-25, which represented 52.87% of the variance with good internal reliability (Overall Cronbach's: 0.92; Socialisation: 0.92; Isolation: 0.84; Emotional support: 0.73). The CFA results report acceptable goodness-of-fit indices (χ2/df = 17.92, p < .001; CFI = 0.90; TLI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.04, 95% CI 0.02-0.07; SRMR = 0.05) of the three-factor model of the collected samples. All 1529 data were used in the respondents. The results of the logistic regression showed that married marital status (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.12-2.03, p = 0.007), older age (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95-0.99, p = 0.008), living in an urban area (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.56-0.91, p = 0.006), unemployed occupational status (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.30-2.88, p < .001), screen time (7+ hours vs. <4 hours: OR = 4.50, 95% CI: 3.16-6.41, p < .001; 4-7 hours vs. <4 hours: OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.61-2.70, p < .001), history of mental illness (OR = 3.70, 95% CI: 2.29-5.91, p < .001), and adverse childhood experiences (OR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.03-3.20, p < .001) were significant risk factors for HLID. CONCLUSION: The factorial validity of the HQ-25 performed in this study appears to mirror the previously reported 3-factor structures. Some of the associated factors appear to support and, conversely, dissent from the findings of previous studies. These are discussed in terms of the attributions of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic, demographic trends in Oman, and sociocultural factors specific to the region of interest.

Sociodemographic Characteristics and Clinical Profile of Suicide Attempters Attending the Emergency Department at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of individuals who attended the emergency department of a tertiary care center in Muscat, Oman following a suicide attempt. METHODS: A retrospective study (N=154) was conducted between January 2015 and June 2018. Information that was collected included sociodemographic variables (age, nationality, sex, marital status, and occupation), risk (medical comorbidities, psychiatric history, substance misuse, alcohol misuse, and previous history of suicide attempts), and precipitating factors, as well as the chosen methods for the suicide attempts. RESULTS: In all, 83.1% of the sample were Omanis, and women constituted 69.5%. The mean age of the sample was 27 years; 30% were students, 42% were unemployed, and 40.9% had a history of psychiatric disorders. Family conflict, suffering from chronic illness, and having social problems were the most common precipitating factors for the suicide attempt. The most common method used in the suicide attempt was drug overdose (48.1%), mainly involving paracetamol (acetaminophen) (40%). Significant gender differences emerged in precipitating factors, history of substance misuse, and methods of suicide. CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study are consistent with international trends that suggest that women and younger age groups are the most vulnerable to suicide attempts. Although in its infancy, the type of research presented here could lay the groundwork for preventive interventions and programs.

The differential mediating roles of resilience in the relationship between meaningful living and stress among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current literature, mostly Euro-American based, indicates that the presence of meaning in life (MIL) improves resilience and lowers stress. However, the differential mediating roles of resilience in the relationship between the search for and presence of MIL, and stress have not been explored. This study aimed to investigate the differential mediating roles of resilience in the relationship between the presence of and search for MIL, and stress among Omani college students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study consisted of the Brief Resilience Scale, Perceived Stress Scale 4, and Meaning in Life Questionnaire, as well as socio-demographic questions. A path analysis model was used to examine the hypothesis. A total of 970 Omani college students responded to the questionnaire. Findings indicate that searching for MIL was significantly associated with a high level of stress directly (ß = 0.023; p < 0.001) and indirectly, through a negative effect on resilience (ß = 0.006; p < 0.001). Conversely, the presence of MIL was significantly associated with a decreased level of stress directly (ß = - 0.045; p < 0.001) and indirectly via a positive effect on resilience (ß = - 0.151; p < 0.001). In keeping with the proposed hypothesis, this study contributes to the current knowledge, by extrapolating the effect of searching for MIL on resilience and stress, and culturally re-contextualizing MIL research. University counseling centers could adopt meaning-based strategies to mitigate stress by promoting meaningful living and resilience.

Parental Attitude Towards the Prescription of Psychotropic Medications for Mental Disorders in Children in a Tertiary Care University Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate parental attitude towards psychotropic drugs' use for children's mental disorders. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to March 2021 at the Department of Behavioural Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. A questionnaire was used to determine parents' opinions and attitudes about use of psychotropic medications on their children and, in a small proportion, other caregivers if the child attended with them. Risk factors associated with parents who preferred to consult a folk healer (FH) for children with mental disorders were identified by the logistic regression model. Results: A total of 299 parents participating in the study (response rate: 95.2%). Most (n = 244, 81.6%) agreed to give their child psychotropic medications if necessary, but 25.4% (n = 76) would consult an FH before a psychiatrist. Married parents were 14.5 times (P = 0.011) more likely than separated or divorced parents to consult an FH. Caregivers with a monthly income below 500 OMR and between 500 and 1,000 OMR were 2.5 (P = 0.016) and 3.2 times (P <0.001), respectively, more likely than those with more than 1,000 OMR to consult an FH. Parents who disagreed with giving their children psychotropic medications were 3.8 times (P <0.001) more likely to consult an FH than parents who agreed to give them if necessary. Conclusion: Most parents agreed to give their children psychotropic medications if necessary. However, a proportion of parents and caregivers preferred to consult an FH before accessing mental health services.

The Psychological Impact and Suicidal Behaviour in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Four Case Reports From Oman.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, quarantine has caused disruptions to daily social and economic activities. Many people have felt trapped and alone, experiencing rising levels of worry and financial hardships. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic increases depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as suicidal ideas and attempts, particularly in vulnerable individuals. We report four cases of suicidal attempts during the COVID-19 outbreak due to the lockdown and related financial difficulties. Those cases were admitted to a general hospital from April 2020 to June 2020. The patients were all male, had negative coronavirus tests, and committed violent suicides by hanging and slitting their throats. After receiving the appropriate treatment, all cases were discharged from the hospital. The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic and social impacts could result in significant consequences for vulnerable persons. Screening and early intervention play a role in averting the pandemic's mental health consequences.

The Parental and Children Report of the Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in Children and Adolescents Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study From Oman.

Objective: Studies from the past decades have shown that mood disorders are common during childhood and adolescence. This study aimed to estimate the point prevalence of depression in Omani children and adolescents during social distancing and lockdown and identify the risk factors for developing depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in May 2020, in which all young Omani people attending a mainstream school aged 8-18 years old were eligible to participate. Parents were asked to complete the online survey, which consisted of the parent version of the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-Parent). In addition, the option of a self-reported version (MFQ-Self) was provided in cases where children preferred to fill out the survey themselves. Logistic regression was used to identify the contributing socio-demographic variables associated with depressive symptoms. Results: A total of 445 participants completed the MFQ, out of which 72.1% were parents, and 27.9% were children, adolescents and young people. 13.9% of children and adolescents exhibited depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oman. The presence of depressive symptoms was associated with increased food intake (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.00-3.29, p-value <0.05), longer use of smartphones (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.56-4.73, p-value <0.001), whereas additional entertainment activities during lockdown were protective against depression (OR 0.35 95% CI 0.19-0.64, p-value <0.001). Conclusion: This study from Oman concurs with recent reports of depression being common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerted efforts are needed to mitigate this trend and identify high-risk groups during the lockdown period.

Demographic and Clinical Profile of Patients Receiving Electroconvulsive Therapy at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman: A Cluster Analysis.

Objectives: We sought to identify subgroups of psychiatric patients in a sample of patients admitted at a tertiary care hospital in Oman who received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) based on their demographic and clinical outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from patients who received ECT at Al Massarah Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between January 2015 and December 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical profiles, and psychiatric comorbidities were examined. Results: A total of 179 psychiatric patients received ECT; 96 (53.6%) were females. The average age at diagnosis was 42.5 years. Two-step cluster analysis showed 70 (39.1%) patients in cluster one and 109 (60.9%) patients in cluster two. Patients in cluster one included more (61.4%) females, were older (mean = 55.2 years), married (95.7%), and unemployed (88.6%). They reported they had comorbidities (55.7%) and less frequent ECT use (mean = 8.7) than patients in cluster two. Clusters differences were found on gender (p = 0.001), age (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), and occupation (p = 0.001). Significant differences were found for diagnosis (p < 0.001), comorbid medical conditions (p < 0.001), and use of ECT sessions (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Psychiatric patients receiving ECT are heterogeneous, with different demographic and clinical outcomes. Our study has shown that patients in cluster one are older females, unemployed, with more comorbidities, and depressive disorders, but received fewer ECT sessions. This study provides important information for clinicians to identify strategies to promote the use of ECT on its effectiveness and safety issues for each group.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profiles of Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Patients in a University Hospital in Oman.

Objectives: Although attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically considered a condition affecting children, there is evidence that children diagnosed with ADHD continue to suffer from this condition after the age of 18. This study aimed to describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of adult ADHD patients in Oman and evaluate their association with the disorder's different subtypes. Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with ADHD from the outpatient clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Data from medical records from January 2018 to April 2020 were collected. Socio-demographic characteristics, clinical profiles and psychiatric comorbidities were examined. Results: This study included 100 adults who fulfilled the standard diagnosis of ADHD, with 54.0% (n = 54) and 46.0% (n = 46) from the inattentive and combined subtypes, respectively. It was found that ADHD was more prevalent among males (64.0%) than females (36.0%), with the inattentive subtype being more predominant among females. The ADHD patients with the inattentive subtype were associated with comorbid substance use disorders (odds ratio [OR] = 11.29; P = 0.049), personality disorders (OR = 7.96; P = 0.017) and major depressive disorder (OR = 15.94; P = 0.002) compared to patients predominantly with the combined subtype. Conclusion: This study echoes the findings from the current literature that adult patients with ADHD commonly have comorbid psychiatric disorders, leading to significant functional impairment. Psychiatric comorbidities must be identified and urgently treated for better clinical and functional outcomes in adult patients with ADHD.

Clinical Predictors of Depression among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study from Oman.

Objectives: Many studies suggest that depression is prevalent among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both depression and IBD have a significant disease burden. However, these studies have mostly been conducted among European and American populations and there is a paucity of studies from Arab countries. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of depressive symptoms among adult IBD patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Muscat, Oman. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among a random sample of patients aged ≥ 18 years who attended the gastroenterology clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman, between June 2018 and January 2019. Participants were asked to complete the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, which is used to assess depression, and a sociodemographic survey. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent predictors of depressive symptoms among the study sample. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were also reported. Results: This study included 201 participants, with an average age of 36 years. Just over half (51.2%) of participants were female. The mean duration of the patients' IBD diagnosis was 1.9±0.3 years, the majority (n = 174, 86.6%) of the participants had UC, 80.1% (n = 161) of the participants had received steroids, and 5.5% of the sample had a history of a surgical stoma. The medical comorbidities among the participants were cerebrovascular accidents (24.9%), hypertension (24.5%), and diabetes mellitus (23.9%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 23.4%. The logistic regression analysis resulted in four independent predictors of depression: being female (OR = 2.090, p = 0.047), history of surgical stoma (OR = 5.737, p < 0.001), comorbid diagnosis of hypertension (OR = 2.846, p = 0.007), and history of a cerebrovascular accident (OR = 2.651, p = 0.011). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms are prevalent among Omani patients with IBD. Certain clinical factors appeared to increase the risk of depression among this population. The findings of this study fill a gap in the existing literature and call for further work aiming at screening and managing depression among IBD patients.

The Prevalence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Social Anxiety Disorder: A Focused National Survey.

BACKGROUND: Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is among the most common anxiety disorders worldwide with data largely emerging from the Euro-American and Pacific Rim populations. In contrast, there is a dearth of studies among the populations of Arabian Gulf countries including Oman. This study has two interrelated aims: (i) to explore the prevalence of SAD among Omani adults, and (ii) to tease out the links between socio-demographic factors and SAD in Oman. METHODS: A cross-sectional study via an online survey was conducted among 1019 adult Omani nationals residing in Oman. The presence of SAD was assessed using the Arabic version of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS). RESULTS: Nearly half the participants (45.9%, n = 468) exhibited "caseness" for SAD as defined by LSAS. In the multivariate logistic analysis, participants below 40 years of age were 1.6 times (OR = 1.568, p = .026) more likely to have caseness for SAD than those who were 40 and older. Women were 1.3 times (OR = 1.348, p = .038) more likely to exhibit caseness for SAD than men. Participants who had secondary or undergraduate education were respectively 1.5 times (OR = 1.45, p = .014) and 2.5 times (OR = 2.509, p < .001) to have caseness for SAD than those who were graduates. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that 45.9% of the participants reached the cut-off for caseness in LSAS, which is high compared to reports from other populations. The present accrued frequency is discussed within the context of the accrued response rate, socio-cultural factors as well as the tendency for self-reported measures to "produce" spurious results is also highlighted which, in turn, calls for studies that adopt more inclusive survey methods.

Effectiveness and Adverse Effects of Risperidone in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Naturalistic Clinical Setting at a University Hospital in Oman.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of treating children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who present with irritability, aggression, and disruptive behavior at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Muscat, Oman, with risperidone, and to note any sex-based differences among this cohort. METHOD: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Behavioral Medicine at SQUH over two years from January 2017 to December 2018. This study included all children aged 3 to 18 years attending the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of ASD, based on the DSM-5 criteria, and comorbid disruptive behavior, who had been prescribed risperidone. RESULT: This study identified 95 ASD patients (72 males). Male patients' BMI score after 12 months of risperidone treatment showed an increase by 0.62 (1.57 SD; P=0.001); however, there was no significant change among female patients. Somnolence was noted in 69.6% of female patients as compared to 34.7% of males (P=0.003). Among those with a family history of ASD, 5 out of 17 patients had treatment success (29.4%), whereas 70 out of 78 patients (90.0%) who did not have a similar history had successful treatment. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, low-dose risperidone monotherapy is effective and well tolerated among some children with ASD who present with disruptive behavior in a naturalistic clinical setting. However, we found that some of the side effects, such as weight gain and somnolence, were concerning.

Exploring Factors Associated With Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study.

ABSTRACT: This cross-sectional study examined the factors associated with depression among people with chronic pain (PwCP) attending specialized pain clinics in Muscat, Oman. Two-hundred eighty-seven participants were recruited for the study, and univariate analyses were used to investigate the difference between individuals who scored above/below the cutoff points for depressive symptoms. A multiple regression analysis was used to detect the independent predictors. Twenty-six percent of participants scored above the cutoff point. Further analysis indicated that unstable family relationships pre-existing depressive symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; p = 0.044), a family history of depression (OR, 4.75; p = 0.019), severe pain (OR, 4.21; p < 0.006), having fibromyalgia (OR, 28.29; p = 0.005), and lumbago/truck (OR, 2.41; p = 0.039) were independent predictors of depressive symptoms. This study indicates that one in four patients with chronic pain also presents with depressive symptoms. However, the role of culture needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting these findings and when building on these data.

Self-Inflicted Total Amputation of the External Genitalia as a Psychological Repercussion of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, mandatory quarantine has interrupted everyday social life, leaving many individuals feeling confined and lonely, with increased rates of suicide and suicidal behavior. Genital self-mutilation (GSM) is a rare phenomenon that typically occurs in the context of severe mental illness. The following case report describes the first case of total self-inflicted genital amputation in a healthy man who had no prior history of mental or medical conditions. This case poses challenges for psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. We report a case of a 52-year-old male with no significant medical and psychiatric history who was admitted to a tertiary care hospital after attempting suicide by self-inflecting a total amputation of his external genitalia due to fear of COVID-19 infection. The diathesis-stress linked with the tribulations of the current pandemic was highlighted as well as other possible contributory factors and psychopathology behind his clinical presentation.

COVID-19 Induced New-onset Psychosis: A Case Report from Oman.

Neurobehavioral impairment associated with COVID-19 infection has been recently documented in the literature. COVID-19 infection has also been associated with an increased risk for developing psychiatric symptoms, including rare reports on psychosis. We report a case of a 46-year-old male with no significant medical, family, and psychiatric history admitted to the hospital with COVID-19-related psychosis. Possible contributory factors for his condition are discussed, including the relationship between infections and the brain circuitry, inadvertent iatrogenic effects of pharmaceuticals used to manage COVID-19, as well as diathesis-stress associated with the tribulation of the prevailing pandemic.

Prescribing practices in the treatment of depression among psychiatrists in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prescribing patterns of antidepressants among a sample of psychiatrists working in Oman and to compare these practices to the current evidence for prescribing specific antidepressant in particular clinical situations. METHODS: This retrospective cross sectional study. Massachusetts General Hospital Psychopharmacology Questionnaire, a 10-item questionnaire listing factors that might have influenced the choice of antidepressant medication, was sent to 83 psychiatrists working in governmental health sectors in Oman. The study was done from March to July 2019. RESULTS: A total number of 78 psychiatrists responded to the questionnaire. Of these, 44 of the psychiatrists (56.4%) believed that one type of antidepressant is more efficacious than others, while 74 psychiatrists (94.9%) indicated that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were their first-line treatment preference. Mirtazapine was chosen as the most likely antidepressant to cause weight gain by two-thirds of the participants. For the treatment of anxious depression and depression with melancholic feature, SSRIs were the first choice of treatment for 64.1% and 7% of respondents, respectively. For depression with atypical features, 42.3% indicated that a monoamine oxidase inhibitor would be their first option. CONCLUSION: There is a discrepancy between the current antidepressant prescribing practices in Oman and empirical antidepressant-prescribing evidence, and this finding is consistent with previous studies.

Depressive Symptoms and Its Correlate Among Children with Epilepsy at Single-center Study in Oman.

OBJECTIVES: Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children and comorbid depression is common. This study aimed to assess the frequency of depressive symptoms along with demographic and clinical factors in children diagnosed with epilepsy in a tertiary care institution in Oman. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2016 and August 2018 and included children (n = 75) aged 6-12 years old attending the epilepsy clinic at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman. The cohort constituted of children with epilepsy (CWE) following up at a dedicated unit. We used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. Associated factors, including history of seizure in the last three months, compliance with antiepileptic medications, and type of epilepsy were also examined. RESULTS: Depressive symptoms were endorsed in 52.0% of CWE and 96.0% were compliant to medications. Recurrent seizures were present in the last three months among 48.0% of the CWE. The type of epilepsy was significantly associated with the presence of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is prevalent among Omani CWE. Certain clinical factors appeared to increase the risk of depression among this population. The findings of this study fill a gap in the existing literature and call for further work aiming to explore possible tailored recognition and CWE.