Four-year survey of medically serious suicide attempters in Abu Dhabi.

BACKGROUND: It is well established that attempting suicide significantly increases a person's risk of completing suicide. The risk is considered to be particularly high in the first year after the attempt. Epidemiological information on suicide is scarce in the Middle East and the countries of the GCC region and there is a need to establish a reference point to measure future changes. AIMS: We examined the epidemiology of suicide attempters requiring inpatient care in Abu Dhabi to identify associated factors that could aid local suicide prevention strategies. METHODS: This 4-year (2011-2014) study of suicide attempters in the city of Abu Dhabi included all attempters assessed by the consultation-liaison team and admitted to the 3 main governmental general hospitals. RESULTS: We identified 364 suicide attempts with an annual incidence of 6 per 100 000 population. The mean age was 28.7 years. Females comprised 59.6% of the attempters and were more likely to be below age 30 years. Around 40% of the psychiatric diagnoses among attempters were related to stress and 17.9% to depression. Overdosing was the chosen method in 50.6% of the attempters, with 32.7% overdosing on paracetamol and females being more likely to use this method. Just over 13% of the attempters had made one previous attempt and 2.2% had made more than one. CONCLUSION: Females younger than 30 years were at higher risk of attempting suicide, with overdosing on paracetamol as the preferred method. Stress-related diagnoses were predominant in the attempters.

Potential factors impacting health-related quality of life among patients with epilepsy: Results from the United Arab Emirates.

PURPOSE: to investigate potential factors impacting HRQOL among PWE at a medical facility in the UAE. METHODS: Depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life were assessed in 160 adult patients with epilepsy from September 2014 to January 2015 at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC). The World Health Organization Quality of Life abbreviated scale (WHOQOL-BREF), the Patient Health Questionnaire nine-item (PHQ-9) depression scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item (GAD-7) scale were administered. Demographic details including psychosocial factors were also obtained. Clinical details including seizure freedom, epilepsy type, epilepsy duration, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results were recorded. Multivariate analysis was used to look at significant variables associated with HRQOL. RESULTS: Depression, anxiety, seizure freedom, and the use of anti-depressants had significant positive correlation with HRQOL in univariate analysis. However, depression, followed by seizure freedom, had the strongest association with HRQOL in a multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Depression and seizure freedom, followed by anxiety and anti-depressants use, were significantly correlated with HRQOL. These results underscore the importance of screening for psychiatric comorbidities in patients with epilepsy. IMPLICATIONS: Screening for comorbid psychiatric disorders should be an essential component of the standard of care, and incorporated in the treatment plan for all patients with epilepsy. Factors contributing to psychiatric symptoms among PWE, such as maladaptive illness perceptions, non-adherence to anti-epileptic drugs (AED), and social stigma should be carefully addressed to achieve an optimal health-care plan.

Does pyridoxine control behavioral symptoms in adult patients treated with levetiracetam? Case series from UAE.

Behavioral symptoms are known side effects of levetiracetam. Previous case series in children and adolescents have demonstrated the potential effect of pyridoxine in ameliorating these symptoms. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 51 patients treated with pyridoxine to control agitation and irritability following the introduction of levetiracetam. These symptoms were relieved in 34 patients (66.6%). Seventeen patients did not appear to benefit from this supplementation. This preliminary study suggests that pyridoxine might be an effective option across all ages for patients suffering from levetiracetam-induced behavioral side effects.

Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Epilepsy and Multiple Sclerosis: UAE Comparative Study.

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in patients with epilepsy (PWE), with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 55%. The cause of this increased rate is multifactorial. Depression and epilepsy are thought to share the same pathogenic mechanism. Anxiety, on the other hand, seems to have a prevalence rate among PWE comparable to, or even higher than, those reported for depression, and it is closely linked to epilepsy. To test this hypothesis, we screened for depression and anxiety 186 and 160 patients attending the epilepsy and MS clinics, respectively, using standardized screening tools to determine the rates of both depression and anxiety, comparing these rates to 186 age, sex matched controls. Among the three groups, only patients with epilepsy were at increased risk of having depression (OR = 1.9), whereas anxiety was not. This finding could point to the shared pathogenic mechanisms hypothesis between depression and epilepsy.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients with epilepsy attending the epilepsy clinic at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE: A cross-sectional study.

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent in patients with epilepsy (PWE), with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 55%. Unfortunately, the rates, patterns, and risk factors have not been well studied in the Middle East and, to our knowledge, have not been studied at all in the UAE. We screened 186 patients attending an epilepsy clinic using standardized screening tools to determine the rates of both depression and anxiety and compared these rates with that of age- and sex-matched controls. Almost one-third of our patients scored in the depression and anxiety ranges, which was significantly higher compared with the age- and sex-matched controls. Using a multiregression model, none of the studied variables were associated with an increased risk of having either disorder. Depression or anxiety symptoms independently and significantly increased the risk of association with the other disorder. Almost two-thirds of patients with depression and anxiety were not prescribed antidepressant or antianxiety medications.

Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Attending the MS Clinic at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE: Cross-Sectional Study.

Depression and anxiety are reported to be prevalent in patients with MS, with prevalence rates ranging from 20% to 50%. Unfortunately, the rates, patterns, and risk factors are not well studied in our Middle East region, and, to our knowledge, not at all in UAE. Using standardized screening tools, we observed that 17% and 20% of 80 patients seen in MS clinic had scores consistent with major depression and anxiety disorders, respectively, at a rate that was not statistically different when compared to age and sex matched controls. None of the studied variables including duration of the disease, EDSS scores, age, gender, and the level of education had any significant correlation with the rates of both disorders. Almost two-thirds of the patients with scores consistent with major depression and anxiety were not on antidepressant and antianxiety medications.

Use of and attitudes and knowledge about pap smears among women in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of Pap smear among women in Kuwait and to assess their knowledge about and attitude toward Pap smears. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a multistage cluster sampling method. We interviewed 299 women attending polyclinics in Kuwait using a self-administered questionnaire. Factors related to history of having a Pap smear, knowledge level, and willingness to participate in a screening program were evaluated. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of Pap smear was found to be 37% (95% CI 33-43). Forty-four percent of women in our study had a Pap smear only once in their lives. History of having at least one Pap smear was significantly related to such factors as age, total family income, marital status, history of cervical infection, and knowledge. The level of knowledge about cervical cancer varied among the participants. Forty-six percent of women were uncertain about the symptoms of cervical cancer. About half the women recognized cervical infection, smoking, and having multiple sexual partners as risk factors for cervical cancer; however, only 10% recognized early sexual intercourse as a risk factor. Willingness to participate in a future screening program varied significantly according to educational level, employment status, and total family income. CONCLUSIONS: Although cervical cancer incidence and mortality are relatively low in Kuwait, they may be underreported in the absence of a screening program. Moreover, lifetime prevalence of having a Pap smear was found to be considerably lower in Kuwait compared with developed countries.