The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one... more Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What’s App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status. Result Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5...
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychologi... more Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychological well-being of health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of health care workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the months of November and December, 283 health care workers completed a survey containing measures of depression, anxiety and stress (using Depression Anxiety and Stress-21 scale [DASS-21]) and questions regarding potential predictors such as the role of COVID-19 perception, availability of mental health support and work-related factors. Pearson X2 test revealed factors associated with the presence of significant psychiatric symptoms. Result Among the participants, 17.3% screened positive for depression, 26.2% for anxiety and 17.3% for stress. Nurses reported significantly more depression, anxiety and stress than doctors. Those who received mental health support reported significantly les...
Background Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity ... more Background Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in alcohol-dependent individuals and highlighted the clinical, prognostic, and treatment implications of such findings. However, there is a paucity of such information within the context of India. This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals and its relationship with the severity of this dependence. Result This was a prevalence study conducted for a period of 1 year. Patients were identified from Mahbubnagar, a local area in rural south India, and recruited at outpatient deaddiction clinic of SVS hosital. Application for research ethics approval was approved. A consecutive sample of 100 inpatients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome was recruited. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity 2 weeks after detoxification. The severity of dependence was judged usin...
Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 2021
The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of ... more The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of Saudi Arabia and more so in a population sample of medical and paramedical students. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a community sample of students of applied medical sciences. Furthermore, an association between obsessive compulsive symptoms and various sociodemographic variables and several aspects of academic life were investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 404 university students belonging to four departments. Tools used in the study included Obsessive compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R), DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of OCD and Y-BOCS severity rating scale. The main outcome would be probable obsessive compulsive disorder (OCI-R score>21). The students with >21score were further evaluated for the presence of obsessive compulsive disorder using DSM-IV criteria and Y-BOCS. Results: The prevalence of OCS was 20% [95%CI (19.902-20.098)] with the OCI-R screening tool. Actual prevalence of confirmed OCD was 5.06% [95%CI (4.39-6.12)]. Presence of probable OCD was significantly high [p = 0.002 and 95%CI (1.31-3.53)] in students of laboratory medicine department. A significant association was found between presence of OCS and dissatisfaction with the course selection [p = 0.001, 95% CI (1.38-3.92)], feeling of rejection [p = 0.004, 95%CI (1.39-5.88)] and depressive symptoms [ p = 0.0001 and CI (1.81-4.89)]. Our sample was limited to college age women, therefore the interpretation of prevalence my not be generalizable. Conclusion: The presence of such a disorder is likely to effect academic performance, quality of life and interpersonal relationships hence, identification and treatment at the right time help improve academic performance and quality of life.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH, 2018
Alzheimer's disease represents an enormous global burden in terms of human suffering and economic... more Alzheimer's disease represents an enormous global burden in terms of human suffering and economic cost. It is the most common cause of dementia all over the world. The pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The goal of this review is to discuss early diagnosis using biomarkers and newer treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. Newer strategies focus on employing disease modifying agents targeting amyloid cascade. The aim of such treatment is to reduce amyloid production, prevent tau hyperphosphorylation, aggregation and improve clearance of both tau and amyloid. Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine are the only drugs approved for treatment as yet. Although they improve symptoms they do not cure or totally halt the progression of illness. Nutritional supplements, physical activity plays a role in prevention according to few studies, but their role has not yet been approved.
Background: Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity... more Background: Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in alcoholdependent individuals and highlighted the clinical, prognostic, and treatment implications of such findings. However, there is a paucity of such information within the context of India. This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals and its relationship with the severity of this dependence. Result: This was a prevalence study conducted for a period of 1 year. Patients were identified from Mahbubnagar, a local area in rural south India, and recruited at outpatient deaddiction clinic of SVS hosital. Application for research ethics approval was approved. A consecutive sample of 100 inpatients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome was recruited. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity 2 weeks after detoxification. The severity of dependence was judged using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence questionnaire. One-hundred (male, n = 65; female, n = 35) alcohol-dependent patients were recruited. The mean age of participants was 41.9 (SD = 9.3) years. Participants (n = 33, 33%) had a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, the commonest being mood disorder (n = 18), which subdivided into major depressive disorder (n = 8), dysthymia (n = 5), manic episode (n = 3), and hypomanic episode (n = 2), followed by anxiety disorders (n = 11) and then psychotic disorder (n = 4). The comorbid psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with the severity of dependence (p = 0.001) and longer duration of alcohol (p = 0.003) use. Conclusion: This result emphasizes the need to thoroughly assess patients for possible under-identified dual diagnosis and provide treatments accordingly.
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psycholog... more Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of health care workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the months of November and December, 283 health care workers completed a survey containing measures of depression, anxiety and stress (using Depression Anxiety and Stress-21 scale [DASS-21]) and questions regarding potential predictors such as the role of COVID-19 perception, availability of mental health support and work-related factors. Pearson X 2 test revealed factors associated with the presence of significant psychiatric symptoms. Result: Among the participants, 17.3% screened positive for depression, 26.2% for anxiety and 17.3% for stress. Nurses reported significantly more depression, anxiety and stress than doctors. Those who received mental health support reported significantly lesser depression, anxiety and stress. Those who felt that quality of life was heavily impacted due to COVID-19 reported significantly high depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: Poor psychological well-being was prevalent in health care workers; however, mental health measures have been shown to significantly reduce the mental health burden in health care workers.
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over on... more Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What's App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status. Result: Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5% stress in the study participants. History of being hospitalized with COVID-19 and ICU reported high anxiety (p = 0.0003) and depression scores (p = 0.04). Respiratory droplet as a mode of transmission revealed higher scores on anxiety subscale (p = 0.007), whereas surface contamination reported high score of stress (p = 0.004) and anxiety (p = 0.002). Knowing that COVID-19 can also clinically present with gastrointestinal symptoms was found to show high stress (p = 0.005) and anxiety (p = 0.01) scores than any other way of clinical presentation. Conclusion: COVID-19 is likely to cause negative effect on the psychological health of students.
The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of ... more The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of Saudi Arabia and more so in a population sample of medical and paramedical students. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a community sample of students of applied medical sciences. Furthermore, an association between obsessive compulsive symptoms and various sociodemographic variables and several aspects of academic life were investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 404 university students belonging to four departments. Tools used in the study included Obsessive compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R), DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of OCD and Y-BOCS severity rating scale. The main outcome would be probable obsessive compulsive disorder (OCI-R score>21). The students with >21score were further evaluated for the presence of obsessive compulsive disorder using DSM-IV criteria and Y-BOCS. Results: The prevalence of OCS was 20% [95%CI (19.902-20.098)] with the OCI-R screening tool. Actual prevalence of confirmed OCD was 5.06% [95%CI (4.39-6.12)]. Presence of probable OCD was significantly high [p = 0.002 and 95%CI (1.31-3.53)] in students of laboratory medicine department. A significant association was found between presence of OCS and dissatisfaction with the course selection [p = 0.001, 95% CI (1.38-3.92)], feeling of rejection [p = 0.004, 95%CI (1.39-5.88)] and depressive symptoms [ p = 0.0001 and CI (1.81-4.89)]. Our sample was limited to college age women, therefore the interpretation of prevalence my not be generalizable. Conclusion: The presence of such a disorder is likely to effect academic performance, quality of life and interpersonal relationships hence, identification and treatment at the right time help improve academic performance and quality of life.
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Background Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopa... more Background Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological abnormalities may represent neural endophenotypes for autism spectrum disorders which may help identify subgroups of patients seemingly similar in clinical presentation yet different in their pathophysiological underpinnings. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of disease can pave the way to effective treatments, prevention, and prognostic predictions. The aim of this review is to identify the predominant neural endophenotypes in autism-spectrum disorder. The evidence was researched at the following electronic databases: Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results Enlarged brain, especially frontotemporal cortices have been consistently reported by structural neuroimaging, whereas functional neuroimaging has revealed frontotemporal dysconnectivity. Conclusions Regrettab...
The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, and health care systems are being overwhelmed with th... more The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, and health care systems are being overwhelmed with the huge number of cases, with a good number of cases requiring intensive care. It has become imperative to develop safe and effective treatment strategies to improve survival. In this regard, understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is highly important. Many hypotheses have been proposed, including the ACE/angiotensin-II/angiotensin receptor 1 pathway, the complement pathway, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2/mitochondrial assembly receptor (ACE2/MasR) pathway. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 on the cell surface, downregulating the ACE2, and thus impairs the inactivation of bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin. Bradykinin, a linear nonapeptide, is extensively distributed in plasma and different tissues. Kininogens in plasma and tissue are the main sources of the two vasoactive peptides called bradykinin and kallidin. However, the role of the dysregulated bradykinin pathway is less expl...
ABSTRACTEmerging evidence suggests the role of vitamin D in brain health and its implication in t... more ABSTRACTEmerging evidence suggests the role of vitamin D in brain health and its implication in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. The Aim of this review is to summarize current evidence on neuroimaging changes seen in vitamin D deficient individuals. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have consistently found an association between low serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, investigating the association between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and neuroimaging abnormalities could provide an insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the association with cognitive impairment. Animal studies have demonstrated structural changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of vitamin D deficient mice. Neuroimaging studies of the brain have shown increased white matter hyperintensities in periventricular, cortical, and juxtacortical areas and grey matter atrophy of the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and left calcarine sulcus in elderly with vitamin D deficiency.
Background Medically unexplained oropharyngeal dysphagia (MUNOD) is a rare condition. It presents... more Background Medically unexplained oropharyngeal dysphagia (MUNOD) is a rare condition. It presents without demonstrable abnormalities in the anatomy of the upper aero-digestive tract or swallowing physiology. The aim of this case report is to discuss the unique presentation of OCD as chronic dysphagia. Case presentation A 65-year-old woman was admitted with dysphagia and weight loss in surgical department with history of undergoing repeated upper GI endoscopies and laryngoscopies. The patient was finally diagnosed to be suffering from chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder with poor insight and comorbid depression after 3 years of suffering and moving from hospital to hospital. The atypical presentation and poor insight were the major reasons for diagnostic difficulty in this particular case. The patient was given 60 mg fluoxetine and 2 mg risperidone which improved the patient’s symptoms by 40%. Conclusion This case explains the possibility of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patient...
Vitamin D is a neurosteroid hormone that regulates neurotransmitters and neurotrophins. It has an... more Vitamin D is a neurosteroid hormone that regulates neurotransmitters and neurotrophins. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. It increases neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor which further promotes brain health. Moreover, it is also helpful in the prevention of amyloid accumulation and promotes amyloid clearance. Emerging evidence suggests its role in the reduction of Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks such as amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau. Many preclinical studies have supported the hypothesis that vitamin D leads to attentional, behavioral problems and cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional studies have consistently found that vitamin D levels are significantly low in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment compared to healthy adults. Longitudinal studies and meta-analysis have also exhibited an association of low vitamin D with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite such evidence, the causal associ...
Introduction. Complex partial seizures are focal (CPS) (i.e., start in one area of the brain) and... more Introduction. Complex partial seizures are focal (CPS) (i.e., start in one area of the brain) and associated with impairment in consciousness. Most of them arise in the temporal region and are characterized by aura, impaired consciousness, and automatisms. CPS that arise in temporal region are most often misdiagnosed as primary psychiatric illness. Case Report. A 25-year-old male presented with fluctuations in consciousness, aggressive behaviour, hallucination, and delusions of grandeur lasting a few hours. He was diagnosed with acute and transient psychotic disorder according to ICD10 criteria and was treated with intramuscular haloperidol 10mg BID followed by oral olanzapine 10mg. Computed tomography of brain and electroencephalogram were normal. After 15 days he presented again to the outpatient department with complaints of aggressive behaviour and sensory misinterpretations. Video electroencephalogram was recommended, which was not done due to financial constraints. The diagnos...
International Journal of Case Reports and Images, 2018
Introduction: Childhood disintegrative
disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is charac... more Introduction: Childhood disintegrative
disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is characterized by development of autistic
like picture and marked regression following
some period (at least two years) of normal
development. The condition was first described
by Thomas Heller, in 1908, also called as
Heller’s syndrome. Typically, the age of onset
is 3–4 years, but it can happen any time up
to age 10. Case Report: A 6-year-old child
brought to the OPD with aggressive behavior,
communication problem, repetitive body
movements and overactivity since past 18
months. Onset is insidious and progressive.
History suggestive of measles four years back
and GTCS for two years of age. Since last one
and half years there is insidious and progressive
regression in developmental milestones which
were previously attained at appropriate age.
Conclusion: To conclude, the study states
the importance to the clinicians about the
possibility of the diagnosis of CDD following
measles, especially when there is a regression
in developmental milestones following normal
development
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one... more Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What’s App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status. Result Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5...
Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychologi... more Background The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychological well-being of health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of health care workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the months of November and December, 283 health care workers completed a survey containing measures of depression, anxiety and stress (using Depression Anxiety and Stress-21 scale [DASS-21]) and questions regarding potential predictors such as the role of COVID-19 perception, availability of mental health support and work-related factors. Pearson X2 test revealed factors associated with the presence of significant psychiatric symptoms. Result Among the participants, 17.3% screened positive for depression, 26.2% for anxiety and 17.3% for stress. Nurses reported significantly more depression, anxiety and stress than doctors. Those who received mental health support reported significantly les...
Background Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity ... more Background Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in alcohol-dependent individuals and highlighted the clinical, prognostic, and treatment implications of such findings. However, there is a paucity of such information within the context of India. This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals and its relationship with the severity of this dependence. Result This was a prevalence study conducted for a period of 1 year. Patients were identified from Mahbubnagar, a local area in rural south India, and recruited at outpatient deaddiction clinic of SVS hosital. Application for research ethics approval was approved. A consecutive sample of 100 inpatients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome was recruited. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity 2 weeks after detoxification. The severity of dependence was judged usin...
Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 2021
The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of ... more The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of Saudi Arabia and more so in a population sample of medical and paramedical students. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a community sample of students of applied medical sciences. Furthermore, an association between obsessive compulsive symptoms and various sociodemographic variables and several aspects of academic life were investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 404 university students belonging to four departments. Tools used in the study included Obsessive compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R), DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of OCD and Y-BOCS severity rating scale. The main outcome would be probable obsessive compulsive disorder (OCI-R score>21). The students with >21score were further evaluated for the presence of obsessive compulsive disorder using DSM-IV criteria and Y-BOCS. Results: The prevalence of OCS was 20% [95%CI (19.902-20.098)] with the OCI-R screening tool. Actual prevalence of confirmed OCD was 5.06% [95%CI (4.39-6.12)]. Presence of probable OCD was significantly high [p = 0.002 and 95%CI (1.31-3.53)] in students of laboratory medicine department. A significant association was found between presence of OCS and dissatisfaction with the course selection [p = 0.001, 95% CI (1.38-3.92)], feeling of rejection [p = 0.004, 95%CI (1.39-5.88)] and depressive symptoms [ p = 0.0001 and CI (1.81-4.89)]. Our sample was limited to college age women, therefore the interpretation of prevalence my not be generalizable. Conclusion: The presence of such a disorder is likely to effect academic performance, quality of life and interpersonal relationships hence, identification and treatment at the right time help improve academic performance and quality of life.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICAL RESEARCH, 2018
Alzheimer's disease represents an enormous global burden in terms of human suffering and economic... more Alzheimer's disease represents an enormous global burden in terms of human suffering and economic cost. It is the most common cause of dementia all over the world. The pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The goal of this review is to discuss early diagnosis using biomarkers and newer treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease. Newer strategies focus on employing disease modifying agents targeting amyloid cascade. The aim of such treatment is to reduce amyloid production, prevent tau hyperphosphorylation, aggregation and improve clearance of both tau and amyloid. Cholinesterase inhibitors and Memantine are the only drugs approved for treatment as yet. Although they improve symptoms they do not cure or totally halt the progression of illness. Nutritional supplements, physical activity plays a role in prevention according to few studies, but their role has not yet been approved.
Background: Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity... more Background: Many international studies have reported a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in alcoholdependent individuals and highlighted the clinical, prognostic, and treatment implications of such findings. However, there is a paucity of such information within the context of India. This study investigates the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals and its relationship with the severity of this dependence. Result: This was a prevalence study conducted for a period of 1 year. Patients were identified from Mahbubnagar, a local area in rural south India, and recruited at outpatient deaddiction clinic of SVS hosital. Application for research ethics approval was approved. A consecutive sample of 100 inpatients diagnosed with alcohol dependence syndrome was recruited. The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess psychiatric comorbidity 2 weeks after detoxification. The severity of dependence was judged using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence questionnaire. One-hundred (male, n = 65; female, n = 35) alcohol-dependent patients were recruited. The mean age of participants was 41.9 (SD = 9.3) years. Participants (n = 33, 33%) had a co-occurring psychiatric disorder, the commonest being mood disorder (n = 18), which subdivided into major depressive disorder (n = 8), dysthymia (n = 5), manic episode (n = 3), and hypomanic episode (n = 2), followed by anxiety disorders (n = 11) and then psychotic disorder (n = 4). The comorbid psychiatric disorders were significantly associated with the severity of dependence (p = 0.001) and longer duration of alcohol (p = 0.003) use. Conclusion: This result emphasizes the need to thoroughly assess patients for possible under-identified dual diagnosis and provide treatments accordingly.
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psycholog... more Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has shown a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health of health care workers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the months of November and December, 283 health care workers completed a survey containing measures of depression, anxiety and stress (using Depression Anxiety and Stress-21 scale [DASS-21]) and questions regarding potential predictors such as the role of COVID-19 perception, availability of mental health support and work-related factors. Pearson X 2 test revealed factors associated with the presence of significant psychiatric symptoms. Result: Among the participants, 17.3% screened positive for depression, 26.2% for anxiety and 17.3% for stress. Nurses reported significantly more depression, anxiety and stress than doctors. Those who received mental health support reported significantly lesser depression, anxiety and stress. Those who felt that quality of life was heavily impacted due to COVID-19 reported significantly high depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusions: Poor psychological well-being was prevalent in health care workers; however, mental health measures have been shown to significantly reduce the mental health burden in health care workers.
Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over on... more Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What's App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status. Result: Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5% stress in the study participants. History of being hospitalized with COVID-19 and ICU reported high anxiety (p = 0.0003) and depression scores (p = 0.04). Respiratory droplet as a mode of transmission revealed higher scores on anxiety subscale (p = 0.007), whereas surface contamination reported high score of stress (p = 0.004) and anxiety (p = 0.002). Knowing that COVID-19 can also clinically present with gastrointestinal symptoms was found to show high stress (p = 0.005) and anxiety (p = 0.01) scores than any other way of clinical presentation. Conclusion: COVID-19 is likely to cause negative effect on the psychological health of students.
The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of ... more The studies suggesting the prevalence of Obsessive-compulsive disorder is scant in the region of Saudi Arabia and more so in a population sample of medical and paramedical students. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in a community sample of students of applied medical sciences. Furthermore, an association between obsessive compulsive symptoms and various sociodemographic variables and several aspects of academic life were investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 404 university students belonging to four departments. Tools used in the study included Obsessive compulsive inventory revised (OCI-R), DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of OCD and Y-BOCS severity rating scale. The main outcome would be probable obsessive compulsive disorder (OCI-R score>21). The students with >21score were further evaluated for the presence of obsessive compulsive disorder using DSM-IV criteria and Y-BOCS. Results: The prevalence of OCS was 20% [95%CI (19.902-20.098)] with the OCI-R screening tool. Actual prevalence of confirmed OCD was 5.06% [95%CI (4.39-6.12)]. Presence of probable OCD was significantly high [p = 0.002 and 95%CI (1.31-3.53)] in students of laboratory medicine department. A significant association was found between presence of OCS and dissatisfaction with the course selection [p = 0.001, 95% CI (1.38-3.92)], feeling of rejection [p = 0.004, 95%CI (1.39-5.88)] and depressive symptoms [ p = 0.0001 and CI (1.81-4.89)]. Our sample was limited to college age women, therefore the interpretation of prevalence my not be generalizable. Conclusion: The presence of such a disorder is likely to effect academic performance, quality of life and interpersonal relationships hence, identification and treatment at the right time help improve academic performance and quality of life.
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Background Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopa... more Background Autism-spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with heterogeneity in etiopathogenesis and clinical presentation. Neuroanatomical and neurophysiological abnormalities may represent neural endophenotypes for autism spectrum disorders which may help identify subgroups of patients seemingly similar in clinical presentation yet different in their pathophysiological underpinnings. Furthermore, a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of disease can pave the way to effective treatments, prevention, and prognostic predictions. The aim of this review is to identify the predominant neural endophenotypes in autism-spectrum disorder. The evidence was researched at the following electronic databases: Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Results Enlarged brain, especially frontotemporal cortices have been consistently reported by structural neuroimaging, whereas functional neuroimaging has revealed frontotemporal dysconnectivity. Conclusions Regrettab...
The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, and health care systems are being overwhelmed with th... more The COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, and health care systems are being overwhelmed with the huge number of cases, with a good number of cases requiring intensive care. It has become imperative to develop safe and effective treatment strategies to improve survival. In this regard, understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is highly important. Many hypotheses have been proposed, including the ACE/angiotensin-II/angiotensin receptor 1 pathway, the complement pathway, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2/mitochondrial assembly receptor (ACE2/MasR) pathway. SARS-CoV-2 binds to the ACE2 on the cell surface, downregulating the ACE2, and thus impairs the inactivation of bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin. Bradykinin, a linear nonapeptide, is extensively distributed in plasma and different tissues. Kininogens in plasma and tissue are the main sources of the two vasoactive peptides called bradykinin and kallidin. However, the role of the dysregulated bradykinin pathway is less expl...
ABSTRACTEmerging evidence suggests the role of vitamin D in brain health and its implication in t... more ABSTRACTEmerging evidence suggests the role of vitamin D in brain health and its implication in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. The Aim of this review is to summarize current evidence on neuroimaging changes seen in vitamin D deficient individuals. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have consistently found an association between low serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, investigating the association between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and neuroimaging abnormalities could provide an insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the association with cognitive impairment. Animal studies have demonstrated structural changes in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of vitamin D deficient mice. Neuroimaging studies of the brain have shown increased white matter hyperintensities in periventricular, cortical, and juxtacortical areas and grey matter atrophy of the hippocampus, anterior cingulate cortex, and left calcarine sulcus in elderly with vitamin D deficiency.
Background Medically unexplained oropharyngeal dysphagia (MUNOD) is a rare condition. It presents... more Background Medically unexplained oropharyngeal dysphagia (MUNOD) is a rare condition. It presents without demonstrable abnormalities in the anatomy of the upper aero-digestive tract or swallowing physiology. The aim of this case report is to discuss the unique presentation of OCD as chronic dysphagia. Case presentation A 65-year-old woman was admitted with dysphagia and weight loss in surgical department with history of undergoing repeated upper GI endoscopies and laryngoscopies. The patient was finally diagnosed to be suffering from chronic obsessive-compulsive disorder with poor insight and comorbid depression after 3 years of suffering and moving from hospital to hospital. The atypical presentation and poor insight were the major reasons for diagnostic difficulty in this particular case. The patient was given 60 mg fluoxetine and 2 mg risperidone which improved the patient’s symptoms by 40%. Conclusion This case explains the possibility of obsessive-compulsive disorder in patient...
Vitamin D is a neurosteroid hormone that regulates neurotransmitters and neurotrophins. It has an... more Vitamin D is a neurosteroid hormone that regulates neurotransmitters and neurotrophins. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. It increases neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor which further promotes brain health. Moreover, it is also helpful in the prevention of amyloid accumulation and promotes amyloid clearance. Emerging evidence suggests its role in the reduction of Alzheimer’s disease hallmarks such as amyloid-beta and phosphorylated tau. Many preclinical studies have supported the hypothesis that vitamin D leads to attentional, behavioral problems and cognitive impairment. Cross-sectional studies have consistently found that vitamin D levels are significantly low in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment compared to healthy adults. Longitudinal studies and meta-analysis have also exhibited an association of low vitamin D with cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. Despite such evidence, the causal associ...
Introduction. Complex partial seizures are focal (CPS) (i.e., start in one area of the brain) and... more Introduction. Complex partial seizures are focal (CPS) (i.e., start in one area of the brain) and associated with impairment in consciousness. Most of them arise in the temporal region and are characterized by aura, impaired consciousness, and automatisms. CPS that arise in temporal region are most often misdiagnosed as primary psychiatric illness. Case Report. A 25-year-old male presented with fluctuations in consciousness, aggressive behaviour, hallucination, and delusions of grandeur lasting a few hours. He was diagnosed with acute and transient psychotic disorder according to ICD10 criteria and was treated with intramuscular haloperidol 10mg BID followed by oral olanzapine 10mg. Computed tomography of brain and electroencephalogram were normal. After 15 days he presented again to the outpatient department with complaints of aggressive behaviour and sensory misinterpretations. Video electroencephalogram was recommended, which was not done due to financial constraints. The diagnos...
International Journal of Case Reports and Images, 2018
Introduction: Childhood disintegrative
disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is charac... more Introduction: Childhood disintegrative
disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is characterized by development of autistic
like picture and marked regression following
some period (at least two years) of normal
development. The condition was first described
by Thomas Heller, in 1908, also called as
Heller’s syndrome. Typically, the age of onset
is 3–4 years, but it can happen any time up
to age 10. Case Report: A 6-year-old child
brought to the OPD with aggressive behavior,
communication problem, repetitive body
movements and overactivity since past 18
months. Onset is insidious and progressive.
History suggestive of measles four years back
and GTCS for two years of age. Since last one
and half years there is insidious and progressive
regression in developmental milestones which
were previously attained at appropriate age.
Conclusion: To conclude, the study states
the importance to the clinicians about the
possibility of the diagnosis of CDD following
measles, especially when there is a regression
in developmental milestones following normal
development
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disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is characterized by development of autistic
like picture and marked regression following
some period (at least two years) of normal
development. The condition was first described
by Thomas Heller, in 1908, also called as
Heller’s syndrome. Typically, the age of onset
is 3–4 years, but it can happen any time up
to age 10. Case Report: A 6-year-old child
brought to the OPD with aggressive behavior,
communication problem, repetitive body
movements and overactivity since past 18
months. Onset is insidious and progressive.
History suggestive of measles four years back
and GTCS for two years of age. Since last one
and half years there is insidious and progressive
regression in developmental milestones which
were previously attained at appropriate age.
Conclusion: To conclude, the study states
the importance to the clinicians about the
possibility of the diagnosis of CDD following
measles, especially when there is a regression
in developmental milestones following normal
development
disorder (CDD), is a very rare disorder that
is characterized by development of autistic
like picture and marked regression following
some period (at least two years) of normal
development. The condition was first described
by Thomas Heller, in 1908, also called as
Heller’s syndrome. Typically, the age of onset
is 3–4 years, but it can happen any time up
to age 10. Case Report: A 6-year-old child
brought to the OPD with aggressive behavior,
communication problem, repetitive body
movements and overactivity since past 18
months. Onset is insidious and progressive.
History suggestive of measles four years back
and GTCS for two years of age. Since last one
and half years there is insidious and progressive
regression in developmental milestones which
were previously attained at appropriate age.
Conclusion: To conclude, the study states
the importance to the clinicians about the
possibility of the diagnosis of CDD following
measles, especially when there is a regression
in developmental milestones following normal
development