The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health, with a particular impact on depressive symptoms. Metabolic syndrome is also linked to depression, but their combined effects remain unclear.

To examine the independent and combined effects of COVID-19 seropositivity and metabolic syndrome on depressive symptoms, considering demographic and health-related factors.

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 2021–2022 Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición data. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD-7), including subscales for positive affect, negative affect and somatic symptoms. COVID-19 seropositivity was determined through seroprevalence data, and metabolic syndrome was defined using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Logistic and linear regression models evaluated associations between COVID-19 seropositivity, metabolic syndrome and depressive symptoms, adjusting for demographic and health factors.

Among 10 890 adults, 3312 (30.4%) had depressive symptoms. COVID-19 seropositivity (n = 7790, 71.7%) was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms (odds ratio 1.22, 95% CI 1.08–1.38) and increased CESD-7 scores (coefficient 0.39, 95% CI 0.19–0.58), particularly negative affect (coefficient 0.16, 95% CI 0.05–0.27) and somatic symptoms (coefficient 0.23, 95% CI 0.12–0.34). Metabolic syndrome was associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.02–1.33), mainly through negative affect (coefficient 0.27, 95% CI 0.12–0.41). No significant interaction was found between COVID-19 seropositivity and metabolic syndrome.

COVID-19 seropositivity and metabolic syndrome independently increase depression risk, highlighting the need for integrated mental and metabolic health screening.

Homelessness is a complex, multidimensional and often underrecognised public health concern. Women experiencing homelessness are often vulnerable to chronic stress, violence, mental health problems, substance use and poorer quality of life. Despite these vulnerabilities, research on substance use and psychological well-being among homeless women are limited in the Indian scenario.

This study aimed to evaluate the patterns and proportion of substance use, as well as the psychological well-being and quality of life, among homeless women utilising services from shelter homes in Delhi.

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted across five urban shelter homes in Delhi, providing a sample of 152 homeless women. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire designed for the survey, the Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and -15, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale and World Health Organization Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test Version 3.0. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 29.

Among 152 homeless women, lifetime use of substances was reported as tobacco (48%), alcohol (9.2%), inhalant (4.6%), opioid (2.0%) and cannabis (0.7%). Tobacco was the most common substance used followed by alcohol. Only 4.2% of the participants had ever sought treatment for substance use. A higher percentage of homeless women reported intimate partner violence in the form of emotional abuse (60.9%), physical violence (59.6%) and sexual violence (41.7%). Clinically relevant symptoms of depression and anxiety were observed in approximately a quarter of the participants. Furthermore, over 80% of the participants exhibited moderate-to-severe perceived stress.

Homeless women are considered a hard-to-reach and vulnerable population. Although residing in shelter homes may alleviate some difficulties, challenges still persist. The study emphasises the need for integrated, gender-sensitive and context-specific interventions. To effectively address the multifaceted issues by this population, tailored intervention programmes and policies should be designed unique to this population.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that substantially affects behaviour, social functioning and daily performance. However, long-term population-based evidence on its burden in Jordan remains limited.

This study aimed to assess trends in incidence, prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) due to ADHD in Jordan from 1990 to 2023.

A population-based descriptive analysis was conducted using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study. ADHD incidence, prevalence and YLDs in Jordan from 1990 to 2023 were extracted and stratified by gender and age group (2–9, 10–19 and 20–69 years). Estimates were reported as rates per 100 000 population, and absolute numbers with 95% uncertainty intervals, following standard GBD methods.

ADHD burden was observed across all age groups in Jordan. Among children aged 2–9 years, incidence ranged from 279.9 to 352.3 per 100 000, prevalence exceeded 5000 per 100 000 in both 1990 and 2023 and YLD rates ranged from 214.8 to 262.8 per 100 000. In adolescents, the burden was concentrated among those aged 10–14 years, with prevalence around 526 per 100 000 and YLDs of 21 per 100 000 in both years; no estimates were reported for ages 15–19 years. In adults aged 20–69 years, although no incident cases were recorded, prevalence remained notable in 2023, ranging from 1626.8 per 100 000 (20–49 years) to 535.2 per 100 000 (50–69 years), with YLD rates between 69.1 and 22.4 per 100 000. Males consistently showed higher burden estimates than females across all age groups.

ADHD is a prevalent and a major source of non-fatal health loss in Jordan from early childhood through adulthood. These findings provide a comprehensive, long-term assessment of ADHD burden in Jordan and establish a robust evidence base for national, regional and global comparisons.

It remains unclear which patient and treatment characteristics are associated with greater cognitive and functional gains from individualised occupational therapy (IOT) in schizophrenia.

To explore predictors of changes in cognition and functioning and their maintenance among patients with schizophrenia who received IOT.

This secondary analysis used data from a randomised controlled trial and its follow-up. Participants allocated to the group occupational therapy plus IOT arm who received IOT during their hospital stay and had available outcome data were included (n = 34; with follow-up data available for 32 participants). Changes in cognition (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia) and functioning (modified Global Assessment of Functioning – social functioning subscale) were examined. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate patient- and treatment-related predictors of change and maintenance.

Greater improvement in cognition was associated with lower baseline cognition (β = −0.40, p = 0.003). Maintenance of cognitive improvement was associated with fewer prior hospital stays (β = −0.21, p = 0.031) and better post-treatment quality of life (β = 5.61, p < 0.001). Greater improvement in functioning was associated with lower baseline functioning (β = −0.50, p < 0.001) and fewer physical comorbidities (β = −8.43, p = 0.004), whereas maintenance of functional improvement was associated with better post-treatment cognition (β = 2.27, p = 0.014) and greater engagement in self-monitoring (β = 0.27, p = 0.026).

Both patient characteristics and engagement in specific IOT components were associated with variability in changes in outcomes and their maintenance. These findings may inform more personalised occupational therapy strategies for schizophrenia.

The Healthy Minds Study (HMS) Questionnaire is an assessment tool that examines mental health, service awareness and help-seeking behaviour (including stigma and knowledge) among university students.

A shortage of tools specifically designed to cater to student populations has resulted in limited data from Arabic-speaking countries on mental health in university students. Our study aimed to describe the prevalence of mental health symptoms, service awareness, stigma and help-seeking attitudes among medical students at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) University.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 87 medical students at the UAE University, using the HMS Questionnaire.

A total of 73.6% reported at least mild depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) ≥ 5), 35.8% met criteria for probable major depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), 46% screened positive for anxiety, 11.5% reported non-suicidal self-injury, 9.2% reported seriously thinking of suicide, 13.8% reported symptoms of an eating disorder, 8.1% agreed that they would think less of a person who has received mental health treatment and 69% agreed that most people would think less of a person who has received mental health treatment.

We found a high prevalence of mental health difficulties and a reluctance to report and seek help for mental health difficulties among medical students in the UAE, which may be associated with a negative perceived public stigma.

Psychosis and bipolar I disorder are severe mental disorders with significant adverse impacts on patients, their families and society overall. Patients’ follow-up in rural areas is often challenging owing to stigma and limited access to mental health services.

The primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up by a mobile mental health unit (MMHU) operating in underserved rural areas of Crete in preventing readmissions to hospital across its 10 years of operation. Additionally, we investigated sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with patients’ readmissions.

The study included 288 patients with psychosis (n = 201) or bipolar disorder (n = 87). The effectiveness of the MMHU is assessed by comparing patients’ voluntary and involuntary admissions pre- and post-follow-up.

Hospital readmissions were reduced by half and involuntary readmissions by 50–70%. This effect was significant for patients with both single and multiple prior admissions. Regression analysis revealed that older age, depot medication, no substance misuse history and being ever married were associated with reduced readmissions. Also, the normative visit frequency of 5–9 visits per year (approximately 1 visit every 1.5 months) was associated with reduced readmissions.

The operation of an MMHU in rural Crete is effectively preventing overall and involuntary readmissions, particularly when patients are followed up on a regular basis. These findings highlight the effectiveness of community services in addressing the mental health needs of people living in rural and remote areas with limited access to mental health services.