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“My first contact with Rod Feldmann was his voicemail message: ‘An incredible set of circumstances makes it impossible for me to come to the phone right now. Please leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.’ I was considering coming to Kent for graduate school and I thought, ‘Wow, this guy is either really important or really arrogant.’ I was right and wrong. He was never arrogant, but always important, and eventually of utmost importance to me.
This study investigates the reproductive biology of Holothuria arguinensis over one year (December 2016 to December 2017) from two locations on the Atlantic coast of Morocco: Skhirat (North Atlantic) and Souiria K'dima (Central Atlantic), including the sex ratio, size at sexual maturity, and reproductive cycle. Monthly sampling was carried out, along with the collection of environmental and biometric data at each site. The sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1 at either study site. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) reached its peak during spring (April and May) for both sexes, and the spawning period was observed from summer to autumn (June–October) at both locations, suggest annual spawning. GSI was correlated with increasing or high chlorophyll-a concentrations, salinity, and spawning with rainfall periods. The estimated size at sexual maturity was 15.9 cm body length, 189.1 g total body weight, and 92.5 g gutted body weight. The minimum mean oocyte diameter was recorded during the recovery stage (31 ± 11 μm (mean ± SD) at Skhirat and 34 ± 23 μm (mean ± SD) at Souiria K'dima), while the highest values were observed in the partial spawning stage (112 ± 27 μm (mean ± SD) at Skhirat and 104 ± 19 μm (mean ± SD) at Souiria K'dima). This study highlights the need for further research to expand our knowledge of the biological and ecological characteristics of H. arguinensis populations, to facilitate the cultivation of juveniles in captivity, and to develop fishing regulations based on scientific findings. As a fishery management strategy, we suggest a closed season from April to October to protect the reproductive period of H. arguinensis on the Moroccan coast.
Traumatic life events (TLEs) have been associated with the entire spectrum of psychosis outcomes, including risk and severity of psychotic disorders and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). In a non-clinical setting, understanding the relationship could help improve prevention services.
Objectives
The aim of this study is to establish the relationship between TLEs and PLEs.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Tunisan business and engineering school from March 2022 to June 2022. Participants completed the Tunisian dialect version of the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief (PQ-B), a validated self-report instrument designed to evaluate prodromal symptoms. TLEs such as physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect experiences, lived or witnessed have been assessed along with bullying experiences.
Results
The final sample size consisted of 358 participants, with a median age of 22 ± 2.22 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.41. More than half of the participants (58.6%) reported having experienced TLEs (49% in the preceding 6 months) while 31% had experienced bullying or abuse in school (27.9% in the preceding 6 months). The mean total score of the PQ-B for the study population was 7.27 ± 4.387, 36.3% reached the threshold and were defined as PQ-B-positive subjects. Those with a lifetime history of major life events were more likely to screen positive on the total score PQ-B (p = 0.000), as were those with a lifetime history of bullying or abuse (p = 0.000).
Conclusions
Understanding the factors that interact in the significant association between PLEs and TLEs may provide useful information for prevention programs and the improvement of mental health.
Antipsychotics are currently widely prescribed for various mental disorders. A presumption of a potential carcinogenic effect of antipsychotics was raised by certain studies. There are few data in the literature on this subject.
Objectives
Study the relationship between the use of antipsychotics and the risk of cancer.
Methods
A systematic literature review was carried out on PubMed looking for articles in English, published during the last decade (2013-2023), using the keywords “Antipsychotics” and “Cancer”. We included all articles studying the relationship between antipsychotics use and cancer risk.
Results
Nine articles were included in our study, the majority of which focused on breast cancer. The results regarding breast cancer were discordant: although three studies did not show an association between the administration of antipsychotics and breast cancer, more recent studies have proven the opposite. Indeed, chronic exposure to antipsychotics, particularly those raising prolactinemia, was significantly associated with an accumulated risk of breast cancer, especially with positive estrogen receptors, whereas prolactin-sparing antipsychotics were not associated with it. Regarding hematologic malignancies, unlike other antipsychotics, long-term use of clozapine was associated with a high risk of malignancy, and had a greater effect on mortality from lymphoma and leukemia than to agranulocytosis. On the other hand, it has been proven that the use of atypical antipsychotics is associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer.
Conclusions
Data from the literature regarding the carcinogenic potential of antipsychotics remain discordant and inconclusive. The most recent studies are worrying and highlight in particular an association between the use of antipsychotics and the increased risk of breast cancer. If these data are confirmed in future studies, this will undoubtedly impact the benefit-risk balance when making therapeutic decisions.
Schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness that can cause significant disruptions in a person’s life, leading to difficulty with thinking, emotions, and behaviors. While the symptoms of schizophrenia are well-known and extensively studied, comorbidities like eating disorders are often overlooked and undertreated, despite their prevalence in patients with schizophrenia.
Objectives
determine the different eating attitudes among schizophrenic patients and establish the link between eating attitudes, age, weight status, and psychotropic medication.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that took place from September to November 2022 among patients who consulted the post-care consultations of Psychiatry D service at Razi Hospital, Tunisia. We included patients who had been followed for at least one year for schizophrenia according to the diagnostic criteria of DSM-V and who had not relapsed for at least 2 months. The collection of sociodemographic and clinical data was done retrospectively by referring to the patients’ clinical records. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference, etc.) were recorded for each participant at the end of the interview. The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) was used to analyze eating attitudes.
Results
According to our results among 30 patients followed for schizophrenia, 74% were men with a mean age of 45 years (3.8). Sixty percent of the participants had a BMI <18.5, 35% had a BMI between 18.5 and 25, and the rest had a BMI greater than 25. on the therapeutic level, 12 patients were on olanzapine, 15 patients were on risperidone and the rest were on haloperidol. The TFEQ score shows that uncontrolled eating was the most prevalent attitude in our population. A statistically positive association was found between uncontrolled eating and the use of olanzapine (p<0.05).
Conclusions
Our study contributes to draw the attention of mental health professionals to the screening of eating disorders in patients followed for long term mental disorders and insists on multidisciplinary management to ensure a better quality of life for patients.
Negative countertransference in psychiatry refers to the therapist’s unfavorable emotional reactions to the patient, such as anger and frustration, which can hinder the therapeutic relationship and the client’s progress. This is why it is imperative to study the causes of this negative counter-transference, such as cultural causes, to ensure effective treatment, appropriate care and better comfort for psychiatry residents during their professional practice.
Objectives
To study the cultural causes of negative countertransference among psychiatric residents in Tunisia and their coping behavior.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out among Tunisian residents working in psychiatric departments, using a questionnaire deployed via Google Forms.
Results
The study involved 26 residents with 23 females. The average age was 27.57 years with extremes ranging from 26 to 32. The participants were family doctors practicing in psychiatric wards (26.9%), first year psychiatry residents (15.4%), second year psychiatry residents (23.1%), third year psychiatry residents (19.2%), fourth year psychiatry residents (11.5%) and child psychiatry residents (3.8%). The majority of residents admitted having had a negative transference towards a patient (88.5%). The level of frustration felt by residents during this counter-transference on a scale of 100 varied from 1 to 100 with an average of 61.9. Substance abuse was the primary cause in 52.17% of cases. The second cause was the patient’s ideology, with a percentage equal to 43.47%. The same percentage of 17.39% was for traditions, socio-economic level and membership of a particular political group. In 82.6% of cases, residents tried to analyze this counter-transference and 65.2% of them managed to deal with their frustration. The feeling of guilt was experienced by 56.52% of practitioners and the same number of residents tried to avoid the patient. Among the participants, 43.47% discussed this difficulty with their supervising physician and only 4 residents asked to change patients.
Conclusions
In conclusion, our study identified the cultural causes of negative countertransference in Tunisian psychiatry residents, including substance abuse, ideology, traditions, socio-economic level and politics. Understanding these causes is essential to resident training but also to the delivery of quality care in psychiatry. By integrating this knowledge into training, we can help residents recognize and manage negative countertransference, in order to improve the quality of care they provide to their patients.
Female sexuality is a complex and multifactorial domain that can be influenced by a variety of psychological, biological, relational, and sociocultural factors. However, sexual dysfunctions in women remain a taboo subject in many cultures and are often underestimated, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. In Tunisia, few studies have been conducted to assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in women and their predictive factors.
Objectives
to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in a group of Tunisian women and to identify the predictive factors of these dysfunctions.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study, over a period of three months, from September to December 2022, conducted online via a pre-established questionnaire to collect various sociodemographic data, personal history, psychoactive substance consumption, weight, and height. We used the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) scale to evaluate sexual functioning in participants. We recruited sexually active Tunisian women over 18 years of age who agreed to anonymously respond to the questionnaire. The form was disseminated on social networks, in groups that focus on women, with a rate of three publications per week.
Results
We collected data from 90 women with a mean age of 35 ± 12.84 years.
More than half of our population (60%, n=54) had at least one sexual dysfunction.
The most common sexual dysfunctions reported were arousal disorders (31.3%), followed by desire disorders (26.8%) orgasm disorders (12.4%).
We found that several factors were significantly associated with sexual dysfunctions : Women over 45 years of âge (p<10-3), who are divorced (p=0,02), have a low socioeconomic status (p=0,04), and report having experienced traumatic romantic/sexual expériences (p<10-3) were found to have a higher prevalence of sexual dysfunctions.
According to our results, cannabis consumption had a negative impact on lubrication (p<10-3) and orgasm (p=0.003) among our study respondents. Personal psychiatric history also had a negative influence on arousal (p=0.02) and sexual satisfaction (p=0.01).
Conclusions
By identifying sexual dysfunctions early and treating them effectively, we can improve the quality of life of those affected and avoid serious consequences on their physical and mental health. It is therefore crucial to promote a proactive approach to sexual health and encourage healthcare professionals to approach sexuality openly and comprehensively.
Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the inability to conceive after a year of unprotected sexual intercourse, infertility remains a current and compelling topic of interest for both scientists and the general public.
Over the past few decades, the prevalence of infertility, regardless of its cause, has significantly increased. Furthermore, it affects approximatively 15% of tunisian couples. However, previous studies have primarily assessed the psychological impact on women, leaving a gap in understanding gender differences.
Objectives
Our study aims to compare the psychological impact of infertility between genders in a Tunisian sample.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study in a public hospital specializing in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) from August 30th to December 1st, 2022, involving sexually active infertile couples who had been under observation for at least one year. The participants provided information related to socio-demographic data. Additionally, we used the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) to assess anxiety and depression, and the Fertility Quality of Life (FertiQol) questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life. These questionnaires were administered in the Tunisian dialect.
Results
A sample of 60 infertile couples were recruited to this study. Primary infertility was present in 97% of cases and male infertility was the most common cause, accounting for 35%. Our findings revealed that women experienced higher rates of depression (35%) and anxiety (52%) compared to men (15% and 28%), with a statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.001).
Furthermore, women reported a significantly compromised overall quality of life, particularly in the context of treatment-related aspects (p=0.03).
Notably, anxiety was identified as a significant risk factor for reduced quality of life among women (B = -5.27). In contrast, lower socioeconomic status was associated with diminished overall quality of life in men (B = -7.09).
Conclusions
It is important to consider gender differences in the management of infertility in order to guide and target psychological interventions and to improve the quality of life of infertile couples.
There has been growing evidence to support the hypothesis that inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Objectives
The aim of the present literature review was to assess the efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of an acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.
Methods
We searched randomized clinical trials based on regular searches of MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed.
Results
We included four studies. The results were in favor of the efficacy of ASA in the study where authors targeted early psychosis. Illness duration seems to predict response to anti-inflammatory agents.
Conclusions
Further studies of early stages of schizophrenia are helpful.
In Tunisia, the 2019 corona virus pandemic was a challenging health situation, with more than 28 000 confirmed deaths in May 2022. The pandemic was responsible for people losing their beloved ones in a sudden and brutal ways. Even though the numbers of bereaved people had been escalating, little attention was paid toward their mental health. Grief is a normal response to losing someone close. However, recent studies have shown that the covid-19 grief is more severe than other causes of grief. It not only causes a negative impact on the bereaved life aspects but also creates severe consequences in the society. Screening a possible dysfunctional grief is a major need to prevent serious outcomes.
Objectives
To identify the prevalence of covid-19 dysfunctional grief and find out the possible associated risk factors to it.
Methods
A cross sectional online survey designed using Google Forms and distributed on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) was conducted from 16 February 2022 to 05 May 2022. The participants provided information related to socio-demographic data. Covid-19 grief scale was assessed using the pandemic grief scale, which was translated into Arabic but not validated.
Results
A sample of 106 participants were recruited to this study .The sample was composed of Approximately 72% female and 28 % males, most of them were aged between 26 and 35 years old (37.7% ) . Overall, individuals who lost a loved one more than 06 months period were more frequent (81%). 91.7 % of the sample scored above the cut score of 7 on the PGS.
Covid-19 grief was higher among those who sought psychological help (p = 0.02). In this sample, there was no associated risk factors between different socio-demographic characteristics and dysfunctional grief, as well as no correlation were found between period of time since the loss and dysfunctional grief ( rho = 0.186, p = 0.56) .
Conclusions
Although our study did not find a significant high prevalence of dysfunctional grief giving the small number of participants. More studies and screening must be conducted to identify those at risk of developing dysfunctional grief to prevent the serious individual and general outcomes.
Many researchers have turned their attention to studying the relation between the gut microbiota to mood disorders. In fact, studies in the last 5 years have shown that the change in microbiota in animals can cause anxiety a depression –like behaviors.
In humans, considering the fact that there was a difference between in human gut microbiota between depressed persons and healthy controls, many clinicians suggest different treatment ways to compensate the microbiome imbalance such as Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).
FMT is an ancient tool that used to treat food poisoning and severe diarrhea. Recent studies have shown its efficacy in autism spectrum disorders but not enough studies have shown its contribution in treating mood disorders.
Objectives
The aim is to explore and understand the use of fecal microbiota transplantaion in the mood disorder treatment
Methods
We conducted a literature search for English articles on PubMed using the keywords : mood disorder, Fecal microbiota transplantation, treatment.
Results
13 results were initially found on the pubmed database. we identified 4 eligible studies.
02 case studies reported that patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder type 2 improved after repetitive FMT treatment, 01 randomised controlled trial concluded good tolerability and feasibility of FMT in major depression disorder but was not designed to measure clinical outcomes. Finally, 01 study protocol is still conducting on the efficacy and safety of FMT n in a population with bipolar disorder during depressive episodes.
Conclusions
No results have shown the efficacy of FMT in treating mood disorders yet. However, it is considered well tolerated and safe. Further studies are needed to conclude its efficacy.
Self-compassion is defined as the ability to be open to and touched by one’s suffering and to relate to it with kindness and non-judgmental awareness. Although identifying factors related to treatment adherence remains an important challenge in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, self-compassion has rarely been investigated in this population. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-compassion training can improve treatment adherence in this population.
Objectives
The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Methods
thirty stabilized adult outpatients with schizophrenia (n=18), schizoaffective disorder (n=11), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) per DSM-5 criteria were included. Self- compassion was assessed using the 26-item Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Treatment adherence was assessed using the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). Socio- demographic characteristics, including age, gender, academic level, and mean daily antipsychotic dosages were collected.
Results
There was no significant difference in SCS scores and MARS scores as a function of gender, age, or academic level. The results of the present preliminary study suggest a positive correlation between the SCS total scores and the MARS scores. It was found that higher levels of self-compassion are related with higher levels of treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and lower levels of self- compassion are associated with discontinuation of medications without a psychiatrist’s recommendation. This connection was present in all diagnostic groups.
Conclusions
The results of the present preliminary study suggest that self-compassion and treatment adherence are closely related. Improving self-compassion in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders may improve their level of treatment adherence. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-compassion training programs could be useful as an extension of standard psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve treatment adherence in this population.
Sleep disturbances and suicidal behaviors are common among patients with type II bipolar disorder ( BDII), but the relationship between the two is unclear. Investigating this connection is important to identify interventions that can improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of suicide in this population.
Objectives
Our study’s objective is to examine the association between sleep disorders and suicidal behavior in patients with type II bipolar disorder (BDII).
Methods
In order to comprehensively investigate the association between sleep disturbances and suicidal behaviors among individuals diagnosed with type II bipolar disorder (TBII), we conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study over a duration of one month, specifically from the 1st to the 31st of October 2022. Our research was conducted within the follow-up unit of the mental health department at Nabeul Hospital, Tunisia, with the aim of capturing a diverse range of participants representative of the population of interest.
To ensure the integrity and accuracy of our findings, we meticulously selected participants who met specific eligibility criteria. This included individuals aged between 18 and 60 years, who had a confirmed diagnosis of type II bipolar disorder according to the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V). Furthermore, we sought to include participants who were psychiatrically stable, meaning they had not required hospitalization in the six months preceding the study.
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate the participants’ sleep quality over a one-month period, while the Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) was used to assess suicidal behavior.The data was gathered through a questionnaire that prioritized ethical concerns, including obtaining informed consent from participants and maintaining confidentiality and anonymity throughout the study.
Results
In this study, we enrolled 40 male patients with a mean age of 36 ± 13.2 years and evaluated their sleep quality and suicidal behaviors. The results showed that the participants had a mean PSQI score of 7.28 ± 3.35, indicating that the overall sleep quality was not optimal. Specifically, 65% of the participants had poor sleep quality (> 5), and 45% reported poor sleep(PSQI ≥ 8) . The mean SBQ-R score was 10.3 ± 3.6, indicating a moderate level of suicidal behavior. Interestingly, we found a statistically significant correlation between PSQI and SBQ-R subscales, particularly with regard to suicidal thoughts (p=0.003) and suicide attempts (p=0.002).
Conclusions
Our study found a strong link between sleep problems and suicidal behavior in people with type II bipolar disorder. This highlights the need to address sleep issues to reduce suicide risk in these patients.
Violence in psychiatric settings poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. This study examines psychiatric nurses’ perceptions of violence and its impact on the quality of care they provide.
Objectives
The primary objective is to assess the influence of violence on the quality of care in psychiatric settings, with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of nurses.
Methods
We employed a questionnaire-based survey administered to 30 psychiatric nurses working in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units of the Razi hospital Manouba. The survey gathered information on the prevalence of violence, types of violence encountered, and the impact on nursing practice.
Results
Of the 30 respondents, 75% identified as female and 25% identified as male. Most of them had more than five years of experience. The primary results revealed that all the psychiatric nurses reported experiencing at least one incident of violence during their psychiatric nursing careers. Regarding exposure to verbal violence, the results indicated that 52% encountered it sometimes, 22% often, 17% very often. Regarding physical violence, 30% experienced it rarely, 26% sometimes, 13% often, and 13% very often. For sexual violence, 56% reported never experiencing it, 8% rarely, 26% sometimes, and 8% very often. These incidents had varying effects on nurses’ emotional well-being, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they were able to provide. 53% of nurses reported experiencing emotional distress and feelings of anxiety as a result of violence, 13% felt anger and frustration. One nurse declared he was not affected emotionally. Most of the respondents (75%) indicated that their job satisfaction had been negatively affected by violent incidents. 40% of respondents stated that violence has a negative impact on their relationship with patients, but they make efforts to maintain care quality. Whereas, 20% found ways to strengthen connections despite challenging experiences.The most commonly endorsed strategies to cope with violence included attempting to master their emotions by remaining calm and patient (78% of respondents), seeking assistance or the presence of other healthcare team members (65%), and maintaining a safe distance from patients (69%). Fewer participants reported raising their voice and adopting a position of authority (30%), while a minority indicated engaging in additional training on the management of violent situations (20%). These results illustrate the diverse range of personal coping strategies.
Conclusions
Violence in psychiatric settings has a multifaceted impact on psychiatric nurses, affecting both their emotional well-being and the quality of care they provide. Strategies for managing and preventing violence, as well as supporting nurses in coping with these challenges, are essential for maintaining high-quality psychiatric care.
Several factors can influence the journey of perinatal grief in mothers, including the quality of care during this experience. The objective of our study was to investigate the factors influencing the perception of grieving women during the perinatal period and identify the role of medical and paramedical healthcare professionals in psychological support.
Objectives
To determine the factors influencing the perception of fetal loss in grieving mothers.
Methods
This was a descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective study conducted between july 2021 and march 2022 at the Fetal Pathology Department of the Center for Maternity and Neonatology in Tunis, Tunisia. The study included women who experienced perinatal loss and underwent fetal pathology examination.
The study was conducted in two stages: Initial consultation at the Fetal Pathology Department, five weeks after the date of expulsion, for perinatal grief counseling. Follow-up interview one year after the date of expulsion: The participants were contacted via telephone for an average duration of twenty minutes .The assessment of perinatal grief during both interviews was conducted using the shortened version of the Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS)
Results
The mean age of the patients was 31.41 years (± 5.15). The average gravidity was 2.47 (± 1.43). More than half of the patients had no living children (n=41). The majority of patients had no notable pathological history. Six patients had been followed in psychiatry, and five had a history of subfertility. The majority of patients (n=61) reported having good marital relationships.
Among the participants, 20% (n=14) had a high Perinatal Grief Scale (PGS) score (PGS >= 91) at five weeks post-loss and were subsequently referred for psychiatric consultation.
At one year, all participants had a PGS score > 91, demonstrating the effectiveness of psychiatric management. Multivariate analysis identified four independent factors associated with a high PGS score at five weeks: absence of living children (OR=0.59; 95% CI [0.36-0.98]; p=0.04), quality of marital relationship (OR=1.2; 95% CI [1.1-3.9]; p=0.02), family support (OR=2.52; 95% CI [1.55-4.12]; p<0.001), and quality of loss disclosure (OR=2.52; 95% CI [1.32-3.77]; p=0.003).
Conclusions
To identify patients at high risk of developing complicated grief and improve the quality of psychological care, it is necessary to implement appropriate protocols, provide training to healthcare personnel, and establish well-equipped healthcare facilities.
Lack of adherence to antipsychotic medication in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders is a major risk factor for relapse and rehospitalizations which contributes to major social and economic consequences. A high proportion of patients with schizophrenia are partially or completely unaware of their mental disorder.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between insight and medication adherence.
Methods
A total number of 30 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders ,according to (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria who were attending the department of psychiatry A Razi hospital between august and September 30, 2023 were included in this study. Patients’ insight was measured by the birchwood insight scale. The degree of medication adherence was measured by using Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS).
Results
Patients enrolled in the study had a mean (SD) age of 43.2 .There was no significant correlation between patients’ insight and patients’ ages, duration of illness and hospitalization times. In addition, there was no significant association between medication adherence and age, duration of illness, number of hospitalization or social level. Impaired insight was associated with poor antipsychotic medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders .Higher insight was correlated to higher therapeutic adherence. Our results showed that the level of insight and compliance to treatment are positively correlated.
Conclusions
The results of this study support the hypothesis that insight and treatment adherence are closely related. Interventions to enhance insight may be helpful in improving medication adherence.
Self-esteem entails evaluating oneself positively and often involves the need to be special and above average without comparisons with others. It could play a role in many areas of the patient’s life.
Objectives
The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of self-esteem and investigate the associations between self-esteem and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Methods
This study involved outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders ,according to (DSM-V) diagnostic criteria, attending the Department of Psychiatry A, Razi hospital between august and September 30, 2023. The level of self-esteem was measured with Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Rating scale (SERS) and treatment adherence with the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS).Socio-demographic characteristics were also collected.
Results
Thirty stabilized outpatients with schizophrenia (n=18), schizoaffective disorder (n=11), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) were included in the study. The mean (SD) age of the respondents was 43.2years; the mean number of Hospital admissions was 4.7.Almost two thirds of this population (63.33% ) had low self-esteem and 36.67 % had high self-esteem. The level of self-esteem did not differ between diagnostic categories. Self-esteem also positively correlated with higher education and negatively with an increased number of hospitalizations. However, no significant association was found between socio-demographic variables and self-esteem. Adherence was further negatively correlated with age and age of onset of disorders. Patients suffering from schizophrenia had the lowest adherence to treatment.The results of the present preliminary study suggest a positive correlation between the SERS total scores and the MARS scores. It was found that higher levels of self- esteem are related with higher levels of treatment adherence and lower levels of self- esteem are associated with discontinuation of medications without a psychiatrist’s recommendation. This connection was present in all diagnostic groups.
Conclusions
This study shows positive relationship between self-esteem and treatment adherence. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-esteem is a factor positively influencing adherence to treatment and show if self-esteem training programs like standard psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy could be beneficial to improve treatment adherence among psychiatric patients.
Hyperthyroidism, characterized by excessive production of thyroid hormones, is a common endocrine disorder that affects various body systems. While most commonly recognized for its classic symptoms such as weight loss, tremors, and palpitations, it is important to acknowledge that hyperthyroidism can also lead to a rare but significant complication: psychosis. Psychosis in the context of hyperthyroidism refers to the presence of delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking, which can significantly impact an individual’s mental health and overall well-being.
Objectives
This case report aims to describe a rare case of hyperthyroidism-related psychosis in a patient including the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management. Additionally, we aim to increase awareness of and promote further research into this condition.
Methods
We present a comprehensive case report detailing the clinical course of a 29-year-old male patient with no previous medical or psychiatric history, who sought urgent psychiatric evaluation at the Razi Hospital La Manouba’s emergency department due to escalating symptoms of agitation and paranoia persisting for three days. The patient, identified as Mr. S.O., a Tunisian male, presented with severe agitation and paranoia necessitating the use of restraints upon admission to the psychiatric emergency department. The initial physical examination revealed no notable abnormalities, except for the presence of tachycardia, which was subsequently confirmed on an electrocardiogram, arousing suspicion of a primary psychiatric illness.
Results
While the standard blood workup yielded unremarkable findings, the endocrine workup revealed decreased levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and elevated free thyroxine (FT4). Further laboratory investigations demonstrated elevated anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies, leading to the diagnosis of Graves’ disease. Collaborative consultation with an endocrinologist resulted in the initiation of a treatment regimen consisting of methimazole, propranolol, and risperidone. Notably, within three days of the initiated therapy, the patient exhibited significant improvement in terms of reduced agitation, coherent speech, and the development of self-reflection regarding the episode, ultimately leading to his discharge on the seventh day of hospitalization. This case report serves to highlight the complexity of psychiatric presentations associated with underlying endocrine disorders and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in achieving optimal patient outcomes.
Conclusions
While mental health factors play a significant role in the development of psychosis, it is essential to recognize that underlying medical conditions may also contribute to its onset or exacerbation.
One of the common symptoms of schizophrenia is sleep disturbances, which can have a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. Several studies suggest the existence of a complex link between sleep disorders and agressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.
Objectives
to determine the impact of sleep disorders on aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study that took place over a period of one month (from 1st to 31nd March 2023) with patients consulting the post-cure of Psychiatry Service D at Razi Hospital, Tunisia. We included patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM5, and stabilized on a psychiatric plan. We used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess sleep quality over a period of one month. The Buss & Perry Aggression Questionnaire (QABP) was used to measure aspects of aggression. We used the Adult Social Relationships Scales (ASRS), part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) toolkit, assessing six domains of social relationships: perceived rejection, perceived hostility, loneliness, friendship, instrumental support and emotional support.
Results
We collected data from 40 male patients with a mean age of 42.5 ± 14.02. The mean global PSQI score was 9.23 ± 4.58.
Ten patients were on typical antipsychotics, 25 patients were on atypical antipsychotics, and the remaining five patients were on a combination therapy (both atypical and typical antipsychotics). Regarding the use of benzodiazepines, 34 patients were taking lorazepam at a dose of 2.5 to 5 mg per day. he mean QABP global score was 45 ± 12.3 out of 72.
For the subjective evaluation, all patients self-reported feeling “irritable,” “dysphoric,” “unable to communicate with others,” and “wanting to break objects” when they experienced insomnia.
We found a statistically significant association between QABP and daytime dysfunction (p=0.003).
The overall PSQI score was higher, and statistically significantly associated, in patients who reported low emotional support (p=0.018) and perceived social rejection (p=0.04).
Conclusions
An integrated approach that includes the evaluation of sleep disorders, as well as the prevention and management of violence, can play a key role in the overall improvement of the mental health of patients with schizophrenia.
Sleep disorders are a significant concern for patients with schizophrenia, and they can have a profound impact on their quality of life. Studies have shown that sleep disturbances are prevalent in patients with schizophrenia, and they may be linked to the clinical characteristics of the disorder. Despite this, the exact nature of the relationship between sleep disorders and schizophrenia remains unclear. Understanding this relationship is critical as it may lead to better diagnosis and treatment of both conditions, ultimately improving the overall health and wellbeing of patients.
Objectives
To establish the link between sleep disorders and clinical characteristics in a clinical population being treated for schizophrenia.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study that took place over a period of one month (from 1st to 31nd March 2023) among patients consulting the post-care service of Psychiatry Department D at Razi Hospital, Tunisia. We included patients aged between 18 and 65 years, diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM-5, and stabilized on psychiatric treatment. We used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate sleep quality over a period of one month. The evaluation of the clinical characteristics of schizophrenia was carried out using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
The interview was conducted by a single researcher, and when the questionnaire was distributed to the participants, we explained the framework and the principle of this study as well as the implications of participating in it and explained that the participant could stop participating at any time if he or she wished.
Results
We collected data from 30 male patients with a mean age of 42.5 ± 14.02. The mean overall PSQI score was 9.23 ± 4.58. The subscales evaluating the subjective quality of sleep obtained an average score of 1.42 ± 0.72, sleep latency was 1.61 ± 1.33, sleep duration was 1.01 ± 0.98, habitual sleep efficiency was 0.67 ± 0.75, sleep disturbances were 0.91 ± 0.52, sleep medication use was 1.36 ± 1.68, and daytime dysfunction was 1.12 ± 0.96. The mean scores of PANSS were: positive scale (28.26 ± 5.93), negative scale (18 ± 6.15), and general psychopathology scale (90.03 ± 16.21). We found a statistically significant association between the positive PANSS scale and sleep latency (p=0.002) and sleep medication use (p<10-3).
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of evaluating and addressing sleep disturbances in the overall management of patients with schizophrenia, as they may have an impact on the severity of clinical symptoms.