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Prevalence and economic burden of dementia in the Arab world
- Tarik Qassem, Lynn Itani, Walid Nasr, Dania Al-Ayyat, Syed Fahad Javaid, Hamed Al-Sinawi
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue 4 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 13 July 2023, e126
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Background
The growing prevalence of dementia is a global concern, especially in the Arab world, where updated economic impact data are scarce. Understanding its prevalence and cost is crucial for effective policies and support systems.
AimsTo estimate dementia prevalence and cost in Arab countries for 2021.
MethodUnited Nations population data and dementia prevalence estimates were used to calculate total cases. Direct costs were based on gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (purchasing power parity) and income classification. Indirect caregiver support costs were estimated using average monthly wages and two distinct scenarios.
ResultsThe highest dementia prevalence among those aged more than 60 years was in Lebanon (4.88%), Tunisia (4.43%) and Algeria (4.19%). The total direct cost in the Arab region was $8.18 billion for those over 50 years old. Indirect costs ranged from $2.25 billion (best case) to $5.67 billion (worst case), with a mean value of $3.98 billion. Total dementia care costs (direct and indirect) under the mean scenario for the entire Arab world amounted to $12.17 billion, with costs as a percentage of GDP ranging from 0.05% (Sudan) to 0.44% (Lebanon).
ConclusionsThis study highlights dementia as a growing public health issue in the Arab world, with 1 329 729 individuals affected in 2021 and total costs between $10.43 billion and $13.90 billion. The findings emphasise the urgent need for investment in research and specialised services for older adults, particularly those with dementia.
Serum Prolactin Level Monitoring in Children and Adolescents on Antipsychotic Treatment: Evaluating the Current Practice in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Syed Fahad Javaid, Ayesha Afzal, Zahra Yusuf Ahmed
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, p. S135
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Aims
The use of antipsychotics in children and adolescents requires close supervision in a specialist clinic. The decision to commence antipsychotics should be made jointly with the young person, their parents, carers, and healthcare professionals. It is critical to provide age-appropriate information and discuss the possible benefits and side effects, including raised serum prolactin levels, potentially leading to serious consequences such as reduced bone density and abnormal pubertal development. This audit aimed to appraise the antipsychotic prescribing practice in children and adolescents in psychiatric outpatient clinicians in Al Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates. The authors analysed the compliance against the standards set out in The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Clinical Guidance 155 concerning monitoring prolactin levels in children on antipsychotic medications at baseline, 12 weeks, and every six months thereafter.
MethodsThis Hospital-wide audit involved a retrospective review of case notes. A questionnaire was developed to capture the required information anonymously. The audit sample comprised 135 children under the age of 16 who were on antipsychotics for more than six months and were followed up in the child psychiatry clinic between January 2018 and December 2019. We chose this pre-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) period when services were running as usual. Data collection took place between September and December 2022.
ResultsOut of 135, 28 (21%) patients were males, with 51 (38%) being Emirati citizens. The sample age ranged between 6 and 16 years, with a mean of 13.5 years. Risperidone was the most commonly used antipsychotic. The majority of patients (63%) had a diagnosis of psychosis in the context of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and intellectual disability. None of the patients had a baseline prolactin measurement performed, while only 10 (7%) had prolactin levels checked at 12 weeks. No patient had prolactin levels checked at six-monthly intervals.
ConclusionThis audit has identified a clear need to develop local guidance on monitoring antipsychotic side effects in children and adolescents. We recommend enhanced staff training in monitoring for the relevant side effects and introducing a mechanism to electronically alert the prescribing clinician when the time of monitoring is due. We suggest educating the patients about symptoms of high prolactin levels and re-audit the practice after one year of implementing the above action plan.
No financial sponsorship has been received for this evaluative exercise.
Electroconvulsive Therapy: Evaluating the Current Practice in Al Ain Hospital, the United Arab Emirates
- Syed Fahad Javaid, Aravinthan Subbarayan, Hind Mohd Ahmed, Zahra Yusuf Ahmed, Aysha Darwish Alhassani, Alyazia Abdulla Alkaabi, Omar Bin Abdulaziz
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 9 / Issue S1 / July 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 July 2023, pp. S135-S136
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Aims
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) has been used since the 1930s for the treatment of depressive illness, mania and catatonia. This audit aimed to appraise the ECT pathway followed by the Behavioral Sciences Institute at Al Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates. The authors analysed the pathway's compliance against the standards set out in the local Al Ain Hospital guidelines and The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) standards, with a particular focus on capacity and consent issues.
MethodsThis audit involved a retrospective review of case notes. After obtaining the relevant ethical approval for the audit, we collected the case notes of all patients who received ECT over a period of three years between May 2019 and June 2022. The audit sample comprised 30 patients, both from the inpatient and outpatient services in Al Ain Hospital. A questionnaire was developed to capture the required information anonymously. Data collection took place between September and November 2022.
ResultsOut of the total 30 patients, 21 (70 %) were males. The average age of the sample was 31 years, with a range of 19-71 years. Twelve patients (40%) were Emirati citizens, with Ethiopian nationals (17%) being the second largest ethnic group. A significant majority (90%) of the patients who received ECT were under the inpatient psychiatric services at Al Ain Hospital. The sample studied received, on average, eight sessions of ECT. Major depressive disorder (43% of the sample) was the most common diagnosis, followed by severe mania at 37% and Catatonia at 17%.
Of 30 patients, 16 (53%) had no documentation of their mental capacity to accept ECT on the consent papers. Out of 8 patients deemed lacking capacity, only 4 had proper documentation of the reasons for lacking capacity. Reviewing the consent papers demonstrated that 20 patients (67%) had no documentation of discussing the risk and benefits of the procedure.
ConclusionThis audit has identified areas for improvement in the implementation of Al Ain Hospital's current ECT pathway. The authors have suggested enhanced staff training on consent issues involving ECT, emphasizing better documentation of the decision-making process. Considering the possible medicolegal consequences, a particular area for documenting discussions of the risk and benefits of the procedure should be included in the ECT consent form. We aim to re-audit the practice after one year of implementing the above action plan.
No financial sponsorship has been received for this evaluative exercise.
Exploring Reasons for Choosing Psychiatry Among Psychiatrists in the United Arab Emirates
- Syed Fahad Javaid, Leena Amiri, Fadwa Al Mugaddam, Hind Mohd Ahmed, Amani Alkharoossi
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- Journal:
- BJPsych Open / Volume 8 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 June 2022, pp. S25-S26
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Aims
The global burden of mental disorders continues to grow with significant health, social and economic consequences. Unfortunately, the gap between the need for mental health care and its provision remains wide all over the world. The recruitment and retention of psychiatrists is a long-standing concern in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with social stigma playing a potential role. This study aimed to investigate the factors that affect the choice of psychiatry as an area of practice by psychiatrists in the UAE. A secondary aim was to assess differences in the factors which affected career decisions among those participants with different backgrounds to establish any cultural and generational differences in choosing psychiatry as a career.
MethodsWe conducted correlational research using an anonymised 30-item online questionnaire. We recruited qualified psychiatrists currently working in the UAE. The structured questionnaire assessed the participants’ sociodemographic factors and reasons for choosing psychiatry. Ethical approval was received from the Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (SS-REC) at United Arab Emirates University. Statistical analysis, including Pearson correlations and chi-square tests, was performed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 26.
ResultsOut of 70 participants approached, 54 completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 77%. 69% of the participants were female, with a mean age of 38 years. 46% were UAE citizens. We found that the doctors trained in the UAE were statistically more likely to face opposition to specialising in psychiatry (p-value <0.001). Participants with a family member or friend as a psychiatrist were more likely to choose psychiatry as a first choice (p-value 0.01). Psychiatrists below the age of 35 were more statistically likely to face opposition to their decision to specialise in psychiatry (p-value 0.006). Psychiatrists who regretted their decision to specialise in psychiatry were statistically more likely to feel this way in their first year of residency (p-value <0.001). This study had its limitations, including the generalisability of findings and the sociodemographic factors of participants. The self-reported methodology could have subjected findings to bias, including social desirability bias.
ConclusionMultiple sociodemographic factors influence the decision to specialise in psychiatry in the UAE. These findings would be helpful to identify hurdles faced by the young UAE clinicians in choosing psychiatry, partly explaining the dearth of UAE-trained psychiatrists in the country. Further research is required to study these reasons in detail, helping to improve the recruitment and retention of UAE psychiatrists in the future.