COVID-19 and Male Sexual Functioning: A report of 3 Recovered Cases and Literature Review

COVID-19 is a new global pandemic. It can affect multiple body systems and functions. However, the relationship between COVID-19 and male sexual activity did not yet get much consideration. Herein, we report the impact of COVID-19 on sexual function in 3 men who recovered from the disease. Compared with their condition before catching the infection, the men showed, in different degrees, a decline in all aspects of sexual function as assessed by the international index of erectile function. They started to develop premature ejaculation or exacerbate an already existing condition according to the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool scoring. Beck’s depression inventory revealed deterioration of the men’s moods up to severe depression. The sex-related hormones (testosterone-total and free, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and estradiol) of these men were within normal levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report documenting deleterious changes in mood and several aspects of sexual functioning in males after recovery from the COVID-19 using validated measurement tools. Follow-up and psychological support of the recovered men may help mend their moods and consequently upgrade their sexual functioning.

Mental health law in Saudi Arabia

During the past 30 years the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed an extensive hospital-based mental health system culminating in the passing of a mental health law in 2014. This legislation embodies many of the international standards promoted by the World Health Organization. However, the mechanisms for protecting the human rights of psychiatric patients are neither sufficiently independent nor adequately robust.

Psychosocial correlates of using faith healing services in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

In this study, we compared the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the characteristics of those who either use or do not use faith healers (FHs) services. We also assessed the independent factors of study subjects associated with using FHs.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study compared those who use FHs (n = 383) with a control group of those who do not use them (i.e., shopping mall visitors, n = 424) using a survey of sociodemographic characteristics and a validated Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 6.0).

RESULTS

Participants who ranked higher among FH users included males, people who were either married, divorced, or widowed, those with less education, and those with lower income. They were more likely to report past medical and psychiatric history. Those with diagnosable psychiatric disorders were more likely to visit FHs, especially if the diagnosis was of psychotic and bipolar disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was higher among FH users, and depressive and anxiety disorders were the most prevalent.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that having past psychiatric history and a current psychiatric disorder are risk factors for using FHs. Also, a high percentage of FH users had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder. Further research should assess how to facilitate their access to the mental health system.

Experiences of obesity among Saudi Arabian women contemplating bariatric surgery: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study explored experiences of obesity, its perceived causes and motives for surgery, as described by seven Saudi women contemplating bariatric surgery. The women experienced cultural restrictions on their physical and social activities. Obesity embodied these restrictions, attracting stigma and moral failure. Traditional clothing, foods, hospitality norms and limited outdoor female activities were regarded as barriers to weight loss. Bariatric surgery was chosen to protect health and to access normative female roles. Some were encouraged by relatives who had undergone surgery. Opting for surgery reflected both participants’ sense of powerlessness to self-manage weight and the social acceptability, within their family context, of this biomedical approach.

Interventions for treating depression in Muslim Patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Religious belief is an important determinant of mental health, depression is the mental illness responsible for the largest disease burden globally, and Islam is the fastest growing world religion. Here we systematically review the literature on the engagement of Muslim patients in the treatment of depression.

METHOD

A search of electronic databases, including non-traditional sources, was conducted and content experts were contacted in order to identify qualitative studies, quantitative studies and opinion pieces. A standardised data extraction pro forma and thematic analysis were applied to included studies.

RESULTS

25 studies met the inclusion criteria. Muslims hold many beliefs about depression relevant to its treatment. Advice about how to identify and respond to such beliefs was contradictory and rarely based upon research evidence. The literature is generally of poor quality and rarely distinguishes between religion and culture.

LIMITATIONS

Many studies do not distinguish between beliefs and values that are religious and those that are cultural. The majority of papers identified are English language, suggesting that literature from predominantly Muslim countries is underrepresented, despite our strategy of searching for literature from all relevant countries.

CONCLUSION

Much of the evidence identified by this review is methodologically weak or includes assertions made without qualification. This evidence provides important perspectives, but should be interpreted with caution. High-quality research is needed to improve our understanding of the treatment of depression in Muslim clients, to determine how existing therapies can be modified to meet the needs of Muslim clients, and to evaluate the effectiveness of such modified therapies.

Psychosocial predictors of smoking among secondary school students in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of the current smoking status among secondary school students in Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. A total of 1,652 secondary school adolescents were selected by multistage proportionate sampling method. Data collection was carried out through self-administered anonymous questionnaire including: Arabic version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, modified Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence and Patient Health Questionnaire to asses for anxiety and depressive disorders. This study revealed that the prevalence of current smokers was 21.7. Seventy-one percent of current cigarette smokers were minimally nicotine dependent. Major depressive and anxiety disorders were significantly higher among current smokers. Hierarchical regression analysis shows that, male, older age, smoking of close relatives and friends, anxiety disorders and socializing motives were statistically significant determinants of current smoking status among the included adolescents. Family members should be made aware of the detrimental influence their smoking behavior has on their youth. Counseling and preventive psychiatric services should be an integral part of the clinical facilities caring for secondary school students.

Migrants’ Mental Health Perceptions and Barriers to Receiving Mental Health Services

This article addresses the various perceptions people from other cultures have regarding mental health and mental illness and the unique coping mechanisms they use based on their cultural beliefs and values. The various barriers to receiving mental health services and the reasons for such barriers are also discussed. In addition, the article stresses the importance of using and implementing culturally appropriate and sensitive assessments and therapeutic interventions.

Roles and functions of community mental health nurses caring for people with schizophrenia in Taiwan

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to understand the nursing roles and functions of public health nurses and home health nurses in Taiwan and the factors that affect nursing roles and functions of nurses that provide community mental health home visiting services.

BACKGROUND

Although community nurses provide more psychiatric home visiting services than other psychiatric professionals, little research on their roles and functions has been conducted.

DESIGN

Nursing roles and functions were developed through use of grounded theory method of Strauss and Corbin.

METHODS

Data were collected using semi-structured face-to-face in-depth interviews and unstructured non-participant observations. The constant comparative analysis continued during the open, axial and selective coding process until data saturation occurred. Participants were selected using theoretical sampling. Final sample size in this study comprised a total of 29 community nurses (18 public health nurses and 11 home health nurses) who provided community mental health home visiting. Public health nurses conducted a total of 16 (eight carers and eight clients) services and home health nurses conducted 16 (eight carers and eight clients) services.

RESULTS

Fourteen nursing roles were identified. These roles included assessor, supporter, educator, consultant, counselor, negotiator, harmoniser, collaborator, advocate, placement coordinator, resource provider, care provider, case manager and case finder. Moreover, several factors that affect nursing roles and functions in the community mental health home visiting service in Taiwan were also identified.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to identify the role of public health and home health nurses caring for people with schizophrenia in the community in Taiwan.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The recommendations based on the findings of this research can be used as a guide to improve the delivery of psychiatric home visiting services to community-dwelling clients with schizophrenia and their carers.

Mental health service utilization among the Arabs in Israel

National hospitalization records (1995, 1986, N = 15,698) reveal that Arab women utilize psychiatric services less than Arab men. The exact reverse occurs among Jewish patients. Moreover, Arab patients significantly underutilize mental health services, compared to Jewish patients. Possible reasons for these utilization patterns include: Arab health care utilization patterns in general; the availability of mental health services in Arab communities; the influence of the "cultural" over the "professional" in Arab mental health utilization; the lack of Arab mental health practitioners; Arab attitudes towards mental health; and gendered role constructions within Arab society. Findings emphasize the need for a policy of developing infrastructure and trained personnel that can provide services adapted to the special cultural characteristics of the Arab population.

Ethnic and gender differences in mental health utilization: the case of Muslim Jordanian and Moroccan Jewish Israeli out-patient psychiatric patients

A sample of 148 (87 Jordanian [61 male, 26 female] and 61 Israeli [26 male, 35 female]) was selected from a psychiatric clinic in Ashdod Israel and Zarka Jordan, using convenience sampling methodology over a 12 month period in late 1997 and early 1998. A revised Hopkins Symptom Checklist: A Self-Report Symptom Inventory (HSCL) was translated into Arabic and Hebrew and distributed to subjects; additional questions explored demographic characteristics, forms of received treatment, patient perceptions of treatment efficacy, patient use of traditional healers, and patient explanation of etiology. Data revealed that there were differences in dimensions between the 2 groups based on nationality and gender. More Jordanians than Israelis expected medications as the main treatment, and unlike Israelis, no Jordanian patients received individual psychotherapy. Israelis expected medications, advice, directions, and instructions from psychiatrists. Both ethnic groups consulted a wide array of traditional healers, although precise types of healers varied according to gender and ethnicity. Israeli subjects gave more diverse explanations of mental health etiologies: physical, family, divorce, economic, unemployment; whereas Jordanians tended to emphasize divine and spiritual sources. Implications for psychiatric practice are discussed.

Explanations of mental health symptoms by the Bedouin-Arabs of the Negev

Sixty Bedouin-Arab patients (36 females, 24 males) referred to the psychiatric clinic of the Soroka Medical Centre in the Negev, Israel were interviewed before they met with the psychiatrists and again two weeks later. An open-ended questionnaire was administered during three month period, to examine the patients' explanations of their mental health symptoms. Findings revealed that all patients, male and female alike, perceived and explained their symptoms as being caused by supernatural powers. There were gender differences, however, regarding the perceived nature of, and behaviour of, these supernatural powers. Males explained their symptoms as caused by God's will, whether directly through Him, or indirectly through evil-spirits. In both instances, human behaviour was not a primary concern. In contrast, 97% of the female patients explained their symptoms as a result of sorcery, a phenomenon which integrates human behaviour with supernatural powers. Cultural and language differences between the patients and psychiatrists were also found to cause miscommunications and inappropriate treatment, with the result that 50% of the sample terminated psychiatric treatment after two sessions.

The healing significance of the Negev's Bedouin Dervish

Among the Bedouins of the Negev desert, Israel, there are Dervish healers specializing in what are now called psychiatric disorders. Five Dervish (three male, two female) were interviewed and observed with reference to concepts of etiology, symptom classification, diagnosis, stages of treatment, and aftercare. The conclusion examines reasons why Bedouins might want to seek treatment from a Dervish, rather than a modern health care practitioner.

Validity of the Arabic version of the eating disorders inventory (EDI)

BACKGROUND

We aimed to validate the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) in Arabic.

METHODS

Subjects were chosen randomly from female school students. Only healthy Saudi students were included. They were asked to fill the EDI and undergo a semi-structured interview by a psychiatrist who was unaware of the EDI scores. Of 146 students approached 12 did not meet our criteria and were excluded; 16 other students were excluded for incomplete responses.

RESULTS

The difference between the two diagnostic methods in the proportion of caseness was statistically significantly (P < 0.0001). The scores on Perfectionism, Maturity Fears and Interoceptive Awareness were significantly higher in the Saudi students compared with Canadians (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The EDI-DT subscale has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85%. Despite its low positive predictive value of 5%, it may be useful for screening large non-clinical groups for eating disorders.

Compliance in Saudi epileptic patients: Determinants of compliance in Saudi epileptic patients

A one year prospective study was conducted (July 1990 to June 1991) on 104 Saudi epileptic patients (aged 15 to 45 years) to assess the degree of anti-epileptic drug (AED) compliance and factors that influence their compliance. One-third of the patients (30.8%) were non-compliant (NC), A logistic regression equation compared the data indicated. A low level of education and adverse effect of the disease on patients were the most important significant factors for poor compliance. Age, sex, marital status, family history, duration and type of seizure were not found to have a significant role in the patients' compliance to AED.