1
|
Tobaiqy M, Al-Asmari AI. Substance misuse disorder in Saudi Arabia: A comprehensive examination of current demographic patterns, trends, and intervention requirements. Saudi Pharm J 2024; 32:102163. [PMID: 39262681 PMCID: PMC11387691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction This review examines substance misuse disorder (SMD) in Saudi Arabia, drawing insights from 43 prior studies. It explores the prevalence and patterns of SMD across diverse demographics. Methodology Our analysis integrated data from various studies involving adolescents, university students, psychiatric patients, and the general population as well as postmortem cases. It identifies key risk factors and challenges in managing SMD, underscoring the importance of comprehensive data collection for evidence-based policymaking. Results SMD in Saudi Arabia were categorized into two groups: common traditionally abused drugs (such as Captagon, khat, heroin, ethanol, and cannabis) and substances that have emerged in recent years (e.g., methamphetamine "Shabu", pregabalin, and benzodiazepines). Trends in SMD include early substance initiation and increased amphetamine and polysubstance use. Conclusion and recommendations Drug-related challenges persist in Saudi Arabia; however, because of limited data from recent epidemiological studies on drug disorders, the full extent is unknown. Saudi Arabia is unique because it as an Islamic country with strict regulations against drug trafficking and a religious prohibition on drugs and alcohol, which contributes to distinct trends in substance misuse disorder (SMD). Although some aspects mirror global patterns, others exhibit regional characteristics specific to the country. Despite data variability, actionable recommendations have emerged for SMD prevention and treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a high number of reports was evident; however, SMD publications often reiterate old findings and overlook emerging psychoactive substances (EPS), such as 'Shabu", pregabalin, and benzodiazepines. Further studies are needed, including educational initiatives, national surveys, stricter drug regulations, and an early warning system for traditional SMD and EPS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Tobaiqy
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed I Al-Asmari
- Special Toxicological Analysis Section, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, King Faisal Special Hospital and Research Center, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rostam-Abadi Y, Gholami J, Shadloo B, Mohammad Aghaei A, Mardaneh Jobehdar M, Ardeshir M, Sangchooli A, Amin-Esmaeili M, Taj M, Saeed K, Rahimi-Movaghar A. Alcohol use, alcohol use disorder and heavy episodic drinking in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review. Addiction 2024; 119:984-997. [PMID: 38356084 DOI: 10.1111/add.16444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AMS Despite the evident public health impact, the extent and patterns of alcohol use in the Eastern Mediterranean countries remain understudied. The latest estimation for the last 12-month use of alcohol in the region was 2.9% in 2016 by the World Health Organization. We reviewed the main indicators for alcohol consumption in the region since 2010. METHODS We systematically searched on-line databases until September 2023, together with other global and regional sources for studies on the adult general population (aged ≥ 15 years) and young general populations (aged < 18 years) and studies on the treatment-seeking individuals with substance use in Eastern Mediterranean countries. Studies were included from 22 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. RESULTS A total of 148 were included (n = 95 on the prevalence of alcohol use, n = 46 on the prevalence of alcohol use disorder, regular use and heavy episodic drinking, n = 35 on alcohol use pattern among people who use substances and one report on alcohol per capita consumption, n = 29 had data for more than one category). The pooled prevalence of the last 12-month alcohol use in the adult general population was 9.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.4-13.7] among males, 2.8% (95% CI = 1.3-5.5\) among females and 6.2% (95% CI = 3.9-9.6) in both sexes in the region, with notable subregional variations. Data on the prevalence of alcohol use disorder and heavy drinking were limited to several countries, with heterogeneous indicators. The pooled estimate of alcohol as the primary substance of use among treatment-seeking people who used substances was 16.9% (95% CI = 8.8-26.9). CONCLUSIONS More than 30 million adults in the Eastern Mediterranean region used alcohol in the last 12 months, with a prevalence of 6.2%. This is far fewer than the global estimate of 43% of the population aged 15 years and above, but is approximately two times more than the previous estimate (2.9%), reported by the World Health Organization in 2016, which might show an increasing trend.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasna Rostam-Abadi
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jaleh Gholami
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrang Shadloo
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ardavan Mohammad Aghaei
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maral Mardaneh Jobehdar
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Ardeshir
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arshiya Sangchooli
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mahshid Taj
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Khalid Saeed
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Unit, Department of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS) WHO Collaborating Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Al-Saif LA, Aljawhri SA, Eissa OG, Mahmoud RH, Said ES. Effect of Amphetamine Dependence on Redox State via Alteration of Urinary Levels of Major and Trace Elements: A Case-Control Study in the Saudi Population. Cureus 2024; 16:e59819. [PMID: 38846242 PMCID: PMC11156246 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Drug and substance abuse remains a major medical problem worldwide. Amphetamines are potent stimulants of the central nervous system. Amphetamine abuse is highly prevalent among drug-dependents. This study was conducted in Qassim, Saudi Arabia, to evaluate amphetamine's toxic effects on major and trace elements and their correlation with redox status. Methods The study involved amphetamine-only patients admitted to the Erada Rehabilitation Centre from March to October 2023. Urine samples were analysed from both normal subjects and amphetamine-dependent groups. Results Urinary sodium and chloride levels were significantly higher in the amphetamine-dependent group than in the control group, while their calcium levels decreased. Lipid peroxidase levels significantly increased in people with a substance use disorder (SUD), indicating oxidative stress. Together, their total antioxidant capacity decreased. Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), sodium (Na), and total antioxidant capacity levels were positively correlated with lipid peroxidase. Conclusions Amphetamine-dependent people are more likely to experience a variety of health problems. This study found a direct correlation between an imbalance in major and trace elements and the redox status.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lira A Al-Saif
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, SAU
| | - Said A Aljawhri
- Department of Laboratory, Erada Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Qassim, Ministry of Health, Buraydah, SAU
| | - Osama G Eissa
- Department of Psychiatry, Erada Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Qassim, Ministry of Health, Buraydah, SAU
| | - Rania H Mahmoud
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, EGY
| | - Eman S Said
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah, SAU
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, EGY
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mano-Sousa BJ, Ribeiro LAL, Alves BC, Gonçalves ACA, Silva LM, Duarte-Almeida JM. Bibliometric Analysis of Cannabis sativa Research: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:21-34. [PMID: 38252501 DOI: 10.1089/can.2023.0200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The use of medical Cannabis remains unregulated in several countries due to the scarcity of clinical studies with high scientific evidence that establish safety and efficacy of Cannabis products. This study aimed to comprehensively analyze how knowledge has been created in this field, as well as perform a bibliographic mapping to identify knowledge gaps, and investigate key authors and journals that have significantly contributed to advancing our understanding of Cannabis. Method: The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (CRD42020223084). A systematic search was conducted in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Lilacs, Google Scholar, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The bibliographic analysis and mapping were registered using the VOSviewer, Sci2tool, CiteSpace, and PoP software. Results: The systematic search identified 27,597 records, with 17,020 duplicates, resulting in a total of 10,577 articles included. The authors who published the most were Marilyn Ann Huestis (n=108) and Sagnik Bhattacharyya (n=71), while Elisaldo A. Carlini and Raphael Mechoulam published 8 and 22 articles, respectively. The journals Drug and Alcohol Dependence (n=297), Psychopharmacology (n=159) and Addictive Behaviors (n=150) were the ones that published the most on Cannabis. The journals suggest that the articles are correlated with the adverse and toxicological effects of recreational Cannabis use; however, most articles focus on medical Cannabis. The peak of publications was in 2021 (n=1,481). The countries that published the most were the United States (n=9,735), while Brazil occupied the 11th position (n=422). Most publications were carried out in "Pharmacology and Pharmacy" (11.31%), followed by "Psychiatry" (7.66%) and "Medicine" (5.80%). The areas of "Neurosciences" (1.59%), "Biochemistry," "Genetics," and "Molecular Biology" (0.79%) were little explored. Conclusion: This study captured the characteristics of publications about Cannabis and clinical studies in the scientific literature, yielding >10,000 articles, representing a large literature review, to date. Therefore, the most productive countries included the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, while the most productive authors were Marilyn Ann Huestis and Sagnik Bhattacharyya, with a peak of publications in 2021. Finally, the most chosen journals were Drug and Alcohol Dependence and Psychopharmacology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brayan Jonas Mano-Sousa
- Campus Centro-Oeste, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Bruna Cristina Alves
- Campus Centro-Oeste, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Luiza Martins Silva
- Campus Centro-Oeste, Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Massad S, Dalloul H, Adwan L, Saman KA, Kafri R, Alia WA, Tucktuck M, Johnston LG. Alarmingly high prevalence of high-risk drug use among palestinian males: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:700. [PMID: 37752457 PMCID: PMC10521504 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05190-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unique socioeconomic context in Palestine, characterized by political and economic tensions, creates conditions that facilitate the spread of illicit drug use among Palestinians. This paper presents findings from a 2017 survey of high-risk drug use (HRDU) among males in four regions in Palestine: the West Bank (north, middle, and south) and the Gaza Strip. These findings are essential for developing effective policies to respond to the increasing use of drugs among Palestinians. METHODS Eligible participants were males aged 15 years and above who used at least one drug other than non-synthetic hashish or marijuana during the previous week. Participants underwent a face-to-face interview and had their drug use verified by urinalysis. Data were collected using respondent-driven sampling and data were analyzed using the successive sampling estimator. Multivariate regression analysis was conducted to examine factors associated with ever seeking rehabilitation services for illicit drug use in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. RESULTS A total of 400 males who use drugs were sampled in Gaza, plus 299 in the south, 300 in the north, and 299 in the middle region of the West Bank. It is estimated that there are 26,500 male HRDUs in Palestine comprising 1.8% of the male population aged 15 and above. Findings indicate that polydrug use is a serious issue in Palestine, especially in the West Bank, and that synthetic marijuana is prevalent among teenagers and young adults. CONCLUSIONS Palestine must strengthen its national efforts to scale up harm reduction and treatment and care options for people suffering from drug use disorders, especially those involved in polydrug use. Additional measures are needed to prevent substance use among children and youth, support the families of people who use drugs, and ensure the continuity of HRDU services during emergencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salwa Massad
- Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine.
| | - Hadil Dalloul
- Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine
| | | | - Khalid Abu Saman
- Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine
| | - Rawan Kafri
- Palestinian National Institute of Public Health, Ramallah, Palestine
| | - Walaa Abu Alia
- Primary Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ramallah, Palestine
| | - Marina Tucktuck
- School of Medicine, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada
| | - Lisa G Johnston
- School of International Health and Tropical Medicine, LGJ Consultants, Tulane University, Louisiana, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Elgamri A, Mohammed Z, El-Rhazi K, Shahrouri M, Ahram M, Al-Abbas AM, Silverman H. Challenges Facing Arab Researchers in Publishing Scientific Research: A Qualitative Interview Study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3129329. [PMID: 37503191 PMCID: PMC10371160 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3129329/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Studies have shown an underrepresentation of researchers from lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the research literature compared with their counterparts in high-income countries. We aimed to explore Arab researchers' challenges regarding conducting and publishing research in peer-reviewed journals. Methods We used a descriptive qualitative study design of semi-structured in-depth interviews. Using purposive sampling, we recruited participants from four Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and translated to English if the original language was Arabic or French. We analyzed the transcripts using reflexive thematic analysis. Several authors independently coded the transcripts and agreed on the identified codes, themes, and subthemes. Results We performed 17 interviews: three from Egypt, six from Jordan, four from Morocco, and four from Sudan. Our participants' comments were divided into three broad categories with associated themes and subthemes. The first regards the conduct of research (themes of inadequate quality of research, insufficient research resources, and nonsuppurative research environment). The second category involves the publishing process (themes of poor scientific writing skills and difficulties navigating the publishing and peer-reviewed system). The third regards international collaborations and the final category recommends methods to address the challenges. Our recommendations include: enhancing the institutional research culture, increasing funding mechanisms, establishing mentoring programs and workshops on research methodology and scientific writing, and increasing the representation of LMICs on the editorial staff. Conclusions Identifying the challenges of Arab researchers in publishing original and quality research would guide programs tailored and targeted toward Arab scholars' needs.
Collapse
|
7
|
Alodhayani AA, Almutairi KM, Vinluan JM, Alonazi WB, Alzahrani HG, Batais MA, Kaki FM, Almigbal TH, Alsaad S. A retrospective analysis of substance use among female psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia. Front Psychol 2022; 13:843785. [PMID: 36072054 PMCID: PMC9443957 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.843785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study investigated the prevalence of substance use (SU), and its risk factors, among women attending psychiatric outpatients center in Saudi Arabia. Design A retrospective cross-sectional design. Materials and methods We reviewed outpatients' records of 200 female patients with a history of SU from a psychiatric unit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from December 2018 to February 2019. The researchers developed the pro forma, and 2 psychiatrists and a family medicine physician validated the form. Results The most common and widely used were psychoactive substances (58%), followed by central nervous system (CNS) depressants (22%), and finally cannabinols (9.5%). Overall, the highest substance use was the amphetamine-cannabis-nicotine (ACN) representing nearly half of the illicit items (46.6%), followed by heroine-alcohol-benzodiazepine (16.4%), and with the lowest being benzodiazepine-nicotine (1.7%). There was a significant difference between the single substance and multiple substance use in terms of age (p = 0.001), smoking behavior (p = 0.001), patients past history (p = 0.005), and age of the patient at the start of drug use (p = 0.005). Conclusion Although the prevalence of substance use among women is low in Saudi Arabia, screening of substance use disorders risks and building a rehabilitation program to control drug dependence are needed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz A. Alodhayani
- Department of Family Medicine and Community, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid M. Almutairi
- Department of Family Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jason M. Vinluan
- Department of Family Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wadi B. Alonazi
- College of Business Administration, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohammed Ali Batais
- Department of Family Medicine and Community, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Turky H. Almigbal
- Department of Family Medicine and Community, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad Alsaad
- Department of Family Medicine and Community, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ng JY, Chang N. A bibliometric analysis of the cannabis and cannabinoid research literature. J Cannabis Res 2022; 4:25. [PMID: 35610633 PMCID: PMC9131698 DOI: 10.1186/s42238-022-00133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cannabis refers to a plant in the family Cannabaceae, which has been used medically, recreationally, and industrially. The last two decades, in particular, have seen a large increase in the volume of literature on this topic. The present bibliometric analysis aims to capture the characteristics of scholarly journal publications on the topic of cannabis and cannabinoid research. Methods Searches were run on the Scopus database on April 02, 2021, as follows “(TITLE (cannabi* OR hashish OR marijuana OR marihuana)) AND ( LIMIT-TO ( DOCTYPE,"ar" ) OR LIMIT-TO ( DOCTYPE,"re" ) )”. Results were exported on the same day to prevent discrepancies between daily database updates. Only “article” and “review” publication types were included; no further search limits were applied. The “article” publication type includes publications featuring original research, whereas “review” includes reviews and conference papers. The following data were collected: number of publications (in total and per year), authors, and journals; open access status; publications per journal; journals publishing the highest volume of literature and their impact factors, language of publication; document type; publication country; author affiliations; funding sponsors; most highly cited publications; and most highly published authors. Trends in this subset of publications were identified and presented. Bibliometric networks were constructed using the software tool VOSviewer. Results A total of 29 802 publications (10 214 open access), published by 65 109 authors, were published in 5474 journals from 1829 to 2021. The greatest number of publications was published over the last 20 years. The journal that published the largest number of publications was Drug and Alcohol Dependence (n = 705). The most productive countries included the USA (n = 12 420), the UK (n = 2236), and Canada (n = 2062); many of the most common institutional affiliations and funding sponsors originated from these countries. Conclusions The number of publications published on the topic of cannabis follows an upward trend. Over the past 20 years, the volume of cannabis research has grown steeply, which can be attributed to a large amount of funding dedicated to researching this topic. Future research should continue to investigate changes in the publication characteristics of emerging research, as the volume of publications on this topic is expected to rapidly grow. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42238-022-00133-0.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Y Ng
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Room 2112, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada.
| | - Nathan Chang
- Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery, Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Room 2112, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Alharbi RS, Alhowail AH, Alharbi AG, Emara AM. Evaluation of the health status outcome among inpatients treated for Amphetamine Addiction. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:1465-1476. [PMID: 35280559 PMCID: PMC8913373 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphetamine is one of the most abuser drugs in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate health status outcome at baseline and after detoxification in amphetamine users through the evaluation of the body mass index, renal function tests, cardiac biomarkers, gonadal hormonal levels, and oxidative stress markers. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 participants. Sixty participants were hospitalized patients for treatment of addiction and 30 participants were healthy volunteers. This study was performed at a psychiatric and rehabilitation center, in Qassim region, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants were divided into: group I = control; group II = amphetamine users and group III = amphetamine plus cannabis users. Socio-demographic data was collected. The urinary amphetamine level, Severity Dependence Scale (SDS), body mass index (BMI), vital signs; serum levels of troponin T (TnT), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin G (IgG), luteinizing Hormone (LH), testosterone Hormone (TSTS), urea, creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were measured on admission and after detoxification. The results showed that the BMI was significantly decreased while, vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory rate were significantly increased in all abusers and returned to normal values after the detoxification period. The cardiac biomarker troponin T was significantly increased and reversed after detoxification. The immune system was evaluated through assessing serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG. The immune system remained immunocompromised in drug users, and IgM and IgG levels did not reach the level of control group after treatment. Luteinizing and testosterone hormones were evaluated. Both hormones were increased on admission and improved after the detoxification period. Renal function showed no significant differences between drug users and the control group. In the evaluation of the antioxidant system, there was a significant increase in serum MDA, SOD, GPx, and CAT levels compared to healthy controls. After the detoxification phase, these oxidative stress biomarkers still remained elevated. The current results have shown the addiction of amphetamine and cannabis exert detrimental effects on different body organs and the exert major consequences on the health status of drug users. The present study showed that, there was no improvement in the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, although an improvement was observed in the other parameters after the detoxification phase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raed Saud Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Hamad Alhowail
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Ghareeb Alharbi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Mahmoud Emara
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Qassim, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
- Corresponding author at: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraidah, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Al-Maqbali JS, Al-Maqrashi N, Al-Huraizi A, Al-Mamari QS, Al Alawa K, Al Alawi AM. Clinical characteristics and health outcomes in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome: an observational study from Oman. Ann Saudi Med 2022; 42:52-57. [PMID: 35112593 PMCID: PMC8812160 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2022.52] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is considered a serious medical diagnosis associated with increasing morbidity and mortality. Little information has been reported on the scope of the problem in Oman. OBJECTIVE Study clinical characteristics, management, quality of care, and health outcomes of patients managed for AWS. DESIGN Retrospective medical record review. SETTINGS University hospital. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included all patients with AWS admitted from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. We collected demographic and clinical characteristics and did a univariate analysis of factors related to 90-day readmission. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Length of hospital stay, 90-day read-mission, referral rate to alcohol rehabilitation center. SAMPLE SIZE AND CHARACTERISTICS 150 male patients with median (IQR) age of 39.5 (32-48) years. RESULTS Most patients (70.7%, n=106) were smokers and 44 (29.3%) had a history of drug abuse. The average length of hospital stay was 2.3 (0.9-4.6) days. Approximately 9% of total hospital bed days were used to care for patients with AWS. Chronic liver disease (35.3%), diabetes mellitus (24.7%), and hypertension (24.0%) were common among AWS patients. The 90-day readmission rate (32.7%) was high, and there was low referral to alcohol rehabilitation (16.7%). Diabetes and epilepsy were associated with 90-day readmission. CONCLUSION AWS is an important diagnosis that represents an important burden on acute medical services. Establishing a drug and alcohol service in our institution is an essential step to optimise care for patients with alcohol-related disorders. LIMITATIONS Retrospective, so unable to collect data on manifestations of AWS such as delirium tremens, which is the most severe form of AWS. Also, the reason for the lack of referral to an outpatient alcohol rehabilitation program was not apparent. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nasiba Al-Maqrashi
- From the Internal Medicine Training Program, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman
| | - Aisha Al-Huraizi
- From the Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | | | - Khalifa Al Alawa
- From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Khoula Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| | - Abdullah M Al Alawi
- From the Internal Medicine Training Program, Oman Medical Specialty Board, Muscat, Oman.,From the Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sociodemographic Correlates of Substance Use in a Sample of Egyptian Female University Students. ADDICTIVE DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
12
|
El Masri J, Dankar R, El Masri D, Chanbour H, El Hage S, Salameh P. The Arab Countries' Contribution to the Research of Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cureus 2021; 13:e17589. [PMID: 34646642 PMCID: PMC8483433 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are disorders in which nerve cells start to lose function due to different causes. Like many other illnesses, they are considered to be highly prevalent in the 22 Arabic-speaking countries known to constitute the Arab world. The two most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders are Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Aim: The aim of this paper is to assess the amount of research dedicated to neurodegenerative diseases by the Arab countries during a 15-year period, between 2005 and 2019. Methods: The number of publications by each Arab country as well as some non-Arab speaking countries was retrieved from PubMed. Publications in top 10 neuroscience journals were also tracked using the same method with each journal’s name included. The numbers were then normalized with respect to the average population and average gross domestic product (GDP) in each country to eliminate bias. Results: Arab countries were shown to contribute only 1,311 (0.774%) of the 169,330 articles published worldwide on neurodegenerative disorders. These 1,311 also constitute only 0.660% of the 198,869 Arab publications during the indicated period. Saudi Arabia had the highest contribution to these numbers with more than one-quarter the number of publications on neurodegenerative disorders. Approximately one-third of all neurodegenerative disease-related articles were associated with Alzheimer's disease, whereas one-fifth were related to Parkinson's disease. For the top 10 neuroscience journals, only a minimal contribution by Arab countries was noted. Conclusion: Although an increase in the number of articles by the Arab world was noted from 2013 onward, the contribution of the Arab countries on the subject to the number of publications still seems to be insufficient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jad El Masri
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Razan Dankar
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Diala El Masri
- Medicine, University of Balamand Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Hani Chanbour
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Said El Hage
- Medicine, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN
| | - Pascale Salameh
- Epidemiology, Lebanese University Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, LBN.,Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University of Nicosia Medical School, Nicosia, CYP.,Toxicologie Clinique et Toxicologie (INSPECT-LB) - Liban, Institut National de Santé Publique, Beirut, LBN
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Alabdulla M, Reagu S, Elhassan NM, Shinith D, Shiekh ST, Abbas MO, Chandrappa NSK. Emergency department presentations of alcohol and other substance misuse: first cross-sectional national study in Qatar. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e055181. [PMID: 34625419 PMCID: PMC8504350 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study attempts the first in a series of investigations into the misuse of alcohol and substances in Qatar. This study explores the emergency presentations of alcohol and substance abuse to all the state funded emergency departments (EDs) in the country which serve around 90% of the population over a 22-month period. Due to legal penalties for alcohol and substance use, and lack of subsidised community-based facilities, ED presentations are a good starting point to explore this burden. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS A retrospective population-based, cross-sectional study, analysing electronic patient records of all state funded EDs spanning a period of 22 months, from 1 January 2019 to 31 October 2020 was carried out. The study included all eligible individuals aged 18 or over. Primary reason/diagnosis for presentation containing any of the alcohol or substance use key words were included in the study using composite data capture forms by trained clinicians. RESULTS An overwhelming majority (95.5%) of the total 1495 cases presenting to the EDs with substance abuse were using alcohol. Only 2.1% of the cases were females. Those of Asian (non-Arab) constituted 70% of this group. Qatari citizens presented with highest proportion of substance abuse other than alcohol (23%). Overall, 2.26% of all presentations to the EDs were related to alcohol and substance abuse and this amounted to 3 ED visits per 10 000 of population per year. 56.6% of the cases presented over the weekend. Less than 1% were referred to psychiatry and no other meaningful rehabilitative interventions were offered to others. CONCLUSION As Qatar moves towards establishing community-based rehabilitative resources for alcohol and substances abuse, the findings from this study will help in shaping these developments. These can include ED-based routine screening for alcohol abuse and referral to rehabilitation services without fear of legal penalties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Majid Alabdulla
- Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shuja Reagu
- Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Maha O Abbas
- Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Physician Perspectives on Codeine Accessibility, Patterns of Use, Misuse, and Dependence in Saudi Arabia. Int J Ment Health Addict 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-021-00670-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractIn Saudi Arabia, there are concerning rates of non-compliance with pharmaceutical regulations prohibiting the pharmacy dispensing of prescription-only medications without a physician prescription. This is the first study in the Middle East which examines physicians’ perceptions regarding misuse of codeine, listed as a narcotic, controlled, and prescription-only drug. The CODEMISUSED survey was adapted to the Saudi Arabian context and pilot tested, prior to cross-sectional administration to physicians in Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, and Jazan (n = 105). Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentage) present physician level of agreement, neutrality, and disagreement with statements regarding codeine prescribing, patient awareness and use, online and community pharmacy availability, and dependence. The study indicates concern by physicians regarding patient intentional use of codeine to enhance mood, misuse patterns, lack of awareness around habit-forming use and iatrogenic dependence, and sourcing via illegal dispensing. It underscores the imperatives to address pharmacy compliance with pharmaceutical regulatory controls, implement enhanced pharmacovigilance, and improve awareness around safe use.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sweileh WM. Contribution of researchers in the Arab region to peer-reviewed literature on mental health and well-being of university students. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:50. [PMID: 34039394 PMCID: PMC8153525 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00477-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The current study aimed at investigating the contribution of researchers in the Arab region to the field of mental health and well-being of university students using bibliometric tools. METHOD Relevant literature was obtained from the Scopus database for the period from 2001-2020. Examples of keywords used in the query included "college student", "university student", and undergraduate student" combined with keywords such as wellbeing, wellness, suicide, and anxiety. No language restriction was used. Only research articles were considered. The search query was validated. Bibliometric indicators and mappings such as active countries, institutions, authors, highly cited documents, and the most frequently encountered topics were identified and discussed to shed light on research gaps in the Arab region. Research gaps were also identified. The analysis was carried out on February 12, 2021. RESULTS The search query returned 309 research articles published by authors from 17 different Arab countries. Less than one-third (n = 97, 31.4%) of the retrieved articles were carried out in collaboration with authors from 39 non-Arab countries, mainly from the United Kingdom and the United States. The overall contribution of researchers from the Arab region to global research in the field was 5.6%. In total, 1212 authors from 791 different institutions participated in publishing the retrieved research articles. At the country level, Saudi Arabia (n = 125, 40.5%) ranked first, followed by Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. At the institutional level, The University of Jordan (n = 25, 8.1%) ranked first, followed by King Saud University, and Kuwait University. The retrieved articles included 132 (42.7%) articles on stress/distress, 95 (30.7%) on anxiety, 61 (19.7%) on depression. Knowledge gaps on suicide, eating disorders, substance use, and happiness were identified. The retrieved articles appeared in 193 different journals and approximately two-thirds of the active journal were in general medicine, public health, and education. CONCLUSIONS The contribution of researchers in the Arab region to the field showed a noticeable increase with time. However, important research gaps were identified. The contribution was confined to authors from a limited number of Arab countries. Funding and international research collaboration for the mental health and well-being of students need to be strengthened.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M Sweileh
- Department of Physiology, Pharmacology/Toxicology, Division of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Al-Matrouk A, Al-Hasan M, Naqi H, Al-Abkal N, Mohammed H, Haider M, Al-Shammeri D, Bojbarah H. Snapshot of narcotic drugs and psychoactive substances in Kuwait: analysis of illicit drugs use in Kuwait from 2015 to 2018. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:671. [PMID: 33827491 PMCID: PMC8028837 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10705-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The misuse of illicit substances is associated with increased morbidity and mortality; thus, substance abuse is a global health concern. The Arabian Gulf region is considered a crossing point and a consumer of illicit drugs. However, a lack of laboratory-based research has limited the scientific assessment of drug misuse in the Arabian Gulf region. Thus, an up-to-date analytical representation of the drug situation is warranted. Methods We investigated the type and quantity of detained narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from 2015 to 2018, representing a population of approximately 4 million people, in addition to the number of abusers and mortality among abusers. In total, 6220 cases from the Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory and 17,755 cases from the Forensic Toxicology Laboratory were reviewed and analyzed. Substances were identified and documented using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results Cannabis, including marijuana, was the most seized substance, followed by heroin, opium, and cocaine. Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, in the form of powder or pills, were seized in larger quantities than other psychoactive substances. The most consumed substances were, in order, amphetamines (including methamphetamine), benzodiazepines, cannabis, and heroin. We identify the common drugs in postmortem specimens, according to sex, from suspected drug-related deaths. The most common single drug identified were heroin, benzodiazepines, and methamphetamine. Similarly, the multiple-drug cocktail of heroin–benzodiazepines, cannabis–benzodiazepines, and cannabis–amphetamines, were detected frequently. Conclusions The data shows that cannabis is the leading type of illicit substance seized. Deaths resulting from benzodiazepines and heroin abuse were the highest in the single drug category, while heroin-benzodiazepines combination deaths were the highest in the multiple-drug category. Methamphetamine was the most abused illicit drug in Kuwait. These findings revealed the illicit drug abuse situation in the State of Kuwait, in a region that suffers from the scarcity of information regarding illicit substances. Thus, providing valuable information for drug enforcement, forensic analyst, health workers on national and international levels. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10705-z.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Al-Matrouk
- Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Al-Dhajeej, Block 1, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait.
| | - Mohammed Al-Hasan
- Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Farwaniya city, Kuwait
| | - Husain Naqi
- Kuwait Police Academy for Security Sciences, Ministry of Interior, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait
| | - Neamat Al-Abkal
- Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Al-Dhajeej, Block 1, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait
| | - Hanan Mohammed
- Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Al-Dhajeej, Block 1, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait
| | - Meshaal Haider
- Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Farwaniya city, Kuwait
| | - Dalal Al-Shammeri
- Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Al-Dhajeej, Block 1, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait
| | - Haider Bojbarah
- Narcotic and Psychotropic Laboratory, General Department of Criminal Evidence, Ministry of Interior, Al-Dhajeej, Block 1, Al-Farwaniya City, Kuwait
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Wang K, Duan Y, Duan W, Yu Y, Zheng N, Hu J, He J, Chen H, Liang M. Bibliometric Insights in Genetic Factors of Substance-Related Disorders: Intellectual Developments, Turning Points, and Emerging Trends. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:620489. [PMID: 34135780 PMCID: PMC8200466 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.620489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance-related disorders are a group of medical conditions that affect a person's brain and behavior and lead to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drug(s) or medication. Substance-related disorder is a serious public health and society problem worldwide. Genetic factors have been proven to have an important role. Researchers have carried out a lot of work in this field, and a large number of research results have been published in academic journals around the world. However, there are few overviews of research progress, presentation, and development trends in this field. In this study, a total of 636 articles related to genetic factors of substance-related disorders were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database from 1997 to 2018, and the scientific literatures were analyzed by bibliometrics. The study found that the United States (US) has maintained a leading position in the field of research, with many core institutions and plenty of high-quality research results. Alcohol use disorder is still the most concerning issue in this field. Over the past 20 years, new techniques such as genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on high-throughput sequencing technology have replaced family studies, twin studies, and retrospective studies in this field. We believe that it is urgent to study the genetic factors of substance-related disorders, which can greatly deepen the understanding of the pathogenesis of substance-related disorders and may provide potential targets for precise treatment of such diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kang Wang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yijie Duan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Weicheng Duan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuxin Yu
- Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Na Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jin Hu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia He
- Department of Public Health, Shihezi University School of Medicine, Shihezi, China
| | - Haihong Chen
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Man Liang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Junyue J, Siyu C, Xindong W, Qinge X, Jingchun Z, Liming L, Guohua L. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Substance Use Disorders: A Scientometric Analysis and Visualization of Its Use Between 2001 and 2020. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:722240. [PMID: 34803755 PMCID: PMC8604152 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.722240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to identify frontiers for further studies via brief understanding in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for substance use disorders (SUDs). Materials and Methods: Publications on the use of CAM for treating SUDs were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from 2001 to 2020 on July 12, 2020, and visualized by CiteSpace V. Results: A total of 3,807 publications were obtained. The USA, China, and England were the leading research centers. However, India and Pakistan have recently focused on assessing CAM for the treatment of SUDs. Frederick L Altice was found to be the most productive author. Addiction ranked first among the frequently cited journals, which exceeded 1,000. The most common CAM therapies were acupuncture and CAM psychotherapies, such as mindfulness meditation. Conclusion: CAM is gaining attention globally for treating SUDs. CAM psychotherapy and acupuncture are hotspots and deserve further study. Researchers should strengthen peer cooperation in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Junyue
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Siyu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Rehabilitation, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liuzhou, China
| | - Wang Xindong
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Qinge
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeng Jingchun
- Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Liming
- Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Guohua
- Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Makeen AM, Alanazi AMM, AlAhmari MD, Murriky AA, Alfaraj M, Al-Zalabani AH. Delphi consensus on research priorities in tobacco use and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2020; 21:1-12. [PMID: 33190625 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2020.1845900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This is the first study to develop research priorities in tobacco use and substance abuse in Saudi Arabia. Health personnel and community volunteers participated in a national internet survey using the Delphi method. In Round 1, 75 experts identified 33 research priorities. In Round 2, 47 experts divided those research priorities into five primary research categories. The panelists then scored both the categories and priorities. Preventive services received the highest priority in research categories. Smoking relapse and its determinants were ranked the top research priorities. Future research should focus on cigarette smoking relapse and factors associated with long-term smoking cessation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdullah M M Alanazi
- King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Saquib N, Rajab AM, Saquib J, AlMazrou A. Substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: a scoping review. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2020; 15:41. [PMID: 32552804 PMCID: PMC7301978 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-020-00285-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use disorders (SUD) are mental health conditions that arise from chronic drug use. There is an increased recognition of this problem in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE Conduct a comprehensive review of published literature on SUD to identify knowledge gaps and to guide future research. METHODS PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched with suitable keywords for SUD publications up to June 10, 2019. Eligible studies (primary research conducted in Saudi Arabia) were organized into three broad domains: (1) risk (or protective) factors of SUD, (2) perspectives on drug use of people who use drugs, and (3) impact on family. The quality of the included studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Of the 113 search records, 23 were eligible for analysis (19 cross-sectional and 4 case-control). All studies were conducted in clinical settings; all but two included males only. There were 4 studies about SUD risk factors, 6 studies about the perspectives of people who use drugs, and none about family impact. None of the cross-sectional studies (0%) and 25% of case-control studies were of good quality. CONCLUSIONS The available studies were few in number, weak in methodology, and poor in quality. Quantitative as well as qualitative studies about SUD are warranted in each domain and should represent both genders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nazmus Saquib
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, PO Box 777, Bukairyah, Al-Qassim 51941 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Mamoun Rajab
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, PO Box 777, Bukairyah, Al-Qassim 51941 Saudi Arabia
| | - Juliann Saquib
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, PO Box 777, Bukairyah, Al-Qassim 51941 Saudi Arabia
| | - AbdulRahman AlMazrou
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, PO Box 777, Bukairyah, Al-Qassim 51941 Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Hussien R, Ahmed S, Awad H, El-Setouhy M, El-Shinawi M, Hirshon JM. Identification of 'Voodoo': an emerging substance of abuse in Egypt. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2020; 102:104-116. [PMID: 35002018 PMCID: PMC8734563 DOI: 10.1080/03067319.2020.1715384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 'Voodoo' is a new substance of abuse that recently spread among youth in Egypt. It has numerous potentially dangerous effects on humans. However, to date the composition of the main constituents of this compound is unknown. PURPOSE We sought to identify the active components of this unknown substance"voodoo". METHODS Three samples were collected and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). RESULTS HPLC-PAD analysis showed that samples 1 and 2 had some common major peaks, the same retention time, and similar spectra, whereas sample 3 showed different peaks. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of various putatively identified bioactive compounds, including quinazolines, morphinan alkaloid, cannabinoids, penitrem A, and the well-known synthetic cannabinoid FUB-AMB (methyl(2S)-2-{[1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}-3 methylbutanoate). UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of common compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, tramadol, and oxazepam. CONCLUSION We concluded that Voodoo is a mixture of substances of abuse at varying concentrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rania Hussien
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Sarah Ahmed
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanem Awad
- Regulatory Toxicology Lab, Centre of Excellence, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maged El-Setouhy
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed El-Shinawi
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jon Mark Hirshon
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Zeinoun P, Akl EA, Maalouf FT, Meho LI. The Arab Region's Contribution to Global Mental Health Research (2009-2018): A Bibliometric Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:182. [PMID: 32265754 PMCID: PMC7096372 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Mental health research output in the Arab region is increasing, yet little is known about its recent landscape. This study provides a bibliometric analysis of mental health research in all 22 Arab countries over the past decade. Method: We used 760 journals and numerous keywords to search for articles published between 2009 and 2018 by individuals affiliated with institutions located in the Arab region. We analyzed data within Arab countries and between Arab and non-Arab countries. Results: We found that research output in the Arab world has increased by almost 160% in the past ten years, in comparison to 57% for the rest of the world. The quality of publications has also steadily improved, and so did international collaboration. Despite the progress, the number of articles per capita remains remarkably lower for the Arab world compared to the rest of the world. Also, the majority of articles continue to emanate from a limited number of countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon) and institutions within these countries. Mental health research topics in the Arab region are similar to those found in low- and middle-income countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Conclusion: The region needs to invest more in mental health research to close the gap with other medical and healthcare research areas and with the rest of the world. The region also needs to increase its international collaboration and research training to produce higher-quality studies, attract more funding, and publish more in top journals. As the region's population continues to face increasing trauma as a result of war and terrorism, among others, the field is afforded an opportunity to establish a major standing in the healthcare domain. Researchers are uniquely poised to use their body of research evidence to effectively help people reengage with their environments and return to daily life activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pia Zeinoun
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elie A Akl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HE&I), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Fadi T Maalouf
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Lokman I Meho
- University Libraries, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.,Department of Political Studies and Public Administration, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Alaryan T, Hasan TA, Eshelli M, Alzeer S. The Misuse of Prescribed Drugs During the Syrian Crisis: a Cross-sectional Study. Int J Ment Health Addict 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-019-00180-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
|
24
|
Risk Factors Associated With Psychiatric Comorbidity in a Sample of Male Egyptian Patients With Substance Use Disorder. ADDICTIVE DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|
25
|
Tran BX, Moir M, Latkin CA, Hall BJ, Nguyen CT, Ha GH, Nguyen NB, Ho CSH, Ho RCM. Global research mapping of substance use disorder and treatment 1971-2017: implications for priority setting. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY 2019; 14:21. [PMID: 31101059 PMCID: PMC6525403 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-019-0204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Globally, substance use disorders are prevalent and remain an intractable public health problem for health care systems. This study aims to provide a global picture of substance use disorders research. Methods The Web of Science platform was used to perform a cross-sectional analysis of scientific articles on substance use disorders and treatment. Characteristics of publication volume, impact, growth, authors, institutions, countries, and journals were examined using descriptive analysis and network visualization graphs. Results Thirteen thousand six hundred eighty-five papers related to illicit drugs (5403), tobacco (4469), and alcohol (2137) use disorders and treatment were published between 1971 and 2017. The number of publications on Mindfulness and Digital medicine topics had the highest increase with more than 300% since 2003–2007 despite later presence than other methods. The number of papers on other non-pharmaceutical therapies (behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, skills training or motivational interviewing) grew gradually, however, the growth rate was lower every 5-year period. The United States is the substance use disorder research hub of the world with the highest volume of publications (8232 or 60.2%) and total citations (252,935 or 65.2%), number of prolific authors (25 of top 30 or 83%) and institutions (24 of top 26 or 92%), formed the most international research partnerships (with 96 distinct countries). The international collaboration followed a pattern based on geographic proximity and cultural similarity. Conclusions This study offers a comprehensive picture of the global trend of publications of substance use disorder. Findings suggest a need for research policy that supports the examination of interventions that culturally adhere to different local contexts to address substance use disorder in communities. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13011-019-0204-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bach Xuan Tran
- Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. .,Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Mackenzie Moir
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.,Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Carl A Latkin
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Brian J Hall
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Global and Community Mental Health Research Group, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuong Tat Nguyen
- Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Giang Hai Ha
- Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Nam Ba Nguyen
- Center for Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Cyrus S H Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Roger C M Ho
- Center for Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.,Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
El Khoury J, Noufi P, Ahmad A, Akl E, El Hayek S. Attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of substance use amongst youth in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; 196:71-78. [PMID: 30716567 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use has a tremendous impact on the burden of disease. This is particularly true in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR), where many countries serve as suppliers of drugs. As risk perception and frequency of use are inversely correlated, targeting perception during adolescence becomes essential for prevention. In this study, we systematically reviewed the literature on attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of substance use amongst youth in the EMR. METHODS We reviewed quantitative articles addressing attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of youth aged between 13 and 25 years towards substance use in the EMR. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane, PsycInfo, and PsycArticles then applied a duplicate independent method for study selection and screening. Two reviewers completed data abstraction and a narrative summary of findings. RESULTS Our search generated 12,810 articles. Five cross-sectional studies were eligible (two analytic and three descriptive). The analytic studies described a significant correlation between intention to use and both attitudes and subjective norms. The descriptive studies portrayed a negative attitude towards use with a low threshold for considering it as serious. Beliefs pertaining to reasons for use included stress and sleeping, whereas thoughts on treatment were restricted to traditional methods based on personal resilience and religious support. Knowledge about substance use symptoms, withdrawal, and treatment was low. CONCLUSION Our review ascertains the role of sociocultural moral prohibition and awareness of mental health as major influencers in shaping the perception of substance use. Further research is needed to elaborate culturally-tailored survey tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph El Khoury
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Paul Noufi
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amanda Ahmad
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elie Akl
- Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon; Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Samer El Hayek
- Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Spagnolo J, Champagne F, Leduc N, Rivard M, Piat M, Laporta M, Melki W, Charfi F. Mental health knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among primary care physicians working in the Greater Tunis area of Tunisia. Int J Ment Health Syst 2018; 12:63. [PMID: 30386422 PMCID: PMC6203218 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-018-0243-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-specialists' involvement in mental health care is encouraged in the field of global mental health to address the treatment gap caused by mental illness, especially in low- and middle-income countries. While primary care physicians (PCPs) are involved in mental health care in Tunisia, a lower-middle-income country in North Africa, it is unclear to what extent they are prepared and willing to address mental health problems, substance use disorders, and suicide/self-harm. In this context, we aim (1) to report on mental health knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among a sample of PCPs working in the Greater Tunis area, prior to the implementation of a mental health training program developed by the World Health Organization; and (2) to identify what characteristics are associated with these competencies. METHODS In total, 112 PCPs completed questionnaires related to their socio-demographic and practice characteristics, as well as their mental health knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Descriptive analyses and regression models were performed. FINDINGS PCPs had more knowledge about depression, symptoms related to psychosis, and best practices after a suicide attempt; had favourable attitudes about distinctions between physical and mental health, learning about mental health, and the acceptance of colleagues with mental health issues; and believed most in their capabilities related to depression and anxiety. However, most PCPs had less knowledge about substance use disorders and myths about suicide attempts; had unfavorable attitudes about the dangerousness of people with mental health problems, personal disclosure of mental illness, non-specialists' role in assessing mental health problems, and personal recovery; and believed the least in their capabilities related to substance use disorders, suicide/self-harm, and psychosis. Participation in previous mental health training, weekly hours (and weekly hours dedicated to mental health), weekly provision of psychoeducation, and certain work locations were associated with better mental health competencies, whereas mental health knowledge was negatively associated with weekly referrals to specialized services. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that PCPs in our sample engage in mental health care, but with some gaps in competencies. Mental health training and increased interactions/involvement with people consulting for mental health issues may help further develop non-specialists' mental health competencies, and integrate mental health into primary care settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Spagnolo
- School of Public Health, IRSPUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N1X9 Canada
| | - François Champagne
- School of Public Health, IRSPUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3N1X9 Canada
| | - Nicole Leduc
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Michèle Rivard
- School of Public Health, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Myra Piat
- Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Marc Laporta
- Montreal WHO-PAHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Mental Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Wahid Melki
- Razi Hospital, University of Tunis El-Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Fatma Charfi
- Mongi-Slim Hospital, University of Tunis El-Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
AlSayyari A, AlBuhairan F. Relationship of media exposure to substance use among adolescents in Saudi Arabia: Results from a national study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 191:174-180. [PMID: 30121476 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With limited social options, young Saudis are increasingly relying on media for entertainment. The media impact has been greatest among the younger generation, which constitutes half of the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Therefore, this study aims to examine the association between exposure to varied types of media and substance use among adolescents in the KSA and explores whether these associations differ by gender. METHODS Data were obtained from a national cross-sectional survey of school students aged ten to 19 years (N = 12121). A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess exposure to three types of media: television, the Internet and video games with the use of legal substances such as cigarette/shisha smoking, solvents sniffing and misuse of medications, and illegal substances, such as alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs. RESULTS Logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds of using tobacco, legal and illegal substances were higher for students who were watching television, surfing the Internet, or playing video games for more than two hours compared with their peers who watched less than two hours (P < 0.05). For males, results showed the heavy and light use of the Internet were both significantly associated with smoking. Whereas for females, only excessive use of the Internet was associated with smoking. CONCLUSION Despite the conservative nature of the Saudi society, findings showed a significant association between tobacco or substance use and media exposure among adolescents. This suggests increased attention to the growing role media might play in shaping adolescents health risk behaviors in the KSA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alaa AlSayyari
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Population Health Research Section-Hospital-MNGHA, Ali Al Arini, Ar Rimayah, Riyadh, 14611, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Fadia AlBuhairan
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, AlDara Hospital and Medical Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Ibrahim Y, Hussain SM, Alnasser S, Almohandes H, Sarhandi I. Patterns and sociodemographic characteristics of substance abuse in Al Qassim, Saudi Arabia: a retrospective study at a psychiatric rehabilitation center. Ann Saudi Med 2018; 38:319-325. [PMID: 30284986 PMCID: PMC6180213 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2018.319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The problem of substance abuse is one of the top 20 risk factors for poor health worldwide. Though widely prevalent in the Middle East, there are few studies in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVE Record the pattern of substances abuse and the sociodemographic characteristics of abusers attending the local rehabilitation center. DESIGN Descriptive, retrospective medical record review. SETTING Patients admitted to psychiatric rehabilitation center. METHODS The sample included all patients admitted to a rehabilitation center during the period of January 2016-December 2016. Data was collected retrospectively from patient records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Descriptive epidemiological data and statistical comparisons. SAMPLE SIZE 612 patients. RESULTS The majority of patients (73%) were 21-40 years of age. Polysubstance abuse (60%) and amphetamine (24%) abuse were most predominant in the 20-40 year olds (45%) and high school dropouts (41%). The average number of drugs being used by polysubstance abusers was 2.5 (and the maximum was 6). There was no relationship of family history of drug abuse and mental illness. CONCLUSION There was an increased use of polysubstances and amphetamine with a decreased abuse of prescription drugs when compared to previous studies reported in Saudi Arabia. There was a decreasing prevalence for heroin and alcohol. Substance abusers have certain epidemiological, social and drug patterns and we recommend that authorities and planners integrate their efforts to look for the reasons for substance abuse. LIMITATIONS Females not included and prevalence of tobacco smoking not studied. CONFLICT OF INTEREST None.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shalam M Hussain
- Dr. Shalam M. Hussain, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,, Unaizah College of Pharmacy,, Qassim University, PO Box 5516,, Unaizah, Saudi Arabia, T: +966-550-911-846, . sa, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2398-5485
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
ElKashef A, Alzayani S, Shawky M, Al Abri M, Littlewood R, Qassem T, Alsharqi A, Hjelmström P, Abdel Wahab M, Abdulraheem M, Alzayed A. Recommendations to improve opioid use disorder outcomes in countries of the Middle East. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2018.1489906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed ElKashef
- Treatment and Rehabilitation Department, The National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Salman Alzayani
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Mansour Shawky
- The National Rehabilitation, Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mahmood Al Abri
- National Committee for Narcotics & Psychotropic Substances, Muscat, Oman
| | | | - Tarik Qassem
- Department of Psychiatry, Erada Center for Treatment and Rehab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | - Momtaz Abdel Wahab
- Egyptian Psychiatric Association, Egypt, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Masooma Abdulraheem
- Psychiatry Hospital, Drug Unit and Liaison Drug of Salmaniya Medical Complex, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Adel Alzayed
- Kuwait Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre, Shuwaikh, Kuwait
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Khalili M, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Shadloo B, Mojtabai R, Mann K, Amin-Esmaeili M. Global Scientific Production on Illicit Drug Addiction: A Two-Decade Analysis. Eur Addict Res 2018; 24:60-70. [PMID: 29627821 DOI: 10.1159/000487590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Addiction science has made great progress in the past decades. We conducted a scientometric study in order to quantify the number of publications and the growth rate globally, regionally, and at country levels. METHODS In October 2015, we searched the Scopus database using the general keywords of addiction or drug-use disorders combined with specific terms regarding 4 groups of illicit drugs - cannabis, opioids, cocaine, and other stimulants or hallucinogens. All documents published during the 20-year period from 1995 to 2014 were included. RESULTS A total of 95,398 documents were retrieved. The highest number of documents were on opioids, both globally (60.1%) and in each of 5 continents. However, studies on cannabis showed a higher growth rate in the last 5-year period of the study (2010-2014). The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, China, and Japan - almost all studies were from high-income countries - occupied the top 10 positions and produced 81.4% of the global science on drug addiction. CONCLUSION As there are important socio-cultural differences in the epidemiology and optimal clinical care of addictive disorders, it is suggested that low- and more affected middle-income countries increase their capacity to conduct research and disseminate the knowledge in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Malahat Khalili
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Afarin Rahimi-Movaghar
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behrang Shadloo
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ramin Mojtabai
- Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Karl Mann
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Masoumeh Amin-Esmaeili
- Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Psychometric Properties of the Arabic Version of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) in Clinical, Prison Inmate, and Student Samples. Int J Behav Med 2017; 24:280-287. [PMID: 28124194 PMCID: PMC5344936 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-016-9623-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The study aimed to validate the Arabic version of the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT) by (1) assessing its factor structure, (2) determining structural validity, (3) evaluating item-total and inter-item correlation, and (4) assessing its predictive validity. Method The study population included 169 prison inmates, 51 patients with clinical diagnosis of substance used disorder, and 53 students (N = 273). All participants completed the self-report version of the Arabic DUDIT. After exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency of the Arabic DUDIT was determined and external validation was performed. Results Principal factor analysis showed that Arabic DUDIT exhibited only one factor, which explained 66.9% of the variance. Reliability based on Cronbach’s alpha was .95. When compared to the DSM-IV substance use disorder diagnosis in a clinical sample, DUDIT had an area under the curve (AUC) of .98, with a sensitivity of .98 and a specificity of .90. Conclusion The Arabic version of DUDIT is a valid and reliable tool for screening for drug use in Arabic-speaking countries.
Collapse
|
33
|
Alblooshi H, Hulse GK, El Kashef A, Al Hashmi H, Shawky M, Al Ghaferi H, Al Safar H, Tay GK. The pattern of substance use disorder in the United Arab Emirates in 2015: results of a National Rehabilitation Centre cohort study. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY 2016; 11:19. [PMID: 27177422 PMCID: PMC4866416 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-016-0062-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global problem with no boundaries, which also afflicts individuals from countries of the Arabian Peninsula. Data from this region is limited. In an effort to develop targeted prevention and intervention initiatives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it was necessary to identify the nature of substance use by describing the characteristics of those using different substances. Consequently, this study in the UAE was conceived to describe the pattern of SUD in a first-ever cohort that was systematically recruited from the country’s National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi. Methods Two hundred and fifty male patients were recruited from the NRC. Information on substance use was collected using a questionnaire that was completed at an interview with patients who consented to participate. The questionnaire was based on information that the study was designed to capture. It was reviewed by members of institutional ethics committees and approved prior to use. Two hundred and fifty male subjects from the Emirates Family Registry (EFR) were used as a comparison group. Results In the cohort studied, SUD correlated with smoking and marital status. Poly-substance users formed the majority of the cohort (84.4 %) with various combinations of substances identified across different age groups. Opioid and alcohol were the most common substances used. The use of pharmaceutical opioids, primarily Tramadol (67.2 % of opioid users), was higher among the youngest age group studied (<30 years old), while older opioid users (≥30 years old) commonly used illicit opioids (Heroin). The use of prescribed medication for non-medical use also included Pregabalin (mean of 8.3 capsules ± 0.5 per day), Procyclidin (6.1 tablets + 0.6 per day) and Carisoprodol (4.2 tablets ± 0.4 per day) and was again highest in the age group below 30 years. Conclusion This 2015 study highlights the importance of examining the pattern of poly-substance use in a population in order to develop targeted prevention programs to arrest the prevailing trends. It has drawn attention to the rise in use of prescription medication in the UAE, in particular among younger patients (<30 years), and continuing use of illicit opioid amongst males above 30 years. Specific prevention and intervention strategies, targeting differences between these distinct demographic profiles will capture a large subset of sufferers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiba Alblooshi
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia.,School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Gary K Hulse
- School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ahmed El Kashef
- United Arab Emirates National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hanan Al Hashmi
- United Arab Emirates National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mansour Shawky
- United Arab Emirates National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hamad Al Ghaferi
- United Arab Emirates National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Habiba Al Safar
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.,Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Guan K Tay
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, WA, Australia. .,School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zyoud SH. Dengue research: a bibliometric analysis of worldwide and Arab publications during 1872-2015. Virol J 2016; 13:78. [PMID: 27154247 PMCID: PMC4859974 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-016-0534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue is an important emerging and re-emerging arboviral infection globally as a rapidly growing and widespread public health problem, with transmission occurring in more than 128 countries in Asia, Americas, southeast Africa, western Pacific, and eastern Mediterranean regions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize and quantify the scientific output of dengue research in Arab countries relative to that worldwide by using a bibliometric analysis. METHODS The standardized search approach based on the use of the the keyword "dengue" in the title, abstract, and keyword field was used to get research output related to dengue at a global level. All data related to dengue were collected from the past to December 31, 2015. RESULTS A total of 19,581 dengue-related documents identified in the Scopus database. The results show that the study of dengue exhibits an overall upward trend from 1872 to 2015 with peak publications in 2014. The leading countries in dengue research were the USA (4,709; 24.05 %), India (1,942; 9.92 %), Brazil (1,530; 7.81 %), Thailand (1,260; 6.43 %), the UK (1,129; 5.77 %), and France (1,087; 5.55 %). Only 226 (1.16 % of the overall global research effort in the dengue field) articles were published from the Arab region. The total number of citations for all publications was 352,710, with an average of 18.0 citations per publication. Furthermore, the h-index for all extracted data related to dengue research was 186. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was the most productive country in Arab region with 102 documents representing 45.1 %. Furthermore, the h-index for all extracted data related to dengue research was 27. The USA was Arab's most main cooperative partner (46, 20.4 %), followed by India (36, 15.9 %). CONCLUSIONS The amount of literature related to dengue research has considerably increased over the last decade. This bibliometric analysis has demonstrated the leading role that the USA, India, Brazil, Thailand, the UK, and France play in dengue research. The Arab world produced fewer publications related to dengue with lower quality than other world countries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sa'ed H Zyoud
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Alghamdi M, Alqahtani B, Alhowti S. Cardiovascular complications among individuals with amphetamine-positive urine drug screening admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh. J Saudi Heart Assoc 2016; 28:129-35. [PMID: 27358529 PMCID: PMC4917642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsha.2015.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are the most commonly used illicit drugs in Saudi Arabia. Frequency and outcome of ATS-related cardiovascular (CV) complications in the Saudi community have not been previously studied. AIM We aimed to determine the incidence and the clinical outcomes of CV complications among individuals with amphetamine-positive urine drug screening (APUDS) tests admitted to a tertiary care facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS Retrospective review of consecutive cases with APUDS and concurrently positive cardiac biomarkers admitted to King Abdul-Aziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 2006 and December 2013. The laboratory database was queried to identify patients with positive APUDS and abnormal cardiac biomarkers. Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical records. RESULTS A total of 7450 urine drug screening tests were performed during the study period, out of which 720 (9.6%) were positive for ATS (APUDS group). Forty-two cases in the APUDS group were documented to have CV complications. All cases were men with a median age of 39 years (range, 21-60 years). Acute coronary syndrome/myocardial infarction was the most frequent clinical presentation (n = 31, 74%), predominantly in the form of ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Other less frequent complications included myopericarditis, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmia. Coronary procedures were performed in 30 cases. Median hospital stay was 5 days (range, 1-28 days) and in-hospital mortality was 7.2%. CONCLUSION APUDS is frequently encountered in young Saudi men presenting to the emergency department of our institution. Individuals with APUDS are at increased risk of CV complications and in-hospital mortality. The most frequent APUDS-related CV complication is acute coronary syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Alghamdi
- King Abdul-Aziz Medical City-Riyadh and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, aSaudi Arabia
| | - Bader Alqahtani
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, bSaudi Arabia
| | - Sultan Alhowti
- College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, bSaudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Sweileh WM, Shraim NY, Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW. Worldwide research productivity on tramadol: a bibliometric analysis. SPRINGERPLUS 2016; 5:1108. [PMID: 27478725 PMCID: PMC4949195 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2801-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pain management and safe use of analgesics is an important medical issue. Tramadol is an old analgesic with controversial properties. Evaluation of worldwide scientific output on tramadol has not been explored. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to give a bibliometric overview of global research productivity on tramadol. METHODS SciVerse Scopus was used to retrieve and quantitatively and qualitatively analyze worldwide publications on tramadol. RESULTS A total of 2059 original and review research articles on tramadol were retrieved from Scopus. Forty-six documents (2.23 %) were published in Anesthesia and Analgesia Journal whereas 30 (1.46 %) were published in Arzneimittel Forschung Drug Research Journal. Retrieved tramadol documents were published from 71 countries and appeared in 160 peer reviewed journals. Although the United States of America (259; 12.86 %) had the largest contribution to tramadol publications; the contribution by other countries like Turkey (232; 11.27) India (189; 8.09 %) and Germany (176; 8.56 % was not far away from that of USA. The most productive institution was Grunenthal, Germany (47; 2.28 %) followed by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran (29; 1.41 %), and, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Incorporated, USA (25; 1.21 %). Of the 2059 documents, there were 370 documents about dependence. The leading institution in documents pertaining to tramadol dependence was Grunenthal GmbH (18; 4.86 %) followed by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Incorporated (17; 4.59 %). CONCLUSIONS The current study showed that there is an obvious interest in tramadol research. More efforts are needed to clarify the abuse potential and safety profile of tramadol to help in determining the legal status of tramadol. Collaboration among pharmaceutical industry, clinical researchers and academic institutions can improve research quantity and quality on tramadol.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M. Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Naser Y. Shraim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H. Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Samah W. Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW, Sweileh WM, Waring WS. Scientific research related to calcium channel blockers poisoning: Bibliometric analysis in Scopus, 1968-2012. Hum Exp Toxicol 2015; 34:1162-70. [PMID: 25673180 DOI: 10.1177/0960327115571768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) were the most common agents associated with a significant morbidity and mortality rate. The main objective of this study was to examine the publication pattern related to CCBs poisoning at the global level using bibliometric analysis of articles published in SciVerse Scopus online database. METHODS Data were searched for documents that contained specific words regarding CCB poisoning as keywords in the title. No time period limitations were specified in the search regarding the starting year. The ending date of the search was 31 December 2012. RESULTS The criteria were met by 713 publications from 53 countries. The largest number of articles associated with CCBs was from the United States (30%), followed by the United Kingdom (7.4%), Japan (6%), and Germany (5.6%). No data related to CCBs were published from 159 (75%) of 212 countries registered in World Bank online database. There was no correlation between the number of published articles in the country and its population size (r = 0.03, p > 0.926). United Kingdom and Australia were the leading countries in terms of number of CCBs publications per million inhabitants (0.83 and 0.82 articles per million inhabitants, respectively), followed by the United States (0.68). Countries with a large population, such as India, tended to rank relatively low (0.01 articles per million inhabitants). The total number of citations at the time of data analysis (23 October 2014) was 6462, with an average of 9.1 citations per document. The highest median (interquartile range) number of citations was 8 (8-18) for the United States, followed by 6 (1-21) for Australia, 5 (1-15) for the United Kingdom, and 5 (1-24) for Canada. The h-index of the retrieved documents was 37. CONCLUSIONS Scientific production on CCBs poisoning is increasing; nonetheless, the international collaboration is still rare. The amount of CCBs-based research activity was low or not available in most countries. More regional epidemiological studies are required to bridge the gap in CCBs-based research and to promote better evaluation of CCBs poisoning worldwide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S H Zyoud
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information, National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang, Malaysia
| | - S W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - W M Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - W S Waring
- Acute Medical Unit, York Teaching Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, York, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW, Sweileh WM, Awang R, Waring WS. Bibliometric profile of the global scientific research on methanol poisoning (1902-2012). J Occup Med Toxicol 2015; 10:17. [PMID: 25949270 PMCID: PMC4422445 DOI: 10.1186/s12995-015-0062-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methanol poisoning is on the rise and has been associated with high morbidity and mortality; it has resulted in growing research in the field of toxicology. The aim of this study was to reveal underlying patterns in scientific outputs related to methanol poisoning at the global level by evaluating different bibliometric indices. METHODS We searched for publications that contained specific words regarding methanol poisoning in Scopus database. RESULTS A total of 912 articles, with 8,317 citations and with an average of 9.1 citations per document, were retrieved on methanol poisoning, and the bulk of the articles were published from the USA (20.9%), followed by Spain (4.4%), Canada (4.3%), India (3.1%), and France (3.0%). The articles were published belonging to 57 countries. No data related to methanol poisoning were published from 155 (73.1%) out of 212 countries. Twenty-one documents (2.3%) were published in Clinical Toxicology, whereas 18 (2.0%) were published in The Lancet. CONCLUSIONS Scientific production related to methanol poisoning is increasing. articles have been published in a wide range of journals with a variety of subject areas, most notably clinical toxicology; and the country with the greatest production was the USA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Poison Control and Drug Information Center (PCDIC), College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information, National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Penang 11800 Malaysia
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Waleed M Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839 Palestine
| | - Rahmat Awang
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Information, National Poison Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, Penang 11800 Malaysia
| | - W Stephen Waring
- Acute Medical Unit, York Teaching Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, Wigginton Road, York, YO31 8HE UK
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sweileh WM, Zyoud SH, Al-Jabi SW, Sawalha AF. Contribution of Arab countries to breast cancer research: comparison with non-Arab Middle Eastern countries. BMC Womens Health 2015; 15:25. [PMID: 25783656 PMCID: PMC4381665 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-015-0184-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancers affecting women worldwide. The main objective of this study was to assess and compare research activity in breast cancer in Arab countries with non-Arab Middle Eastern countries. METHODS Publications about "breast cancer" as a research topic were retrieved using the ISI Web of Science database. Analysis was confined to original research and review articles. Research productivity was assessed by assessing number of publications and time trend of these publications, names of journals, citation analysis, top 10 active institutions as well as country contribution to breast cancer research. The quantity and quality of publications from Arab countries in addition to 3 other Middle East countries (Turkey, Iran and Israel) were assessed and compared using the h-index tool. RESULTS A total of 1658 original research and review articles about "breast cancer" were published from Arab countries. Annual research productivity from Arab countries in the field of "breast cancer" was negligible but showed a significant increase in the last decade. Retrieved documents had relatively high citation parameters as measured by h-index of 61 and average citations of 17.46 per document. The highest research productivity was from Egypt with a total publication of 582 (35.10%). Cairo University with a total of 149 (8.99%) publications had the highest research productivity among institutions in Arab world. Forty four documents (2.65%) of breast cancer documents were published in Saudi Medical Journal. Arab researchers collaborated mostly with researchers from the United States of America (305; 18.40%) in breast cancer research. Compared with other non-Arab Middle Eastern countries, Arab countries had higher research productivity than some countries and lower than others, particularly Israel. CONCLUSIONS The present data reveals a good contribution of some Arab countries to the field of "breast cancer" research. There is a gap between Arab countries and Israel in the quality of breast cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Ansam F Sawalha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Sweileh WM, Al-Jabi SW, Shanti YI, Sawalha AF, Zyoud SH. Contribution of Arab researchers to ophthalmology: a bibliometric and comparative analysis. SPRINGERPLUS 2015; 4:42. [PMID: 25674499 PMCID: PMC4318829 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-0806-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Through history, Arabs and Muslims have made valuable contribution to medicine and science. The main objective of this study was to assess the contribution of Arab researchers to ophthalmology using bibliometric indicators. Published articles in "Ophthalmology" authored by Arab researchers were screened and analyzed using ISI Web of Science database. Worldwide research productivity in ophthalmology was 216,921 documents while that from Arab countries; Israel, Turkey and Iran were 2083, 2932, 3027 and 859 documents respectively. Those from Arab countries were published in 85 peer-reviewed ophthalmology related journals with 280 (13.44%) documents published in Journal Francais d Ophtalmologie. Among Arab countries, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had the highest (828 (39.75%)) research output followed by Egypt (461 (22.13%)) and Tunisia 210 (10.08). Countries with highest collaboration with researchers in Arab world in ophthalmology research were USA; (397; 19.06%) followed by England (92; 4.42%) and Spain (91; 4.37%). The most research productive organization in Arab countries was King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital (396; 19.01%). Ophthalmology articles authored or co-authored by an Arab researcher had a total citation f 21098 with an average citation of 10.13 per document and an h-index of 51. In conclusion, the present data show promising increase but relatively low ophthalmology research productivity from Arab countries. Wide variation in research productivity do exists. Compared with other non-Arab countries in the Middle East, Arab countries showed lesser ophthalmology research activity than Israel and Turkey but higher than that in Iran.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Yousef I Shanti
- Department of Opthalmology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Ansam F Sawalha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Sweileh WM, Al-Jabi SW, Abuzanat A, Sawalha AF, AbuTaha AS, Ghanim MA, Zyoud SH. Assessment of research productivity of Arab countries in the field of infectious diseases using Web of Science database. Infect Dis Poverty 2015; 4:2. [PMID: 25685346 PMCID: PMC4327970 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9957-4-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To meet the future challenges of infectious diseases and limit the spread of multidrug resistant microorganisms, a better understanding of published studies in the field of infectious diseases is needed. The objective of this study was to analyze the quantity and quality of research activity in the field of infectious diseases in Arab countries and compare it with that in non-Arab countries. METHODS Documents published in Arab countries within the research category of "infectious diseases" were extracted and analyzed using the Web of Science database. The data analyzed represent research productivity during the time interval between 1900 - 2012. RESULTS Worldwide, the total number of documents published in the field of infectious diseases up to 2012 was 227,188. A total of 2,408 documents in the field of infectious diseases were published in Arab countries, which represents 1.06% of worldwide research output. Research output from Arab countries in the field of infectious diseases was low for decades. However, approximately a five-fold increase was observed in the past decade. Arab countries ranked 56(th) to 218(th) on the standard competition ranking (SCR) in worldwide publications in the field of infectious diseases. Egypt, with a total publication of 464 (19.27%) documents ranked first among Arab countries, while Kuwait University was the most productive institution with a total of 158 (6.56%) documents. Average citation per document published in Arab countries was 13.25 and the h-index was 64. Tuberculosis (230; 9.55%), malaria (223; 9.26%), and hepatitis (189; 7.8%) were the top three infectious diseases studied as according to the retrieved documents. CONCLUSION The present data reveals that some Arab countries contribute significantly to the field of infectious diseases. However, Arab countries need to work harder to bridge the gap in this field. Compared with non-Arab countries in the Middle East, research output from Arab countries was high, but more efforts are needed to enhance the quality of this output. Future research in the field should be encouraged and correctly directed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Waleed M Sweileh
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Samah W Al-Jabi
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Alaeddin Abuzanat
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Ansam F Sawalha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Adham S AbuTaha
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Mustafa A Ghanim
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| | - Sa’ed H Zyoud
- Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|