Self mutilation by subcutaneous injection of kerosene in an Iraqi girl

This paper reports a rare condition of self mutilation by an Iraqi girl injecting kerosene subcutaneously after an emotional reaction to personal distress, admitted to the surgical department in the Medical City Teaching Hospital, Baghdad for urgent surgical treatment. Careful history and mental state assessment revealed a pre morbid stable personality with no past or current mental disorder other than recent depressive symptoms with no suicidal intention. Psychiatric management is mandatory in such serious presentation of deliberate self harm

Anorexia nervosa in an Iraqi patient

Eating disorders are known to occur more commonly in young females than males. The available literature indicates that anorexia nervosa [AN] is rare in the Arab culture. No published report about male disorder in Iraq was found thus a case of AN in an adult Iraqi male in Baghdad is reported. His core feature was induced starvation and distorted body image in association with prominent depressive symptoms. The patient was treated by hospitalization under small multi-professional team of psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and dietitian for four weeks. Marked improvement in his medical and psychological symptoms was achieved by simple psychiatric medication, diet regulation and brief cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. It is concluded that early diagnosis and collaborate psychiatric and psychotherapy may ameliorate serious medical complications

Application of WHOQOL-BREF in Iraq

to study the subjective rating of quality of life by college students in three different Iraqi regions, applying the WHOQOL-BREF for the first time in Iraq. six hundred copies of the Arabic version of the self-report psychological tool created by the World Health Organization. WHOQOL-BREF, were distributed among three groups of college students of comparable age. The students came from the different academic institutes representing urban, semi-urban and rural populations in Iraq. The study, which was conducted during March 2001, was carried out in Baghdad, the capital city, and two governorates [Diala and Thi-Qar]. The Arabic form of the questionnaire contains four scored domains assessing: 1-physical health, 2- psychological health, 3-social relationships, and 4- environment. 579 forms were completed, giving a response rate of 96.5%. Statistical analysis of the results revealed marked differences of the mean values between the capital and the other governorates. These differences were found in the domains concerning psychological and environmental aspects. the cultural variations and the differences in economical standards between the capital and the other two regions reflected the scoring profiles of the students. The WHOQOL-BREF was a successful tool for measuring the subjective satisfaction of quality of life in Iraq. Further studies in other Arab communities are required