Psychiatric, psychological and behavioral problem in Egyptian and Saudi adolescent orphans: a comparative study

To determine psychiatric, behavioral andpsychological problems in Egyptian and Saudi adolescent living in orphanages in a comparative study. 50 Saudi adolescent orphans [25 boys and 25 girls] and 50 Egyptian adolescent orphans [25 boys and 25 girls], 50 controls Saudi and 50 controls Egyptian psychiatrically free adolescent were also randomly selected. Psychiatric and psychological assessment using: complete psychiatric sheet, psychometry for psychopathy and aggression, ego strength, rigidity, locus of control, and SAKS which included Sexual Deviation, Relation with others, Negative attitude toward institutions, and Abnormal Behaviour. [44%] of girls and [44%] of boys showed Attention Deficit Disorder [ADD]. Also,[40%] of Egyptian boys and girls showed ADD. There was a statistically significant difference between orphans and controls Saudi girls regarding all items of psychological assessment. Orphans and control Saudi boys showed a statistically significant difference for ego strength, psychopathy, sexual deviation, and negative attitude toward home, abnormal behaviour and relation with others. There was a statistically significant difference between orphans and controls Egyptian girls and boys regarding all items of psychological assessment except for locus of control. Egyptian and Saudi orphan boys differed in all items of psychological assessment except for rigidity. Egyptian and Saudi orphan girls differed in for ego strength, sexual deviation, and negative attitude toward home, abnormal behaviour and relation with others. Saudi and Egyptian adolescent orphans showed psychiatric, psychological and behavioural problems, ADHD was the highest psychiatric diagnosis in both Saudi and Egyptian orphans, Orphans had disturbances in ego strength, psychopathy, sexual deviation, locus of control, negative attitude toward others, abnormal behavior and relation with others. There was cultural related difference in psychometric assessment for orphans

Prevalence study of psychiatric morbidity in a sample of adolescents in secondary schools in new Damietta City-Egypt

Few studies have estimated the psychiatric morbidity among adolescents in secondary schools in Egypt. The objectives of this study were to describe such disorders, identify those students with problems, and evaluate the relationship between their problems and some variables related to them. From September 2008 till April 2009. The study was done on 542 students [263 male [48.5%1 and 279 female [51.5%J], age range 15-18 years; those in urban 333 [61.4%] while in rural area 209 [38.61 with exclusion of deaf and blind. The researcher used Child and Adolescent behavior checklist, General health Questionnaire [GHQ], Clinical interview. Students with+ve score on GHQ were clinically interviewed, and the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders were done according to the diagnostic and statistically manual of mental disorder fourth version revised version [DSM IV TR]. About [22%] of Secondary school adolescents suffers from one or more of the psychiatric disorders as follows; Depression 21.4%, ADHD 15.9%, GAD 12.6% Adjustment disorder 12.6%, OCD 9.5%, conduct disorder 6.3%, Oppositional deviant dis. 5.6%, Separation anxiety dis. and Motor tics 4.8%, nocturnal enuresis 3.9%, social phobia 2.7%, no one complained of drug abuse or psychotic dis. The following socio demographic risk factors are statistically correlated to the psychiatric morbidity, age, sex, number of brothers, economic status and place of living. The mental health of Secondary school adolescents should be assessed, as they may be at risk for mental health problems. Preventive and therapeutic interventions are recommended