Outcomes of children with attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder: global functioning and symptoms persistence

Many adolescents with ADHD show antisocial behaviour and low educational achievement. These issues have not been validated in the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region. The objective of this study was to assess the global functioning and behaviour of children with ADHD growing into adolescence 10 years after initial diagnosis. Parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, Conner's Short Version Test and the Children's Global Assessment Scale. Nearly half of our sample had low academic achievement and 36% had no friends. A quarter of the cases were smokers, one admitted abusing drugs and one had attempted suicide. One third of the sample continued to have ADHD symptoms. Adolescents with ADHD had similar school performance and peer relationships to those reported previously, but differences with regard to drug use, suicide and other impulsive behaviour. A follow-up study into adult life using a control group is recommended

Job satisfaction of staff working with individuals with intellectual disabilities in two different settings

Several studies on job satisfaction have been done on healthcare workers in Bahrain; however, no previous research has investigated the staff working with intellectual disability patients. To identify the level of job satisfaction of healthcare staff working with individuals with intellectual disability in two settings in Bahrain. Psychiatric Hospital and Bahraini Association of Intellectual Disabilities and Autism [BAIDA], Bahrain. A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Questionnaire Survey. Staff working with individuals who have intellectual disabilities in the psychiatric hospital [n=41] and in the BAIDA society [n=35] were surveyed using a locally designed questionnaire in September 2011. The questionnaire is designed to assess job satisfaction in terms of eleven factors. Satisfaction in both institutes was good, slightly better among society staff. The satisfaction was not associated with age, duration of work and job type. Males were more satisfied than females in some dimensions. This study revealed that staff working with persons with intellectual disabilities in the two settings were generally satisfied. Overall, the staff in the civic society was more satisfied than those in the hospital. Possible reasons for such differences were discussed, periodic similar studies were recommended for intellectual disabilities staff and other subspecialties

impact of multimodal psychosocial intervention among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Evaluation of the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention in comparison to outpatient management. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Psychiatric Hospital, Ministry of Health, Bahrain. Retrospective/cross sectional study. Group 1 [ROM] consist of twenty children from outpatient and group 2 [MPI] consist of 15 children from day-care, aged 4-16 years, diagnosed with DSM IV ADHD were recruited for the study after four weeks of treatment from 2006-2009. Twelve [80%] children from daycare group were from non-intact family [P>.036]. Fourteen mothers [70%] from ROM and 9 mothers [60%] from MPI reported marked improvement in both groups. Blind investigator and therapist/nurse found more improvement among those received more intense psychosocial intervention, group 2 [MPI] [P> .018]. group 2 [MPI] had more psychopathology compared to group 1 [ROM]. The staff and blind investigator reported better improvement among children in Group 2 [MPI]. Difficult ADHD cases benefit more from intense psychosocial intervention in group 2 [MPI]

Treatment and prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression among primary care attendees

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression and their treatment in a cross national sample of primary care patients. Four primary health care facilities in four Governorates, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Design: Clinical Survey. Four primary health care facilities in four Governorates participated in one stage screening process to identify prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder and depression. Structured diagnostic interviews among 300 consecutive attendees in one day was used. The Mini International Neuro psychiatric Investigation [MINI] was used as screening tool. The association of depression and anxiety with factors such as age, sex, education and employment were evaluated. Generalized anxiety disorders prevalence rate was 52 [17.3], life time depression was 58 [19.3%] and current depression was 17 [5.6%]. Only 22 [7.3%] of the sample had either anxiety or depression in the past, of whom 41% received treatment. None of the examined factors was significantly linked to anxiety or depression. This study shows that generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive episode are very common among primary care attendees. Thus, primary care physicians should be alerted of this fact. A multifaceted program should be adopted for the detection and management of GAD and depression

Patient satisfaction in adult psychiatric outpatient clinics

There is a growing interest in the measurement of patient satisfaction as a source for improving the health of population globally but not regionally. The purpose of this study was to describe patient satisfaction among outpatients attending the general adult psychiatric clinics, Bahrain. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 300 outpatients between June and October 2000. The results of the study showed that the overall patient satisfaction was high. The highest satisfaction was in areas related to relationships with staff and lowest with psycho education, physical environment items such as parking, toilets and waiting area. In conclusion, despite the high degree of satisfaction for the care delivered in the outpatient clinics, providing information and responding to patient needs were a source of dissatisfaction specially by the more educated and those who received a neurotic type of diagnosis. In the future, attention should be paid to improve ways of psycho education in order to further enhance patient satisfaction

Effectiveness of social skills training program for children with conduct problems: skill acquisition

The Social Skills Training Program [SST] for children with behavioral problems attending an inpatient/day care program were assessed in terms of skill acquisition. Eight boys, aged from 10-14, of whom three were attending the inpatient program and five the day care program, were exposed to 11 sessions of skills training twice weekly for 6 weeks. The sessions included topics related to classroom behavior, effective communication, problem solving and coping with stress. The subjects performance of these skills were measured by parents and teachers before and after the training period. Both parents and teachers reported a significant increase in the frequency of use of these skills. The generalization of these learned skills should be assessed in the future using a larger control sample

Synthesis and cardiotonic properties of 6- [3-Pyridyl] nicotinonitrile derivatives

A number of 6- [3- pyridyl] nicotinonitrile derivatives were synthesized for their potential cardiotonic activity. This was achieved by reacting ketones [1] with ethyl cyanoacetate to give [II] or [III] depending on the reaction conditions. Similarly cyclocondensation of the same substrates [I] with malononitrile afforded the corresponding derivatives [IV] or [V]

Prediction of epilepsy in febrile seizure

The EEG records of all referrals to the EEC Unit of Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC] in two years 125 in number were examined. The parents of 90 patients were interviewed 2-3 years after obtaining EEG records for evaluation of known predictors for development of non-febrile seizures or epilepsy. Development from febrile into non-febrile seizures was detected in 7.7% of the cases. The high incidence of epilepsy among the cases is probably due to methodological differences and patients selectivity. Factors such as recurrence rate and the presence of epileptigenic changes in the EEC were significantly related to the development of epilepsy. Meanwhile the difference between the febrile seizure and non-febrile seizure cases in age at onset and family involvement was important but did not reach significance

Febrile seizures, electroencephalographic and follow-up study

The EEG records of all referrals to the EEG unit of Salmaniya Medical Centre [SMC] in one year - 75 in number - were examined. Epileptigenic abnormality was observed in 30% at the first examination. The parents of 53 patients were interviewed 2 years after obtaining EEG records for identification of factors that might contribute to the recurrence of febrile seizures and the development of non-febrile seizures. Development from febrile into non-febrile seizures was detected in 9.5% of the cases. The high incidence of EEG abnormality and non-febrile seizures in the study group could be explained by the assumption that more children at risk of developing non-febrile seizures were referred for EEG study

Folie a deux in adolesent twins

A case of Folie a deux affecting twin brothers in their adolescence is described. The principal subject was suffering from schizophrenia. The passive subject recovered as the other received treatment. Follow up after 2 years of initiating treatment showed complete remission of the shared delusion but the principal subject remained socially inadequate and vulnerable to the long-term effect of the primary disorder