Cognitive dysfunctionin among schizophernic: first episode versus chronic patients

To compare the cognitive functioning of a sample of patients experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia with that of patients with an established schizophrenia illness. Thirty patients who were experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. Thirty patients with an established schizophrenia illness and thirty control subjects volunteered to undergo the procedures. The cases were recruited from psychological medicine hospital [Kuwait]. All patients met DSM-IV criteria for diagnosing schizophrenia [group II, III]. All the three groups underwent Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale [WAIS], Wisconsin Card Sorting Test [WCST]. Wechsler Memory Scale [WMS] and Positive and Negative Symptom Scale [PANSS], this related only to group II and III [patients groups]. Socio demographic characteristics of study sample showed that the mean age in years in group I is 27.77, in group II is 24.87and in group III is 31.37 the study revealed cognitive impairment in the early first-episode schizophrenia either IQ, memory or executive function, the study showed no relation between these cognitive deficits and the demographic variables, in both groups II and III with cognitive deficits. These results support the findings of previous studies suggesting that first-episode patients demonstrate cognitive impairments similar to those of patients with an established schizophrenia illness

Quality of life and coping among caregivers of diabetic and epileptic children in Kuwait: a comparative study

To compare the quality of life and coping capacity among primary care givers of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus [IDDM] children and epileptic ones. The study included 40 primary care givers of children with IDDM and 40 caregivers of children with benign childhood generalized absence seizures. The care givers of both diseased children were subjected to World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief scale [WHO QoL Brief] and Abdel Basset Coping Scale. There are statistically significant differences between the two groups in all domains of WHO QOL Brief and coping scores including total, active coping, emotional, emotional based cognitive processes indicating that quality of life and coping abilities are better for caregivers of diabetic children than those of epileptic ones. Also there is statistically significant correlation between those having IDDM boy, higher educational level of the caregivers and lower scoring on quality of life and coping capacity. In care givers of epileptic children significant correlation noted between duration, frequency of seizure, number of antiepileptic drugs, having an epileptic girl, higher educational and occupational status of care givers and poor quality of life and impaired coping capacity. Caregivers of epileptic children have poor quality of life and impaired coping capacity than those of IDDM children. This may increase the need for educational and psychological support to improve the quality of life and alleviate burden experienced by family having diabetic and epileptic child, especially family having an epileptic child