Psychiatric and behavioral problems of non-referred preschoolers [aged 3-6] in nurseries in Ismailia

Nine hundred preschoolers were screened by the use of Conners rating scale [both parent and teacher reports], each child was behaviorally assessed by the child behavior checklist [CBCL] [both parent and teacher forms] and by the use of the body developmental progress scale. The results showed that 19.9% [n = 146] of preschoolers studied [n = 734] were reported by their parents and 15.7% [n = 115] by their teachers to be problematic. Teachers identified significantly more boys [60.9%] than girls [39.1%] to be problematic. Problematic boys were reported by their parents to be more aggressive than non problematic boys; while problematic girls were described by their parents to be more schizoid, depressed, uncommunicative, socially withdrawn, hyperactive, aggressive and delinquent

Psychosexual impact of female circumcision

A total of 250 women, who were randomly selected from females attending Maternal and Childhood Centers in Ismailia was gynecologically examined to determine their circumcision status and interviewed by items from the sexual behavior assessment activity. Results showed that 80% of the sample were circumcised. The circumcised women complained of dysmenorrhea [80.5% P <0.001] reported vaginal dryness during intercourse [48.5% P <0.05], lack of sexual desire [45%, P <0.01], less initiative in sex [11%, P <0.05], less pleased by sex [49%, P <0.01], being less orgastic [39%, P <0.01] and with less frequency of orgasm [2.5, P <0.05], having difficulty to reach orgasm [60.5%, P <0.05] than uncircumcised women. However, other psychosexual problems such as loss of interest in foreplay [51.5%] and dyspareunia [46%] did not reach statistical significance

Epidemiological study of enuresis in children aged 6-12 years in Ismailia

A total 1004 children [aged 6 - 12 years] were randomly screened through a block design sampling procedures of Ismailia City districts. Families were interviewed at their residence and information about the sphincteric control status of their children [6 - 12 years] and related psychosocial and development factors were obtained. DSM-III-R criteria were used for diagnosis. A total of 124 children was found to suffer from enuresis. Enuresis was a little bit higher in younger age group [14.6% in 6 - 8 years, than in older age group, 11.3% and 10.3% in age groups 8 - 10 and 10 - 12 years]. There were no statistically significant differences between girls [13.1%] and boys [13.3%]. In 73% of those enuretic children, there was no evidence of physical illness or abnormality. 53.2% of those children have secondary and 46.8% have primary enuresis. Over 60% of enuretic children have their enuresis problem before age 6 years, while 37% of the parents of enuretic children reported that enuresis developed following exposure to a stressful life event. Results revealed that the enuresis is a common condition and is probably determine by both biological and psychosocial factors particularly under unfavorable social and family circumstances

Extrapyramidal symptoms in children and adolescents treated with different dose of low potency neuroleptics

Neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms [EPS] were evaluated in 61 children and adolescents over 4 weeks of treatment. In patients treated with low potency neuroleptics, EPS was twice as common with higher doses >300 mg [60%] than with lower doses <299 mg chlorpromazine equivalents. In patients who were neuroleptic-free before initiation of drug treatment, EPS were more than 3 times as common in higher doses [73%] than in lower doses [18%]. The implications of these findings were discussed and the use of prophylactic antiparkinsonian agents in combination with higher doses of low potency neuroleptics were suggested

Psychiatric problems of school-age children and adolescents in a child psychiatry clinic in Suez

This study describes psychiatric problems of 207 referrals to a child psychiatry clinic established within the school health unit in Suez city. Bed wetting [37%] and functional enuresis [36%] were the commonest presenting problems and diagnosis, followed by poor learning [31%] and disruptive behavior disorders [25%] on axis I and specific developmental disorders [25%] on axis II. Results showed that 60% of the referrals have multiple diagnoses and that disorders loaded with developmental, genetic and familial backgrounds predominate. The explanation of our results are discussed with the implication for future mental health planning for school-age children and adolescents

Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder: do we need another psychiatric category?

The prevalence rate of the proposed diagnostic category of DSM-III-R "Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder" [LLPDD] was assessed in a survey in 2272 Egyptian females in Suez Canal Area. 69.6% of the surveyed females reported symptoms and patterns that qualify them to have "Premenstrual Tension Syndrome" [PMS]. However, 703 of those who have the disorder reported that they need treatment for their symptoms. This represents 30.9% of the sample surveyed. These high prevalence rates, the biological necessity of changes, the predominance of pains and physical symptoms, together with the highest need for treatment in married and infertile females suggest that inclusion of the LLPDD in DSM-IV might not be an ideal choice