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

ABSTRACT

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