Effects of a Gluten-Free Diet in a Teenager Presenting With Psychosis.

Nonceliac gluten sensitivity is a gluten-related disorder that results from immune-mediated reactions in predisposed people. It manifests usually with gastrointestinal symptoms; however, in rare cases, it might present with psychiatric symptoms that could be severe enough to impair functioning.  In this case report, we present a case of a 15-year-old girl, with no past psychiatric history, who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with anxiety symptoms and paranoid delusion that did not improve on conventional treatment. However, a significant improvement was observed upon starting on a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). This case adds to the existing literature, suggesting a possible strong relationship between gluten ingestion and psychiatric disorders.

Adaptation and Innovation in Spiritual-Psycho-Social Support of Displaced Muslim Refugees.

There are over 26 million refugees worldwide, and the majority are Muslims who hail from diverse cultural and geographical backgrounds. It is widely recognized that refugees are at high risk for mental health concerns and are in need of cultural and psychological adaptations to improve their well-being. Given the paucity of data in religio-spiritual adaptation using psychological interventions, the authors propose developing a religio-spiritual training resource that could help humanitarian aid workers and other professionals understand the needs of displaced Muslim refugees (Al-Nuaimi & Qoronfleh, 2020). Here, the authors present a religio-spiritual model that uses evidence-based psychological interventions to provide transcultural religiously and spiritually driven psychological care for displaced Muslim refugees.

Two Sisters From Qatar With TUSC3 Genetic Mutation: Psychiatric Considerations.

Defects in the tumor suppressor candidate 3 (TUSC3) gene have been identified in individuals with autosomal recessive intellectual disability (ARID). Our report on two sisters from Qatar with a mutation in the TUSC3 gene focuses on the behavioral manifestations and management provided to them. The sisters, daughters of consanguineous parents, exhibited aggressive and impulsive behavior, along with hyperactivity and emotional dysregulation. They also exhibited abnormal sleep and eating patterns. Behavioral therapy and psychotropic medications including aripiprazole 3.75mg, clonidine 0.025mg, and guanfacine 1mg were used for the management of aggressive and agitated behavior. The two girls showed a reduction in aggressive behavior, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and insomnia in response to 2mg daily of guanfacine. Few families around the world were reported to have mutations in the TUSC3 gene resulting in intellectual disability. We describe the first two reported cases of TUSC3 gene mutation in Qatar. We encourage further research to study the effects of TUSC3 gene mutation, its manifestations, and treatment.

Coping strategies, optimism, and resilience factors associated with mental health outcomes among medical residents exposed to coronavirus disease 2019 in Qatar.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to examine the association between coping strategies, resilience, optimism and different mental health outcomes like stress, anxiety, and depression among the medical residents' during the COVID-19 pandemic, with consideration of different factors like seniority, frontliner, gender, and coping style. METHODS: An electronic survey was sent to all medical residents in Qatar. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed by the DASS-21. Professional quality of life was measured by the ProQOL scale. The coping mechanisms were assessed with the Brief-COPE, and resilience was measured by the Brief Resilience Scale. RESULTS: The most commonly used coping strategies were acceptance, religion, and active coping. The avoidant coping style scores were higher among junior residents (p = .032) and non-COVID-19 frontliners (p = .039). Optimism LOT-R score was higher in senior than in junior residents (p < .001). Lower avoidant coping scores, higher optimism, and higher resilience were associated with lower stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: It seems that avoidant coping styles can exacerbate depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in medical residents amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategies promoting optimism, resilience, and approach coping styles can decrease the mental health burden of the pandemic on medical residents.

Factors associated with mental health outcomes among medical residents exposed to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak has caused challenges for healthcare systems worldwide. Recent data indicates that the psychological impact has differed with respect to occupation. In many countries, medical residents have been on the front line of this pandemic. However, data on the psychological impact of infectious disease outbreaks, and COVID-19 in particular, on medical residents are relatively lacking. AIMS: The aim of our study was to assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical residents working on the front and second line. METHOD: An electronic survey was sent to all medical residents in Qatar. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items. Professional quality of life was measured by the Professional Quality of Life measure. RESULTS: Of the 640 medical residents contacted, 127 (20%) responded. A considerable proportion of residents reported symptoms of depression (42.5%), anxiety (41.7%) and stress (30.7%). Multivariate analysis of variance showed significant effects of seniority in residency, with junior residents having poorer outcomes. In addition, there was a statistically significant interaction effect with moderate effect sizes between gender and working on the front line, as well as gender, working on the front line and seniority, on mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic may have a negative impact on junior residents' mental health. Preventive measures to reduce stress levels and easy access to professional mental health services are crucial.

Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic within institutional quarantine and isolation centres and its sociodemographic correlates in Qatar: a cross-sectional study.

SETTING: The State of Qatar has had one of the highest COVID-19 infection rates globally and has used state-managed quarantine and isolation centres to limit the spread of infection. Quarantine and isolation have been shown to negatively affect the mental health of individuals. Qatar has a unique population, with around 90% of the population being economic migrants and a majority being blue-collar workers and labourers. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate the psychological impact of institutional isolation and quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Qatar. The study also explored the sociodemographic correlates of this psychological impact. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: A cross-sectional study involving 748 consenting individuals in institutional quarantine and isolation in Qatar during the months of June and July 2020 was carried out. Relevant sociodemographic data along with depressive and anxiety symptomatology scores were collected from consenting adults at these facilities. RESULTS: 37.4% (n=270) of respondents reported depressive symptoms and 25.9% (n=189) reported anxiety symptoms. The scores were higher for individuals in isolation facilities and higher for migrants from poor socioeconomic group (p<0.001 for both). Within this group, although worries about infection were widely reported, lack of contact with the family was cited as one of the most important sources of distress. Respondents reported that contact with the family and reliable information were important factors that helped during the duration of isolation and quarantine. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reported significantly elevated scores for depression and anxiety during institutional quarantine, which is in keeping with emerging evidence. However, in contrast to other studies reporting mostly from native populations, this study of a population with an overwhelming majority of immigrants highlights the special mental health needs of this specific group and can inform future healthcare policies.

Devastating neurologic injuries in the Syrian war.

BACKGROUND: Since 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been displaced and injured due to the ongoing Syrian civil war. In this study, we report the prevalence of neurologic injuries in a major rehabilitation center on the Turkish-Syrian border where death and injury tolls continue to rise. METHOD: Based on several on-site visits from 2013 to 2016, medical practitioners collected data from patients in the major rehabilitation center on the border of Turkey and Syria. The clinical data, which included the type and cause of injury, laterality, paralysis, areas injured, and treatment offered, were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 230 patients were identified as having sustained a neurologic injury, 221/230 (96.1%) male and 9/230 (3.91%) female, ranging from ages 2-52 years. A total of 305 total injuries were documented over the course of a 4-year analysis due to several patients having multiple injuries. Gunshot wounds were the dominant mechanism of injury in 125/230 (54.3%) patients. Patients more frequently sustained single injuries 152/230 (66.1%) than multiple injuries 78/230 (33.9%). Peripheral nerve injuries were the most prevalent injuries, at 92.5% of all neurologic injuries (282/305), specifically injury to the radial nerve, at 19.1% (54/282) of peripheral injuries. Patients with spinal cord injuries made up 20/230 (8.7%) of all patients, with thoracic spine injuries composing 50% (10/20). Traumatic brain injuries were the least prevalent, 3/230 (1.3%), with an equal distribution of subtypes. CONCLUSION: This study and critical analysis of the devastation in Syria suggests the desperate need for emergency aid.

Psychiatric morbidity among physically injured Syrian refugees in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: To the best of our knowledge, the mental health status of physically injured Syrian refugees has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among physically injured Syrian refugees in Turkey receiving treatment at the main rehabilitation centre near the Syrian border. METHOD: This is a cross sectional study. Information was collected from consenting injured Syrian refugees at Dar-el-Shefa'a Hospital in Reyhanli (Turkey) during a one week period in December 2012 and another one week period in August 2013. A clinical psychiatric interview was conducted to determine a diagnosis according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) IV-TR. RESULTS: A total of 40 refugees consented and completed a clinical psychiatric interview. All refugees in this study did not have a significant past psychiatric history. The most prevalent current diagnosis was major depressive disorder (22.5%), adjustment disorder (20%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (15%). Five (12.5%) patients had no evidence of a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among injured Syrian refugees in our study was extremely high. This may help guide the treatment and management of this select population. LIMITATIONS: This study had a low number of participants. The method of assessment was not standardized with a validated tool. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study may help guide the treatment and management of this select population, both in neighbouring countries and as resettled refugees in Western host countries.

Effectiveness of adjuvant temozolomide treatment in patients with glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether adjuvant temozolomide treatment improved glioblastoma patients` survival in a large Canadian cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 364 glioblastoma patients who received different modalities of treatment in 2 Canadian tertiary care centers in Edmonton and Halifax, Canada, between January 2000 and December 2006. The primary outcome was survival following the treatment protocol. RESULTS: The following variables were associated with an increased risk of death: The hazard risk (HR) of on-gross total resection was 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-0.64). The HR for the surgery-only group was 5.2 (95% CI: 3.85-7.06). The standard treatment group (surgery, radiation therapy [RT], and temozolomide) had an HR of 0.52 (95% CI: 0.37-0.74). The HR for patients who presented with seizure or whose presentation included seizures was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.55-0.89). Patient entry into trials had an HR of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.57-0.96). Finally, the HR for age was 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.03) for every extra year. CONCLUSION: Concomitant temozolomide with RT and surgery was associated with longer survival compared with RT with surgery alone. We also found that younger age, surgical resection, seizure presence, and entry into trials are important prognostic factors for longer survival.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and neuroprotection: a review.

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been available for more than 50 years, initially developed as antidepressants but currently used in a variety of psychiatric and neurological conditions. There has been a recent surge of interest in monoamine oxidase inhibitors because of their reported neuroprotective and/or neurorescue properties. Interestingly, it seems that often these properties are independent of their ability to inhibit monoamine oxidase. This review article presents an overview of the neuroprotective/neurorescue properties of these multifaceted drugs and focuses on phenelzine, (-)-deprenyl, rasagiline, ladostigil, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, and clorgyline and their possible neuroprotective mechanisms.