Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in females of childbearing age. It causes irregular menstruation, infertility, acne vulgaris, androgenic alopecia, and hirsutism. It is associated with a higher risk of mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety among females with PCOS and the factors associated with these disorders. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between 15th January and 19th November 2023. We invited Saudi women to do an online survey. We sent the survey link privately, got their permission, and explained the research to ensure privacy and reliability. Females with a previous psychiatric history were excluded. Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21) were used to assess depression, anxiety, and distress. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and two-sample t-tests were used to identify determinants of depression and anxiety. RESULTS: About 967 females participated, of whom 474 (49%) were married, and 358 (37%) had a healthy weight. About 367 (37.9%) of participants were diagnosed with PCOS, and it was associated with age (26-35 years), divorce, and family history of PCOS (p < 0.05). About 112 (30.5%) of PCOS patients experienced extremely severe depression, and 144 (39.2%) had extreme anxiety. People in the age range of 15-25 years had a higher risk of depression and stress (p < 0.05). Divorced participants faced a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and stress than singles (p < 0.05). Those advised on diet and healthy lifestyles exhibited a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and stress than those who were not (p < 0.05). Additionally, being overweight was associated with a higher risk of depression (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PCOS was found to be 37.9% in our study, which may seem higher compared to the existing literature on PCOS. It is associated with being in the age group of 26-35 years, being divorced, and having a positive family history. Almost two-thirds of females with PCOS had depression, anxiety, and stress. Factors associated with the three disorders include divorce and management with diet and lifestyle modifications. Depression and stress were associated with young age. High body mass index (BMI) was associated with depression.

Bridge to Better Care: Investigating Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) Management Expertise Among Primary Healthcare Providers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are brief episodes of neurological impairment caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, spinal cord, or retina, typically lasting under an hour. Recent advances in neuroimaging suggest that some TIAs may actually be small strokes with resolved symptoms. This study focuses on assessing the knowledge and management of TIAs among primary care physicians and nurses in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methodology This is a cross-sectional study, conducted in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, during the period July to August 2023. Data were collected using an electronic questionnaire and was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 27.0.1 (released 2020, IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among the participants, 64.0% correctly identified TIA as an ischemic neurological deficit. However, only 20.2% provided correct responses for all TIA symptoms. Regarding diagnostic tests, 47.4% acknowledged the need for neuroimaging immediately after TIA, while 17.5% recognized the importance of ultrasonography of the supra-aortic trunks. In terms of TIA management, 38.6% preferred referral to the emergency service, and 41.2% correctly perceived the risk of TIA recurrence as similar to that of established cerebral ischemic stroke. Significant disparities were observed in the recognition of TIA symptoms, with physicians outperforming nurses, particularly in identifying motor deficits (82.4% vs. 65.2%) and speech alterations (86.8% vs. 76.1%, p = 0.004). However, nurses exhibited better knowledge in recognizing the need for a neuroimaging test (48.5% vs. 45.7%, p = 0.849) and the urgency of conducting a transcranial Doppler (TCD) (19.1% vs. 23.9%, p = 0.641). Conclusion A considerable proportion of healthcare providers demonstrate a good understanding of TIA definition and management. However, the lack of significant predictors for good knowledge and attitude suggests the need for more comprehensive strategies to enhance TIA management expertise across healthcare professionals.

Approach and Clinical Practice of Functional Movement Disorders Among Neurologists in Saudi Arabia.

Background Functional movement disorders (FMDs) are neurological disorders that consist of abnormal and involuntary movements that have no specific organic cause. Given the prevalence of FMDs and the scarcity of information on neurologists' approaches to FMDs, we aimed to assess the neurologists' approaches and clinical practice in managing FMDs in Saudi Arabia. Methods A validated online questionnaire in English was used. The data were collected through a self-reported questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the statistical software IBM SPSS version 22 (SPSS, Inc., Armonk, NY). Results A total of 231 neurologists completed the study survey. A total of 129 (55.8%) were males. Regarding the predictors for a diagnosis other than FMD, the highest rating predictor was for evidence of physical injury and lack of psychiatric history of psychological stressors, while the lowest rating was for the male gender. Regarding the effective treatment strategies of FMD, the most effective treatment strategy reported by the clinicians was patient education, while the least was alternative or complementary medicine. The management ability of clinicians was generally restricted by cultural beliefs about psychological illnesses and the availability of referral services. The reported predictors by clinicians for a better prognosis of FMD include acceptance of the diagnosis by the patient followed by identification and management of psychological stressors and concurrent psychiatric disorder and a supportive social network. Generally, the most used terminology in this study was "functional movement disorder". Conclusions There is a variation in the approach and clinical practice of FMD among neurologists in Saudi Arabia. Shared knowledge regarding diagnosis and effective management is crucial. Collaborative efforts are required to establish practice guidelines in the future.