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Background: Diabetes mellitus and depression are serious common diseases, and the number of people with both conditions is rising steadily. Depression in people with diabetes mellitus results in poorer prognosis through different mechanisms. On the other hand, the presence of diabetes in individuals with depression increases functional impairment that is associated with depression. Aims: The study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with depression among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a diabetes clinic in Cairo, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients with diabetes type 2 attending a diabetes clinic in the endocrinology department in Ain Shams University Teaching Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews by trained psychiatrists and from patients' records. Results: The prevalence of depression among diabetic patients was 21.8% (95% CI [15.6%, 29.1%]). Depression was more common among younger age groups and those with a higher level of education. There was no significant difference between those with lifetime depression compared to those without depression regarding physical health complications. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression among patients with type 2 diabetes is high. Given the impact of co-morbid diabetes and depression, diabetic patients should be routinely screened for the latter condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020. Such widespread outbreaks are associated with adverse mental health consequences. Aims: To evaluate mental health outcomes among Egyptian healthcare workers (HCW) treating patients with confirmed or suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to direct the promotion of mental wellbeing, by screening for symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression and stress, and analyzing potential risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional, hospital-based survey study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 502 HCW dealing with COVID-19. HCW were surveyed in 20 hospitals (Fever, Chest, and Quarantine hospitals) in different parts of Egypt, in April and May 2020. Results: Among the 502 HCW surveyed; 60.0% were physicians, 16.1% were specialized nurses, and 23.9% were non-specialized nurses. About 35.3% worked in chest hospitals, 17.5% in fever hospitals, and 47.2% in quarantine hospitals. A considerable proportion of HCW had symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and stress. Females were at higher risk of experiencing symptoms of severe anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.12–3.05; p =.016), severe depression (OR, 2.013; 95% CI, 1.17–3.4; p =.011), and severe stress (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.5–4.6; p <.001). Fever hospital workers were at higher risk of severe depression (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.11–2.09; p <.01), compared to Quarantine hospital workers. Conclusion: Ensuring proper mental health support for HCW is an important component of public health measures for addressing the COVID-19 epidemic and safeguarding the continuity of appropriate medical service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Six recent and influential papers that have appeared in the three leading psychiatry journals from the Arab region are summarized in this review. The first paper examined the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) in rural and urban secondary school girls in Sharkia; more EDs were found among urban than rural population. The second study reported the high prevalence of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in primary school children in Iraq in context of the present situation in Iraq dominated by violence creating a traumatizing atmosphere for the population, especially children. The third paper reported that substance dependent patients manifest elevated traits of impulsivity; emotionally driven impulsivity in particular predicted substance related problems. The fourth study reported significant cognitive impairments at illness onset in a large sample of patients with a first psychotic episode. The fifth paper, investigated the cultural imprint on symptom profile of mood disorders. Culture effect on mood disorder was more prominent in depression than in mania. The last article examined the relations between social circumstances, medical morbidity, locus of control and depression in elderly patients suffering from medical conditions. Overall, the papers describe a wide spectrum of research initiatives in the Arab World that are likely to have implications for global mental health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Although much attention has been drawn to trends in smoking and smoking related diseases in the general population, increasing evidence suggests that patients with mental illness are at a high risk for tobacco use and nicotine addiction. Cigarette smokers usually state the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of smoking, but evidence reports that cigarette smoking may promote negative effect, so that the causal direction of this association still mysterious. It was reported that there is a cause effect relationship between cigarette smoking and depression as multiple studies mentioned that tobacco use increases the risk of symptoms of depression. The relationship between smoking and depression was attributed to genetic predisposition, low level of dopamine, low self-esteem, and coping styles. Aim of the Work: The current study aimed to study the pattern of tobacco use among patients with depression, to study the degree of motivation to quit in patients with depression, and to assess severity of suicidal behavior among patients with depression using tobacco. Patients and Methods: This is a case control study conducted in patients with the diagnosis of depression attending the outpatient clinic or inpatient of the institute of psychiatry Ain Shams University Hospitals during the academic year 2018-2019. The sample size was consisted of 100 patients and the patients were selected randomly. The relationship between tobacco use and depression between Egyptian patients was assessed using Socioeconomic status scale (SES), Hamilton Rating scale for Depression (HRSD), FagerströmTest for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Lebanon Waterpipe Dependence Scale-11 (LWDS-11), Reason for quitting scale (RFQ), Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), and ICD-10 symptom checklist for mental disorders. Results: The present study showed a statistical significant association between the following scales; Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), Difference score of Reason for quitting scale (RFQ) and Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS), and Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Columbia–Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS). Conclusion: Compared to non-depressive persons, the results showed that depressive groups were less desired for quitting smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]