Attitudes and stigma toward seeking psychological help among Saudi Adults.

Background: In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), public attitudes and stigma toward mental health illness seem to prevent people from seeking psychological help, which negatively impacts an individual's life. The primary objective of this study was to investigate people's attitudes toward seeking psychological help and identify the extent to which the associated stigma is responsible for preventing them from seeking psychological help.

Methods: Two hundred eighteen adults recruited from the community living in the Eastern Province of the KSA completed the questionnaires, customized to create the Arabic version of Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form (ATSPPH-SF-A), the Arabic version of Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help (SSRPH-A), and the Arabic version of Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25-A).

Characteristics of subjects with comorbidity of symptoms of generalized anxiety and major depressive disorders and the corresponding threshold and subthreshold conditions in an Arab general population sample.

Background: There is controversy about differential meaningfulness between comorbid generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)/ major depressive disorder (MDD), the corresponding "pure" disorders and subthreshold conditions. We compared subjects who met DSM-IVTR criteria of symptoms and functional impairment for comorbid GAD/MDD, versus those with GAD, MDD, subthreshold conditions, and without significant symptoms. The comparison measures were socio-demographics, clinical severity, and quality of life (QOL).

Relationship between symptoms of major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders in an Arab population using diagnostic criteria-based instruments.

Background: The relationship between major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) has been problematic in psychiatric nosology. We examined two research questions: First, using a data-driven approach, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), will symptoms that define MDD and GAD appear together in one factor, or are they separable into the hypothesized dimensions of the disorders? Second, using a theory-driven approach, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), how will the structural integrity of the resulting factors compare with those of the various models that have been used to explain the relation between the symptoms?

Material/methods: Participants (n=3303) were a general population sample of adult Kuwaitis who self-completed the DSM-IV-TR criteria-based questionnaires for MDD and GAD. Exploratory factor analysis was by principal axis factoring, with oblique rotation.

Quality of life in people with epilepsy and their family caregivers. An Arab experience using the short version of the World Health Organization quality of life instrument.

Objective: To assess the subjective quality of life (QOL) of Sudanese epilepsy patients with generalized tonic clonic seizures and their family caregivers, compared with the general population, and previous Sudanese data for chronic conditions, and to examine the predictors of QOL.

Methods: This cross-sectional study using the World Health Organization's 26-item QOL instrument, was carried out from December 2005 to December 2006, on consecutive government hospital Neurology Clinic attendees and their family caregivers, who fulfilled the study's inclusion criteria, in the cities of Khartoum, Wad Medani, and Atbara, Sudan.

Results: There were 276 patients (56.

The reliability and validity of the short version of the WHO Quality of Life Instrument in an Arab general population.

Background And Objectives: There is rising interest in quality of life (QOL) research in Arabian countries. The aim of this study was to assess in a nationwide sample of Kuwaiti subjects the reliability and validity of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), a shorter version of the widely used QOL assessment instrument that comprises 26 items in the domains of physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and the environment.

Methods: A one-in-three systematic random proportionate sample of consenting Kuwaiti nationals attending large cooperative stores and municipal government offices in the six governorates completed the Arabic translation of the questionnaire.

Subjective quality of life in a nationwide sample of Kuwaiti subjects using the short version of the WHO quality of life instrument.

Objectives: The usefulness of quality of life (QOL) as an outcome measure in medicine has inspired general population studies to establish normative values. The objectives of the study were to: (1) highlight the pattern of satisfaction with aspects of life circumstances among a nationwide sample of Kuwaiti subjects, using the 26-item WHOQOL Instrument (WHOQOL-Bref); (2) establish the QOL domain normative values; (3) highlight the relationship of QOL with socio-demographic variables and scores on scales for anxiety and depression; and (4) assess the relationship between domains of QOL.

Method: A one-in-three systematic random proportionate sample of consenting Kuwaiti nationals attending the large cooperative stores and municipal government offices in the six governorates, were requested to complete the questionnaires anonymously.

Family caregiver quality of life in multiple sclerosis among Kuwaitis: a controlled study.

Background: Research interest in the quality of life (QOL) of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been spurred by the need to broaden outcome measures. Far less of this interest has been directed at the family caregivers, who bear most of the burden of care. The objectives of the study were: First, to compare the subjective QOL of family caregivers of persons with relapsing remitting and progressive MS, with those of a matched general population sample and caregivers of diabetes and psychiatric patients.

Relationship of depression, disability, and family caregiver attitudes to the quality of life of Kuwaiti persons with multiple sclerosis: a controlled study.

Background: Assessment of subjective quality of life (QOL) of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) could facilitate the detection of psychosocial aspects of disease that may otherwise go unrecognized. The objectives of the study were to (i) compare the QOL ratings of relapsing remitting (RRMS) and progressive (PMS) types of MS with those of a general population group and the impression of their family caregivers; and (ii) assess the association of demographic, clinical, treatment, depression, and caregiver variables with patients' QOL.

Methods: Consecutive clinic attendees at the national neurology hospital were assessed with the 26 -item WHOQOL Instrument, Beck's Depression Inventory and Expanded Disability Scale.

Confirmatory factor analytical study of the WHOQOL-Bref: experience with Sudanese general population and psychiatric samples.

Background: The widespread international use of the 26-item WHO Quality of Life Instrument (WHOQOL-Bref) necessitates the assessment of its factor structure across cultures. For, alternative factor models may provide a better explanation of the data than the WHO 4- and 6-domain models. The objectives of the study were: to assess the factor structure of the WHOQOL-Bref in a Sudanese general population sample; and use confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis (PA) to see how well the model thus generated fits into the WHOQOL-Bref data of Sudanese psychiatric patients and their family caregivers.

Factors associated with quality of life of outpatients with breast cancer and gynecologic cancers and their family caregivers: a controlled study.

Background: Quality of life (QOL) issues are of interest in cancer because effective methods of treatment and detection have led to an increase in the number of long-term survivors. The objectives of the study were: to assess the subjective QOL of stable Sudanese women cancer outpatients and their family caregivers, using the WHO 26-item QOL Instrument; compare with matched general population groups, as well as diabetic and psychiatric patient groups; examine patient-caregiver concordance in ratings; and assess the variables associated with their QOL, with a view to identifying factors that can enhance quality of care.

Methods: Responses of oncology outpatients with breast cancer (117), cervical cancer (46) and ovarian cancer (18) (aged 44.

Subjective quality of life of outpatients with diabetes: comparison with family caregivers' impressions and control group.

Background: There is a paucity of studies on comparison of quality of life (QOL) of type-1 and type-2 diabetes patients, and the impact of family caregivers' impressions on the QOL of patients.

Objectives: To assess the subjective QOL of Sudanese diabetics using the WHOQOL-Bref, compared with a general population sample; examine caregiver-patient concordance; and assess the variables that impact on QOL.

Method: The responses of 105 outpatients with type-1 diabetes and 136 with type-2 diabetes were compared with their family caregivers' impressions and 139 general population subjects.

Diabetes mellitus patients' family caregivers' subjective quality of life.

Objectives: To assess the subjective quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of Sudanese type-1 and type-2 diabetic outpatients, using the WHO 26-item QOL instrument, compared with a general population sample; and to examine the factors associated with caregiver QOL.

Method: Responses of caregivers of 105 outpatients with type-1 diabetes and 135 with type-2 diabetes were compared with 139 general population subjects.

Results: Caregivers were satisfied with the content of items related to general social supports.

Subjective quality of life of family caregivers of community living Sudanese psychiatric patients.

Background: Reports on the quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of psychiatric patients are uncommon.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the subjective QOL of caregivers of stable Sudanese outpatients using the World Health Organization 26-item Quality of Life Instrument compared with a general population sample, and assess the factors associated with caregivers' QOL.

Method: Responses of caregivers of outpatients with schizophrenia (99), major affective disorders (120), and neuroses (81) were compared with 211 general population subjects.

A critical review of the clinical effects of therapeutic irradiation damage to the brain: the roots of controversy.

We critically examined the damaging affects of therapeutic irradiation by comparing results from cross-disciplinary studies of early- and late-delayed radiotherapy effects. Focus is attained by concentrating on clinical treatment issues (volume of brain, dose, timing of effects, age, modality types, and stereotactic treatment techniques), rather than on methodological means or problems, which is necessary to understand the mechanisms and characteristics of radiotherapy-induced behavioral dysfunction including cognition. We make observations and hypotheses about the actual risks from radiotherapy that could be informative in the treatment decision process, and which may lessen the concerns of some patients and their families about the risks they take when receiving radiation.