Interoceptive Awareness Among the General Public in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Interoception refers to the cognitive process of perceiving internal bodily states. This encompasses various physiological indicators, including heart rate fluctuations, stomach distention, internal temperature, hydration levels, sensory input from free nerve terminals in the fascia and muscles, as well as hormonal, stretch, and pain receptors. This study aimed to examine the interoceptive awareness among the general public in Saudi Arabia.

Gender differences and risk factors for smoking among patients with various psychiatric disorders in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The higher prevalence of smoking among psychiatric patients is well established. However, gender-specific associations have rarely been the focus of studies among patients with various psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate the gender-specific prevalence of current smoking by psychiatric patients and its association with various psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medications.

Prevalence and determinants of physical activity in a mixed sample of psychiatric patients in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To estimate prevalence of physical activity and its associations with various psychiatric disorders and the use of psychotropic medications.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out between July 2012 and June 2014. Patients were enrolled from a number of hospitals located in 5 regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence and risk factors of hyperprolactinemia among patients with various psychiatric diagnoses and medications.

Objectives: Hyperprolactinemia is a common adverse event associated with psychotropic medications (mainly antipsychotics) used in the management of schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia in psychiatric patients and to evaluate its association with various psychiatric diagnoses and the use of various psychotropic medications.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted between July 2012 and June 2014.

Assessment of the burden on caregivers of patients with mental disorders in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Mental disorders are considered important public health problems not only to people with mental illness but also their caregivers. As is the case in many countries, the deinstitutionalization of mental health services in Saudi Arabia, has meant that informal caregivers are shouldering responsibilities for which they are not usually prepared; therefore, the current study was aimed at assessment of the burden on caregivers of people with mental illness.

Methods: Through a cross-sectional design, a sample of the caregivers of people with mental illness (n = 377) was selected randomly from a psychiatric hospital in Jeddah.

Patterns of psychotropic medication use in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: To study the pattern of psychotropic medication use and compare this pattern between inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings in Saudi Arabia.

Method: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted between July 2012 and June 2014 on patients seeking psychiatric advice at major hospitals in five main regions of Saudi Arabia. Male (n=651) and female (n=594) patients who signed the informed consent form and were currently or had been previously using psychotropic medications, irrespective of the patient's type of psychiatric diagnosis and duration of the disease, were included.