Implementing a collaborative care model for child and adolescent mental health in Qatar: Addressing workforce and access challenges.

Child and adolescent mental health disorders in Qatar remain significantly underserved due to a critical shortage of specialists, stigma, and logistical barriers. This paper proposes implementing a Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) within Qatar's primary care settings, leveraging existing infrastructure, such as the CERNER electronic health record system, and innovations like telepsychiatry and AI-driven tools. The model integrates task-sharing among interdisciplinary teams to enhance accessibility and continuity of care.

Peripheral inflammatory and metabolic markers as potential biomarkers in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: Insights from a Qatari Cohort.

Schizophrenia presents significant diagnostic and treatment challenges, particularly in distinguishing between treatment-resistant (TRS) and non-treatment-resistant schizophrenia (NTRS). This cross-sectional study analyzed routine laboratory parameters as potential biomarkers to differentiate TRS, NTRS, and healthy individuals within a Qatari cohort. The study included 31 TRS and 38 NTRS patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, alongside 30 control subjects from the Qatar Biobank.

Exploring the epigenetic landscape: The role of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Recent advances in genetic and epigenetic research have underscored the significance of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID), revealing its potential as both a biomarker for early detection and a target for novel therapeutic strategies. This review article provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of 5hmC in NDDs by examining both animal models and human studies. By examining mouse models, studies have demonstrated that prenatal environmental challenges, such as maternal infection and food allergies, lead to significant epigenetic alterations in 5hmC levels, which were associated with NDDs in offspring, impacting social behavior, cognitive abilities and increasing ASD-like symptoms.

The shared genetic risk factors between Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Tourette syndrome (TS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are two neuropsychiatric disorders that frequently co-occur. Previous evidence suggests a shared genetic diathesis underlying the comorbidity of TS and OCD. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the current literature on the genetic factors linked with TS and its comorbidities, with a focus on OCD.

SSRI withdrawal syndrome in children and adolescents: a narrative literature review.

Introduction: While there is considerable published evidence regarding the nature and severity of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) discontinuation symptoms in the adult population, information relating to the child and adolescent population remains scarce. This narrative review examined the published literature on SSRI withdrawal symptoms in the under-18-year-old age group. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were comprehensively searched from inception to 5 May 2023.

Evaluating COVID-19 vaccination intentions and vaccine hesitancy among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.

As the global vaccination mass campaign against COVID-19 extended to children aged 5 to 11 years, some parents remained hesitant about their children being administered the vaccine despite data supporting its safety. Parent vaccine hesitancy (PVH) may have predisposed certain groups of children, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to COVID-19 when other neurotypical children would have been vaccinated. We investigated the current PVH in 243 parents of children with ASD and 245 controls using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) scale.

The Impact of Multisource Feedback on Continuing Medical Education, Clinical Performance and Patient Experience: Innovation in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

This paper reiterates the importance of the role of multisource feedback (MSF) in continuing medical education/continuing professional development (CME/CPD) and its impact on doctors' performance and patient experience globally. It summarises a unique initiative of robust utilisation of internationally recognised multisource feedback tools in an outpatient child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) in Qatar. The process involved the effective adoption and administering of the General Medical Council's (GMC) self-assessment questionnaire (SQ), patient questionnaire (PQ), and colleague questionnaire (CQ) followed by the successful incorporation of these tools in CME/CPD.

Multinational perspectives on changes to psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a survey of practicing psychiatrists.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in significant upheaval in psychiatric care. Despite survey data collected from psychiatric patients and broad samples of individuals in single countries, there is little quantitative or qualitative data on changes to psychiatric care from the perspective of mental health providers themselves across developing countries.

Methods: To address this gap, we surveyed 27 practicing psychiatrists from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Anxiety symptoms among children visiting a pediatric emergency center in Qatar during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Although the evidence base regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children has been growing, descriptions of their experiences remain scarce. In this cross-sectional study, the authors used the Child-Reported Spence Children's Anxiety Scale to collect data from 91 children visiting a pediatric emergency center in Qatar during the pandemic. Around 25% of the children reported elevated levels of overall anxiety.

Genetic etiology of adult intellectual disability (ID) of unknown cause in Qatar: a retrospective study.

Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a common condition that consists of a heterogeneous group of clinical conditions with different etiologies, including genetic conditions. Identifying those with a genetic cause results in better clinical management.

Aim: To identify the genetic etiology of ID in adult patients with unknown etiology presenting to a specialist learning disability service in Qatar.

A systematic review of the use of atomoxetine for management of comorbid anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Anxiety disorders are among the most common comorbid mental disorders in children and adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While the role of atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication, is well-established in the management of ADHD symptoms since two decades, there is a dearth of evidence regarding its efficacy in the management of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Aims: We aimed to provide insights into (1) the comparative efficacy of atomoxetine in children and adolescents with comorbid ADHD and anxiety disorders, (2) change in severity of anxiety symptoms based on patients', parents', and clinicians' ratings, (3) tolerability and side effects.

Glutamatergic System in Depression and Its Role in Neuromodulatory Techniques Optimization.

Depressive disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions and contribute to significant morbidity. Even though the use of antidepressants revolutionized the management of depression and had a tremendous positive impact on the patient's outcome, a significant proportion of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) show no or partial or response even with adequate treatment. Given the limitations of the prevailing monoamine hypothesis-based pharmacotherapy, glutamate and glutamatergic related pathways may offer an alternative and a complementary option for designing novel intervention strategies.

Abnormal corneal nerve morphology and brain volume in patients with schizophrenia.

Neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative pathology occur in Schizophrenia. This study compared the utility of corneal confocal microscopy (CCM), an ophthalmic imaging technique with MRI brain volumetry in quantifying neuronal pathology and its relationship to cognitive dysfunction and symptom severity in schizophrenia. Thirty-six subjects with schizophrenia and 26 controls underwent assessment of cognitive function, symptom severity, CCM and MRI brain volumetry.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety among male patients with COVID-19 in Lebsayyer Field Hospital, Qatar.

Background: Depression and anxiety are major health problems found to be associated with various conditions. COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has a substantial effect on the worldwide population. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of depression and anxiety among male patients with COVID-19 and explore their relationship with participants' characteristics.

Cardiovascular risk assessment for patients with serious mental illnesses: An internal review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of excess premature mortality among patients with serious mental illness (SMI), mainly because of higher cardiovascular risk and metabolic syndrome compared to the general population. A pertinent contributing factor is second-generation antipsychotics, which further negatively impact the cardiovascular risk burden, amounting to a significant clinical and public health challenge among patients with SMI. Qatar has a high metabolic syndrome prevalence of 26%, and the blood pressure of patients with SMI receiving antipsychotics is significantly higher.

Quetiapine-Induced Thyroid Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.

Thyroid abnormalities are documented consequences of quetiapine treatment. This may have clinical implications as changes in thyroid hormones may deteriorate a person's affective state. Yet less is known about the clinical factors and underlying mechanisms associated with thyroid hormones on quetiapine therapy.

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.

Mental Health, resilience, and religiosity in the elderly under COVID-19 quarantine in Qatar.

Introduction: Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) quarantine has been associated with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. We hypothesize these symptoms might even be more pronounced in the elderly, who may be particularly sensitive to social isolation. However, certain individuals might be more resilient than others due to their coping mechanisms, including religious coping.

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.

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.

Anti--methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis in a young female with subclinical hypothyroidism associated with anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies: A case report.

Anti--methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis is a life-threatening medical emergency that can be clinically misperceived as Hashimoto's encephalopathy. We present a case of anti--methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis in an otherwise healthy young female with subclinical hypothyroidism without an associated ovarian teratoma. She was first misdiagnosed as Hashimoto's encephalopathy due to delirium and behavioral changes, seizures, psychosis, and increased amount of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies in serum.