Criteria for a good referral system for psychiatric patients: the view from Saudi Arabia.

The development and implementation of quality referral systems reflects sound national health planning. This review appraised the data on referral systems, in particular psychiatric referrals, with special reference to Saudi Arabia. A computer search was made of relevant literature in the past 2 decades.

Smoking among male psychiatric outpatients in Saudi Arabia.

Background: The prevalence rate of smoking among psychiatric patients has been shown to be higher than that among the general population, and this may have several neuropsychiatric implications. This cross-sectional study examines the prevalence, sociodemographic variables and pattern of smoking among psychiatric outpatients in Saudi Arabia.

Patients And Methods: Over a period of 18 months (January 1996 to June 1997), 505 outpatients from five different hospitals were randomly selected to participate in the study.

Quality of psychiatric referrals in Saudi Arabia. A structural equation modeling approach.

Objective: This study seeks to model proposed causal relationships between the quality of psychiatric referral letters, and its indicators, linked to the features of the referred patient, referring physician, and practice setting.

Methods: This study was executed at Buraidah Mental Health Hospital, Saudi Arabia, in the year 2000-2002. Data regarding 18 independent variables underlying 3 latent constructs and one dependent variable represented by quality of psychiatric referral letter score (outcome) was derived from patient files, physician training records, and 540 psychiatric referrals.

Quality of life of patients with schizophrenia 2.

We studied quality of life in 211 patients with schizophrenia from 2 outpatient clinics in Irbid, Jordan and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, using the self-reporting questionnaire SRQ-24 and the modified version of the schizophrenia quality of life scale. Sex, marital status, employment, education, nonpsychotic symptoms and psychotic symptoms were examined. Approximately 27% had good quality of life, 19.

Effectiveness of a training programme for primary care physicians directed at the enhancement of their psychiatric knowledge in Saudi Arabia.

Objective: A substantial number of patients with psychiatric disorders consult primary care physicians for comprehensive health care; however, the diagnosis and effective treatment of psychiatric disorders are deficient in primary health care. The aim of this intervention study is to assess the pre- and post-psychiatric training knowledge of primary care physicians.

Method: The setting of this study was Buraidah Mental Health Hospital.