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.

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.

General practitioners pre and post training knowledge and attitude towards psychiatry.

Objective: General practitioners (GPs) often lack sufficient knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and have unfavorable attitudes towards mental illness. The first aim of this intervention study is to assess the pre-and post-psychiatric training knowledge and attitudes of GPs. The second aim is to explore certain factors, which predict gain in knowledge and changes in attitude.

Making psychiatric sense of sand: a case of delusional disorder in Saudi Arabia.

Somatic delusional disorder is an uncommon psychiatric disorder that has been typically reported in elderly women. This article reviews the literature and describes a Saudi female patient who presented with novel somatic delusion of turabosis--the conviction that she was continually being covered by sand from sandstorms. Although the systematized delusional convictions remained unshakable, her anxiety and mood symptoms responded to a regimen of tricyclic antidepressants and her delusional beliefs resolved within eight weeks of treatment with risperidone.

Making gynecological and psychiatric sense out of premenstrual pains, tension and dysphoria.

Objective: Millions of women worldwide suffer from a variety of gynecological and psychiatric syndromes that are specifically linked to the late luteal phase of menstrual cycle and hence, need proper treatment for good quality of life. The objective of this qualitative review is to examine the latest developments in the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual syndrome and its connections to premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Methods: A selective search of MEDLINE/PubMed retrieved numerous peer-reviewed papers published in international journals for the past 10 years (the search was ended in 2003), which were screened extensively, but only the latest and most relevant articles were included in this review.

A pilot study of faith healers' views on evil eye, jinn possession, and magic in the kingdom of saudi arabia.

Background: Faith healers usually offer unorthodox therapies to their clients who present with an array of physical and psychological symptoms suggestive of the evil eye, jinn possession, and magic.

Objective: This exploratory pilot study aims to analyse the pattern of narrated symptoms and treatments given by faith healers practising in the Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia.

Method: Forty five faith healers who consented to this study were given a predesigned, self-administered, semistructured questionnaire to collect the relevant data.

Pervasive developmental disorders. Etiological, diagnostic and treatment conundrum.

Pervasive developmental disorders are severe childhood psychiatric disorders that afflict millions of children worldwide. Despite availability of tremendous data on these disorders, there is a paucity of information among clinicians including mental health professionals. Pervasive developmental disorders, caused by multiple neurobiological and environmental etiologies, are characterized mainly by impaired social interactions, impaired communication and language, and abnormal repetitive interests and behaviors.

Pharmacotherapies of addiction.

Objective: Millions of drug addicts worldwide require proper treatment together with good quality care. This article aims to critically review the psychopharmacology of drug addictions.

Methods: MEDLINE was systematically searched for studies describing drug treatment of addictions.

A comparison of psychiatric referrals within the teaching hospital with those from primary care and general hospitals in saudi arabia.

Objective: This study aims at examining the pattern of psychiatric referrals with particular reference to (1) age and gender (2) source of referrals and (3) diagnosis of referred patients within a teaching hospital

Method: Four hundred and twenty seven referrals (n=427) for psychiatric consultation within KKUH were selected prospectively by systematic randomization over a period of one year, and were compared with a general hospital (n=138) and primary health care (n=402) psychiatric referrals to a mental health facility.

Results: The age of referred patients across the three settings differed significantly and the male patients were slightly over-represented in the teaching hospital referrals. Pediatric clinics in the teaching hospital constituted significant sources of psychiatric referrals as compared to the general hospitals.