Mohamed Khalil

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common comorbidity with bipolar disorder, a comorbidity that is known to increase suicide risk. This study aimed to assess the presence of OCD in youth diagnosed with bipolar I disorder and to evaluate the association between OCD and suicide in the same cohort.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the prevalence of comorbid migraine in patients with bipolar disorder and those with schizophrenia and also examined the association between migraine comorbidity and disease characteristics in both disorders.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients with bipolar disorder and 150 with schizophrenia were evaluated for migraine diagnosis using the International Classification of Headache Disorders (3rd ed). Patients were selected from psychiatry outpatient clinics at Kasr Al Ainy hospitals, Cairo University.  The Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were administered to the bipolar group, whereas the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was administered to the schizophrenia group. Both groups were evaluated by the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale.

RESULTS: The diagnosis of migraine was made in 34 (22.7%) of the bipolar group and 24 (16.0%) of the schizophrenia group. Patients with schizophrenia showed a significantly higher frequency and intensity of migraine attacks on the Migraine Disability Assessment scale than did the bipolar group ( < 0.001). In the bipolar group, there was no significant difference between patients with and without migraine on the YMRS, HDRS, and CGI. Among patients with schizophrenia, the duration of the migraine attacks was positively correlated with CGI scores ( = 0.40, = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: Migraine was found to be a significant comorbidity in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks were higher in the schizophrenia than in the bipolar group.

Objectives:Substance dependence is commonly seen among Egyptian young adults. Unfortunately limited data are available about the prevalence of comorbidity of mental disorders and substance dependence in this age group. In addition, substance dependence is correlated with many psychopathologic factors such as low self-esteem, childhood abuse, and stressful life events, etc. which could aggravate the load of the disorder.

Methods:

A case control study that included 80 patients diagnosed with substance dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, text revised (DSM-IV-TR). The sample was recruited from Kasr Al-Ainy Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (cases with the diagnosis of comorbid substance dependence and other mental disorder) and group 2 (cases with the diagnosis of substance dependence only). They were examined using Addiction Severity Index (ASI) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RES).

Results:

Patients in group 1 had significantly higher levels of impairment and disability in scores of ASI: drug use, social impairment, and psychiatric problems. They had higher percentage of psychopathologic factors, for example, history of childhood abuse. There was no significant difference in the presence of comorbid personality disorder, or history of stressful life events.

Conclusions:

Comorbidity of mental disorders with substance dependence is associated with more impairment and functional deterioration. Young adults with substance dependence have high levels of associated psychopathologic factors, such as childhood abuse, stressful life events, and deliberate self-harm.

Background Direct-acting antiviral (DAAs) therapy showed high safety and efficacy profile in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) particularly those with previous or current psychiatric illness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and potential risk factors of depression and psychological distress following DAAs therapy in CHC euthymic Egyptian patients with no previous or current diagnosis of any psychiatric disorders. Methods This is a prospective study that included 126 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus genotype-4. Patients were candidate for DAAs therapy and were recruited consecutively (convenient sample) from the viral hepatitis center, Department of Endemic medicine, Kasr Al-Ainy Hospitals, Cairo University. Symptom Checklist 90-R, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID IV) were performed at baseline and at 12 weeks post-treatment with DAAs. Results Forty-seven patients were included in the final analysis. Depression severity increased after treatment as BDI scores increased significantly than baseline scores (p= < 0.001). About one third of patients (32%) had moderate to severe depression. All Symptom Checklist-90 scores showed significant increase after treatment. Limitations Dropout rate of patients for the 12 weeks post-treatment assessment was 33.8%. Conclusion Depression and psychological distress can occur with DAAs treatments. Close psychosocial assessment and patient monitoring are still needed.