Suicidal attempt among patients with schizophrenia: A cross-sectional study from Morocco

Suicide constitutes the greatest risk factor for mortality in individuals with schizophrenia. Although numerous risk factors have been suggested as important predictors of suicidality in schizophrenia, most studies have focused on Caucasian and Chinese patients. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of suicide attempts in schizophrenia patients in Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, Morocco, and to identify associated clinical and sociodemographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Ar-RAZI Psychiatric Center of Ibn Sina Hospital in Rabat. We examined 175 Moroccan schizophrenic patients. The sociodemographic and clinical variables were analyzed based on the presence or absence of suicide attempts. The prevalence of suicide attempts among patients was 32%. 43% of them had reported multiple suicide attempts. The majority of those who attempted suicide were single, younger, and with a lower economic status. Visual hallucinations were significantly prevalent among attempter patients compared to non-attempters (p =0.032). Consequently, visual hallucinations could be a risk factor for suicide attempts in the Moroccan population. Understanding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with suicide attempts can help identify patients at higher risk and provide appropriate support and interventions to prevent suicide among the Moroccan population

The Effects of Swallowing Disorders and Oral Malformations on Nutritional Status in Children with Cerebral Palsy

Nutrition plays an important role both from a nutrition and a socio-psychological point of view; this part seems to be even more crucial in cerebral palsy where undernutrition is responsible for an increase in morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of swallowing disorders and oral malformations on the nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy. We evaluated 65 patients aged 2 to 17 years using a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational approach. All patients had a definite diagnosis of cerebral palsy. The measurement of anthropometric variables (weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI) and circumferences) was performed according to recognized techniques and measurements. The Z-score was also calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) references. The 5-level Gross Motor Function Classification System was used, providing a standardized classification of motor disability patterns for children with cerebral palsy. The population had a median age of 9.25 (4.50–16.00) and was about 53% female. Furthermore, 75% of the patients had a height inferior to 158 cm. The results of our study show that 42 (64.6%) had false routes, 17 (26.2%) had oral-facial malformations and 51 (78.5%) did not have lip prehensions during meals. The results also show that growth retardation is closely related to gross motor function with p = 0.01, as well as all nutritional indices (Z-score weight for age, Z-score height for age and Z-score BMI for age) are affected by swallowing disorders and oral malformations, with statistically significant values < 0.05. In conclusion, a preventive and curative management specific to this population of children with cerebral palsy must be implemented with an interdisciplinary concertation

Quality of Care and Services of a Public Hospital: Awareness and Assessment

In order to give everyone access to quality care, this study attempts to make quality awareness, highlighting the importance of the implementation of the quality management system in health care facilities. The objective of our work is to make a quality awareness, to analyze the current situation and to provide recommendations. The analysis of the existing situation consists of identifying, describing, and analyzing the key processes implemented, listing the dysfunctions, classifying them, deciding on the corresponding actions and putting in place indicators and dashboards, which will help track improvements. The overall situation of the hospital regarding the requirements of ISO 9001 indicated a respect of about 28% of the requirements of the standard. The state of the premises of the establishment does not indicate a clear organization at the hospital. The hospital environment is a prerequisite to the establishment of a system of quality management that enables you to deploy a clear and shared policy to improve the quality of care and services

The evaluation of the social functioning of schizophrenia patients followed up in the health center My El Hassan of Kenitra, Morocco

Abstract Background Difficulties in interacting in and adapting to the social world are the central complaint faced by patients with schizophrenia. These people are often socially isolated, unemployed and may find it difficult to live independently. Aim This study aims to evaluate the social functioning of schizophrenic patients, and to highlight the various factors associated with the alteration of the social functioning of schizophrenic patients. Methods We conducted a prospective descriptive and analytical study of a population of 72 patients with schizophrenia. These are patients between 19 and 59 years old, clinically stabilized, diagnosed and followed at the My EL Hassan health center in Kenitra (Morocco). Symptom assessment is measured using a standardized Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and social functioning is assessed using a Social Functioning Questionnaire (SFQ). Results Statistical analysis shows that of 72 schizophrenic patients, 33.3% had good social functioning, 59.7% had moderate social functioning, while 6.9% of patients had altered social functioning (the average score of all SFQ items less than 2.4). 6.9% with altered social functioning, are patients aged 19 to 49, were male (p < 0.35), come from an urban areas (p < 0.17), without professional activity (p < 0.00), and have a progressive onset of the disease (p < 0.31). 5.5% (n = 4) of them were single (p < 0.12), caught this disease at an age greater than or equal to 20 years, and have the mixed type of symptoms (positive/negative) (p < 0.15). The altered social functioning of our patients is correlated to five factors: professional activity (p < 0.00), family situation (p < 0.03), family care (p < 0.02), family awareness (p < 0.01), and the negative subtype of psychotic symptomatology (p < 0.02). Conclusion This study underlines the interest of psycho-social treatment as specific care which would complement symptomatic treatment and improve the social functioning of patients with schizophrenia

Smartphone overuse as habit of pleasure seeking in Moroccan adults

Background The smartphone has become an indispensable device in modern life, consequential psychosocial problems such as smartphone ad- diction have gained worldwide attention. The aim of the present study is to assess the relation between smartphone overuse and see- king pleasure linked with reward system overstimulation and dopa- mine continuous release. Material/ Methods: A survey instrument using a web-based questionnaire distributed via social media was developed after a thorough literature review and was deployed to collect data from smartphone users. The study participants in total numbered 374 users from different age groups, with the average age being between 19 and 25 years old; with 227 females (60.9%) and 147 (39.1%) males. Responses to the Smart- phone Addiction Scale – Short version (SAS-SV) test including 10- items were rated on a 6-point Likert scale, and their percentage mean score (PMS) was calculated. Factors associated with these outcomes were identified using descriptive and regression ana- lyses. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results Over 76% of smartphone users declared having pleasure feelings during repetitive utilization. The result obtained by the SAS-SV test showed that subjects with higher scores presented high levels of addiction. The majority of the participants in this study had a university degree n=344 (91.9%), while n=30 (8%) had diplomas of completing secondary and primary school. The PMS of addiction was 39.2±20.3, while the mean score (MS) of seeking pleasure was 76±10.0. A significant positive correlation was present between smart- phone overuse and seeking pleasure (y=76+0.8×;P<0.001). Signifi- cantly, higher smartphone addiction scores were associated with pleasure and enjoyment feelings, (β =−0.203, adj. P=0.004). The ad - dic tion scores were higher in single status users when compared to married users (β=−2.03, adj. P=0.01 vs. (β=0.194, adj. P< 0.001). Factors associated to higher addiction scores were gender, namely the affected being females and single status users when compared to males and married users as these had higher smartphone addiction scores. Conclusions The positive correlation between smartphone addiction and see- king pleasure is alarming. Reasonable usage of smartphones is advised, especially among younger adults who could be at higher risk of control loss

Effect of intra-hippocampal lead injection on affective and cognitive disorders in male WISTAR rats: Possible involvement of oxidative stress

This paper is focused on affective and cognitive disorders induced by direct exposure to lead chloride (Pb) and the possible implication of oxidative stress in male WISTAR rats. Using stereotaxic surgery, a group of male wistar rats received an intracerebral injection of 3 μL of lead chloride (1 mg / L) into the right hippocampus or 3 μL of 0.9% Nacl for shame operated controls groups. After 4 days of rest, a series of benchmark neurobehavioral tests were made to evaluate affective and cognitive behaviors, such as open field test (OFT) and Elevated plus maze (EPM) for anxiety like behavior; Forced swim test (FST) for depressive like behavior; finally Y maze (Y-Maze) and Morris maze (MWM) tests for working memory, spatial learning and spatial memory. The data showed that Pb induces anxiogenic and depressogenic effects but does not induce a significant effect in memory. Then by measuring oxidative stress markers using the hippocampal assay of lead-treated rats, it’s appears that Pb can increase nitrogen monoxide, lipid peroxidation and reduces significantly the activity of superoxide dismutase. Therefore, our results showed that Pb is able to induce affective disorders and increase highly oxidative stress but has an insignificant effect on cognitive impairment

Moroccan validation of the dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep (DBAS-16) scale

Purpose: The international DBAS-16 questionnaire is an instrument that measures dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes toward sleep in the general population. It was initially developed in English in Canada by Charles Morin's team. Objective: This study aims to translate and adapt the DBAS-16 questionnaire on beliefs and attitudes toward sleep into Moroccan languages (Tamazight and Arabic) and validate it on 174 participants. Materials and methods: From September 2019 to March 2020, 174 Moroccan participants in three cities -Fes, Kénitra, and Khémisset- participated in the adaptation and validation of DBAS-16. We translated, adapted, and validated the test into Moroccan Tamazight and Arabic according to the recommendations of “Beaton et al.” We evaluated the acceptability, reliability, central tendency, and validity of DBAS-16 in the Moroccan Arabic dialect version. Results: Acceptability and reproducibility were satisfactory. The internal coherence was strong (Cronbach α = 0.773). The average overall score (standard deviation) on the Moroccan DBAS-16 scale was 1.71. The sub-scale scores were 2.20 for Consequences, 2.07 for Worry/Helplessness, 2.75 for Sleep Expectation, and 2.23 for Medication. Conclusion: Our study's results were similar to those of other countries. Moroccan versions of DBAS-16 will facilitate further studies on sleep attitudes in Morocco and elsewhere

Effect of Chronic Administration of Nickel on Affective and Cognitive Behavior in Male and Female Rats: Possible Implication of Oxidative Stress Pathway

Nickel (Ni) toxicity has been reported to produce biochemical and behavioral dysfunction. The present study was undertaken to examine whether Ni chronic administration can induce alterations of affective and cognitive behavior and oxidative stress in male and female rats. Twenty-four rats, for each gender, divided into control and three test groups (n = 6), were injected intraperitoneally with saline (0.9% NaCl) or NiCl2 (0.25 mg/kg, 0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. After treatment period, animals were tested in the open-field, elevated plus maze tests for anxiety-like behavior, and forced swimming test for depression-like behavior. The Morris Water Maze was used to evaluate the spatial learning and memory. The hippocampus of each animal was taken for biochemical examination. The results showed that Ni administration dose dependently increased anxiety-like behavior in both tests. A significant increase in depression-like symptoms was also exhibited by Ni treated rats. In the Morris Water Maze test, the spatial learning and memory were significantly impaired just in males treated with 1 mg/kg of Ni. With regard to biochemical analysis, activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly decreased, while the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the hippocampus were significantly increased in the Ni-treated groups. Consequently, chronic Ni administration induced behavioral and biochemical dysfunctions