Long term effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy for treatment of postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The existing trials on the long term effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of postpartum depression have conflicting results. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to summarize the current evidence.Methodology: Literature search was performed using electronic databases Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsychINFO were explored from January 2000 to March 2013.All peer-reviewed English-published randomized controlled trials were eligible if they assessed the long term (at least at 24 weeks post partum) effectiveness of CBT versus standard postpartum care for prevention of postpartum depression. Data from eligible studies were abstracted by using structured data extraction form and pooled for calculation of relative risk ratio.Results: Five randomized controlled trials fulfilled eligibility criteria. In the included studies, the total number of women was 1087 with age ranged from 17 years to 42 years. Assessment carried on the ‘Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool’ showed the trials included in this review had low risk of bias. Two trials had sample size less than 50. Two out of five trials reported beneficial effect of CBT whereas three trials found no difference. Meta-analysis [random effect model] revealed 30% reduction in the prevalence of depression in the intervention group as compared with the control group [RR: 0.70 (95% C.I: 0.55 to 0.90)]. However, these results showed effectiveness of intervention because of one large trial and excluding this trial, there was no significant difference.Conclusion: In this systematic review, we found a beneficial effect of CBT in the prevention of postpartum depression at 24 weeks of postpartum period. However, the evidence is limited by a small number of trials with results being dominated by a single large trial. Robust research with larger sample size is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of CBT for treatment of postpartum depression

Assessment of the environmental and genetic factors influencing prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Saudi Arabia

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of factors that increases the risk of cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases including diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in the adult Saudi population where the increase in cardiovascular-related mortality is augmented by the rise in the prevalence of MS. Metabolic syndrome is a multi-factorial disorder influenced by interactions between genetic and environmental components. This review aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of studied environmental and genetic factors explaining the prevalence of MS in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, this review aims to illustrate factors related to the population genetics of Saudi Arabia, which might explain a proportion of the prevalence of MS

Depression among sickle cell anemia patients in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, depression among sickle cell anemia adult patients in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2014 and May 2015 among sickle cell anemia patients aged 16–70 years from the outpatient hematology clinics at Qatif Central Hospital. A total of 110 successive participants consented and answered an anonymous, self-administered, questionnaire and the Arabic version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Individuals were considered depressed if they scored ≥14 in Beck Depression Inventory-II. Simple logistic regression was used to compare differences between the depressed and nondepressed groups. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. Results: Depression was detected in 53 participants (48.2%). Bivariate analysis showed that lower educational qualification (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.1–5.3; P = 0.021), higher frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 1.3–8.7; P = 0.008) and frequent visits to the hematology clinic (OR = 5.3; 95% CI = 1.4–19.9; P = 0.008) were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion: This study revealed that there is high prevalence of depression among sickle cell anemia patients in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Knowledge, attitude and practice of secondary schools and university students toward Middle East Respiratory Syndrome epidemic in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

This study was aiming to investigate the knowledge, practice and attitudes of secondary school and university students toward MERS-CoV infection. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Study participants were recruited from several constituent colleges of King Saud University and secondary schools in Riyadh. Data were collected using self-administered, closed-ended questionnaires. Frequencies and proportions were computed for descriptive purposes. Chi square test was utilized to depict statistical difference between groups. Among the 1109 students who answered the questionnaires, 53.1% were male, and 46.9% were female. Level of knowledge about clinical presentation of MERS is generally similar among university and school students. The most frequently reported source of transmission is entering crowded spaces and being exposed to coughing and sneezing. Additionally, hand washing was the most commonly reported method of protection against the infection. The localized spread of MERS in Saudi Arabia and the number of fatalities associated with it might have increased public interest in understanding how to maintain proper precautionary measures both on a community and on an individual level. More emphasis should be placed on educating the student participants about preventive measures such as using tissues when sneezing and coughing and proper tissue disposal. Keywords: Corona, MERS, Saudi Arabia, MERS-Co

Physicians’ Practices in Diabetic Nephropathy in Primary Healthcare Centers in Jazan City, Saudi Arabia, 2023

Background and Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases dealt with by physicians in primary healthcare centers (PHCs). The disease is associated with macrovascular and microvascular complications, especially in those with long disease duration and uncontrolled diabetic nephropathy, which is one of the most common microvascular complications among diabetic patients. This investigation assessed the practices of physicians working at PHCs in terms of diabetic nephropathy screening, management, and referral. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional investigation targeting physicians working at PHCs in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia between March and August of 2023. Data were collected via a self-administered questionnaire, which was distributed via online platforms. The questionnaire included sections measuring physicians’ demographic data and associated factors regarding training, the availability of resources, and practices in diabetic nephropathy, including screening, management, and referral. Chi-squared tests were used to assess associations between the practices of physicians and the measured demographics. Result: A total of 234 physicians participated in the investigation. The median age of the participants was 35 years. The adherence level of practice toward diabetic nephropathy according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines ranged from 40 points (the highest adherence level of participants) to 19 points (the lowest adherence level of participants), with a median of 33 points. Higher adherence levels were noted among physicians in Saudi Arabia, physicians with higher education levels, physicians specializing as family physicians or diabetologists, physicians who reported attending online and on-site training at diabetic centers, physicians who reported continuous access to urine and serum creatinine tests, and physicians who reported continuous access to the American Diabetes Association guidelines (p Conclusions: There are several factors associated with the level of adherence in diabetic nephropathy practice, such as physicians’ education level, specialty, training, and access to guidelines. The findings suggest the need for more training for PHC physicians in the care of patients affected by or at risk of diabetic nephropathy

Additional file 1: of Adherence to Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines for management of traumatic brain injury patients: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Appendix 1. Proposed Medline search strategy; Appendix 2. Proposed Embase search strategy; Appendix 3. Proposed EBM Reviews—Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews search strategy. (DOCX 24 kb

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Maternal Postpartum Depression among Mothers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious public health problem in many Middle Eastern countries. Mothers with PPD experience various extreme symptoms that affect their daily lives. This study aims to discover how common PPD is in the Jazan region, the most significant risk factors, and how likely depressed women are to seek help. An observational cross-sectional survey targeting a sample of 444 mothers in their first year after delivery using a pre-tested and validated EDPS standard tool to evaluate the prevalence of postpartum depression amongst them has been conducted. The data was collected and then analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the risk factors associated with PPD. The results indicate an extremely high prevalence of PPD in Jazan (75.7%). The prevalence of mothers having suicidal ideation was 6.3% quite often, 5.0% sometimes, and 7.9% hardly. Regarding the duration of depression symptoms, 34.78% were less than a month, 20.72% were less than six months, and 13.06% were less than one year. The study shows that the development of depression symptoms occurred within less than a week for 30.4% of the women. The most significant association with PPD was a lack of family support, which significantly increased the risk of PPD (OR = 5.9; p-value p-value < 0.001). Current research has revealed a high prevalence of postpartum depression among mothers in the Jazan region and that it is associated with different risk factors that increase the probability of PPD development. Pregnant women need to raise their awareness about PPD and learn how to avoid or deal with it