This cross-sectional study examined the knowledge and social attitudes of medical students at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and, uniquely, compared them by completion of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Diseases internship. The study protocol was developed from September 2023; participant recruitment and data collection took place after institutional ethics approval, between 23 February and 27 May 2024. All 1171 students in terms 4, 5 and 6 were invited; 300 volunteered (25.6
Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) and disordered eating attitudes are increasingly recognized among males with substance use disorder (SUD), particularly during recovery. This study aimed to assess EDs and disordered eating attitudes according to duration of abstinence among Egyptian males with SUD and explore their relationship with psychosocial stress. Methods This observational comparative cross-sectional study included 108 Egyptian males with DSM-5-defined SUD, divided equally into initial abstinence (<3 months), early remission (3 to <12 months), and sustained remission (≥12 months). Participants were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). Results Age differed significantly among the three abstinence-duration groups, with participants in the sustained remission group being older (35.78 ± 5.81 years) than those in the initial abstinence group (31.25 ± 6.14 years; p = 0.007). Duration of substance use was longer in the sustained remission group than in the initial abstinence group (14.58 ± 6.35 vs. 10.33 ± 5.24 years, p = 0.011). Suicidality score was higher in the initial abstinence group than in the early and sustained remission groups (1.83 ± 2.01 vs. 0.86 ± 1.07 and 0.83 ± 1.25, p = 0.007). Binge-eating disorder was most frequent in the initial abstinence (25.00% vs. 13.89% and 2.78%, p = 0.024). EAT-26 total score was higher in the initial abstinence group than in the sustained remission group (17.67 ± 9.35 vs. 11.25 ± 5.46, p = 0.002). EAT-26 total score was strongly and positively correlated with SRRS total score in the total cohort ( r = 0.837, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher psychosocial stress and abstinence-duration group were significantly associated with EAT-26 total score (β = 0.757, p < 0.001 and β = −0.299, p = 0.001, respectively). Conclusions Disordered eating attitudes and binge-eating disorder were more common among participants in the initial abstinence group, with EAT-26 total scores significantly higher than in the sustained remission group. Psychosocial stress was strongly associated with disordered eating attitudes. In the multiple linear regression analysis, psychosocial stress and abstinence-duration group were significantly associated with EAT-26 total score.
Clearing a waiting list is not the same as keeping it under control. Evidence on the durability of child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) waiting-list interventions under continuing or rising demand is limited. We evaluated an initial waiting-list reduction and 20 months of subsequent maintenance. We conducted an interrupted time-series service evaluation at a pediatric tertiary center in Qatar using 800 consecutive daily census observations from 10 June 2024 to 18 August 2026, supplemented by referral-order, follow-up activity, and annual access data. In December 2024, parallel queues were consolidated, triage accountability was centralized, historical referrals were revalidated, and clinical time was concentrated on first assessments. Recurring protected assessment blocks were later intensified. Segmented regression used Newey-West standard errors. The redesign was associated with a modeled level change of -381.0 patients (95
Abstract Purpose Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is frequently accompanied by Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), characterized by mental fogginess, slowed processing, excessive daydreaming, and reduced task engagement. This study compared the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on self-reported ADHD and CDS symptoms in adults. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, 60 adults meeting DSM-5 criteria for ADHD were assigned to CBT ( n = 20), MBCT ( n = 20), or a waitlist control group ( n = 20). Outcomes were assessed at pretest, posttest, and two-month follow-up using the Persian version of the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale–IV (BAARS-IV). Between-group posttest differences were examined using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) controlling for baseline scores, and symptom changes over time were evaluated using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results The analyses indicated significant between-group differences in self-reported ADHD/CDS symptoms following treatment. Both CBT and MBCT were associated with greater reductions in self-reported symptoms than the waitlist control group, with the most consistent improvements observed for inattention and CDS. Improvements in inattention and CDS were largely maintained at the two-month follow-up. Effects on hyperactivity and impulsivity were smaller. No statistically significant differences were detected between CBT and MBCT on the primary symptom outcomes. However, because the trial was not designed or powered as an equivalence or non-inferiority study, this finding should not be interpreted as evidence that the two interventions are equivalent. Conclusion CBT and MBCT were each associated with greater reductions in self-reported ADHD and CDS symptoms than the waitlist control condition, particularly in attention-related and cognitive disengagement domains. No statistically significant differences were detected between the two active interventions; however, because the trial was not designed or powered as an equivalence or non-inferiority study, this finding should be interpreted as an absence of detected difference rather than evidence of comparable efficacy. Given the modest sample size, reliance on self-report outcomes, use of a waitlist control condition, and the single-group delivery of each active intervention, these findings should be regarded as preliminary and interpreted cautiously. Trial registration The trial was prospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20250927067383N1).
Abstract Suicidal behavior is common in schizophrenia, significantly worsens prognosis, and represents the leading cause of premature mortality in this population. Challenges in assessing suicide risk and implementing effective prevention strategies in individuals with schizophrenia pose major difficulties for clinicians and healthcare systems. This review aimed to summarize the key suicide risk factors and current preventive strategies associated with schizophrenia. A comprehensive narrative review of the literature was conducted. Electronic searches were performed in major biomedical databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from database inception to June 2026. Relevant studies addressing suicide risk factors and preventive interventions in schizophrenia were selected according to predefined eligibility criteria. The review primarily relied on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, large observational studies, and international clinical practice guidelines. Suicidal behavior in schizophrenia results from a complex interaction of clinical, neurobiological, genetic, and psychosocial factors. A comprehensive assessment of these factors may improve suicide risk assessment and guide individualized preventive strategies, while emerging artificial intelligence–based approaches may further support risk prediction in the future. Accordingly, a range of pharmacological and non-pharmacological preventive strategies can be implemented according to the individual’s clinical profile and suicide risk. Clozapine is the most extensively validated pharmacological treatment for reducing suicide risk in schizophrenia, although its use requires adherence to established clinical guidelines. Other pharmacological treatments may be considered in selected clinical situations. Non-pharmacological strategies are essential complements and include neuromodulation techniques, psychotherapy, and psychosocial intervention programs.
