The aim of this cross-sectional 1-year study was to estimate the prevalence and to identify the risk factors for suicidal and self-injurious behaviours among patients with depression. A convenience sample of 557 out-and inpatients diagnosed with mood disorders was selected from 3 treatment settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Eligible patients completed data on sociodemographic variables and the Columbia suicide severity rating scale risk assessment version. The reported prevalence of attempted suicide in the previous week was 36.6%, interrupted suicide attempt 29.8%, aborted suicide attempt 34.6% and self-injurious behaviour without suicide intent 7.7%. Concerning suicide ideation, 47.2% reported suicidal thoughts, 36.6% suicidal thoughts with methods but without a specific plan and 35.4% suicidal intent without a specific plan. Male sex, joint family type, literate education, being in employment, smoking and physical co-morbidities were significantly associated with all types of suicide behaviour. Évaluation des comportements suicidaires et automutilatoires chez des patients atteints de dépressionRÉSUMÉ La présente étude transversale sur un an visait à identifier les facteurs de risque des comportements suicidaires et automutilatoires chez des patients atteints de dépression et à estimer leur prévalence. Un échantillon de commodité de 557 patients consultant ou séjournant dans trois établissements de soins de Riyad (Arabie saoudite) après avoir reçu un diagnostic de troubles de l'humeur a été sélectionné. Les patients éligibles ont fourni des informations concernant des variables sociodémographiques puis ont rempli la version d'évaluation du risque de l'échelle Columbia de la gravité du risque de suicide (Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale). La prévalence rapportée au cours de la semaine précédente était de 36,6 % pour les tentatives de suicide, de 29,8 % pour les tentatives de suicide interrompues, de 34,6 % pour les tentatives de suicide avortées et de 7,7 % pour les comportements automutilatoires sans tentative de suicide. Concernant l'idéation suicidaire, 47,2 % des patients ont rapporté avoir eu des pensés suicidaires, 36,6 % des pensées suicidaires associées une méthode mais sans projet particulier, 35,4 % l'intention de se suicider sans projet précis. Être de sexe masculin, faire partie d'une famille élargie, être alphabétisé, avoir un emploi, consommer du tabac, souffrir de comorbidités physiques étaient des caractéristiques fortement associées à tous les types de comportement suicidaire.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫التاسع‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫الثالث‬ ‫العدد‬ 249

BackgroundSelf-injurious behavior, a major public health problem globally, is linked with alcohol and drug abuse. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of self-harming behavior in patients with alcohol or drug abuse problems.MethodsThis was a one-year study that recruited a convenience sample of 736 outpatients and inpatients identified with alcohol or drug abuse, and was conducted at Al-Amal mental health hospitals in three major cities. All consecutively selected patients were interviewed on five working days for data collection on a semistructured sociodemographic form using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Risk Assessment version.ResultsIn addition to the socioclinical profile revealed, 50.7% of respondents reported any suicidal ideation, while 6.9% reported self-injurious behavior without intent to die. Any suicidal and self-injurious behavior was reported by 13.1% of participants. A total of 71.3% of respondents reported any recent negative activating events. In addition to any treatment history, observed correlates were hopelessness (60.7%), perceived burden on family (29.5%), refusing a safety plan (26.1%), and sexual abuse (11%). Conversely, reasons for living (64.9%), fear of death or dying due to pain and suffering (64.3%), and spirituality (92%) were largely endorsed as protective factors. There were multiple significant odds ratios (P ≤ 0.01) revealed when independent socioclinical variables were compared with dependent variables in terms of suspected risk and protective factors. In an adjusted logistic regression model, none of the independent variables contributed significantly to any suicidal and self-injurious behavior, any suicidal ideation, or protection from them (P > 0.05).ConclusionOur preliminary results suggest that there are some socioclinical correlates of any suicide ideation, suicidal and self-injurious behavior, and protection from risky behavior, but which of them contributes significantly to the risk and protective dimensions is yet to be elucidated in prospective community-based studies with larger and more diverse samples.

Background The long border of Saudi Arabia with Yemen is the primary route for khat entry to the Kingdom. As of April 2015, the government of SA tightened the border, making it more difficult to import khat into the country. As a result, local user prices of khat probably increased due in part to higher supply costs and perhaps lower quantities. One anti-drug strategy is to increase consumption cost by increasing the price of supply. We aim in this study to measure the responsiveness of khat demand to price changes. Methods This study used a cross-sectional survey design. Two stage sampling was used to recruit 350 khat chewers from four selected primary healthcare centers in Jazan province (South western province of Saudi Arabia). The data were collected during the first quarter of 2017. This study used both contingent valuation and revealed preference methods to assess the impact of price increases on the purchasing of khat. Graphical analysis, paired-samples t-test, and one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the impact of price increases on khat consumption. Results The study results showed a significant decrease in khat consumption amount (t = 8.63, p ≤ 0.05), frequency (t = 30.42, p ≤ 0.05), and expenditure (t = 34.67, p ≤ 0.05) after the tightening of the Saudi–Yemeni border. Hence khat demand is price elastic. The price elasticity of khat demand in Jazan is estimated to be between − 2.38 and − 1.07. Therefore, each 1% increase in price is associated with 1–2% reduction in quantity demanded. This means khat chewers are relatively responsive to price changes (i.e., khat demand is price elastic). Repeated measures analysis of variance showed price increases significantly affect the quantity {F(4, 2.58) = 257, p ≤ 0.05, ηp 2 = 0.423} and frequency {F(4, 1.83) = 415, p ≤ 0.05, ηp 2 = 0.543} of khat chewing. Conclusions Increased prices for khat would significantly decrease demand. Accordingly, we recommend implementing law enforcement strategies focused on disrupting the khat supply chain to realize high prices and so discourage use, hence reducing the incidence of khat-related illnesses.

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