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IntroductionSchizophrenia can impair functioning and have serious individual and societal impact. Non-adherence rate to anti-psychotics is high due to side effects, raising the importance of adjuvant therapy. Artistic creation can help the patients expressing their illness experience and finding some order in their chaotic psychotic world.AimTo determine the differential effects of group art therapy on clinical symptoms and cognitive functions.MethodsPatients7 female patients symptomatically stable, non-substance abusing with chronic schizophrenia admitted into Mamoura Mental State Hospital in Alexandria, IQ level was determined by the Digit Span Test of Wechsler Adult Intelligence scale (WAIS) with the mean of IQ found = 89.InterventionTechniques taken from both art therapy and art expression provided as 24 group therapy sessions (2 sessions per week).Outcome measuresSymptoms severity measured by the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS)Executive functions and set shifting measured by Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST)Visual attention and task switching measured by the Trail making testResultsPost treatment results showed significant decrease in PANSS sub-scales (positive p < 0.0001, negative p < 0.001, general p < 0.001, total p < 0.0001)Also significant increase in cognitive biases in WCST (number of categories) p < 0.05 and significant decrease in WCST (failure to maintain set) p < 0.01 and trail making B test (time spent p < 0.003 and number of errors p < 0.001)ConclusionSymptom severity and cognitive functions in stable schizophrenia can improve when art expression and therapy are provided.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an impact on frontline healthcare workers’ (HCW) mental health as they experienced depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. There is a need to investigate the impact on anesthesia and intensive care doctors (ICU), especially after the rise of vaccination. Anesthesia and ICU doctors are among the frontline HCW dealing with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. Their job puts them at risk of developing psychological disorders because of the daily stress. The aim of the current study was to assess factors affecting anxiety and depression among vaccinated anesthesia and ICU doctors working in United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study targeting vaccinated anesthesia and ICU doctors in UAE was conducted during March 2021. Data were collected using an online questionnaire uploaded to Google Forms including two sections; the first section included question assessing personal data, professional background data, previous COVID-19 diagnosis, and type of vaccine received. The second section of the questionnaire included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of different factors with anxiety and depression. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results Significantly higher anxiety (46%) and depression (53.6%) were associated with the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine. The lowest anxiety (23.9%) and depression (21.6%) scores were related to the Sinopharm vaccine. Anxiety was significantly higher for participants previously diagnosed with COVID-19 (AOR = 2.55), and depression was lower for those who deal with COVID-19-positive patients (AOR = 0.28). Anesthesiologists had significantly lower anxiety and depression than those specialized in both anesthesia and ICU (AOR = 0.32 and 0.51) Conclusions Previous diagnosis with COVID-19, female gender, and medical comorbidities were associated with high rates of symptoms of anxiety and depression among anesthesia and ICU doctors. Regular monitoring of the mental health impact of COVID-19, especially after the availability of different vaccines, is recommended.

IntroductionDialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive psycho-social treatment developed by Marsha Linehan and originally designed for persons meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is considered as a standard evidence based treatment for suicidal BPD patients in most international guidelines. Although its effectiveness has been proved in multiple studies across different patient populations but almost all the research was conducted in North American or European countries. The current study was the first trial to apply DBT in Egypt with a different language and culture than where the treatment was originally developed.ObjectivesAssessment of incidence of suicidal attempts and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a sample of Egyptian BPD patients enrolled in an outpatient DBT program.AimThe aim of the current study was to estimate impact of comprehensive DBT on suicidal attempts and NSSI when applied to Egyptian BPD patients.MethodsTwenty-five BPD patients, 4 males and 21 females, were included in a comprehensive outpatient DBT program for one year and incidence of suicidal attempts and NSSI were calculated.ResultsFive patients only attempted suicide again with an incidence of 20% and a mean of one attempt/patient. Seven patients attempted NSSI with an incidence of 28%, an overall 22 incidents and a mean of 3 incidents/patient.ConclusionAlthough this was the first time to apply DBT in an Egyptian population, DBT proved to be an effective psycho-therapeutic intervention for suicidal BPD patients across regardless of different language or culture.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

IntroductionDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive psychosocial treatment developed by Marsha Linehan and originally designed for persons meeting criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT contains four treatment modes that are deigned to address core problems of BPD. The four modes of treatment include individual therapy, skills training group, phone consultation and therapist consultation meeting.The skills training group is organized as 120-150 minutes group, weekly, for 6 months. Four modules are taught across the six months period which are core mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.Although psychotherapeutic interventions are always the first line of treatment for BPD in most guidelines but adherence to therapy have been always a major problem.ObjectivesAssessment of patient's compliance to DBT skills training group.AimThe aim of the current study was to estimate drop out rate in the first Egyptian DBT skills training group over one year.MethodsFifteen female patients diagnosed with BPD were recruited to DBT skills training over one year. Drop out rates were calculated based on the rule of being out of therapy if the patient misses four consecutive sessions for no obvious reason.ResultsThree patients only out of 15 dropped out of treatment (20%). Twelve patients could complete the full six month DBT skills training or are still currently engaged in treatment.ConclusionAlthough this was the first time to teach DBT skills in Arabic, DBT skills training group among Egyptian female patients with BPD had a high compliance rates.