Background: Family has a significant role on the mental health of its members, thus its contribution can also be distinguished in pathogenesis. Numerous mental diseases have also been linked to the family environment (FE) for maintenance and relapse. Aim: To assess the family environment among mentally ill patients. Design: Descriptive mixed design of both quantitative and qualitative methods was used in the current study. Setting: The study was conducted at Psychiatry and Addiction Prevention Hospital-Cairo University Hospitals. Sample: Purposeful sampling was employed in this study of 73 psychiatric patients. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection; Socio-demographic data sheet, Brief Family Environment Scale and the interview guide for the qualitative data. Results: Majority of participants were male (82.2%). Participants' age was 18-60 years. More than half (56.2%) of participants had positive family environment. There were statistically significant positive relationships between family environment and gender, chronicity of disease and occupation of mother. Regarding qualitative results, seven themes emerged from results. This involved physical family support, positive family expressiveness, family awareness, family cohesiveness, family positive relationship and environment, family controlling and functional family. Conclusion: Quantitatively and qualitatively findings of the study revealed unexpected results that there was positive family environment of mentally ill patients. Recommendations: Future studies could focus on how FE domains interact with family members' mental architecture and may ultimately lead to disease.

Background: Suicide is a serious mental health problem. Younger people, especially students, are having more suicidal thoughts. It is important to identify protective factors as life orientation for suicide in young people. Aim: To measure life orientation, suicidal ideation and attempts in young people. Methods: Cross-sectional design was adopted. Subjects: A convenient sample of 3684 young people of nursing and medical university students, nonmedical university students and school students were recruited through an internet-based survey. Tools: Data were collected through Socio-Demographic Data Sheet, Suicidal Opinionnaire and Life Orientation Test-Revised. Results: About (27.1%) of the participants had suicidal ideation, (7.3%) attempted suicide and (14%) had low optimism. (64.6%) of young people who had suicidal ideations in medical education. One of the most prominent causes for suicide was depression followed by family problems. There was highly statistically significant negative correlation between life orientation and suicide ideation and attempt. Conclusion: Suicidal behavior could be preventable in young people. Life orientation was identified as a protective factor. Recommendations: Periodical survey for young people who at risk for the early detection and management of any suicidal ideation.

Background: There is epidemic fatigue due to the prolonged COVID-19-related restrictions. Some individuals seem to exercise fewer precautions recently in comparison to the onset of the pandemic. Aim: To assess psychological and behavioral responses to COVID-19 and media influences at fourth versus first wave. Design: Online cross-sectional survey. Methods: A total of 1005 participants were recruited using snowball sampling from nine Arab countries Egypt, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Palestine, Sudan, Kuwait, Syria and Libya    through fourth wave of COVID-19. Five questionnaires were employed: General Information Questionnaire, Psychological and Behavioral Responses, Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS), Health Belief Model (HBM) Construct and Media Exposure Questionnaire. Results: Most of participants reported low level of; psychological responses (86%), Corona disease anxiety (78.3%) and media exposure (84.6%). Although majority of participants (70%) indicated low barriers to adhere the preventive behavior, (37%) reported a lower compliance than the first wave and (35.6%) had low perceived susceptibility. There was statistically significant positive correlation between media exposure and health beliefs, psychological and behavioral responses to COVID-19, and Corona disease anxiety. Conclusion: The proper use of social media for information purposes is beneficial in shaping psychological and behavioral responses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study assessed the effectiveness of an empowerment intervention program on discrimination and internalized stigma among patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Design: A pre-post-test nonequivalent group design was used in this study. Setting: in-patient male departments in the Psychiatry and Addiction Prevention University Hospital. Sample: A purposive sample consisting of 30 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia was randomly assigned and divided into two groups (study and control groups). Tools: The current study gathered data using three tools: personal data sheet, an internalized stigma scale, and an amended apparent devaluation discrimination scale. Results: At baseline, there were statistically significant differences between the control group and the internalized stigma total (p=0.003) and subscales alienation (p=0.001), stereotype endorsement (p=0.009), and perceived discrimination (p=0.023). With patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the empowerment intervention sessions significantly reduced internalized stigma and revised perceived devaluation discrimination, resulting in lower mean internalized stigma and revised perceived devaluation discrimination scores for the study group compared to the control group. The Revised Perceived Devaluation Discrimination also decreased significantly after the empowerment intervention program (p= 0.001).Conclusion: This study indicated that the empowering intervention was effective when it is integrated with treatment as usual.

Background: Delirium is a significant medical condition that is common among patients in intensive care units. Beyond the increased risk of mortality, patients who experience an episode of delirium often go on to develop long-term psychiatric disturbance, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Aim: To investigate the relationship between sedation, delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder among mechanically ventilated patients. Design: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was carried out at different intensive care units at Cairo university hospitals with different specialties. Sample: A purposive sample of 110 patients was included in the study over a period of three months. Tools: Four tools were used; Patient’s Demographic and Medical Data Sheet, Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS), The Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Results: About (74.5%) of the studied sample had PTSD. There was negative statistical significant correlation between sedation and post-traumatic stress disorder. There was positive statistical significant correlation between delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder. There was no statistical significant correlation between delirium and sedation. Conclusion: This study provides a complex picture of the relationship between delirium, sedation and PTSD.