Although the positive association between impairments in metacognitive capacity and negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders is widely evidenced in the literature, the explaining mechanisms of this association are still less known and poorly understood. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by testing the hypothesis that COMT rs4680 variants will act as moderators in the relationship between certain metacognitive domains and negative symptoms’ severity. Method A cross-sectional study was carried-out during the period between February and March 2024. A total of 115 biologically unrelated Arab (Lebanese) patients with schizophrenia were included. Results After controlling for sex and duration of illness as a potential confounder, moderation analyses showed that the AG genotype of the COMT rs4680 served as a significant moderator between maladaptive metacognitive beliefs about cognitive confidence (i.e. lack of confidence in memory) and negative symptoms. In non-carriers of the COMT rs4680 AG genotype, lower cognitive confidence (i.e., more “lack of cognitive confidence”) is significantly associated with greater negative symptoms. Conclusion Findings suggest that metacognition may be a relevant treatment target in the management of negative symptoms particularly in non-carriers of the COMT rs4680 AG genotype. Therefore, genetic testing could potentially be used to match patients with metacognitive interventions that are more likely to be effective in supporting recovery from negative symptoms.

AbstractBackground: Depression, anxiety, and stress are the commonly encountered mentalhealth conditions among medical students. Overseas environment may add addi-tional burden to the existing environment. However, comparison of the rate andassociated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseasstudents has not been attempted in Bangladesh. We aimed to assess the rate andassociated factors of depression, anxiety, stress among domestic and overseasmedical students in the country.Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 360 undergraduatemedical students in 2021. Data were collected by self‐reporting instruments by astratified random sampling method by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale‐21scale. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were done bycomputing crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval toidentify the associated factors.Results: Among the 360 undergraduate medical students, 181 were domestic and179 overseas ones. 44.8% of domestic students reported depressive symptoms,45.3% reported anxiety symptoms, and 33.1% reported stress. On the other hand,half of overseas students experienced depression (50.3%) and anxiety (52.5%), and41.3% experienced stress. Female medical students were found vulnerable fordeveloping depression, anxiety, and stress than males.Conclusions: The study revealed higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stressamong overseas undergraduate medical students enrolled in a private medical schoolof Bangladesh. Private medical college authorities could consider special services foroverseas students to ensure adequate psychosocial support

The first aim of the study is to clarify the associations between intuitive eating, self-esteem, physical appearance and psychological distress; and second, to assess the mediating effect of psychological distress on the relationship between self-esteem/physical appearance comparison and intuitive eating. A total of 359 Lebanese participants from several Lebanese governorates were enrolled in this cross-sectional study between September and November 2022. The data was collected through an online questionnaire that included the following scales: Intuitive Eating Scale‑2, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Physical Appearance Comparison Scale. The results of the mediation analysis showed that depression partially mediated the association between self-esteem / physical appearance comparison and intuitive eating. Higher self-esteem was significantly associated with lower depression; higher depression was significantly associated with more intuitive eating. Also, higher self-esteem was directly and significantly associated with more intuitive eating. On another hand, higher physical appearance comparison was significantly associated with higher depression; higher depression was significantly associated with more intuitive eating. Finally, higher physical appearance comparison was directly and significantly associated with less intuitive eating. The current study shows how significantly intuitive eating, an adaptive eating pattern, and psychological variables are interrelated and possibly affect each other. It helps shed light on intuitive eating, a somewhat unfamiliar eating pattern within the Lebanese population. These findings allow practitioners to promote healthy eating behaviors and psychological health by educating and guiding patients and clients about intuitive eating.

Background The current study examined the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Adolescent Distress-Eustress Scale (ADES) in Saudi Arabia. It assessed the factorial structure through a confirmatory factor analysis, composite reliability through Cronbach alpha and McDonald’s omega scores, gender invariance, and convergent validity through its correlation to resilience. Methods A total of 505 high school students from 21 randomly selected schools in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (mean age of 16.66 ± 1.10 years, 52.7% females) participated in the study. The questionnaires were translated using the forward and backward technique. Results Findings revealed good internal consistency of the Arabic ADES (McDonald’s ω being 0.82 for distress and 0.79 for eustress). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the two-factor structure of the scale and demonstrated measurement invariance across gender at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. Girls had higher Distress scores, while boys reported higher eustress scores, which was consistent with previous studies. Finally, the ADES distress and eustress scales were significantly correlated to resilience supporting convergent validity. Conclusion The present study supports the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the ADES as a self-report method to assess Eustress and Distress in adolescents. Pending further validations to support the present findings, this measure can be utilized by schools, mental health providers, and researchers to support Arabic speaking adolescents globally.

Background: Dysmenorrhea, characterized by painful menstrual cramps, significantly impacts the well-being of women globally. Despite its prevalence and adverse effects, dysmenorrhea is often underdiagnosed and inadequately treated. This study aims to validate the Arabic version of the Working ability, Location, Intensity, Days of pain, and Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) scale among Lebanese female university students aged 18-45. Methods: This cross-sectional study, involving 729 participants, utilized a translated WaLIDD scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-8). Results: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed the one-factor structure of the WaLIDD scale, demonstrating excellent fit indices, with good internal reliability. Concurrent validity analysis revealed significant associations between higher WaLIDD scores and elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea in the study was estimated at 7.3%. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of the WaLIDD scale as a reliable and valid tool for assessing dysmenorrhea among Arabic-speaking populations. The successful validation of the Arabic version facilitates its application in Lebanon and potentially other Arab regions, providing a universal tool to predict and assess dysmenorrhea and its impact. Further research is encouraged to explore the scale's applicability in clinical settings and tailor interventions for improved women's well-being.

Background: Impulsivity is associated with serious detrimental consequences on physical, mental, behavioral and social aspects of health among patients with psychosis. The present prospective 12-month follow-up study aimed to determine the prevalence of highly impulsive individuals among Ultra High Risk (UHR) patients, how impulsivity evolves over the follow-up period, and whether impulsivity impacts clinical, psychological and functional outcomes in this population. Method: UHR patients were invited to complete a battery of measurements at three-time points: at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Impulsivity was assessed using both behavioral (the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, WCST) and self-report (the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, BIS-11) measures. Results: Findings showed that at 6 months of follow-up, higher 6-month BIS-11 attentional and motor impulsivity were significantly associated with lower quality of life and greater general psychological distress. In addition, higher baseline BIS-11 motor impulsivity significantly predicted more severe positive psychotic symptoms at 12 months of follow-up. However, WCST scores did not show any significant associations with study variables at the different times of follow-up. Conclusion: Interventions targeting impulsivity in UHR individuals could help decrease psychological distress and positive psychotic symptoms’ severity, as well as improve quality of life in UHR individuals.

Stroke is a global public health concern, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality. In Syria, the current conflict and associated challenges have had a profound impact on healthcare infrastructure, including education and awareness programs related to stroke. An essential aspect of preventing stroke is the awareness of individuals. The study aimed to investigate factors associated with knowledge and awareness of stroke among Syrian people. A cross-sectional national representative study was conducted in Syria. The questionnaire was created on Google form and disseminated as a link through online platform social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter. The population of the study was divided using proportionate random sampling into the 14 governorates. A random sample was selected from each area. The STROBE reporting guideline for cross-sectional studies was followed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with poor knowledge of stroke. A total of 1013 Syrian adults participated in the study. With more than half of them were females (53.5%) and employed (55.6%). Significant associations were found between ability to identify at least one correct risk factor and employability status (p = 0.029), single group (p = 0.036) and smokers (p < 0.001). In addition, significant associations were found between identifying at least one correct stroke symptom and smokers (p < 0.001) and no-obese people (p = 0.048). Furthermore, younger age group (below 30 years) were significantly able to list at least one correct stroke consequence compared to the older age groups (p = 0.025). Moreover, a significantly higher number of smokers compared to non-smokers correctly identified at least one stroke consequence (p = 0.019). The study revealed that there is a relatively weak understanding of the preventable nature of stroke among Syrian population. The overall awareness is still inadequate and varies depending on lifestyle factors and employment status.

Background: This study aimed to assess medication adherence among Jordanian patients with dyslipidemia and evaluate the impact of health literacy, well-being, and doctor-patient communication on adherence in this population. Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition that significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and understanding the factors influencing medication adherence is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from March to July 2023. A convenience sample of adult Jordanians diagnosed with dyslipidemia was surveyed in a tertiary hospital using validated scales: the Lebanese Medication Adherence Scale-14 (LMAS-14), the Doctor-Patient Communication Scale (DPC), the WHO well-being index, and the health literacy scale. Bivariate analysis and linear regression models were employed to analyze associations. Results: Among 410 participants (mean age 58.62 ± 12.11 years), the mean scores were LMAS-14 (35.10), DPC (55.77), WHO well-being (47.53), and health literacy (38.96). Higher medication adherence was associated with older age (B = 0.093, p = 0.049), university education (B = 2.872, p = 0.017), prior surgery (B = 2.317, p = 0.021), medium income level (B = 3.605, p = 0.006), and better doctor-patient communication (B = 0.166, p = 0.003). Conversely, cigarette smoking (B = -3.854, p = 0.001) and health insurance (B = -2.146, p = 0.039) were linked to lower adherence. Conclusion: The findings underscore the substantial interplay of socio-demographic and clinical factors affecting medication adherence. Enhanced public health interventions focusing on improving health literacy, communication quality, and addressing socio-economic conditions are vital for better adherence and patient outcomes in Jordan.

Background: no arabic validated scale is available to date to measure ai literacy. the currentstudy aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of a first arabic translation of theartificial intelligence literacy scale (ails) among university students from four arab countries(i.e. lebanon, saudi arabia, Morocco and Palestine).Methods: online cross-sectional data collection took place in July 2023 among universitystudents (N = 1849, mean age of 21.37 ± 3.84 years, 74.3% females).Results: the arabic version replicated the original four-factor structure of the ails. internalconsistency reliability coefficients were excellent (cronbach α = .92). Moreover, scalar, metricand configural invariance was supported across sex and country. Finally, concurrent validitywas established through significant negative correlations of the ails scores with levels of fearof autonomous robots and artificial intelligence.Conclusion: Making an arabic version of the ails available can guide course designs anddevelopment at the higher education system, to include ai in both curricula and assessmentsettings

Background Postpartum psychosis (PP) is a psychological emergency requiring rapid intervention, hospitalization and psychiatric management. However, PP has been neglected in the postpartum literature. Understanding the detrimental consequences of childhood trauma across mother’s life span is crucial to prevent this serious condition. The study’s objectives were to demonstrate the relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences (PPEs) and to look over the mediating role of postnatal depression (PD) and anxiety (PA) in this relationship. Methods This cross-sectional study, which enrolled 438 postpartum females 4–6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years), was carried out from September 2022 to June 2023. The Arabic validated versions of the Postpartum Psychotic Experiences Scale, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale, and the Child Abuse Self Report Scale were used. Results Both PD and PA partially mediated the correlation between psychological abuse and PPEs, and fully mediated the association between neglect and PPEs. Higher psychological abuse and neglect were significantly associated with higher PD (Beta = 1.11) and PA (Beta = 3.94), higher PD (Beta = 0.84) and PA (Beta = 0.26) were significantly associated with higher PPEs in both models, whereas greater child psychological abuse (Beta = 1.37) (but not neglect) was directly and strongly correlated with higher PPEs in all models. Conclusion The significant mediating effect of PA and PD on the association between childhood adversities and PPEs among postpartum females may offer additional therapeutic avenues to help attenuate various postpartum mental health issues and their potential serious risks on both mother and child.