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Biomedical subjects

H Swadi

Publications and source records attributed to H Swadi.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Psychiatric morbidity in a community sample of Arab children with asthma.

To determine the extent of psychiatric morbidity among Arab schoolchildren with asthma in the United Arab Emirates, we surveyed a stratified community sample of schoolchildren (6-13 years) using the Rutter questionnaire (teachers' and parents' versions). Comparisons were made between children with asthma and controls matched for age, sex, and school. About 16 per cent of children with asthma were simultaneously reported by parents and teachers to show significant psychopathology. Rates of disturbance were significantly higher in asthmatics than controls. Unexpectedly, the psychopathology was predominantly of the behavioral type. Cultural factors may account for this unconventional feature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

A controlled study of psychiatric morbidity among developmentally disabled children in the United Arab Emirates.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence of psychiatric problems among 26 children each with a learning disability (mental retardation) and specific speech disorder was conducted in an Arab population using the Rutter Behavioural Scale, and compared with a community sample of 100 control children matched for age. The prevalence of psychiatric problems, as identified by both the parents and the teachers was 35, 19 and 4 per cent respectively, in the learning disabled, speech impaired and control groups. Children with global disability or mental retardation showed significantly higher rates of psychiatric morbidity than those with specific speech disorder, both of which were significantly higher than that in the control group. Higher rates of psychiatric problems noted in the developmentally disabled children may be the result of specific socio-demographic and cultural factors in addition to neurodevelopmental factors and low IQ.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed1999

Individual risk factors for adolescent substance use.

Identification of risk factors that influence initiation and escalation of drug use in the adolescent population is the approach which has gained currency. The wide array of risk factors involved can be condensed into three main domains: constitutional predisposition, environmental factors (family and peers) and life events. This has been complemented by a surging interest in protective factors. Recent research evidence has been helpful in defining the direction and strategy of prevention efforts. A definite trend has emerged in that family influences are being increasingly targeted. The rationale for this shift seems to come from the observation that home environment, family relationships and parenting styles are almost always involved as risk factors, mediators or as protective factors.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

The translation into Arabic and revalidation of a fatigue questionnaire.

The aim of this study was to translate a fatigue questionnaire, which had been developed in England for use in epidemiological studies and in community settings, into Arabic. It was intended that the translated questionnaire could be used in any setting where Arabic is the first language of the patient. The process of translating the questionnaire and the revalidation method are described. The Arabic translation was shown to be both reliable and valid in the United Arab Emirates setting.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Psychiatric symptoms in drug abusing adolescents.

Psychiatric symptoms and psychosocial variables were investigated in 46 adolescent drug abusers referred to a psychiatric clinic. There were high rates of behavioural symptoms (mostly oppositional and delinquent), emotional symptoms (mostly depressive) and an abundance of adverse life events and family dynamics. When compared to a control group of non-abusing adolescents, drug users were only more behaviourally disturbed. Cluster analysis of the drug abusing adolescents showed that they fell into three distinct groups of (1) behavioural dysfunction (76%); (2) family dysfunction (16%); and (3) emotional dysfunction (8). The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Relative risk factors in detecting adolescent drug abuse.

Detecting adolescent drug abuse remains to be a difficult proposition because of its secret nature. This paper investigates the significance of other factors as indicators of possible drug use by an adolescent. Peer drug use, suspension at school, law infringements, truancy, conflict with parents, alcohol use and cigarette smoking were the relative risk factors investigated among 953 adolescents. The most predictive of those was peer drug use. The more of those factors were present in an adolescent, the higher the risk of possible drug use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

"Experimenting" with drugs: a critical evaluation.

A group of adolescent drug "experimenters" as defined by the frequency of use (N = 496) were compared to non-users (N = 2417) and to "regular" users (N = 125) on a number of variables. These covered the patterns of use, attitudes to drug use, exposure to drugs and to drug use, and other behavioural correlates. Experimenting with drugs seems to indicate an unfavourable shift in adolescent behaviour. Experimenters were more likely to resemble regular users especially with respect to the behavioural correlates. In the light of the results observed, the various contexts in which the term "experimenting" is currently being used are examined with the conclusion that usage of the term remains to be ambiguous, over-inclusive, unjustified, and should be abandoned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Perceived family relationships in drug abusing adolescents.

A group of 15- to 16-year-old adolescents were asked to report on their perception of their own family relationships, previous family experiences and their perceptions of their relationships with their fathers and with their mothers. They were also asked to report on their use of psychoactive drugs. Drug users were more likely than non-users to perceive their families as distant and less involved, with poor communications, mistrusting and punitive. Fathers were more likely perceived to be ineffective, and less significant than mothers. Drug users reported more parental separation, divorce, re-marriage and bereavement.

Adolescent↗