Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de santé de la Méditerranée orientale = al-Majallah al-ṣiḥḥīyah li-sharq al-mutawassiṭ
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · May 2001
Historical ArticleMental health and psychiatry in the Middle East: historical development.
A brief account is given of attitudes towards mental health and the development of psychiatry in the Middle East from an historical perspective. The Middle East is considered as a cultural entity and the influence of the beliefs and practices of ancient times on the collective mind of the people of the Region is discussed.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · May 2001
Comparative StudyAdult oncology and chronically ill patients: comparison of depression, anxiety and caregivers' quality of life.
A diagnosis of cancer can be devastating for patients and their loved ones. We compared the intensity of anxiety and depression for 30 terminally ill cancer patients and 30 chronically ill patients and the quality of life of their most attendant caregivers. ⋯ Cancer patients and their caregivers had significantly higher scores on these scales and suffered more from depression and anxiety than chronically ill patients and caregivers. Cancer patient caregivers also had poorer quality of life than did caregivers of the chronically ill.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · May 2001
Historical ArticleEgyptian contribution to the concept of mental health.
This paper provides an historical look at the Egyptian contribution to mental health from Pharaonic times through to the Islamic era and up to today. The current situation as regards mental health in Egypt is described.
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Recognizing the magnitude of the problem of mental health disorders globally, the World Health Organization has made mental health the focus of the year 2001. In this paper three priority areas for action in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are suggested, namely: human rights, mental hospitals and community care, drug abuse, and reconstruction of the health care system in Afghanistan.
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East. Mediterr. Health J. · Jan 2001
A critical review of the infectious diseases surveillance system in the Gaza Strip.
The development and strengthening of national surveillance systems is a key part of communicable disease control. This review article describes and evaluates the Palestinian surveillance system and discusses the role of the epidemiology departments and other health providers in Gaza Strip in reporting infectious diseases, considers the use of the data collected, and makes recommendations for strengthening infectious diseases surveillance. Underreporting of infectious diseases remains a major problem in communicable diseases surveillance. Recommendations include the unification of the reporting forms between different health providers, increased involvement of health providers in reporting of infectious diseases, and complete separation of surveillance and clinical activities in epidemiology departments.