The use of physical punishment for children is associated with poor psychological and behavioral outcomes, but the causal pathway is controversial, and the effects on later physical health unknown. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of asthma, cancer, and cardiac patients (150 in each category, 75 male) recruited from outpatient clinics and 250 healthy controls (125 male). All participants were 40-60 years old and citizens of Saudi Arabia, where the use of beating and insults is an acceptable parenting style. Demographic data and recalled frequency of beatings and insults as a child were assessed on an 8-point scale. Beating and insults were highly correlated (ρ = 0.846). Propensity score matching was used to control for demographic differences between the disease and healthy groups. After controlling for differences, more frequent beating (once or more per month) and insults were associated with a significantly increased risk for cancer (RR = 1.7), cardiac disease (RR = 1.3) and asthma (RR = 1.6), with evidence of increased risk for cancer and asthma with beating frequency of once every 6 months or more. Our results show that a threatening parenting style of beating and insults is associated with increased risk for somatic disease, possibly because this form of parenting induces stress. Our findings are consistent with previous research showing that child abuse and other early life stressors adversely affect adult somatic health, but provide evidence that the pathogenic effects occur also with chronic minor stress. A stress-inducing parenting style, even when normative, has long term adverse health consequences.

WhatsApp usage showed no relationship with the academic performance among Saudi medical students in both the universities. However, the usage of WhatsApp could be cautioned to minimize the social media addiction on various aspects of life.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has obstructed the classical practices of psychological assessment and intervention via face-to-face interaction. Patients and all health professionals have been forced to isolate and become innovative to continue receiving and providing exceptional healthcare services while minimizing the risk of exposure to, or transmission of, COVID-19. Aim This document is proposed initially as a guide to the extraordinary implementation of telepsychology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to extend its implementation to use fundamentally as the main guideline for telepsychology services in Saudi Arabia and other Arabic communities. Method A professional task force representing different areas of professional psychology reviewed, summarized, and documented methods, policies, procedures, and other resources to ensure that the recommendations and evidence reviews were valid and consistent with best practices. Results The practice of telepsychology involves the consideration of legal and professional requirements. This paper provides a guideline and recommendations for procedural changes that are necessary to address psychological services as we transition to telepsychology, as well as elucidates and demonstrates practical telepsychology frameworks, procedures, and proper recommendations for the provision of services during COVID-19. It adds a focused examination and discussion related to factors that could influence the telemedicine guideline, such as culture, religion, legal matters, and how clinical psychologists could expand their telepsychology practice during COVID-19 and after, seeking to produce broadly applicable guidelines for the practice of telepsychology. Professional steps in practical telemedicine were illustrated in tables and examples. Conclusion Telepsychology is not a luxury or a temporary response. Rather, it should be considered part of a proactive governance model to secure a continuity of mental health care services. Arabic communities could benefit from this guideline to telepsychology as an essential protocol for providing mental health services during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Substance use disorders (SUDs) patients have longer lengths of hospital stay, and more unplanned readmissions than other hospitalized patients. We aim to evaluate SUD-related rehospitalization and length of hospital stay in a major rehabilitation center that serves countries of the Gulf States. In a retrospective cohort study for 16-year data set in Al-Amal Hospital Electronic Health Record in the city of Dammam, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia, patients received services from the SUD treatment programs in the period of January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2021. We used cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression model to estimate risk of readmission, and general linear model to examine the association between substance use disorders and length of hospital stay. Of the total cohort, 4398 (30.17%) were readmitted within 1 year of discharge date. More than half of the cohort were unemployed patients (52.93%). Patients diagnosed with amphetamine use disorder were 1.36 higher risk of readmission compared to no amphetamine disorder (HR = 1.36; CI (1.04, 1.78) P.02). Patients diagnosed with mental disorder had 7.25 times higher risk of longer hospital stay compared to no mental health disorder (coefficient = 7.25; P < .0001). Amphetamine use disorder increased the risk of readmission. A secondary diagnosis of mental disorders among SUD patients increased length of hospital stay. As a targeted region of amphetamine smuggling in the world, policy and clinical decision-makers in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States should consider taking proactive steps to minimize the future anticipated high demand for addiction treatment in the region.