Day 1 :
- Addictive Disorders | Addiction Psychiatry and Mental Health | Addiction Rehabilitation & Recovery | Current Addiction Research | Psychiatric Disorder | Addiction and Youth | Epilepsy | Molecular Genetics In Epilepsy | Alternative Treatment For Epilepsy | Neuropsychiatric Disorder | Epilepsy And Brain Mapping
Location: Webinar
Session Introduction
Waseem H. Alkhaffaf
Ninevah University, Iraq
Title: Efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation on quality of life in patients with refractory epilepsy
Time : 09:30-10:00
Biography:
Waseem H. Alkhaffaf is currently working in the Department of Medicine and also as Faculty of Medicine at Nineveh University, Mosul, Iraq.
Abstract:
Background: Despite the introduction of new Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) and advances in the surgical treatment of epilepsy, an important group of patients still remains uncontrolled by any of these methods. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) is an adjunctive treatment for those with drug resistant epilepsy. In addition to the reduction in seizure frequency, there is other variables need to be assessed for better determination of VNS efficacy like Quality of Life (QOL) improvement.
Aims of the study: Evaluate the effectiveness of VNS, for Iraqi patients with refractory epilepsy, in reducing seizure frequency and improving QOL of these patients.
Method and Patients: Forty-six patients of drug resistant epilepsy were examined. They underwent implantation of a stimulator in and with a follow-up of three year. The study conducted at medical city in Baghdad/ Iraq at the period between 2016-2020 the patients were 25 male and 21 females, and their ages at VNS implantation was ≥18 year old for 28 patients and between11-17 year old for 18 patients. Analysis of seizure reduction (using McHugh classification) with the effect of demographic and clinical variables on it and assessment of QOL (using QOLIE-35 and QOLIE-AD 48 scales) were done in this study. SSPS v.23 was used for the statistical analysis.
Results: The total well response rate (including class I and II and equal to reduction in seizure frequency ≥50%) was 60.9 % (28/46 patients), 6 cases became seizure free and 5 cases reported no improvement and We also found that the factors of gender, age and predominant seizure type had clinical outcome effects. The mean seizure frequency and number of AEDs that used by the patients reduced. The mean of all domains and overall score of QOL scales improved and some domains had statistically significant improvement.
Conclusion: VNS is a safe, well-tolerated and effective treatment in reducing seizure frequency and improving QOL for patients with drug resistant epilepsy.
Key words: Vagus nerve stimulation, Refractory epilepsy, Quality of life.
Muhammad Kamil Fareed
MNS- University of Agriculture, Pakistan
Title: Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health
Time : 10:00-10:30
Biography:
Muhammad Kamil Fareed from Pakistan has completed his M.SC (Hons) in Food Science and Technology from the MNS University of Agriculture Multan, Pakistan. As, I have completed my M.SC (Hons) in this year and my research paper is under review for the publishing. I also have published my abstract in the “30th All Pakistan Food Science conference and Food and Nutrition Expo- 2019”.
Abstract:
The world has faced a global danger in the shape of coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) which is caused by the SARS-Cov-2. The symptoms at mild stage included sore throat, dry cough, fever, fatigue and malaise. During the outbreak of any infectious disease, the psychological behavior of population play a vital role in shaping both the spread of disease and instance of emotional distress and the social disturbance during and after outbreak. Pandemic has significant psycho-social impact and covid-19 is expected to have more severe impacts.
Social distance is a major strategy to fight against Covid-19 and this is also a cause of loneliness especially in settings like old age homes or nursing care which is an independent risk factor for anxiety disorders, depression and suicide. Psychological factors play significant role in adherence to public health measures like vaccination and in how individuals manage the threat of infection and consequence losses. It can be predict that social and health care professionals are at particular risk of psychological symptoms specifically if they work in primary care, public health, emergency departments and emergency services. Lockdown is a major stress disturbing the normal daily routine, social rhythm and hence increasing the level of stress. Quarantine may lead to different possible kind of problems like anger, fear, anxiety, loneliness, panic about worse possible outcomes and guilt about not being available for the family. Any flu like symptoms increases the anxiety and fear. Pandemic is not
only a medical phenomenon. Decreasing the finance, incapability to join work and long term effects on economy will have its impacts on new and pre-existing mental health disorders. The WHO has formally recognized this risk to health care professionals and more steps should be taken to manage the stress and anxiety in this group. In these situations, particularly there is need to focus on the frontline workers and taking break from the media coverage as well as asking for helps. The doctors who are involved in the emergency services should be more aware about psychiatric emergencies so that timely and appropriate directions can be done. There is a need to bring in the policy changes to ensure the continuous availability of essential drugs and healthcare
services. Policy makers must focus on making doctors more aware and comfortable using tele-consultation and telemedicine consultation should also be practiced especially in this kind of pandemic.