Abstract Introduction Armed conflicts create devastating psychosocial consequences for civilian populations, particularly when housing destruction results in displacement, material deprivation, and prolonged uncertainty. During active hostilities, mental health care is often delivered under crisis conditions in which mental health needs must compete with urgent survival concerns. Following the short but intense Iran–Israel cross-border conflict in June 2025, Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) launched a coordinated national mental health response, providing a unique opportunity to examine frontline psychological care during an acute phase of armed conflict. Methods This qualitative study employed reflexive thematic analysis to explore psychologists’ experiences in providing mental health care to civilians whose homes were destroyed during the June 2025 Iran–Israel conflict. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 psychologists involved in MoHME-coordinated crisis services, including helplines, mobile mental health teams, and temporary care settings. The analysis focused on patterns related to clinical practice and contextual challenges. Results Five interrelated themes emerged: housing destruction as psychic collapse; prioritization of material needs over psychological care; institutional constraints shaping clinical work; pervasive uncertainty as chronic stressor; and perceived limitations of conventional crisis-focused interventions. Participants described distress as deeply rooted in structural instability rather than isolated traumatic events. Conclusions The findings highlight the limitations of short-term, symptom-focused interventions in contexts characterized by mass displacement and housing loss. Effective crisis responses require integrated mental health strategies that are closely aligned with social, material, and institutional support systems. The findings also underscore the importance of strengthening community-based mental health infrastructure and intersectoral coordination in national emergency preparedness policies.

Abstract Background Eating disorders represent a public health concern worldwide, with increasing prevalence among young individuals. University students are considered a high risk group. However, data, focusing specifically on medical students in Egypt remain limited. Medical students face multiple academic stressors, high performance expectations, and heightened health awareness, which may be associated with disordered eating behaviours and psychological distress. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted on a stratified random sample of 575 undergraduate medical students at Ain- Shams University during the academic year 2018 /2019, Participants completed a designed clinical sheet for demographic data, Arabic version of the Eating Attitude Test -26 (EAT-26) as a first stage screening tool, followed by the Eating disorder Inventory -II (EDI-II) in non-clinical populations, in addition to semi-structured interviews for screen-positive cases. Binge eating behaviours were assessed using the Binge Eating Scale (BES), body image dissatisfaction using Body Image Test (BIT), and psychological distress using General Health Questionnaire -28(GHQ-28). Results Abnormal eating attitudes were identified in 12.3% of the sample, while 13.7% exhibited binge eating behaviours. Nearly half of the participants( 48.9%) demonstrated psychological distress. Binge eating behaviours revealed significant variation across academic grades, with a peak observed in the fourth academic year. Psychological distress was most prevalent in the second academic year and least prevalent in the fourth and sixth years. Significant associations were found between eating pathology, psychological distress, and several sociodemographic and clinical factors. Conclusion The study revealed that the prevalence of abnormal eating attitudes and body dissatisfaction matched the average prevalence in the literature, while binge eating behaviours were less than that of developed countries. The observed grade-related patterns suggest a complex relationship between psychological distress and binge eating behaviours; however, causality cannot be inferred due to the cross-sectional design. Longitudinal studies were warranted to further explore these associations.

Abstract Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability may be identified late in adolescence when the presenting complaint is dominated by internalizing distress and functional decline rather than explicit neurodevelopmental concerns. Social anxiety is among the most frequently reported comorbidities in adolescents with ASD. We report the case of an adolescent with late identified ASD and prominent social anxiety who received an autism adapted cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program. Case presentation Maxence is a 13-year-old boy referred for progressive social withdrawal, severe freezing in evaluative school situations, and escalating screen-related behaviours with family conflict. A multi-informant multidisciplinary assessment supported autism spectrum disorder level 1 without intellectual disability, with prominent social anxiety and clinically significant alexithymic features. Treatment was complicated by low initial motivation, over-analysis, poor emotional differentiation, avoidance of homework tasks, and screen use as a rapid tension regulator. Treatment followed a phase-based autism-adapted cognitive behavioral programme combining a highly predictable therapeutic frame, early somatic cue detection, minimal emotional labeling, brief protective scripts, planned graded exposures with reduction of safety behaviors, structured family guidance, and school coordination. The intervention was adapted by lowering performance demands, using body-first emotional work, replacing silence with brief rescue sentences, making exposure predictable and repeatable, and modifying the tension-to-screen-for-relief contingency rather than focusing on screen time alone. Symptoms and functioning improved from baseline to post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up, with reduced anxiety and freezing, better engagement in school and daily activities, and improved regulation of screen use. Conclusions This case study supports an integrated mechanistic formulation and a structured autism adapted CBT approach to reduce the cost of exposure and restore functional engagement in late-identified autistic adolescents with prominent social anxiety.

Abstract Background Generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots are being increasingly adopted by adolescents to address mental health–related concerns, such as seeking emotional reassurance, clarifying symptoms, and obtaining coping guidance. In clinical settings, however, some youths may develop maladaptive patterns of use that become maladaptive and interfere with therapeutic processes. This study aimed to characterize problematic AI chatbot use among adolescents receiving child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient care and to examine associated psychosocial correlates. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in a Tunisian child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic (July–December 2025). The participants were adolescents who reported using generative AI chatbots for mental health concerns. Clinically meaningful problematic use was identified via a clinician-based, impairment-centered classification aligned with the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11) principles for disorders due to addictive behaviours. Severity was assessed dimensionally using an adapted 20-item Internet Addiction Test for AI chatbots (AIAT-20). A concise 10-item short form (Concise internet Addiction Test for AI chatbots; CIAT-10) was derived from the AIAT-20 item pool and tested in the study sample for internal consistency and criterion-related discrimination against the clinician-based classification. Coping strategies were measured with the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief COPE), loneliness with the University of California, Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (UCLA Loneliness Scale; Version 3), and family functioning with the Family Satisfaction Scale (FSS) from the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales, Fourth Edition (FACES IV) package. Discrimination of severity scores against the clinician classification was examined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, and correlates of CIAT-10 severity were examined via correlational and multivariable regression analyses with robust standard errors. Results Ninety-two adolescents were included (mean age 13.2 ± 1.1 years; 60.9% female). The most frequently endorsed psychiatric-related purposes were emotional support during distress (71.7%) and seeking information about mental health conditions (70.7%). On the basis of the clinician-based impairment classification, 21 participants met the criteria for clinically meaningful problematic use (22.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 15.4–32.4). The internal consistency was high for the AIAT-20 (Cronbach’s alpha [α] = 0.888) and acceptable to good for CIAT-10 (α = 0.794). The CIAT-10 showed good discrimination against the clinician classification (area under the ROC curve = 0.789) and high sensitivity at the empirical screening threshold (≥ 24). Greater CIAT-10 severity was independently associated with lower trust but higher perceived usefulness of chatbot responses, along with lower family satisfaction and weaker problem-focused coping, suggesting that problematic reliance may reflect perceived regulatory value rather than simple confidence in AI-generated advice. Conclusions Among adolescent psychiatric outpatients, problematic AI chatbot use may reflect a digitally mediated strategy for managing distress, reassurance seeking, and unmet coping or relational needs rather than excessive exposure alone. Larger-scale studies are needed to clarify unresolved patterns, particularly the apparent dissociation between trust and perceived usefulness, while clinical assessment should focus on function, impairment, and therapeutic impact.

Abstract Objective To assess frontal lobe dysfunction in incarcerated juvenile delinquents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in two correction institutions in Cairo where 50 admitted juvenile delinquents (25 males & 25 females) were assessed and compared to 25 age matched healthy adolescents. Personal, socio-demographic and criminal histories were collected. Participants were subjected to Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised. Results Juvenile delinquents differed significantly from healthy adolescents: they exhibited executive dysfunction as they had higher scores in all items of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test and lower scores in Wechsler subscales. They had lower verbal IQ scores than performance ones. Conclusion Delinquent adolescents admitted to correctional institutions had poorer cognitive functioning compared to apparently normal adolescents. JDs had lower verbal IQ than performance IQ scores. Education, occupation and socioeconomic status remained influential environmental factors.

Abstract Background Methamphetamine use is associated with sexual dysfunction and hormonal alterations; however, the reversibility of these effects after abstinence remains unclear. This study designed to evaluate changes in sexual function and prolactin levels in male patients after three months of abstinence from methamphetamine. This prospective follow-up study included 61 male patients with methamphetamine use disorder and erectile dysfunction. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15), and serum prolactin levels were measured at baseline and after 3 months of confirmed abstinence. Results Erectile function significantly improved after 3 months ( p = 0.01), with 62.3% of patients showing improvement. Intercourse satisfaction also improved significantly ( p < 0.001), while sexual desire significantly decreased ( p < 0.001). No significant changes were observed in orgasm or overall satisfaction. Prolactin levels significantly increased ( p < 0.001), with no consistent correlation with most sexual function parameters. Conclusion Abstinence from methamphetamine is associated with improvement in erectile function despite increased prolactin levels. However, sexual desire may decline, suggesting complex neuroendocrine and psychological mechanisms.

Abstract Background Mindfulness-based approaches have gained increasing attention in mental health research and clinical practice. However, most empirical evidence on mindfulness has been generated in Western populations, with comparatively limited synthesis of research conducted in non-WEIRD contexts. Aims This scoping review aims to map and synthesize existing research on mindfulness conducted in Saudi Arabia, with particular attention to its applications within mental health and related domains. Methods Electronic databases were searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English and Arabic between 2015 and early 2025. Following screening procedures guided by PRISMA-ScR recommendations, 44 studies met the inclusion criteria and were thematically synthesized. Results The included studies were organized into four domains: mental and physical health, educational contexts, workplace and organizational settings, and cultural/environmental contexts. Across domains, mindfulness was commonly associated with reductions in stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, alongside improvements in emotional regulation, resilience, and psychological well-being. Mindfulness-based interventions demonstrated preliminary effectiveness among both clinical and non-clinical populations, including students, healthcare professionals, and individuals with chronic health conditions. Nevertheless, the literature remains methodologically heterogeneous, with most studies relying on cross-sectional designs, self-report measures, and short-term interventions. Conclusions Overall, the findings suggest that mindfulness-based approaches show promise for supporting psychological well-being in the Saudi context. At the same time, the field would benefit from more rigorous study designs, longitudinal investigations, and culturally grounded intervention frameworks.

Abstract Background Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often show social skills difficulties, the cause of which continues to be less understood. These difficulties are thought to stem from the main symptoms of ADHD. Gender differences in social skills among individuals with ADHD have also not been well investigated in research. Objective Therefore, this study aimed to compare social skills between boys and girls in ADHD and to compare how these differences related to those observed in typically developing (TD) boys and girls. It also aimed to assess the correlation between the severity of ADHD symptoms and social skills among ADHD boys and girls. Methods The sample included 54 ADHD children and 54 TD children aged 8–13 years. Data was collected from the children and the parents via the “Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children”, the “Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters”, in addition to the “Conners’ Parent Rating Scale”. “Continuous Performance Test” (CPT) as well as “Stanford Binet” intelligence quotient were also done for the children. Results Boys showed significantly lower social skills in both groups but more pronouncedly in the ADHD group. Among the ADHD group, boys had higher ADHD severity. Among the ADHD group, lower social skills were correlated with higher ADHD symptoms severity but not with the ADHD cognitive deficits or with the children’s age or socioeconomic status. Conclusions Social skills difficulties associated with ADHD are more pronounced in boys. This may be related to the higher ADHD severity observed in boys. Moreover, poorer social skills are closely related to the severity of ADHD symptoms suggesting that social skills difficulties are part of the main symptomatology of ADHD.

Abstract Background Specific learning disorder (SLD), particularly dyslexia, represents a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition whose relationship with neurological soft signs requires further elucidation in Arabic-speaking populations. This study investigated correlations between auditory psycholinguistic abilities and neurological soft signs in children with SLD, dyslexia subtype. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 Arabic-speaking Egyptian children aged 6 to 11 years diagnosed with SLD. The total auditory psycholinguistic abilities were assessed using the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities (Arabic version) (ITPA) and neurological soft signs using the Quick Neurological Screening Test (QNST). Results Participants demonstrated markedly reduced auditory psycholinguistic ages relative to chronological age (mean 9.04 ± 2.03 years), with auditory sequential memory most compromised (5.33 ± 1.62 years). Neurological screening revealed a high burden of soft signs: 86% exhibited abnormal tandem walking and figure recognition, and 100% showed impaired left–right discrimination. Significant associations emerged between lower total psycholinguistic age and poorer performance on thumb–finger circle ( p = 0.008), tandem walk ( p = 0.014), and behavioral irregularities ( p = 0.011). Auditory processing age correlated significantly with tandem walk ( p = 0.012), double simultaneous stimulation ( p = 0.002), sound pattern imitation ( p = 0.011), and eye tracking ( p = 0.032). Auditory association showed the strongest relationships with multiple neurological domains ( p < 0.001). Conclusions Children with SLD exhibit co-occurring psycholinguistic and neurological deficits, supporting cerebellar and multisystem involvement in dyslexia pathophysiology. Integrated assessment protocols combining psycholinguistic profiling with structured neurological screening are recommended to inform comprehensive rehabilitation strategies.

Abstract Background Adaptive functioning indicates real-life abilities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is increasingly used as an outcome measure in intervention research. This study examined the influence of clinical and sociodemographic factors on the adaptive behavior patterns of Egyptian children with ASD. It also compared their adaptive behavior profiles to those of typically developing peers. Methods A case–control study comprised 97 children aged 38–144 months. Fifty-six had ASD diagnosed by DSM-5 criteria and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Forty-one were age- and sex-matched typically developing children. The adaptive behavior was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Second Edition (VABS-II). Clinical characteristics and socioeconomic indicators were obtained through structured interviews with caregivers. Multivariable linear regression analyses identified independent predictors of adaptive behavior outcomes. Results Children with ASD score significantly lower across all domains of adaptive behavior compared to controls (p&lt;0.001). Mean scores in the ASD group were within the low range (below 70), with relative strengths observed in motor skills, followed by socialization and daily living skills, while communication showed the greatest impairment. Younger age, verbal ability, and higher socioeconomic status emerged as the strongest independent predictors of higher adaptive behavior scores. Conclusion Egyptian children with ASD show marked deficits in adaptive functioning, with domain-specific patterns influenced by clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. Identifying these adaptive behavior profiles before intervention is essential for tailoring therapeutic strategies and for evaluating intervention outcomes using standardized measures such as the VABS-II.