Gambling disorder involves repeated problematic gambling behavior that causes significant problems or distress. It is also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling.

In Tunisia, a muslum country, gambling is prohibited and casinos are non-existent or only for tourists with foreign currency. Lately, with the spread of casinos online and sites of sports betting, gambling’s become problematic in Tunisia. People accumulated huge debts with feelings of shame and guilt leading to suicidal attempts.

Studying the link between gambling disorder and suicidal attempts and comparing the different preventive measures proposed for online gambling.

a case of a patient with gambling disorder that was hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital for a suicidal attempt by stabbing himself and a review of a literature.

Mr R.A was a 42-year-old man with no family nor personal psychiatric history. He has no history of a particular substance use disorder. He was married and a father of two children and has a regular job.

A year ago, he stated gambling on internet sites using his phone cell and, in several months, he lost a lot of money and accumulated debts.

Lately he committed two attempts of suicide. The first one was by swallowing rat poison. The second one was a month later, by stabbing himself with a knife that caused evisceration and required surgery then an hospitalization in a psychiatric unit.

There’s evidence that GD and SB are associated, although there’s disagreement about the nature of this association. Adequate preventive measures should be considered by governments

No significant relationships.

We present the case of a 33-year old man that suffer chronic cocaine and cannabis use since adolescence and at age of 25 develops depressive symptoms and later psychotic symptoms not congruent with mood state. He met criteria for schizoaffective disorder at that moment and was treated with antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, improving symptomatology even without stopping completely substance use.

To study the relationship between schizoaffective disorder and cannabis and cocaine use, including the neurobiological disturbance secondary to these drugs that can lead to the development of this disorder and the relevance of diagnosing it in context of active substance use.

We carried out a literature review of scientific papers in Medline data base. We used the following terms: “Schizoaffective disorder” “cocaine use” and “cannabis use”. We considered English and Spanish papers for the last 5 years.

After 4 months of cocaine withdrawal and 1 month of cannabis withdrawal, the patient progressively improved depressive and positive psychotic symptoms. However, we reported the persistence of negative symptoms as psychomotor slowdown and cognitive and affective flattening.

The use of cocaine and cannabis is related to depressive and psychotic symptoms in intoxication and can also precipitate chronic psychotic and affective disorders. Induced schizoaffective disorder has not been widely described in literature. Our patient could be a case of schizoaffective induced disorder, but we should consider other pathogenic factors, differential diagnosis and clinical evolution in permanent withdrawal to confirm this diagnosis.

No significant relationships.

Tobacco-use is currently one of the major public health problems and is more common among patients with schizophrenia.

We aimed in this study to estimate the prevalence of smoking in a population of patients with schizophrenia, to assess tobacco dependence and to identify its correlated factors.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study carried out on 50 outpatients at the Department of Psychiatry (Tunisia) over a period of two months. For the data collection, we used: a general questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco consumption and the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence.

All the patients were male with a mean age of 32.7±7.02 years and 84% of them were tobacco consumers. More than half of the sample were single (68%) and had a primary school level (52%). A professional irregularity and low socio-economic level were found successively in 84% and 78% of cases. Half of the patients (52%) were diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and 46% of them were treated by atypical antipsychotics. Cigarette dependence was strong or very strong in 82% according to the Fagerstrom test. A positive correlation was found between strong tobacco dependence on the one hand and low socio-economic level, professional irregularity, smoking in a first-degree relative and treatment with a typical neuroleptic on the other hand.

Our study and data from the literature show that subjects with schizophrenia constitute a population of highly dependent smokers. A smoking cessation assistance program for this vulnerable population is a priority to improve their quality of life.

No significant relationships.

Tobacco use is clearly harmful for mental as well as physical health especially among persons <18 yeards age. It is used in multiple forms in many countries such as, somoling chewing etc. It is impotant to know the pattern of tobacco use and the comorbid psychiatric illnesses inthis age group.

To identify the pattern of tobacco use among cases <18 years age with various psychiatric disorders.

It was a cross-sectional study conducted at a psychiatric clinic at Karachi, on all consecutive cases <18 years. Diagnostic criteria of ICD-10 were used.

A total number of 700 consecutive cases below the age of 18 years reporting to psychiatric clinic were inducted in this study. Out of them 107 (15%) patients reported use of tobacco. Among them 83 (77% ) used pan with tobacco. The psychiatric illnesses identified were depressive disorder (39%) & conversion disorder (15%).

Tobacco use (predominantly in the form of chewing), is common amongst children and adolescents reporting for psychiatric consultation. It is important to develop strategies at a community level with legal restriction/implementation selling tobacco to children. Moreover, psychiatric evaluation should be done in all children and adolescents identified as using tobacco, and the term “smoking cessation clinic” should be replaced with “tobacco cessation clinic/ services”.

No significant relationships.

Alcohol screening and brief interventions (ASBIs) for risky drinkers are known to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm. The present study was the first to investigate the effectiveness of an ASBI for high-risk drinkers of low socioeconomic status (SES) in the Korean community social service setting.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an ASBI for clients in community social service settings in South Korea.

A total of 153 clients in social service agencies participated in this study. Clients in the experimental group received alcohol use screening and two sessions of brief motivational interventions (MI). Clients in the comparison group received alcohol problems screening test only. Primary outcome variable was the amount of weekly alcohol consumption, which was measured once before the intervention and three times after the intervention.

When analyses were conducted separately for participants from the self-sufficiency centers and those from the community welfare centers, there was a significant time and group interaction effects. The amount of weekly alcohol consumption of the experimental group was gradually reduced over time. However, the amount of the comparison group was reduced at the four-week follow-up but was increased both at the eight-week and 12-week follow-ups.

This study demonstrates the need to provide training and education in the ASBI to social service workers working with the underprivileged, as such training would increase the identification of alcohol-related risks of the people most vulnerable to alcohol-related problems.

No significant relationships.

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is characterized by an individual’s inability to control his/her Internet use, which may result in marked distress and functional impairment. Systematic reviews show that excessive screen-time is negatively associated with well-being and positively associated with reduced quality of life in young people. There is growing evidence that IAD is related to comorbidities such as depression but relatively little is known about fatigue in adolescents with IAD.

Accumulating evidence suggests that fatigue is a central component of IAD. Depression is also related to IAD. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding whether there is a strong correlation between the severity of IAD and the rate of depression. Our objectives were to describe depression and fatigue in adolescents diagnosed with IAD.

Study included 94 participants with IAD and 88 controls, all aged 12–17 years. Depression was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory Scale (Georgian version), and fatigue by the Pediatric Quality of Life Initiative (Georgian version) multidimensional fatigue scale.

Adolescents with severe IAD are 5.63 times more likely to show symptoms of moderate or severe depression than children with mild or moderate Internet addiction. Those with severe IAD showed 6.62 times more cognitive fatigue, 7.81 times higher sleep/rest fatigue and 11.11 times higher general fatigue than children with mild and moderate Internet addiction.

IAD can lead to depression and fatigue, which can affect adolescent’s psychological and social well-being. Mechanisms for prevention and ongoing support are needed for adolescents and their families.

No significant relationships.

Pathological gambling consists of a persistent and maladaptive pattern of gambling behavior, that often leads to significant adverse psychosocial and financial outcomes. It is currently classified as an “Impulse Disorder” on ICD-10 but the DSM-5 moved this diagnosis from “Impulse-Control Disorders” to “Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders” section[1]. Behavioral addictions, especially pathological gambling, share many features with substance dependences, namely clinical findings and behavioural patterns, comorbidity with psychiatric disorders, genetic factors and family history, neurobiology, natural history and response to treatment[2].

To study the impact of substance abuse in patients with pathological gambling.

Literary review, using PubMed database search, regarding substance abuse and pathological gambling.

57,5% of individuals with pathological gambling also present with some form of substance use[3].There was also a large percentage of patients presenting with nicotine dependence (60,1%) and a fourfold increase in the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder[3]. Individuals with substance use disorders also show a threefold risk of developing pathological gambling and substance use appears to negatively influence gambling behaviours in this population. Gambling habits in adolescents have been linked to an increased risk of current and lifetime drug use of multiple substances[4]. Other psychiatric comorbidities were also frequent in this population: 37.9% of patients presented with mood disorders and 37.4% with anxiety disorders[3].

There is a significant clinical and neurobiological overlap between substance use disorders and pathological gambling. Individuals with pathological gambling have a high prevalence of substance use disorders and an increased lifetime risk of substance use, which negatively influences gambling behavior.

No significant relationships.

Alcohol consumption has devastating psychosocial and health consequences, with effects on cognitive functions. Recent studies have highlighted that patients with diagnosis of alcohol dependence syndrome have cognitive deficits in executive function, visuospatial ability, attention, procedural memory, verbal fluency and processing speed.

The aim of this study is to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical patterns of the study sample and the cognitive deterioration severity and type.

A retrospective observational study was conducted with patients who had alcohol use disorder diagnosis at Dual Pathology Outpatient and Inpatient Unity, Psychiatry Department, at Coimbra Hospital and University Center, Portugal. Patients were admitted from 1/1/2016 and 30/09/2021, and submitted at neuropsychological structured evaluation. From the initial sample, major neurocognitive disorder, intellectual development disorder, cerebrovascular accident, traumatic brain injury and neurosurgery were excluded.

The results show significant cognitive impairment in executive function, memory, verbal fluency and visuospatial ability.

Our results support the hypothesis of widespread impairment resulting from alcohol consumption. Cognitive impairment can limit the psychotherapeutic intervention, the adherence to pharmacological therapy and abstinence maintenance. The sheer presence of alcohol use disorder should encourage a neuropsychological evaluation. Further studies are needed in this area to prevent and outline an early intervention.

No significant relationships.

The comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and substance use disorders is more and more common in daily clinical practice. However, only few studies have adressed this subject in north african patients.

The main objective of our study was the estimation of the prevalence and patterns of psychiatric co-morbidities in substance users seeking care.

Our work consisted of a cross-sectional study of a sample of patients attending outpatient substance use treatment at the addiction center in Oujda, Morocco. A hetero-questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and patient history, DSM-IV criteria to assess substance abuse and dependence, and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview [MINI] to assess psychiatric comorbidities.

Our study involved 100 patients, with a male predominance (89% of users). The main substances used in the last 12 months were tobacco (78%), followed by cannabis (74%), alcohol (50%), and benzodiazepines (44%). Psychiatric comorbidity was identified in 71% of the users, 51% of whom had a depressive disorder, 35% an anxiety disorder and 10% a gambling disorder. The dependence on the substance that initially motivated the consultation was higher in patients with psychiatric comorbidity (p=0.033). The post-traumatic stress disorder was significantly associated with the presence of alcohol dependence (p=0.028). The presence of benzodiazepine dependence (p=0.025) and abuse of cocaine (p=0.028) and Ecstasy (p=0.000) were significantly associated with suicide risk.

Our study found a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities among substance users seeking treatment, this should prompt clinicians to pay particular attention to this issue in order to adapt and improve their management.

No significant relationships.

Based on the results showing that there are more alcoholics in the low-income bracket, case management (CM) for such cases was initiated in 2011. As a result, the treatment failure rate was identified between 43-44% based on the WHO criteria.

We investigated the predictive factors for the treatment failure to maximize successful CM treatment.

Thirty-nine subjects from Sasang-gu and Saha-gu treated by four social workers using CM were included in this study. Failure was defined when the level of risk was maintained or increased as per the WHO criteria. The clinical characteristics of the subjects including their age and gender were collected.

Typically, 17 (43.6%) subjects demonstrated treatment failure by the CM (TF). Compared with the subjects who were treated successfully (n=22; TS), TF maintained abstinence in shorter periods in terms of the longest abstinent period compared with TS while CM (28.24±.99 vs. 76.82±.27, p=.025). The higher population in TF did not make an effort to quit drinking compared with TS while CM (41.2% vs.13.6%, p=.051). Also, more TF stayed with their family members compared with TS (58.8% vs. 31.8%, p=.092).

The results showed that shorter abstinence periods and the absence of efforts initiated to quit drinking while CM, and living with family members were the predictive factors for failure in treating alcoholics by the CM. It is presumed that influencing patients to quit drinking and encouraging them to abstain for longer periods are crucial to attaining successful treatment.

No significant relationships.

Cannabis is the most commonly used psychoactive drug, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Accordingly, to the European Drug Report 2021, the prevalence of cannabis use is about five times that of other substances, so that last year cannabis use among EU inhabitants aged 15 to 24y is estimated at 19.2 %. Even though most human research has concluded that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), tends to dampen rather than provoke aggression in acute doses, recent evidence suggests a relationship between cannabis usage and violent behavior, especially when associated with neurodevelopment stages.

To review the existing evidence on the association between cannabis and violence in young adults and provide an overview of possible mechanisms explaining this relation.

Literature review was based on PubMed/ MEDLINE, using key words inclusive for violence, cannabis and adolescence. Studies included focused the young-adults population and considered the relation between cannabis use and behaviors reported as acts of physical violence. Studies were excluded if they included self-harm behaviors.

Recent studies, including case-reports, showed a global moderate association between cannabis use and violence. Preliminary data has even highlighted a potential larger effect in more frequent users. Also, the cannabis role in the central nervous system (CNS), with most expression in the limbic cortices, and especially as it participates in a variety of brain function modulations - including executive functions, inhibition/impulsivity, and emotional control, has been pointed as one of the main arguments for this relation.

Further studies may shed light on the effects of cannabis use on behavior.

No significant relationships.

New technologies have become widespread in the last decades, becoming an essential tool for today’s population. However, due to the increase in its use, multiple problems have surfaced at a psychopathological level.

The main goal of this study is to review, in an updated manner, the existing bibliography on the problematic use of the Internet and online gambling in the adult population and its relationship with Mood Disorders, exploring beyond Major Depressive Disorders so as to include Bipolar Disorders.

A search was carried out in Medline, Tripdatabase and in the Virtual Health Library. We use the terms “Bipolar Disorder”, “Mood Disorders”; “Depressive disorders”; “Comorbidity”; “Problematic Internet use” and “Internet Gaming disorder”. Narrowing the search to the last 4 years and obtaining a total of 14 articles, of which only 10 were included after a thorough review.

A significant association was found between internet addiction in its different forms (Smartphone, Social Networks, Internet in general and IGD and MDD. A neuroanatomical correlation between Internet Gaming Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder was also established. A heterogeneity of criteria for addiction evaluation was observed. However, little information was found regarding the association between the addictive disorders and Bipolar Disorder.

The correlation between the behavioral addiction forms previously mentioned and bipolar disorder must be further studied. There is a clear association between internet addiction and major depressive disorder. The established neuroanatomical correlation promotes the study of the applicability of brain stimulation techniques as a potential treatment for this type of pathology.

No significant relationships.

The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS) specifically predicts that acquired capability, perceived burdensomeness, and low belongingness are collectively necessary and sufficient proximal causes of serious suicidal behavior. Although the interpersonal theory of suicide is clinically reliable, most previous studies have been conducted on clinical groups including suicidal ideators with no suicide attempters or including only a few suicide attempters

This study aims to investigate interpersonal needs and acquired capability for suicide through questionnaire surveys following suicide attempts in people admitted to hospitals for medical treatment.

A total of 344 participants (200 depressed patients with attempted suicide, 144 depressed patients with suicidal ideation) were enrolled for this study. Depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, interpersonal needs, and acquired capability for suicide were evaluated. A model with pathways from emotional regulation difficulties and interpersonal needs to suicide attempts was proposed. Participants were divided into two groups according to the presence of suicide attempts or suicidal ideation.

Acquired capability for suicide mediated the path from depression to suicide attempts. In the path model, difficulties in emotional regulation and interpersonal needs predicted depression significantly. Although depression itself was not significantly related to acquired capability for suicide, depression was significantly related to acquired capability for suicide in suicide attempter group.

Interventions with two factors affecting suicide attempts will clarify the suicide risk and contribute to finding risk factors. It will also help reduce suicide rates through interventions in the processes leading to suicide attempts by identifying variables to predict the attempts through the path to suicide attempts.

No significant relationships.

Background: Existing evidence poses low self-esteem as a risk factor for both suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SAs) in the general population.

The present study assesses the relationship between self-esteem level and SI/SA, considering across the lifespan. Two separate meta-analyses, one for SI and the other for SA are herein reported since they substantially overlap in terms of eligibility procedures and search strategies.

Eligible studies documented at least one suicidal, and a non-suicidal group. Data were analyzed using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager Software (RevMan, version 5.4.1) under the random-effects models. Values were standardized owing to the anticipated heterogeneity of self-esteem rating tools. Sensitivity analyses were performed to control for heterogeneity.

Out of 3,310 initial hits, 24 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion. The meta-analyses showed that individuals with lower levels of self-esteem, compared to those with higher levels, were more likely to endorse both SI and SA. SI reached a standardized mean difference of -0.43 (CI: -0.81, -0.05), while SA reduced by -0.89 (CI: -1.02, -0.76), overall. Limitations: The herein presented results rely on standardized mean differences rather than odds of either SI or SA since the original studies failed to systematically fetch rates of the events.

Lower levels of self-esteem represent a risk factor for both SI and SA across the lifespan. Forthcoming studies should systematically account for multiple moderators to allow meta-analytic synthesis including sub-group and meta-regression analyses assuming high-heterogeneity would still be concerned.

No significant relationships.

Suicide-related Internet use is becoming more common, and many research study its potential risks and benefits.

Data on suicidal thoughts and Internet use of patients with depressive disorders were collected to assess their suicide-related Internet use and its relation to help-seeking preferences.

Semi-structured interviews were completed to assess Internet use patterns and suicidal thoughts among patients treated with depressive disorders, and preferred forms of help-seeking were also examined.

113 patients completed the interviews, most of them spend more hours a day using the Internet. More than 80% came across suicide-related contents while browsing, a quarter reported specific search for suicidal contents. In case of suicidal thoughts, three-quarters of depressed patients would seek help from a mental health professional, two-thirds from their partners, half from friends, and nearly one-third from parents, other relatives or from GPs. Most patients would prefer offline (personal) help for their psychological problems and suicidal thoughts, online methods were less preferred, with only one-fifth choosing these options. However, a third of them also considered it probable that they would not ask anyone for help.

Despite of the frequent use of the Internet, online help-seeking is less common in depressive patients. However, in the times of pandemic, online help facilities may provide an opportunity to prevent suicidal behavior for those, who have suicidal thoughts and use the Internet regularly, especially searching for suicide-related contents. In the future, further research is needed to develop more effective online suicide prevention programs and applications.

No significant relationships.

Available meta-analytic evidence suggests an increased risk of suicide among cancer patients, although most of the reports focused on the sole suicide death (SD) outcome and they are usually hampered by significant between-study heterogeneity.

The present meta-analysis aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk rates of SD, suicide attempt (SA), and suicidal ideation (SI) among cancer patients.

Systematic search up to April 2021 of observational studies documenting cancer and suicide outcomes associations. Pooled prevalence estimates, odd ratios (ORs), risk ratios (RRs), and hazard ratios (HRs) of SD, SA, and SI were computed according to the random-effects model. SD prevalence underwent cumulative and sub-group analyses for different variables. Risk estimates underwent sensitivity analysis for study design.

Overall, thirty-nine studies were included. A higher risk of SD based on HR, SA based on OR and HR, and SI based on each measure was recorded among cancer patients versus controls. OR and RR of SD were not significant. Pooled prevalence rates of SD, SA and SI among cancer patients were 1.9% (1.1-3.1%), 1.4% (0.3-7.1%), and 9.1% (5.8-14.0%), respectively. Although high between-study heterogeneity held upon sensitivity and sub-group analyses, the overall message brought by risk analyses likewise held true. Age, country, study design, cancer type, sample size, cases type and comparison affected SD prevalence estimates in cancer patients. SD prevalence decreased over time.

Cancer patients face higher risk for SA and SI versus controls. SD’ results were controversial. Cancer patients have higher prevalence rates of suicide outcomes compared to the general population.

No significant relationships.

Research in recent years has raised an important question about the role of the Internet in the self-injurious and suicidal behavior of adolescents and youth.

The aim of this work is to study the role of the experience of violence in real life and the dark triad in the creation and dissemination of self-destructive content among adolescents and youth.

827 Russian students aged 15-25 (59% female) сompleted the questionnaire and the “Dirty Dozen” (Kornilova, et al., 2015).

Two-thirds of respondents have seen self-harm (72%) and suicidal (66%) content. Every seventh respondent (14%) is at risk, because he creates, approves with likes or disseminates self-destructive content among peers. Respondents at risk are more likely to have experienced physical (χ2=9.8, p<0.01), psychological (χ2=4.36, p<0.05) and sexualized (χ2=7.44, p<0.01) violence. Respondents who have a higher machiavellianism are more likely to approve (F=17.96, p=0.00) and disseminate (F=6.07, p<0.05) self-destructive content, less often using the «report» (F=4.06, p<0.05). Adolescents who have a higher psychopathic are more likely to create (F=7.34, p<0.01), disseminate (F=23.27, p=0.00) and approve (F=23.92, p=0.00) it.

Self-destructive online content is seen by most teens and youth, and every seventh creates, approves and distributes it among peers, being a victim of violence in real life and having potential tendencies towards self-harm or suicidal behavior. Teens and youth with higher machiavellianism and psychopathy can create and disseminate self-destructive content due to their own psychological problems, but also potentially involve others. Research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, project 20-013-00857.

Research was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research, project 20-013-00857.

Melatonine (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an endogenous neurohormone produced by pineal gland. It is related to sleep-wake circadian rhythms, and nowdays it is sold without prescription as a “natural treatment” for sleep disorders. Most common side effects of melatonin overdose are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headache, confusion, nightmare, hypotension, tachycardia and hypothermia. Supportive measures and control of vital signs are essential for an early discharge of the patient.

To present a case of an 42-year-old woman who was taken to the emergency department after voluntary ingestion of 60 tables of melatonin 2mg (Total amount 120mg), in a suicide attempt. To describe the most common side effects of melatonine overdose a the literature review.

Clinical case presentation and retrospective literature review.

A 42-year-old woman who was taken to the emergency department after voluntary ingestion of 60 tables of melatonin 2mg (Total amount 120mg), about 1 hour before coming, in a suicide attempt. After clinical evalutation, gastric lavage was performed. ang 50g activated charcoal given. Drowiness and mild hypothermia (34ºC) was detected. After 12 hours of vital signs observation the patient was discharged and to psychiatry consultation, where depressive mood disorder and chronic insomnia was diagnosed.

Melatonin is one of the least toxic medication. Most common side effects of overdose are drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, headache, confusion, nightmare, hypotension, tachycardia and hypothermia. Supportive measures and control of vital signs are essential for the treatment.

No significant relationships.

Acute and transient psychotic disorders (ATPDs) are a group of diagnoses with acute onset and polymorphic psychotic symptoms, divided into 6 subtypes, which may or may not associate with acute stress. Suicide is a serious public health problem, having long-lasting effects on social well-being and economics. The prevalence of suicide attempts (SA) in Latvia remains unknown, several studies are currently in progress.

To determine the prevalence of SA among patients with ATPDs and features of this subgroup of patients.

Retrospective study based on socio-demographic data and additional diagnoses of all patients with ATPDs provided by the National Center of Statistics of Diseases.

There were 1779 patients with ATDPs in 2014-2019, 44 people were admitted with a SA (24 men, 54.5%). There was a significant difference between sexes in the mean age – 39.64±14.66 for women, 31.94±11.88 for men (p<.001), as well as in case of associated acute stress – 37.61±12.95 with and 35.33±13.15 without it (p=.01). There were no differences in age or ATPDs subtypes between patients with SA and without one. Men with SA abused alcohol in everyday life more than women and men without SA (20%,p<.001), women with SA had acculturational difficulties more often than men and women without SA (45%,p<.001). Intentional self-harm by sharp objects was more common among men (p<.001), intentional self-poisoning among women (p<.001).

The prevalence of SA among patients with ATPDs was 2.47%. Factors, which were more commonly observed in patients with SA were alcohol consumption and acculturational difficulties. Types of self-harming differ between sexes.

No significant relationships.

Self-immolation is the centuries-old act of setting fire to oneself. Recent spikes in self-immolation events have been noticed in the Arab world, specifically in the aftermath of the Arab Spring in 2011.

To examine the literature assessing the characteristics and patterns of suicide by self-immolation in the Arab world.

We registered our systematic review in Prospero [CRD42020207164]. We searched PubMed, Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Scopus databases from inception until 6 September 2021. We collected relevant articles via title and abstract screening followed by full-text screening. We then conducted a narrative synthesis of the results.

We found 31 out of 314 articles that fit our inclusion criteria: 4 qualitative and 27 quantitative cross-sectional studies. The quantitative studies had a sample size ranging from 22 to 600 self-inflicted burn victims. The studies emanated from Iraq (n=16), Tunisia (n=6), Saudi Arabia (n=2), Libya (n=2), Jordan (n=2), and Egypt, Palestine and Bahrain collectively (n=3). Studies showed that self-immolators are commonly married females, age ranging between 13 and 66 years old, having no education or solely primary education, and of low socioeconomic status. Self-immolation was more likely to happen at home, usually following marital conflicts, with the primary motive being suicide. Studies highlighted an increase of self-immolation as a form of protest. Kerosene was the most commonly used accelerant. Depression was the most comorbid mental health diagnosis.

Self-immolation is not uncommon in the Arab world. Specific interventions directed at the population at risk are warranted.

No significant relationships.