Items of Prof. Dr. Tarek Asaad Curriculum Vitea.
1984 - MBBCh, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, with grade "very good with Honour".
1988 - MSc of Neuro-psychiatry, with grade "excellent, the first", Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.
1992 - M.D. Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
1985-1986 - House officer, Ain Shams University Hospitals.
1986-1989 - Risedent of Neuro-psychiatry, Ain Shams University Hospitals.
1989-1992 - Assistant Lecturer in Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
1993-1998 - Lecturer in Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
1998-2003 - Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
2003-2018 - Professor of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
1992 - Special training on "poly-somnography" and sleep medicine Akron, Ohio, USA.
1994 - Meet the professor seminar, on "methodology of clinical research" Geneva.
1994 - Special training on using C.I.D.I for psychiatric interviewing, WHO.
2001 - Condensed course on "scientific aspects of clinical trials in Neuropsychiatry". Vienna school of clinical research, Vienna, Austria.
- Director of "Psycho-physiology and sleep lab unit", Institute of psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
- Secretary of "cross cultural psychiatric study centre", Ain Shams University.
- Previous co-director of "addiction treatment unit" & current director of "laison psychiatry unit", Institute of psychiatry, Ain Shams University.
- Chief Editor of Current Psychiatry ME Journal.
- Head of Neuropsychiatric Department, Ain Shams University.
- Egyptian Psychiatric Association (EPA).
- Egyptian society of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neuro-surgery.
- Arab Federation of Psychiatrists.
- World Federation of Biological Psychiatry.
- American Psychiatric Association APA (2000).
- International Psychogeriatric Association IPA.
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine AASM (Since 1994).
- World Psychiatric Association WPA - Section of sleep and wakefulness disorders.
- World Association of Sleep Medicine WASM (2011).
- Advisory Board Member of the International Journal of sleep, Dream, and Hypnosis, Turkey Since 1999).
- Associate Editor of Egyptian Psychiatric Association Journal (2002).
- Editorial Board Member in Journal of Addictive disorders and their treatment "ADTT", (2003).
- Advisory Board member & International Speaker for several pharmaceutical companies: Eli-Lly,Astra-Zeneca,Servier,Lundbeck, Sanofi-Aventis.
Poly-somnology and sleep medicine - Supervised several Master & Doctorate theses about sleep , published several articles in national & international journals about topics , mainly related to "behavioral sleep medicine", introduced "psychometric sleep assessment instruments", for sleep evaluation, in Arabic & introduced "sleep medicine", as a post-graduate subspeciality diplome, in Ain Shams University.
Substance Abuse
Old age psychiatry
Trans-cultural psychiatry & psychiatric education - especially in topics related to "psycho-pharmacology".
PMH Award
Neuro Congress Award
20 patients suffering from a depressive episode diagnosed according to ICD 10 Re-search Diagnostic Criteria aged from 20-50 years of both sexes and not under drugs or ECT, were divided into 2 groups. The first group included mild cases while the second included moderate and severe cases. The control group-10 individuals- matched the studied group as regards to age and sex. The cases were subjected to full psychiatric examination, Hamilton scale for depression and an overnight Poly-somnogram. The results showed decreased sleep efficiency, shortened REM latency in both groups compared to the control group, decreased SWS % in moderate and severe cases only. Sleep disturbances were more obvious with severe cases and those with psychotic features. Shortened REM latency was not specific for depression as it occurs with other psychiatric disorders. More significant findings are prolonged first REM period, increased REM density and higher REM sleep proportion in the first half of the night which needs further evaluation. So, sleep studies in depression may add to the diagnosis and help in prediction of prognosis as regards quick evaluation of treatment efficacy and prediction of recurrence.
Sleep disorders are common complaints in end stage chronic renal disease patients whether under heamodialysis or not. The present study included 10 end stage renal disease patients on regular heamodialysis (group I) and 10 chronic renal insufficiency patients not starting dialysis yet (group II). Patients were subjected to clinical history including that of sleep disorders Clinical examination, relevant laboratory investigations as well as an over night poly-somnography. The study revealed that both heamodialysied and non heamodialysied chronic renal failure patients had reduced sleep efficiency, in- creased sleep latency, with very prevalent sleep apnea mainly obstructive type. No significant difference has been found on the rest of the parameters related to disordered sleep breathing between the two groups. Possible explanations for the findings have been suggested and future prospective evaluation studies are recommended.
Objectives: (1) To determine whether there are sleep variables specific for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that are identifiable on polysomnographic findings; (2) to determine the possible relationship of OCD to other psychopathological disorders, with special emphasis on major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Eighteen patients suffering from OCD (five of whom had a comorbid depressive disorder) were assessed by means of a standardized sleep questionnaire, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for the assessment of severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and overnight polysomnography. Results were compared with those from a control group of 18 age- and sex-matched controls with no history of psychiatric disorders. Results: We found a significant decrease in sleep efficiency index (SEI), REM percent, REM latency, and slow wave sleep latency among OCD patients, compared with controls. The presence of comorbid major depression had no effect on the severity of OCD and had no significant effect on the sleep measures. Conclusions: Sleep changes recorded polysomnographically in patients with OCD can be primary in origin and are independent of an associated major depressive disorder.
Sleep complaints are among the most common presentations of patients in general medical practice for this reason, questions about a patient's sleep should be incorporated into a general review of systems during the initial office visit in both primary care and psychiatric practices. There are a variety of sleep questionnaires and assessment scales, however, only very few are available in Arabic, which stands as an obstacle against proper sleep research in our community. The battery of "psychometric sleep assessment instruments" was designed to be an easy rather comprehensive tool for psychometric sleep evaluation taking into consideration the possible cultural differences. The Battery included 4 major sections for sleep evaluators, in addition to a special part for dream studying these sections include: Comprehensive Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, the children's sleep habits, Epworth sleepiness scale, sleep diary. The reliability and validity score high significant.
Background: Previous work has demonstrated that patients with borderline personality disorder show some similarities to patients with major depression, especially regarding their sleep profile. This study aimed at investigating such a hypothesis in an Egyptian sample, considering the possible influence of cultural differences. Methods: All night polysomnographic assessments were made for 20 ICD-10 diagnosed borderline patients (without co-morbid depression), in addition to 20 patients with major depression and 20 healthy matched controls. Results: The two patient groups differed significantly from controls in their sleep profile, especially regarding sleep continuity measures, decreased SWS and REM sleep abnormalities. High similarity was found in EEG sleep profile of the two patient groups, though the changes were more robust in patients with depression. Limitation: The small number of subjects precluded finer analyses of sleep microstructure by depressive symptoms. Conclusions: The great similarity in EEG sleep profile between borderline personality disorder patients and patients with major depression suggests a common biological origin for both conditions, with the difference being 'quantitative' rather than 'qualitative'. Our data are all the more compelling in that the presumed personality disturbance in the Egyptian culture manifests neurophysiologically as in the Western world.
Sleep disturbances are regarded as a common clinical feature in autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) that forms a great source of stress for families. Studies have shown that children with PDD exhibited qualitatively and quantitatively different sleep patterns to non-autistic control children. This study aimed at describing sleep patterns in a sample of Egyptian children with pervasive developmental disorders. The study included 15 children with a pervasive developmental disorder according to DSM-IV criteria, randomly chosen from the child psychiatry outpatient clinic, at the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University between the months of January and August, 2004. An age and sex matched control group, formed of 10 healthy age and sex matched children from the information bank of the sleep laboratory were obtained. All cases were clinically assessed and the severity of the PDD was further evaluated by the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). Subjective sleep assessment was obtained through the Arabic version of Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Sleep was also objectively assessed by a polysomnogram performed at the sleep lab of the institute of psychiatry, Ain Shams University. The children were classified as mildly autistic or moderately autistic by the CARS. Epilepsy was reported in 46.7% of the patients. Normal sleep latency was reported in 60% of the patients while 26.7% reported a moderate increase in sleep latency. The children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ) showed that sleep duration was adequate in 93.3% of patients. Sleep related anxiety was seen in 53.3% of patients and night awakening in 40% of patients. Nocturnal enuresis was seen in 20% of patients (3 patients) and increased movements during sleep in 26.7% (4 patients). Sleep bruxism was seen in 20% of patients (3 patients), while sleep disordered breathing occurred in one patient. As compared to age and sex matched control, the polysomnogram has shown a significant decrease in sleep efficiency, prolongation of stage 1 and 2 NREM sleep and shortened REM sleep in patients with PDD. The arousal index and number of awakenings were significantly higher in children with PDD than in the control group. The Periodic Leg Movements during Sleep index was also significantly higher in the patient than the control group. The results of our study confirm the presence of sleep disturbances in children with PDD in the form of decreased sleep efficiency and change of sleep.
A standard sleep questionnaire was given to the parents of 26 infants with protein-energy malnutrition who underwent poly-somnographic evaluation. These investigations were repeated approximately 2 months after enrolment in a nutritional rehabilitation program based on World Health Organization guidelines. Anthropometric values and serum serotonin levels were also measured. After nutritional rehabilitation there was a significantly higher percentage of non-rapid eye movement [REM] sleep; 2nd REM time, and latency times for sleep and REM sleep increased. Percentages of REM sleep and serum serotonin levels decreased significantly. Protein-energy malnutrition seems to affect the sleep-wake cycle; disturbed serotonin levels may be among the factors responsible.
Introduction: Characteristic abnormalities in sleep architecture and sleep continuity have not been well-described for patients with panic disorder perhaps due to the absence of insomnia, as a diagnostic criterion for the disorder as well, these complaints have proven difficult to "validate" in the sleep laboratory. Aim: Polysomnographic assessment of sleep architecture and sleep continuity inpatients with panic disorder. Methods: Objective and subjective sleep quality was investigated in 20 drug free panic disorder patients selected according to ICD-10 research diagnostic criteria as compared with 20 age and sex matched normal controls by means of polysomnography and psychometry. Results: patients with panic disorder have impaired sleep quality. A reduction of SWS percentage, mainly due to diminished amounts of stage 4, together with an increase in both stage 1 and stage 2 of NREM sleep were noted. There was a significant correlation between the changes of sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and arousal index and both anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Sleep disturbances are common and agonizing problem in children with autistic disorder. The Objective of this work is to study both clinically and neurophysiologically, this problem in AD children. Subjects were recruited from child Psychiatry Clinic Institute of Psychiatry Ain Shams University. They were 15 children with childhood autism and the study was controlled one. Methods included examination of both groups clinically and psychometrically using (CARS) and groups children's sleep habits questionnaire and neurophysiologically using polysomnography in sleep laboratory. Results showed significant information that may help in the understanding in neurophysiology of AD and its management. Discussion of the results and recommendations were done.
Objectives: To investigate the problem of sleep in relation to menstruation, addressing only women in the childbearing period. Methods: The study included 100 women with sleep complaints excluding those above the age of 40, any history of physical or mental disorder and any marked irregular menstrual cycles. A standardized sleep questionnaire was asked and polysomnography done pre- and postmenstrual in addition to assessment for the presence of premenstrual dysphoric disorders. Results: 100 women have been asked to reply to a questionnaire concerning sleep problems in the premenstrual period. 48 reported significant sleep complaints, including insomnia, hypersomnia and excessive daytime somnolence. 9 were found to fulfill DSM-IV criteria of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). 19 females including those with PMDD accepted to be evaluated by polysomnography (PSG) once in the premenstrual phase and another postmenstrual. Comparing results of sleep profile pre- and postmenstrual revealed increased sleep latency, decreased efficiency and increased arousals premenstrual. Comparing patients with PMDD to other females with premenstrual sleep complaint revealed only less SWS in PMDD. Conclusions: Evaluation of sleep profile in women with premenstrual sleep complaints, revealed mainly sleep continuity disturbance manifested by the significant increase in sleep latency. Overall findings are in support of considering premenstrual sleep problems as a separate diagnostic entity, at least for some females, which is still in need of further studies.
Background: Sleep disturbances are common and agonizing problem in children with autistic disorder. Objective: to study both clinically and neurophysiologically, this problem in AD children. Subjects and methods: Patients were recruited from child Psychiatry Clinic Institute of Psychiatry Ain Shams University. They were 15 children with childhood autism and the study was controlled one. We examined both groups clinically and psychometrically using (CARS) and groups children's sleep habits questionnaire and neurophysiologically using polysomnography in sleep laboratory. Results: Polysomnography findings showed significant abnormalities in stage 1, stage 2 NREM sleep. There were prolonged while REM was decreased. Moreover an association was found between autistic disorder and a variant in the promoter region of serotonin transporter gene which leads to decreased protein expression. Conclusion: This significant information may help in the understanding in neurophysiology of AD and its management.
Children with epilepsy have high rates of sleep problems. Melatonin has been advocated in treatment of sleep disorders, and its beneficial effect has been confirmed in insomnia. The aim of this study was to assess melatonin levels in children with intractable epilepsy and its relation to pattern of sleep and characteristics of seizure disorder, as well as the effect of melatonin therapy on those parameters. The study was conducted on 23 children with intractable epilepsy and 14 children with controlled seizures. Patients were evaluated by psychometric sleep assessment and assay of diurnal and nocturnal melatonin levels. Children with intractable epilepsy received oral melatonin before bedtime. They were reassessed after 3 months. Children with intractable epilepsy had higher scores for each category of sleep walking, forcible teeth grinding, and sleep apnea. At the end of therapeutic trial, patients with intractable epilepsy exhibited significant improvement in bedtime resistance, sleep duration, sleep latency, frequent nocturnal arousals, sleep walking, excessive daytime sleepiness, nocturnal enuresis, forcible teeth grinding, sleep apnea, and Epworth sleepiness scores. There was also significant reduction in seizure severity. Thus, use of melatonin in patients with intractable seizures was associated with improvement of both many sleep-related phenomena and the severity of seizures.
Background: Sleep disturbances occur in various stages of substance abuse, which might have a significant impact on the treatment success. Despite this fact, the number of researches studying sleep in substance abuse patients is relatively scarce. Objectives: To study the profile of sleep in opioid abusers, after the period of detoxification, highlighting whether there is a remote effect of opioid abuse on sleep or not, exploring the nature of such sleep disturbances, if present. Methodology: The case group comprised 33 opioid-dependent male patients who were admitted to the substance abuse treatment unit at the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University from June 1, 2006 to May 31, 2008, and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. They were assessed 3 weeks after admission and after resolution of most of the withdrawal symptoms using Addiction Severity Index, Beck Depression Inventory, Comprehensive Sleep Disorder Questionnaire, and all-night polysomnography. Ten healthy matched volunteers were taken as controls to be assessed using Sleep Questionnaire and all-night polysomnography. Results: Significant differences in sleep complaints included reports of insomnia, hypersomnolence, increased sleep latency, and reduced sleep time in the group of patients. Regarding polysomnography, patients differed significantly from controls, in having prolonged sleep latency, decreased sleep efficiency, increased arousal index, increased stages I and II, and decreased slow wave sleep (SWS). Patients with moderate and severe depressive states had significantly lower SWS than those with mild depressive state. Conclusions: Patients with opioid dependence suffer from sleep disturbances that continue for a period of time, even after discontinuation of the abuse drug. The nature of sleep disturbance is related more to NREM sleep, especially SWS and sleep continuity, as well as efficiency parameters. No significant correlation was found between sleep profile and various abuse variables such as duration of abuse and type of opioids.
Objective: To identify polysomnographic sleep pattern and its correlations with disease specific variables as well as fatigue, depression and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Patients and methods: Polysomnographic (PSG) sleep assessment was done for 30 males including 10 healthy subjects and 20 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Sleep quality, fatigue and depression were evaluated. Disease specific variables such as disease activity, functional disability, global wellbeing and quality of life were recorded. Results: Ninety percentage of AS patients were classified as poor sleepers. In comparison to controls, patients with AS experienced prolonged sleep latency, lessened sleep efficiency, increased stages I%, II%, deficient SWS%, higher arousal and periodic leg movement indices in a significant manner. Meanwhile obstructive sleep apnea was not a significant finding. Significant correlations were detected between most of the PSG parameters as well as sleep quality index on one hand and different disease specific variables, fatigue, pain, quality of life on the other hand but not with depressive symptoms. Disease activity, fatigue and quality of life were significantly associated with most of PSG sleep components on the multiple regression analysis model. Conclusion: AS patients differ negatively in their sleep from normal population both in quantity and quality. Our findings suggest that multiple factors are associated with PSG sleep disturbances including disease activity, fatigue and quality of life. While treating patients, it is important to question sleep disorders followed by the performance of PSG in order to optimize the management of patients with AS.
Background: Every year more people suffer from end stage renal disease(ESRD).Sleep disturbances have been reported to be frequent in dialysis patients. Sleep disturbances could be sleep apnea, periodic limb movements in sleep or restless leg syndrome. Patients and methods: Sixty patients were chosen from Ain Shams University Hospitals dialysis units, between July 2010 and March 2012. Patients were divided into 6 groups: Group A: 10 patients with resistant HTN and ESRD on conventional HD having a PSQI score > 5. Group B: 10 patients with resistant, HTN and ESRD on conventional HD having a PSQI score < 5. Group C: 10 patients with ESRD only on conventional HD having a PSQI score > 5. Group D: 10 patients having ESRD only on conventional HD having a PSQI score < 5. Group E: 10 patients having resistant HTN normal renal function. They had PSQI score > 5. Group F: 10 patients having resistant HTN and normal renal function. They had PSQI score < 5.For all groups, creatinine, BUN, Hb, albumin, Na, K, PO4, Ca and uric acid were done. Polysomnography was done for bad sleeper groups (group A, group C and group E). Results: Creatinine and BUN were significantly higher in bad sleeper groups than good sleeper groups (group A than group B and group C than group D). Nearly all polysomnographic parameters were abnormal in group A, group C and group E. In group A and group C, creatinine was positively correlated to parameters of obstructive sleep apnes OSA and periodic limb movement PLM (P < 0.05). In group A and group E, SBP and DBP were positively correlated to parameters of OSA and PLM. Conclusion: ESRD induces sleep disorders exacerbated by resistant HTN. Also resistant HTN alone can induce sleep disorders.
Somatoform (somatization) disorder is a widespread phenomenon across different cultures and healthcare systems. In patients with somatoform disorders (SD), emotional distress or difficult life situations are experienced as physical symptoms [1]. Individuals with somatization perceive themselves as sick and physically disabled [2]. The help-seeking behavior of persons with somatization symptoms may be difficult for physicians to understand [2,3]. Failure to identify this condition and to manage it properly may lead to frustrating, costly, and potentially dangerous interventions that generally fail to identify occult disease and do not reduce suffering [1]. Patients with unexplainable somatic symptoms usually have a disturbed sleep pattern [4]. Plante et al. [5] reported that the current formulation of SDs within psychiatry is limited because it does not acknowledge the central role of sleep disturbance that is common for all of these disorders. What is the cause of sleep disturbance in patients with SD? Is it related to associated anxiety symptoms or depressive symptoms or both, or is it the result of alexithymia usually found in such patients? Can pain also be a factor? Is sleep disturbance genuine for patients with SD? Or are all of the above factors relevant for patients with SD? In this research, we attempt to answer these questions by exploring the sleep profile of patients with SD. In this research, we chose to compare the sleep profile of somatization patients with that of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, because of the following reasons. Sleep in depression has been investigated in more detail than that for any other psychiatric disorder, although no findings have not been pathogonomic [6]. Somatization is a frequently mentioned feature of depression in patients seen by primary care physicians [7], and patients with somatization usually present with some depressive features and sometimes develop full-blown picture of MDDs. Finally alexithymia is a commonconstruct usually encountered in both disorders, with some evidence that it has an effect on the sleep profile of patients [8]. In terms of the sleep profile of MDD patients, approximately two-thirds of patients with MDD have some type of insomnia; of these, nearly 40% complain of specific symptoms with sleep onset difficulty, frequent awakenings, and early morning insomnia [9]. The insomnia complaints of patients with depression can be more severe than those of patients with primary insomnia (i.e. insomnia related to behavioral and conditioning factors). Approximately 15% of depressed patients complain of hypersomnia [10]. The sleep profile of patients with depression has the following characteristics: slow wave sleep (SWS) deficiency, decreased sleep duration (caused by the increased sleep latency, awakenings during the night, and early morning awakenings), redistribution of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with its concentration in the first half of the night, decreased REM sleep latency, increased eye movement density in the first cycle, and absence of the first night effect [6]. Although none of the abovementioned alterations in the sleep profile is specific for depression, their combination displays a pattern that is mostly typical for depressed patients [11]. Previous researchers have attempted to find a biological link between MDD and SD, for example, the study of Rief et al. [12] aimed to examine possible immunological differences between patients with major depression, somatization, and healthy controls. Our research represents a second step with the same aim, but uses a different biological marker, which is the sleep profile of these patients.
Background: The relationship between sleep and mood disorders is bidirectional. Methods: This review is throwing light on sleep changes associating bipolar disorders (BDs) with special emphasis on the type II BD cases. Results: Sleep disturbance in BD can be both a risk factor and a symptom of mood episodes. Conclusion: Sleep disturbance could be a trait marker of BD, although longitudinal assessments are warranted to assess the potential causal relations and the long-term implications of sleep disturbance in BD.
Background: Children with major depressive disorder often complain of subjective sleep disturbances. Studies that assessed the prevalence and nature of subjective sleep complaints in children and adolescents with depression showed controversial findings. Many polysomnographic (PSG) studies have failed to find objective evidence of these disturbances. Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the following: (i) differences in sleep profile between children with depression and healthy control; (ii) the relationship between sleep profile disturbance and the severity of depression; (iii) the role of sex in sleep profile disturbance of depressed children; (iv) the relationship between family history of psychiatric disorders and sleep profile disturbance of depressed children. Patients and methods: Participants were randomly selected according to certain inclusion and exclusion criteria from the Child Psychiatry Clinic in the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University Hospitals. Cases and controls were subjected to psychiatric institute sheet, MINI Kid (Arabic version), IQ test, Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) (Arabic version), Children's Depression Inventory Questionnaire and PSG. Results: The study sample consisted of 30 children: 20 cases and 10 controls. A total of 60% were boys and 40% were girls (for both cases and controls), with an age range of 8-12 years (mean 9.95 years) for cases and 8-10 years (mean 10.3 years) for controls. There were significant differences in many sleep parameters in cases compared with controls including increased sleep latency, decreased sleep efficiency, increased stages NI and NII, decreased stage NIII (deep sleep), decreased rapid eye movement (REM) latency, increased bedtime resistance, increased time to sleep, decreased sleep period and marked increase in sleep-related anxiety, with relevant increased disorders of excessive somnolence (with no significance to age, sex, REM sleep or REM density). Children's Depression Inventory Questionnaire severity scores were correlated with most of the CSHQ and PSG parameters. Conclusion: Depressed children showed a significant distinct profile of sleep disturbance compared with healthy normal controls. This profile is apparent both in clinical parameters such as CSHQ and in PSG parameters. Specifically, bedtime resistance and sleep period are strongly related to the severity of depression. Keywords: children, depression, sleep parameters, sleep profile.
Background: Sleep profile in bipolar disorder has received little attention in comparison to sleep studies in major depressive disorders. Specific sleep abnormalities especially in REM sleep parameters have been detected in depression. The current study aimed at investigating whether bipolar disorder shares the same polysomnographic (PSG) changes or not. Methods: All night polysomnographic assessments were made for 20 patients diagnosed to have hypomania, in addition to 20 patients with major depression and 20 healthy matched controls. All participants were examined using Standardized Sleep Questionnaire, SCID-I for psychiatric diagnosis, based on DSM-IV criteria, YMRS (for hypomanic patients), HAMD (for major depression patients), and all-night polysomnography (for all subjects). Results: The two patient groups differed significantly from controls in their sleep profile, especially regarding sleep continuity measures, Short REML (Rapid Eye Movement Latency), with increased REMD (Rapid Eye Movement sleep density). High similarity was found in EEG sleep profile of the two patient groups, though the changes were more robust in patients with depression. Limitations: A relatively small sample size, the absence of follow up assessment, lack of consideration of other variables like body mass index, nicotine and caffeine intake. Conclusion: Similarity in EEG sleep profile between Bipolar disorder patients and patients with major depression suggests a common biological origin for both conditions, with the difference being "quantitative" rather than "qualitative". This quantitative difference in sleep efficiency and SWS (Slow wave sleep), being higher in hypomania, might explain the rather "refreshing" nature of sleep in hypomanic patients, compared to depression.
Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and major depressive disorder have a reciprocal and overlapping relationship with studies showing a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in OSA and an increased prevalence of sleep disturbances in major depressive disorder, but to date risk of OSA in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) has not been investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the risk of OSA in patients with TRD. Patients and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, case-control study comparing 100 patients with TRD with 100 healthy controls at risk of OSA using the STOP-Bang questionnaire, for daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale and insomnia using Insomnia Severity Index. We correlated between severity of symptoms for depression, OSA, daytime sleepiness and insomnia. Results: Patients with TRD had significantly higher scores (P<0.05) on the STOP-Bang, Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index compared with healthy controls. Depression severity was significantly correlated with severity of risk of OSA, daytime sleepiness and insomnia severity (P<0.05). OSA severity risk was significantly correlated with daytime sleepiness and insomnia severity (P<0.05). High-risk OSA patients had significantly higher middle insomnia scores compared with low-risk patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our study was the first to specifically examine for risk of OSA in TRD. We found a significantly higher risk of OSA, more daytime sleepiness and more insomnia compared with healthy controls and a significant correlation of severity between these parameters and depression severity. What is less clear is whether these findings are specific to TRD or occur in other depression populations.
1992 - Asaad, T.A.: Psychiatric morbidity after cerebrovascular accidents. Thesis; M.D. 1992. Ain-Shams Univ., Cairo (EGY). Fac. of Med.
1993 - Okasha A, Seif El Dawla A, and Asaad T.: Presentation of hysteria in a sample of Egyptian patients- an update. Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research. 1:155-159. 1993.
1994 - Ghanem M., Effat S., Saad A., Asaad T., El Mahalawy N.: Clinical characteristics of the psychiatric emergency room of Ain Shams University hospital (early results of an epidemiological study). Current Psychiatry, 1,1: 47-51. 1994
1994 - Lotaief F., Ghanem M., El Mahalawy N., Asaad T., Kahala H.: A Comparative study of inpatient psychiatric in private-versus-University General Hospital in an Arab culture. Current Psychiatry, vol 1, num 1. July, 1994.
1994 - Lotaief F., Asaad T., El-Mahalawy N., Shawky I., Ghanem M. , Refaat M. R.: A Socio-demographic Study of Homosexuality in an Egyptian Sample. Current Psychiatry, vol 1, num 2. December, 1994.
1994 - Abdel Baky O. , El Mahalawy N. , Asaad T. , Serag El Din A. , Safooh M.A.: Depression and intellectual state in children with chronic renal failure. Current Psychiatry. Vol. 1 No. 1 July, 1994.
1994 - Okasha A., Asaad T., Zakaria M., Kamel M., Seif El Dawla A., and Ashour S.: Psychiatric Morbidity after stroke: A Multidimensional Approach. Current Psychiatry, vol 1, num 1. July 1994.
1994 - Abdel Baky O. , Bishri Z. , El Mahalawy N. , Asaad T. , Saad A.: Smoking and substance exposure among preparatory school children. Current Psychiatry, vol 1, num 1. July 1994.
1995 - Lotaief F, Asaad T. and Kahla H.: A comparative study of outpatient psychiatric service in a private versus University General Hospital in an Arabic community. Current Psychiatry Ain Shams University. Vol.2: 217-222. 1995.
1995 - Kamel, M. Ghanem, M. El-Mahallawi, N. Saad, A. Asaad, T. Manssour, M. Aumar, A. M.: Characteristics of patients attending the substance abuse unit in the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain-Shams University. Current Psychiatry. Vol. 2 No. 2, 1995.
1997 - Okasha A., Asaad T., Mahmoud A. and Okasha T.: Sertraline in OCD: A Twelve Week, Non-Comparative Study of th.e Safety, Efficacy and Toleration of Sertraline in thie Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder with or without Concurrent Depression in Outpatients. Current Psychiatry - vol4 num2 1997.
1998 - Ghanem H, Sherif T, Adbel-Gawad T, Asaad T.: Short term use of intracavernous vasoactive drugs in the treatment of persistent psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1998 Dec;10(4):211-4.
1998 - Hamed A., Omar A. M., Mansour M and Asaad T.: Substance Abuse in a Sample of Egyptian Schizophrenic Patients. Current Psychiatry - vol5 num1 1998.
2001 - Asaad T, Kaaki F., Saadani M.: Attitude of Non-Psychiatric Physicians towards Mental Illness in Arab Communities. A Comparative Study with a sample of Relatives of Psychiatric Patients in the same Communities. Current Psychiatry, Vol. 8 No.1 March 2001.
2001 - Asaad T, Ismaill K.MK.: Pregnancy Related Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (A study in an Egyptian sample). Current Psychiatry, Vol 8 No. 3 November 2001.
2001 - Mostafa A, Lotaif F., Rahim S., AL Fiky M., Asaad T., and Sayed M.: Clinical and cultural characteristics of OCD in Eastern Saudi Arabia. MD thesis in psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. 2001
2002 - Asaad, T., Saad, A., Mansour M., Omar, A.M., and Kahla, O.: Cognitive Styles in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (A Study in an Egyptian Sample). Current Psychiatry, Vol. 9 No.1 March 2002.
2002 - Asaad T.: Recognizing Depression in Patients with Dementia (A comparative study between Alzheimer' Disease and Vascular Dementia in a sample of Egyptian patients). Current Psychiatry, Vol. 9 No.1 March 2002.
2002 - Abd El-Azim, K.; Lotaief, F.; El-Mahalawy, N.; Seif EL-Dawla, A. & Asaad, T.: Psychosocial Correlates of Substance Abuse. A Study in an Egyptian Sample. M.D. Thesis, Ain Shams University. 2002
2003 - Bishry Z, Khalifa A, Saad A, Asaad T, EL-Kholy GH and Allam M.: Psychological Profile and Quality of Life Assessment in Cancer Breast Patients. Current Psychiatry. Vol. 10 No. 3 November 2003.
2003 - Asaad, Tarek Assad Ahmed MD; Okasha, Tarek Ahmed MD; El-Khouly, Ghada Abdou MD; Azim, Khaled Ahmed Abdel MD.: Substance Abuse in a Sample of Egyptian Schizophrenic Patients. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment: December 2003 - Volume 2 - Issue 4 - p 147-150.
2004 - Sayed M, Elshahawi H., El Sayed N. Sadek H. and Asaad T.: Sleep patterns in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Polysomnographic Evaluation in an Egyptian Sample. Current Psychiatry. Vol. 11 No. 3 November 2004.
2005 - Okasha T, Haroun El Rasheed A, Abdel Samie A, Asaad T.: Phobic Symptoms in Egyptian Substance Use Disorder Patients.Current Psychiatry. Vol. 12 No.2 July 2005.
2005 - Asaad T, Samdani AJ. : Association of lichen planus with hepatitis C virus infection. Ann Saudi Med. 2005 May-Jun;25(3):243-6.
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