THE EFFECT OF MARITAL STATUS AND CHILDREN ON PHYSICIAN’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS Background: Psychiatric illnesses are a public health problem worldwide. An increasing number of Saudi citizens and residents utilize healthcare services for mental health concerns; hence, there is a need to assess these Physician’s attitudes towards psychotropic medications objectively. Aim: To examine of the effect of marital status on attitudes towards psychotropic medications among a sample of physicians in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of three months. The study has been conducted on convenient Sample of physicians working in Saudi Arabia who accepted to share in research. Demographic data was gathered using an electronic self-administered questionnaire and Physician’s attitudes towards psychotropic medications have been evaluated by a previously validated questionnaire. Results: This study included 136 physicians, 67 (49.3%) physicians are married, with 48 (71.6%) of them having children and 19 (28.4%) not having children. Meanwhile, 69 (50.7%) are single, with 3 (4.3%) having children and 66 (95.7%) not having children. Physicians exhibit 83.3%-84.95% positive attitude, while 15.05%-16.7% display a negative attitude towards psychotropic medications. Conclusions: Physician’s attitudes may affect patients’ medication compliance, susceptibility to adverse drug reactions, and illness progression. Our study findings reveal similarities in attitudes towards psychotropic medications between the majority of married and single physicians in Saudi Arabia, regardless of whether they have children or not. Recommendations: Further larger studies are needed on large number of physicians in Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to validate our study findings. Additionally, future research should explore the factors that influence Physician’s attitudes towards psychotropic medications, such as their personal experiences with mental illness or their training. Effective teaching and training programs are necessary to bring in Physician’s positive attitude towards psychotropic medications. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (1) January, 2024; 1-12.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PREVALENCE OF POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER IN PEOPLE WITH A PAST COVID-19 This paper investigated the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in people who had tested positive for COVID-19. This study also examined the effect of socio demographic characteristics on PTSD levels in people who had tested positive for COVID-19. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted between May and November 2022 at the Azadi Teaching Hospital Kirkuk in Kirkuk, Iraq. The study population consisted of 980 people who had tested positive for COVID-19. The inclusion criteria were (1) being 18 years or older and (2) having been admitted to the hospital. Data were collected online (Google forms) using a socio demographic questionnaire and a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire (PTSDQ). The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, v.26) at a significance level of <0.05. Frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations were used for categorical variables. The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (Kruskal Wallis) and a two-sample t-test. More than half of the participants were women (55.8%). More than a quarter of the participants were 26 to 33 years of age. Participants had a mean PTSDQ score of 47.7 ± 11.9. Gender, educational, and method of infection affected their PTSDQ scores. Female participants had a higher PTSDQ score than male participants. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (12) December, 2023; 1-10.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMOKING BEHAVIOR AND LEVELS OF DEPRESSION AMONG UNDERGRADUATE NURSING STUDENTS Introduction: University students are at a heightened risk of using cognitive enhancers and psychoactive substances, and this risk is further exacerbated by the presence of depression, which negatively impacts academic performance and increases the likelihood of substance misuse. In Iraq, the use of cognitive enhancers and psychoactive substances has grown in the past decade due to sociopolitical factors. However, depression among tobacco users remains unrecognized and overlooked, receiving inadequate attention. Objectives: This study aims to measure the levels of depression among nursing students, examine the association between smoking behavior dependence and levels of depression, as well as to find out the relationship between levels of depression and demographic characteristics. Results: The results reveal that the majority of participants (53.9%) had a moderate level of depression (M=2.36). The highest mean level was observed in all depression scale. The study also revealed a significant relationship between age group and depression at a p-value of below 0.05. Moreover, the study also revealed a significant relationship between age and depression at a p-value of below 0.05, and between ages starts smoking. Conclusions: The level of depression the smoking student was moderate. The factors include smoking type, age at which individuals started smoking, the number of cigarettes smoked per day, and the place of smoking, it can be inferred that smoking habits and behaviors contribute significantly to the likelihood of experiencing depression. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (1) January, 2023; 1- .

DETERMINATION OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION LEVELS AND FEARS ABOUT COVID-19 OF NURSES IN IRAQ The study aims to determine the levels of anxiety, depression, and fear among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive cross-sectional study’s Non-probability (convenient) sample included 129 nurses working in isolation centers for COVID-19 patients in a hospital in Baqubah, Iraq. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire consisting of four parts: (1) Demographic information, (2) Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depression levels, (3) Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS-7) to measure fear levels, and (4) General Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) to evaluate anxiety levels. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 23.0. The study’s findings indicated that 37.2% of the nurses had mild depression, 35.7% had mild anxiety, and 31.8% experienced mild fear related to COVID-19. The study suggests the need for more research focusing on the psychological state of nurses in Iraq, with larger sample sizes and representation from different regions to ensure the generalizability of the results. This study provides valuable insights into the mental health status of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results highlight the prevalence of mild levels of depression, anxiety, and fear among nurses and emphasize the importance of addressing the psychological well-being of nurses in similar settings. The study also calls for further research to expand the knowledge base on nurses’ psychological experiences in Iraq and other regions. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (1) January, 2023; 1- .

DISTRESS TOLERANCE AS A MEDIATOR OF THE RELATION BETWEEN STRESS MINDSET AND ANXIETY The current study investigated the effect of distress tolerance on the relation between stress mindset and anxiety. It was hypothesised that a stress-is-enhancing mindset is associated with lower levels of anxiety because individuals with this mindset are more prone to tolerate distress, while a stress-is-debilitating mindset is associated with higher levels of anxiety because individuals with this mindset are less prone to tolerate distress. The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive (N=104). A Preacher and Hayes mediation analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. The bootstrap sample was elevated to 5,000 to reach sufficient power for the statistical analyses. In sum, the findings of the current study supported both hypotheses. The effect of both a stress-is-debilitating mindset and a stressis-enhancing mindset on anxiety was mediated by distress tolerance. Correspondingly, the current study indicated that distress tolerance can explain varying levels of anxiety and is a major indicator in determining the influence of stress mindset on anxiety. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (2) February, 2024; 1-12.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM (PRE AND POST-ASSOCIATION) FOR ADHD CHILDREN IN PRIMARY SCHOOL DUHOK CITY The aim of the current study was to examine the effectiveness parent training program, for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) students in primary school. Methods: In this study, 500 participants with ADHD (aged 6 to 15 years). A crosssectional study used to assess the effectiveness of parent training programs for ADHD students in primary schools and its impact on reaction time performance were used as pre-tests and post-tests across groups. (Data were analysed PSS version 26). Result: The result indicated statistically significant differences between pre and post parents training P-value 0.007 the result showed a clear agreement for the psychological and behavioural disorders of the parents. Conclusion: In conclusion, parent-training programs appear to be successful in treating the primary symptoms of ADHD in school-aged children. Across this study, the parent training programs seemed to be able to increase parental confidence in their management abilities and improve their psychological problems. Recommendation: provide the ADHD center with a competent counsellor or nurse to assist the family and their child to improve their situation. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (2) February, 2024; 1-10.

VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ACADEMIC BURNOUT This study explores the mental health status of high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on depression, anxiety, stress, and academic burnout. Using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-S-23) scale, the study assesses the prevalence of these conditions among students and their awareness of these issues. The findings reveal significant levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout risk, with notable differences based on gender and grade level. The study underscores the importance of mental health interventions and burnout prevention programs in schools. It also highlights the potential of the BAT-S-23 scale as a tool for assessing burnout. The results are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for promoting student mental health and managing burnout, thereby holding significant implications for the future of mental health management in the Vietnamese educational setting. Future research should focus on identifying the specific factors contributing to these mental health issues among high school students in Vietnam and developing targeted interventions to address them. Despite some limitations, the study offers important contributions to the ongoing efforts to promote mental health and academic success among students. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) April, 2024;1-11.

STRESS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH BURNOUT DUE TO COVID-19: THE MODERATING ROLE OF COPING STRATEGIES This study investigates the relationship between stress and burnout related to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the moderating influence of positive and negative coping strategies. In a cross-sectional survey involving 3,664 Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and above, the research explores the dynamics of stress and burnout symptoms associated with the ongoing pandemic. The results reveal a negative impact of stress symptoms on COVID-19-related burnout among the population. Notably, both positive and negative coping strategies are identified as significant moderators in the interplay between stress and burnout. This suggests that individuals’ coping mechanisms influence the severity of stress and burnout experienced in dealing with COVID-19 challenges. These findings contribute to the foundational understanding of the stress-burnout relationship during the pandemic and provide essential insights for interventions. By recognizing the moderating role of coping strategies, this study lays the groundwork for strategies aimed at enhancing individuals’ coping abilities, ultimately reducing stress and burnout levels. These insights hold the potential to assist individuals in adapting more effectively to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering improved mental well-being in the face of ongoing uncertainties. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) March, 2024; 1-10.

"LIVING BEYOND LIMITS": NEUROGENIC INFLUENCES OF OVEREXCITABILITIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE HIGHLY GIFTED This study introduced the concepts of the inability to deal with or channel overexcitabilities to expand the giftedness research. Giftedness refers to outstanding levels of competence and aptitude in one or several domains. Based on neurogenic theories of sensory modulation and integration, it was hypothesized that gifted individuals (1) exhibit stronger overexcitabilities and sensitivities than average-intelligent individuals, (2) that these deteriorate their mental health and induce mental illness, (3) and (4) the inability to deal/ channel mediates the relation between overexcitabilities and mental health and illness. The design of the study was cross-sectional and descriptive (N=450). Highly gifted individuals (n=300) were recruited from Mensa and non-gifted college students (n=150) were recruited from the University of Groningen. The first and second hypotheses were tested using two and four independent T-tests, respectively. Four mediation analyses were conducted to test the mediational effects. The bootstrap sample was elevated to 5,000 to apply the analyses with more confidence. All hypotheses were supported. The mediational analyses were highly significant with medium to strong effect sizes. This study concludes that in the highly gifted the inability to deal with or channel overexcitabilities can explain varying levels of mental health and illness and is a major indicator in determining the influence of overexcitabilities on mental health and illness. Whether gifted individuals thrive in their lives may largely depend on their ability to channel overexcitabilities into success and innovation. As existing therapeutic practice-more often than not-fails the complexity of the gifted client, this thesis recommends interventions based on the Theory of Positive Disintegration to meet the needs of highly gifted individuals. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) March, 2024; 1-23

EVALUATING PATIENT UTILIZATION AND SATISFACTION OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN A HOSPITAL SETTING Purpose: This study aims to explore the utilization patterns of social work consulting services by patients within a hospital setting and assess patient satisfaction with these services to identify areas for improvement and enhance patient care and support. Methods: Utilizing a convenience sample of 130 patients from Trung Vuong Hospital, we conducted a survey to investigate patients’ engagement with social work consulting services and their satisfaction levels. The study employed descriptive statistics data analysis. Results: The findings revealed that the most utilized social work service is patient orientation upon hospital entry (88.4%), highlighting the importance of initial patient support. However, specialized services, such as support for victims of violence (1.6%) and coordination with organizations for social work (1.6%), are significantly underutilized, with many patients citing a lack of perceived need. Patient satisfaction was highest for emergency support services (mean=4.50), suggesting the value of social work in addressing critical needs, while routine services like patient orientation received slightly lower satisfaction scores. Conclusion: The study underscores the critical role of social workers in healthcare, particularly in patient orientation and emergency support. There is a clear need for increased awareness among patients about the range of available social work services and for more patient-centered approaches to enhance engagement and satisfaction. The findings advocate for healthcare settings to prioritize personalized and comprehensive orientation services and address barriers to accessing specialized social work support. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 ( ) April, 2024; 1-10.