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Major depression is a frequent condition which variably responds to treatment. In view of its high prevalence, the presence of treatment resistance in major depression significantly impacts on quality of life. Tailoring pharmacological treatment based on genetic polymorphisms is a current trend to personalizing pharmacological treatment in patients with major depressive disorders. Current guidelines for the use of genetic tests in major depression issued by the Clinical Pharmacogenomics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) are based on CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 polymorphisms which constitute the strongest evidence for pharmacogenomic guided treatment. There is evidence of increased clinical response to pharmacological treatment in major depression although largely in non-treatment resistant patients from Western countries. In this study, well characterised participants (N = 15) with complex, largely treatment resistant unipolar major depression were investigated, and clinical improvement was measured at baseline and at week-8 after the pharmacogenomics-guided treatment with the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MÅDRS). Results suggested a statistically significant improvement (p = 0.01) of 16% at endpoint in the whole group and a larger effect in case of changes in medication regime (28%, p = 0.004). This small but appreciable effect can be understood in the context of the level of treatment resistance in the group. To our knowledge, this is the first study from the Middle East demonstrating the feasibility of this approach in the treatment of complex major depressive disorders., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

An understanding of the current state of mental health services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from a clinical perspective is an important step in advising government and stakeholders on addressing the mental health needs of the fast-growing population. We conducted a retrospective study of data on all patients admitted to a regional psychiatric in-patient unit between June 2012 and May 2015. More Emiratis (UAE nationals) were admitted compared with expatriates. Emiratis were diagnosed more frequently with substance use disorders and expatriates with stress-related conditions. Psychotic and bipolar disorders were the most common causes for admission and had the longest in-patient stays; advancing age was associated with longer duration of in-patient stay., Competing Interests: D.A. has received travel grants from Janssen-Cilag and Servier and sponsorship from Lundbeck, unrelated to this study. ICMJE forms are in the supplementary material, available online at https://doi.org/10.1192/bji.2020.54., (© The Author(s) 2020.)

This paper evaluates a model of community mental health service (CMHS) in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The hospital records were reviewed and the total number of patient admissions and duration of in-patient care before and after enrolment in the CMHS were documented. Patient satisfaction with the CMHS was assessed using a questionnaire. The total number of admissions and the number of days that the patient spent in hospital per year were significantly reduced by the CMHS. Patients had high satisfaction rates with the information and advice they received, with their relationships with CMHS workers, with their access to mental health services and with their drug treatment.