Author
Muhammad Omair Husain
Other affiliations: University of Manchester, University of Toronto
Bio: Muhammad Omair Husain is an academic researcher from Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. The author has contributed to research in topics: Medicine & Randomized controlled trial. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 13 publications receiving 73 citations. Previous affiliations of Muhammad Omair Husain include University of Manchester & University of Toronto.
Papers
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TL;DR: No evidence that minocycline or celecoxib was superior to placebo for the treatment of bipolar depression is found, casting doubt on the potential therapeutic benefits of adjunctive anti-inflammatory drugs for the acute management of bipolar disorder.
91 citations
TL;DR: Methotrexate is thought to work in autoimmune disorders by resetting systemic regulatory T-cell control of immune signalling; it is shown that a similar action in the CNS would account for otherwise puzzling features of the immuno-pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Abstract: NMDA autoantibody encephalitis presenting as schizophrenia suggests the possible role of adaptive cell-mediated immunity in idiopathic schizophrenia. However, to our knowledge there have been no trials of the immune-suppressant methotrexate in schizophrenia. We tested if low-dose methotrexate as used in the treatment of systemic autoimmune disorders would be tolerable and effective in people with schizophrenia in a feasibility study. Ninety-two participants within 5 years of schizophrenia diagnosis were recruited from inpatient and outpatient facilities in Karachi, Pakistan. They were randomised to receive once weekly 10-mg oral methotrexate (n = 45) or matching placebo (n = 47) both with daily 5-mg folic acid, in addition to treatment as usual for 12 weeks. There were eight dropouts per group. Side effects were non-significantly more common in those on methotrexate and were not severe. One person developed leukopenia. Positive symptom scores improved more in those receiving methotrexate than placebo (β = −2.5; [95% CI −4.7 to −0.4]), whereas negative symptoms were unaffected by treatment (β = −0.39; [95% CI −2.01 to 1.23]). There were no immune biomarkers but methotrexate did not affect group mean leucocyte counts or C-reactive protein. We conclude that further studies are feasible but should be focussed on subgroups identified by advances in neuroimmune profiling. Methotrexate is thought to work in autoimmune disorders by resetting systemic regulatory T-cell control of immune signalling; we show that a similar action in the CNS would account for otherwise puzzling features of the immuno-pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
34 citations
TL;DR: The rate of depression was high among Pakistani patients with CHF and Severity of depression correlated with increased mortality, and higher BDI scores in depressed participants were associated with higher all-cause mortality.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a cross-sectional study of 455 female patients attending general medical outpatient clinics, a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) was confirmed using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID); retrospective reports of childhood trauma were collected using the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ); and Big Five personality traits were assessed using the NEO Personality Inventory Revised (NEO PI-R).
12 citations
TL;DR: For the most part, Pakistani GPs' attitudes toward MUS are not very different to those of their counterparts in the West, but both agree that the GP has an important role in providing reassurance and counseling.
Abstract: Objectives:In this study, we explored the attitudes toward Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS) of 500 general practitioners (GPs) in Karachi, Pakistan. Using a questionnaire previously developed by Reid et al. (2001), we aimed to investigate whether GPs' attitudes toward medically unexplained symptoms are similar to those of GPs in the developed world.Methods:Five hundred GPs on the database of primary care centers at the Pakistan Institute of Learning and Living in Karachi were all sent a covering letter explaining the purpose of the survey with a case vignette, a questionnaire, and a stamped addressed envelope. One month later, non-respondents received a telephone call from an investigator to remind them of the study.Results:Of the 429 respondents, 68.5% (294) were male and 31.5% (135) female. Although 80.2% of respondents felt that the main role of GPs was to provide support and reassurance, 76.9% of respondents also agreed that GPs had a role in referring patients with MUS for further investigations ...
12 citations
Cited by
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University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust1, National Institute for Health Research2, University College Cork3, Warneford Hospital4, Swansea University5, Aga Khan University6, University of Glasgow7, Centre for Mental Health8, University of Bristol9, University of Peradeniya10, University of Oslo11, Medical University of Vienna12, University of Sydney13, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences14, University of Toronto15, University of Nottingham16, University of Hong Kong17
TL;DR: The promise of targeting the inflammation pathway in the management of this challenging condition is today somewhat weaker, but this might not be the last word on the potential role of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of bipolar depression.
981 citations
TL;DR: This article explored parents' views on kindergarten and primary school students' distance learning experience and support needed as well as the amount of time children spend on screen media at home, and found that parents' view on distance learning and support for children varied with age.
Abstract: This study explored parents’ views on kindergarten and primary school students’ distance learning experience and support needed as well as the amount of time children spend on screen media at home ...
148 citations
TL;DR: Differences in self-reported combat exposures explain most of the differences in reported prevalence of PTSD, and Adjusting for self- reported combat exposures and sociodemographics did not explain differences in hazardous alcohol consumption or aggression.
Abstract: Background
Research of military personnel who deployed to the conflicts in Iraq or Afghanistan has suggested that there are differences in mental health outcomes between UK and US military personnel.
Aims
To compare the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hazardous alcohol consumption, aggressive behaviour and multiple physical symptoms in US and UK military personnel deployed to Iraq.
Method
Data were from one US ( n = 1560) and one UK ( n = 313) study of post-deployment military health of army personnel who had deployed to Iraq during 2007-2008. Analyses were stratified by high- and low-combat exposure.
Results
Significant differences in combat exposure and sociodemographics were observed between US and UK personnel; controlling for these variables accounted for the difference in prevalence of PTSD, but not in the total symptom level scores. Levels of hazardous alcohol consumption (low-combat exposure: odds ratio (OR) = 0.13, 95% CI 0.07-0.21; high-combat exposure: OR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.14-0.39) and aggression (low-combat exposure: OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.19-0.68) were significantly lower in US compared with UK personnel. There was no difference in multiple physical symptoms.
Conclusions
Differences in self-reported combat exposures explain most of the differences in reported prevalence of PTSD. Adjusting for self-reported combat exposures and sociodemographics did not explain differences in hazardous alcohol consumption or aggression.
123 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of baseline levels of peripheral inflammation when testing the efficacy of antidepressant augmentation with minocycline in patients with treatment-resistant depression was investigated, and the main outcome was the change in HAM-D-17 score from baseline to week 4, expressed both as mean and as full or partial response.
93 citations