الفهرس 
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Abstract
Mental disorder is a legal term and an important category in the various mental health acts. It likes any disease or condition affecting the brain that influences the way a person thinks, feels, behaves and/or relates to others and to his or her surroundings (John and Pamela, 1993). Lack of information about mental health statistics is one of the most prominent problems in Arab countries. In Egypt, there is a scarcity of community surveys in the field of psychiatry. We need such information as a base for future mental health planning, development, training and incorporation of mental health in primary health care (Ghanem et al, 2009). In Egypt there is a quantitative study has found that 16,93% of the adult population suffers from mental disorders. A National Survey of Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Egypt found that most common disorders were mood and anxiety disorders. The least common indicated in the survey were alcohol or drug dependence and adjustment disorder (Carr, 2009). This study aimed to provide an accurate estimate of the prevalence of common mental disorders in Assiut Governorate during the period from 2005-2010, list the most common types of mental disorders, legal and civil problems associated with mental disorders, identification and clinical assessment of the persons with mental disorder and to provide a set of recommendations to decrease the problems associated with mental disorders. The collected data included number of mental disorders cases, age, sex, residence of the cases of mental disorders, type of complaint of the plaintiff, the common types of mental disorders, and types of the problems with mental disorders civil or criminal. Mental disorders represent an increasing problem in the world and also in our country. In this study there is a fluctuation in its rate along the years of the study. The total number of the cases with mental disorders in the period from 2005 to 2010 was 163 cases, the highest percent of mental disorders cases occurred in the year 2008 with a percent of 19,64 % ( 32 cases ) from all mental disorders cases during the period from 2005 to 2010 followed by the year 2009 with a percent of 19 % ( 31 cases ) while the lowest number of cases was in 2006 ( 19 cases ) with a percent (11.66 %). The highest frequency of mental disorders occurred in the middle age group from 20 ≤ 30 years, with male predominance. Males represent about triple the number of females. The frequency of mental disorders was higher in Assiut City (65) cases (39.88 %) while the least percentage was 2 cases (1.23 %) in El Ghanaime. The highest number of cases 102 cases (61.59 %) was found with primary mental disorders and 61 cases (37.43 %) with secondary mental disorders and both of them was more common in males. The majority of 1ry cases of mental disorders was diagnosed as Mongolism 44 cases followed by Moron 23 cases and Idiot was the least number of cases 7 and all of them were more common in males. As regarding 2nd mental disorders the majority of cases were diagnosed as Schizophrenia 41 cases (67.2 % ) and the least number as Dementia and Post-Infection (6.6 % ) for each one. The highest number of secondary mental disorders was observed in 2008 by 17 cases followed by 2009 by 13 cases and it was the least in 2005 by 5 cases. About the cases of Schizophrenia no sexual difference was observed in 2005 or 2006 or 2009 but it was more in males than females in 2008 ( 8 cases for males, 2 cases for females ) and in 2010 ( 7 cases for males, 3 cases for females ), on the other hand all the cases of Posttraumatic Psychosis and Post-Infection cases were diagnosed in males only .
The majority of cases (159 cases) in this study were presented with civil problems and only 4 cases with criminal problems.
In conclusion mental disorders should be viewed as a very serious problem especially in the developing countries like Egypt. National programs can be designed to prevent or decrease mental disorders as soon as possible and all the community should share in its implementation. Recommendations
1- Medical file for each case must be found and contains health and social state, family background, previous diseases if present, programs of assessment and treatment and follow up.
2- Educational experiences can be designed to assist patient in developing skills, decision making, coping with stress, problem solving and interpersonal communication.
3- The forensic expert should cautioned if he asked to determine the responsibility of the person in committing a crime, or his fitness for trial in case of criminal proceeding. In case of civil proceeding , he evaluates the fitness of the person for performing all civil affairs.
4- Regular statistics and collection of all data and informations should be done about the cases of mental disorders in our country to know the size of the problem of mental disorders, as community surveys in the field of psychiatry because such informations as a base for future mental health planning , development, training and incorporation of mental health in primary health care.
5- Further analysis of these risk factors to contribute towards primary prevention of mental illness in our culture.
6- Developing countries such as Egypt should develop partner ships with other agents (such as non-governmental organization, consumer groups, etc…) to provide mental disorders patients with the best care possible.
7- The World Health Organization, the Europian Union, national governments and parliaments have formed drug policies in order to reduce the harm of drug abuse. Targeting adolescents and young adults is regarded as an important step to reduce the harm of drug abuse. Increasing the age at which licit drugs of abuse such as alcohol can be purchased, the banning or restricting advertising of drugs has been recommended as additional ways of reducing the harm of drug dependence and abuse. Credible, evidence based educational campaigns in the mass media about the consequences of drug abuse have been recommended. Guidelines for parents to prevent drug abuse amongst adolescents, and for helping young people with mental health problems have also been suggested.