The burden of mental health difficulties is a global problem and preventing them from childhood is paramount. Children living in challenged and underserved settings can suffer various harmful lifelong consequences including alcohol and substance abuse, low self-esteem, health issues, poor school performance, self-harm and suicide. This study aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of the culturally adapted Strong Families program in improving child behaviour and family functioning in families living in a challenged setting i.e. Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan.

This is a two-arm, multisite feasibility randomised controlled trial with 90 families (n = 45 in intervention, and n = 45 in waitlist group) including a female primary caregiver (mostly mother) and at least one of their children between the age of 8–15 years in three districts of GB. There will be three raters’ blind assessments: at baseline, week 2, and 6 weeks after Strong Families Program sessions.

Strong Families Program is a brief evidence-based prevention programme designed to improve parenting skills, child well-being and family mental health. The primary outcome measures include the feasibility of Strong Families, as determined by families' recruitment, attendance rates, and program completeness (mean number of sessions attended, attrition rates). Additionally, purposefully selected participants, including up to 5 caregivers from each study site, researchers, and facilitators delivering the intervention, will be interviewed. Descriptive statistics will be used to analyse primary and secondary outcomes. The process evaluation will be conducted in terms of program context, reach, fidelity, dose delivered and received, implementation, and recruitment.

The findings from this feasibility trial hold the potential to carry out the large multicentre trial of clinical and cost-effectiveness and scale-up across Pakistan and other similar settings to meaningfully impact child behaviour and family dynamics in culturally diverse contexts.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people. For adolescents, schools are considered as the best place to identify and respond to youth suicide risk but evidence on culturally sensitive, school-based suicide prevention programs is limited in low-resource settings such as Pakistan. This study aims to explore the perspectives of students, parents, teachers, and general practitioners regarding cultural adaptation, participation experiences, identified areas for improvement, and recommendations for scaling up the school-based suicide prevention program in Pakistan.

This qualitative study was nested in a pilot randomized controlled trial that aimed at exploring the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of three suicide prevention interventions: (1) Linking Education and Awareness of Depression and Suicide-LEADS training for students (12–17 years), (2) Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) training for teachers and parents and (3) Professional screening of at-risk students (ProfScreen) for health practitioners. A total of 8 focus group discussion (FGDs) were conducted at pre- and post-intervention stage with each type of stakeholder (students, teachers, parents and health professionals) by trained qualitative researchers using the semi-structured topic guides. Each FGDs involved a detailed presentation on intervention, sharing videos and educational posters.

As a result of pre-intervention FGDs, adaptations were made in the content of the interventions and were further refined through consultations with Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement group. All stakeholders who participated in post-intervention FGDs marked this suicide prevention program as feasible, acceptable and helpful in both identifying the risk of and preventing self-harm and suicide among young individuals, while also enhancing treatment pathways. Stakeholders perceived the interventions as valuable in augmenting knowledge about mental health, understanding the impact of mental health challenges on functioning, reducing stigma, and providing stakeholders with the necessary skills to identify and guide at-risk individuals. Teachers and parents endorsed the importance of discussing issues with children. Improvement in clinical practice of clinicians and teaching practice of teachers as well as understanding others’ behaviors were also reported.

This study highlights potential role of culturally adapted school-based youth suicide prevention program for settings where rates of suicide are high and there are limited mental healthcare resources in addition to limited access to healthcare. School-based suicide prevention program is perceived as helpful in improving knowledge, attitudes, and help-seeking behaviours in adolescents.

Psilocybin is being investigated as a treatment for a myriad of disorders, including treatment-resistant depression. The main focus has been on positive effects, with little attention paid to negative outcomes, especially in clinical settings. Quantitative methodology limits further exploration of such events and can also miss improvements not captured on rating scales.

To highlight potential adverse events of psilocybin and underline limits of quantitative methodology, calling for process evaluations alongside clinical trials.

This is a case of a participant in a phase 2b clinical trial of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression who presented with increased suicidal ideation and a prolonged period of severely restricted eating following administration, leading to a period of destabilisation and a need for support. Despite the difficulties encountered and the participant's limited improvement on rating scales, she found the experience to have been helpful and led her to make changes to her life which she found beneficial. She described her experience in a written account to the authors.

The case was summarised and the written account was thematically analysed and synthesised into a logic model.

Psilocybin could lead to temporary worsening of suicidal ideation and instigate prolonged adverse events that outlast its acute effects. Paradoxically, it could simultaneously lead to an improvement in functional outcomes which is not clear on depression rating scales. This calls for a qualitative exploration of serious adverse events and participant accounts to deepen our understanding of the psilocybin experience and its different outcomes.

Suicide poses a significant public health issue, and the presence of suicidal thoughts stands out as a prominent risk factor, highlighting the importance of addressing this aspect for early intervention and prevention efforts. While older adults face an elevated risk of attempted suicide, research in this domain is currently constrained. This study aims to enhance and evaluate the efficacy of an E-CMAP (Culturally Manual Assisted psychological intervention for Elderly) in mitigating suicidal ideation among individuals aged 55 years and older in Pakistan.

The study will be carried out in 2 phases. Phase 1 is cultural adaptation and refinement of the intervention and phase 2 is exploratory randomised control trial. In Phase 1, focus groups were conducted (N = 2) with Health professionals and service users and carers for adaptation of CMAP manual for suicidal ideation. In Phase 2 randomized exploratory trial will be conducted with 192 older adults with suicidal ideation randomized either to 1) E-CMAP added to Treatment As Usual (TAU) or TAU arm. ECMAP is a problem solving intervention comprising 6 sessions delivered one to one over 3 months by trained therapists. All participants will be assessed at baseline and after intervention (i.e. 3 months) for suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, health-related quality of life, coping resources, satisfaction with intervention, and episodes of self-harm.

Thematic Analysis of focus group discussions indicates that participants expressed a preference for incorporating a religious element into distraction techniques, delivering information about the significance of medical treatment, showcasing recorded sessions illustrating problem-solving techniques, and involving family throughout the intervention period.

A culturally tailored psychosocial intervention that incorporates problem-solving and cognitive components has the potential to decrease the risk of suicide among older adults.

The Mediterranean diet has shown to improve mental health outcomes in people with depressive disorder. However, little is known of the impact of the Mediterranean diet on severe mental illness. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of a Mediterranean diet on mental health and quality of life outcomes in adolescents and adults with severe mental illness (as defined by schizophrenia spectrum disorders, at risk mental states for psychosis, bipolar affective disorder and severe depression with psychosis).

The following databases were systematically searched: MEDLINE and EMBASE via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, PsychInfo via ProQuest, PubMed and Clinicaltrials.gov, using relevant subject headings and free text search terms to encompass severe mental illness and the Mediterranean diet. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were completed by two independent reviewers. Eligible study designs included randomised controlled trials, other non-controlled or controlled interventional or experimental studies, cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies that included adults and adolescents. The search was not limited to a specific time frame or language. The Mediterranean diet and mental health and quality of life outcomes were defined by primary paper author definitions.

Thirteen eligible studies were identified: 4 interventional, 2 cohort, 2 case-control and 4 cross-sectional studies and 1 mixed methods (interventional and observational) study. Diagnoses in most studies were psychotic illness, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar affective disorder and depression with psychosis. There was a lack of studies found that included adolescents or participants with at-risk mental states for psychosis. A range of Mediterranean diet adherence scoring systems were used across studies, indicating a notable heterogeneity in the way adherence was evaluated. Most studies included other lifestyle exposures or interventions alongside the Mediterranean diet. There was a marked heterogeneity between studies in how mental health and quality of life outcomes were assessed. Although there was an overall trend towards improved mental health or quality of life outcomes in some studies, others reported no change or a negative association with the dietary/lifestyle exposure or intervention.

The association between Mediterranean diet adherence and mental health outcomes and quality of life in adults and adolescents with severe mental illness remains inconsistent. Lifestyle-based interventions for the treatment of mental illness are cost-effective and relatively easy to implement with less concern about side effects. Therefore, this area requires further research.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) occurs when direct, deliberate harm is caused to one's physical body without intention of suicide. Approximately 22.1% of youth worldwide would engage in NSSI in their lifetimes. Due to the increased risk of harm and future suicide attempts, NSSI is a behaviour that warrants attention and has been identified as a condition in need of further study. While some studies have examined the prevalence and experiences of NSSI in Singapore, there is a lack of detailed studies on the presentation and overall phenomenology of NSSI in the local context. This study aims to assess the characteristics of NSSI using the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury – Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT) in a cross-sectional design. We investigated the functions, characteristics, and personal experiences of local youths who engage in NSSI for the development and improvement of patient-centred care.

121 youths between 12 and 25 years old were recruited from the National University Health System. The study included patients seeking treatment for mood disorders and have self-reported NSSI behaviours such as cutting, hitting, and scratching prior to or at the time of visit. Outcomes for the NSSI–AT, including the actions, functions, frequency, age of onset, initial motivations, severity, practice patterns, disclosure, and treatment experiences of self-harm, were reported using descriptive analysis. Personal reflections were analysed using thematic analysis.

Participants were mostly female (n = 86, 71.1%) with a mean age of 16.2 years (SD = 2.33). Many participants engaged in NSSI actions such as cutting, scratching, and banging on objects, to manage high-pressure agitating and low-pressure depressive emotional states. Most participants started engaging in NSSI in early adolescence (mean = 13.0 years old, SD = 2.37, range = 7–23) and have hurt themselves more severely than intended (n = 79, 65.3%). When reflecting on overall NSSI experiences, participants had similar levels of ambivalence toward NSSI and growth due to NSSI. Participants also gave encouragement to others going through similar experiences and reported the negative aspects of self-harm.

Findings support emotional regulation as a function of NSSI in the local population, where self-harm was not generally used for social communication purposes. Findings also suggest that youths may be more vulnerable to NSSI during early adolescence, corresponding to a time of substantial life changes. This study also demonstrated the individuality of NSSI experiences among the local youth, highlighting the importance of having a person-centred approach in NSSI treatment. Taken together, this highlights the need to develop interventions that can effectively serve this age group and their specific challenges.

Heat exposure can negatively impact mental health. Evidence for the effect of temperature on mood disorders is inconsistent. Current studies exploring the link between temperature and mood disorders are limited by poor temporal and geographical resolution. We aimed to use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to investigate the effect of real-time temperature on depressive and manic symptoms. We hypothesised higher temperatures would be associated with increased depressive and manic symptoms.

We used EMA data from the digital platform and smartphone app juli to investigate the effect of real-time mean and maximum ambient temperature on depressive and manic symptoms in adults with depression and bipolar disorder. Depressive and manic symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 and the Altman Self Rating Mania score, respectively. Time- and location-specific temperature data were collected from participants’ smartphone geolocation on a 5-by-5 km resolution grid. We analysed data using negative binomial mixed-effects regression models, controlled for demographic and weather variables, and stratified by season.

We analysed data from 4,000 participants with depressive symptoms and 2,132 with manic symptoms, between July 2021 and March 2023. We found that each 1°C increase in mean daily temperature in the preceding two weeks was associated with a 0.2% reduction in depressive symptom scores (IRR 0.998, 95%CI 0.997–0.999). This association was most pronounced in the spring (IRR 0.995, 95%CI 0.992–0.999). For manic symptoms, we found that each 1°C increase in mean temperature in the preceding two weeks was associated with a 0.4% increase in manic symptom scores (IRR 1.004, 95%CI 1.001–1.007), with the strongest association observed in the autumn (IRR 1.011, 95%CI 1.002–1.020). Associations between maximum temperature and depressive and manic symptoms followed a similar pattern.

We found evidence that higher temperatures were associated with decreased depressive symptoms and increased manic symptoms, indicating a complex relationship between temperature and mood disorder symptoms. With globally rising temperatures due to climate change, there is a need to understand the impact of heat on mental health symptoms to provide targeted support. This study demonstrates the potential for using novel data sources and EMA methods to inform our understanding of the link between climate and mental health, although there is a need for improved data collection to realise the potential of these methods. Clinically, our findings highlight opportunities for risk stratification and targeted interventions based on local temperature patterns.

To find how best to integrate religion/spirituality (R/S) into clinical care.

This was a qualitative study. 41 mental health patients of varying diagnoses in secondary care underwent semi-structured interviews describing their mental health and spiritual journeys and how these have interacted, before, during and after a period of acute illness. Grounded theory was used. Detailed coding was carried out and themes extracted.

Preliminary results from this project have already been reported, (submitted for publication). 5 main processes by which R/S interacted positively or negatively with mental health recovery were identified:

• • R/S experiences, (+ve or -ve),

• • Existential crisis, (-ve),

• • Influence of faith community, (+ve or -ve),

• • Finding a personally meaningful faith, (+ve),

• • Changing priorities to a more spiritual outlook, (+ve).

1. 1. Those who described themselves most as being in recovery tended to have more positive R/S experiences, support from a faith community, a personally meaningful faith and have changed their priorities. Most have also found clinical care helpful. However, often R/S was considered more helpful both for personal recovery and symptom relief. For others in this group, R/S enables living a satisfying life despite limitations of illness partially controlled by medication.

2. 2. Those who described themselves most as struggling with mental illness were much less likely to have a personally meaningful faith or had changed their priorities. They tended to have negative R/S experiences, persistent existential crisis and/or rejection from a faith community. Most of these people find both clinical care and R/S issues unhelpful. Some people were finding clinical care helpful but R/S barriers were blocking their recovery.

Spiritual health may be important for recovery from many mental health problems and needs to be addressed according to the 5 themes.

• • Possible R/S barriers identified, even if symptoms seem to be responding to clinical treatment.

• • Positive R/S experiences and/or support from a faith community used to help overcome R/S barriers.

• • Support made available to find a personally meaningful faith and change priorities.

• • Referral to spiritual care offered more frequently.

To establish the usability and tolerability, as well as accuracy of measurements of a handheld KardiaMobile ECG device in an inpatient older adult dementia ward.

Between February 2023 and April 2023, KardiaMobile ECGs and 12-lead ECGs were taken for patients admitted within a dementia ward in Liverpool. The standard 12-lead ECGs were analysed as per current practice, by Broomwell Health Watch. The KardiaMobile ECGs were read manually, by two independent raters, for heart rate and QTc. The user-rated tolerability was measured out of 5, 5 being the most tolerable, and was measured for both KardiaMobile and 12-lead ECGs, allowing comparison. The QTc and heart rate were calculated for both methods, and then compared. QTc was calculated using Bazett's formula.

13 inpatients had a 12-lead ECG, and a KardiaMobile ECG performed. Both were tolerated by all patients, except one who tolerated neither, leaving 12 ECGs for comparison. KardiaMobile ECGs were quicker to obtain, more well tolerated, and easy to use. However, manual calculation of QTc, versus expert and computer analysis for 12-lead ECGs, led to some variability between QTc measurements. Inter-rater reliability between raters for the KardiaMobile QTc was poor, however, when both were combined, correlation with 12-lead ECG QTc was moderate. KardiaMobile ECGs were harder to obtain in those with tremors, and the lack of computerised readings made interpretation more difficult. 12-lead ECGs also offer reassurance in the form of a fully interpreted, more detailed ECG.

KardiaMobile devices are faster to use and as/more tolerable in a dementia ward setting than 12-lead ECGs. The ECG trace is fed back instantly to the mobile device, however, automatic interpretation is limited and QTc calculation relies on the operator. Visual inspection of QTc can be difficult, and unreliable. However, the combination of two different raters led to more reliable results. The device has potential for use in this setting, however, an increase in automatic interpretation, or interpretation by a third party such as with Broomwell Health Watch, would increase its usability.

Main Objective

To assess the prevalence of depression (major depression) amongst adult hemophilia patients in Zambia.

Specific Objectives

1. 1. To assess the prevalence of depression amongst adult hemophilia patients in Zambia using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9) tool to screen for/diagnose depression.

2. 2. To determine risk factors, amongst hemophilia patients, to developing depression.

3. 3. To ascertain factors that significantly associate with depression amongst adult patients with hemophilia in Zambia.

This was a quantitative cross-sectional study, conducted by administering the study questionnaire to collect data on demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics and the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9. A total of 59 adult patients with Hemophilia in Zambia, registered under the Hemophilia Foundation of Zambia were interviewed through the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using STATA 14. Descriptive analyses were done on the data, responses on PHQ-9 were totaled to assess for the prevalence of depression. Depression was defined as PHQ-9 ≥ 5; Major Depression as PHQ-9 ≥ 10. Pearson Chi-2 test was done to assess for associations and a logistic regression model was created to show the relationship between significant risk factors (independent variables) and depression.

59 participants were interviewed in this study. They were all male with an average age of 24.77 years from various parts of Zambia. 91.53% of the patients reported to have Hemophilia A, while 8.47% had Hemophilia B, there were no patients with Hemophilia C. The average PHQ-9 score was 8.66. 83.04% of participants had depressive symptoms (PHQ > 5); 44.06% having major depression and only 16.96% of the participants reported no depression. Number of painful bleeding episodes (OR = 2.063; P = 0.048) and difficulty in performing daily activity (OR = 4.311; P = 0.008) were significantly associated with a higher risk for major depression.

There was a high prevalence of major depression (44.06%) amongst adult patients with hemophilia registered under the Hemophilia Foundation of Zambia. Hence there is need for addition of mental health care to the multidisciplinary management of adults with hemophilia for improved health outcomes due to the high prevalence of depression amongst this group. Additionally, patients who suffer many painful bleeding episodes must be prioritized candidates for mental health care.

Psychogenic polydipsia (PP) is a term used to describe a repetitive behaviour that characterises compulsivity in psychiatric patients resulting in excessive fluid consumption. It is a common clinical problem in patients with severe mental illness, learning disability, autism and acquired brain injury. Up to 20% of patients with schizophrenia have polydipsia, and many develop hyponatraemia and water intoxication, which can lead to irreversible brain damage or death.

Psychogenic polydipsia may not be obvious to staff in a busy care setting, leading to delayed identification and appropriate care.

The objective of this study is to assess the existing knowledge of psychogenic polydipsia among mental health staff and promote greater awareness of the condition.

To investigate the understanding of psychogenic polydipsia among healthcare staff, an online survey has been chosen as the research method. This survey will help identify any knowledge deficiencies in this area. It consists of both closed and open-ended questions, allowing for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The open-ended questions are designed to provide an opportunity for participants to share their individual experiences. Additionally, the survey will collect information on participants' age groups, years of experience in mental health services, and level of expertise. The survey was created using Qualtrics online survey software. Participant recruitment will be conducted at St Matthews Healthcare, with an estimated sample size of n = 101. The collected data will be analysed using statistical software such as SPSS, NVivo, or other appropriate tools.

The results of this study will be presented. Data are being collected and analysis will be completed in March. The abstract will be updated. These findings will serve as the basis for future recommendations and suggestions.

Comprehending patients' illnesses is a crucial aspect of providing quality healthcare. However, identifying psychogenic polydipsia has proven to be challenging within mental health settings. Failure to recognize excessive fluid intake can result in ineffective treatment, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, and in severe cases, coma or even death. The findings of this study have the potential to contribute to the creation of a training program for healthcare providers. Such a program would enable the development of improved care plans for patients who engage in excessive fluid consumption and are at risk of developing hyponatremia and water intoxication.

We sought to review the evidence available to answer the question: Which psychological therapies are effective in the treatment of depression in older adults in an inpatient setting?

An advanced literature search and systematic review was conducted using Web of Science and PubMed. A set of keywords were identified around depression, older age and the inpatient setting. These were combined with a wide range of keywords around psychological therapies.

Non-English language articles were translated using Google translate.

Articles were reviewed for the relevance to the study question by reviewing the title and abstract. Full text articles were retrieved for those felt to be relevant to the study question.

Of 709 articles identified from both databases, 20 articles were retrieved for full text review. Five studies were identified that appeared to offer insight into the study question. These papers focused on interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, or behavioural group therapy.

Brand and Clingempeel (1992) investigated the incremental implementation of group behavioural therapy in a randomized control trial. The study did not show statistically significant differences between treatment groups, but clinical significance differences supported this intervention's efficacy.

A case study by Soller (1997) followed the journey of a 69-year-old man through inpatient CBT sessions over three and a half months. This was followed with outpatient follow up. There was improvement but this was primarily subjective reporting.

A randomized controlled trial by Snarski et al. (2011) looked at the efficacy of behavioural therapy. The authors' overall conclusion was that patients benefit from this intervention and that further investigations should be done to strengthen their findings further.

A pilot study by Cabanel et al. (2017) focused on determining the feasibility of a multi-professional adaptation of group behavioural therapy sessions. This paper provides a signal towards the effectiveness of multi-professional approach to treatment.

Bollmann et al. (2020) focused on the implementation of interpersonal skills groups. It showed good feasibility as well as good patient adherence. Self-reported and observer-reported depression ratings saw improvement throughout the study.

Although the studies showed a signal towards improvement for a range of therapies, the evidence from these studies is not convincing.

There is a lack of high quality research in this area. More studies are needed to determine the most appropriate psychological therapy to use and how this might be adapted to the transient nature of the inpatient setting.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the literature regarding the use of ultra-low-field magnetic resonance imaging (ULF-MRI) and its potential use in dementia diagnosis.

Access to neuroimaging causes bottlenecks in dementia diagnostic pathways and limits overall capacity; there is wide variation across the UK. At present, dementia diagnosis rates in the UK remain below 65% and significant improvements in efficiency and accessibility of assessment services are needed to meet growing demand.

Modern MRI scanners use high strength magnetic fields (typically 1.5–3T), are expensive to install and operate, and usually require patients to travel to a general hospital. ULF-MRI systems (typically < 0.1T) are portable, relatively inexpensive, and do not require specialist staff to operate. They do not require shielding and are powered via a standard electrical socket. The use of ULF-MRI has historically been limited by multiple factors including poor image quality. Advances in software and hardware now mean that there is realistic potential to use ULF-MRI across a range of clinical applications.

The study followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO. Five electronic databases were searched for studies related to ULF-MRI using pre-developed terms. Studies comparing high field and ULF-MRI neuroimaging in adults were included. Studies of acute presentations (e.g. traumatic brain injury or acute cerebrovascular accident) were excluded. A data extraction template was used to synthesise study characteristics and outcomes. Two reviewers completed the selection process and data extraction independently.

2357 citations were identified, from which 101 studies were selected for further review based on title and abstract, of which eight met criteria for inclusion. Further studies were identified by forward and backward citation searching and through contact with active researchers in the field. The selected publications included both single and multi-centre studies. The Hyperfine Swoop system was used in almost all studies. Mean participant age range was 31 to 63. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons demonstrated good correspondence between high field and ULF-MRI across a range of measures studied, including volumetric measures and moderate to severe white matter hyperintensities.

The limited available evidence suggests that there is potential for ULF-MRI to transform the approach to neuroimaging in the assessment of dementia. Dedicated research into the use of ULF-MRI in this specific application will determine if it will be one of the much-needed disruptors to our current processes of dementia assessment.

Psychological distress is common in adolescence; even more so following traumatic events. On 15 March 2019, two mosques in Christchurch were targeted in an act of terrorism. This has had widespread repercussions in the Muslim and wider community in Christchurch and New Zealand. This protocol offers an integrated group treatment based on an indigenous Islamic Psychology framework incorporating components of established transdiagnostic interventions for increasing wellbeing and reducing psychological distress in teenagers. We aim to measure the effect size of the treatment effect on total difficulties, emotional difficulties, trauma symptoms, somatic symptoms and functional impairment in adolescents self-identifying as impacted by the terror attack. We will measure the degree of parental distress and somatic symptoms to explore whether an intervention for adolescents has an impact on parental wellbeing. We will determine the feasibility and acceptability of this approach to inform supports for similar populations and as an example of cultural adaptation of mental health services.

This is a randomised controlled trial with a waitlist-controlled design to measure the size of treatment effects on clinical outcomes, and the feasibility of this protocol. We aim to recruit 64 participant families. A 6-week group programme will be offered to teenage participants randomised to the study group and offered to the waitlist group following the study. The study will be community-based in one site. We will assess clinical outcomes including emotional difficulties and somatic symptoms in teenagers (aged 12–19) and parents at baseline, end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up, and measure the project's acceptability with participants and parents. Individuals’ experiences of the programme will be examined using qualitative analysis of participant interviews at the end of the programme. Statistical analysis will be a mixed method design including effect size difference calculations, quantitative measures of acceptability and qualitative analysis. Treatment data from participants randomised to the waitlist first will not be included in statistical comparison of treatment effects but will be used for the assessment of feasibility.

This study will inform whether this unique approach is feasible and easily accessible for adolescents impacted by traumatic events. Its design has been driven by community engagement and stakeholder consultation to consider recruitment, relational safety, screening, and risk management. The project has an emphasis on widening access to mental health supports in a minority faith community by maintaining cultural sensitivity and reducing stigma associated with mental illness.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05030909. Registered on 8 September 2021.

Autism spectrum is a neurodevelopmental condition usually diagnosed in early childhood. The broadened diagnostic criteria of the DSM–5 (2013) have led to an increasing number of autism spectrum diagnoses of individuals requiring lower levels of support. Barriers to diagnosis, especially in adults, include the complexity of differential diagnosis with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. This study explored the various pathways of psychiatric diagnosis preceding an autism spectrum diagnosis in adulthood.

This retrospective cohort study was extracted from health-administrative data from Quebec (Canada) and included all adults with a first recorded autism spectrum diagnosis between 2010 and 2017 (index date). A Trajectory of psychiatric Diagnoses (TDx) was defined as a succession of categorical states, each corresponding to a medical record of a psychiatric diagnosis. These TDx were analysed from 2002 to 2017, using a state sequence analysis with trimester as time units. For each trimester, we defined the following diagnoses in order of priority: 1) autism spectrum, 2) intellectual disability (ID), 3) schizophrenia, 4) bipolar disorder (BP), 5) depressive disorder (DD), 6) anxiety disorder (AD), 7) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 8) other psychiatric disorders. The simple Hamming metric was used to measure the dissimilarity between TDx, followed by a hierarchical cluster analysis to categorise similar trajectories.

The study cohort included 2799 adults diagnosed with autism spectrum between 2010 and 2017. Several psychiatric disorders were recorded during the study period, including AD (77.5%), DD (58.0%), schizophrenia (49.4%), BP (48.3%) and ID (33.2%). Results revealed 5 distinct types of TDx. Types 1 and 2, shared by 63.8% and 17.6% of the cohort respectively, represented individuals in younger age groups with similar characteristics, but with very different sequences of psychiatric diagnoses. Slight or sharp increases in diagnoses were observed around 2010, predominantly associated to autism spectrum in Type 1, and to schizophrenia and AD in Type 2. Individuals in Type 4 (6%) were little different from Types 1 and 2, but the TDx showed high prevalence of diagnoses of ID, DD, AD and ADHD, decreasing progressively around the diagnosis of autism. Types 3 and 5 (9.0% and 3.6%), representing middle-aged/older groups, displayed distinctive trajectories of high healthcare use, almost entirely associated with schizophrenia (Type 3), and BD (Type 5).

This study proposes a complementary examination of the multiple pathways to diagnosis experienced by autistic adults, highlighting the need for further investigation into co-occurring psychiatric disorders.

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social media applications have become an integral component of everyone's social life, particularly among younger generations and adolescents. These social apps have been changing a lot of conceptions and beliefs in the population by representing public figures and celebrities as role models. The social comparison theory, which says that people self-evaluate based on comparisons with similar others, is commonly used to explore the impact of social media on body image. There is a need to study the influence of those social platforms on the body image as there has been an increase in body dissatisfaction in the recent years.

This was a cross sectional study that used a self administered questionnaire on a simple random sample of 133 female medical students of the first year. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Finding shows that the response rate was 75%. There was an association between social media usage and noticing how the person looks (p value = 0.022), but no significant association between social media use and body image influence or dissatisfaction was found.

This study implies more research under this topic in Sudan as the literature are scarce.

Copy number variants (CNVs) are large changes in the structure of DNA. Certain rare CNVs are associated with elevated chance of neurodevelopmental conditions and difficulties (NDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability, alongside various physical health complications. Currently, CNV testing in children with NDs is only recommended under limited circumstances, in part because their impact on outcomes and prognosis remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether individuals with NDs in childhood, with and without rare pathogenic CNVs, differ in terms of functional outcomes in early adulthood.

Pathogenic CNV carriers were identified in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK birth cohort of individuals born in 1991–1992. Individuals with the following childhood NDs were identified through parent-reported diagnostic interviews and questionnaires, and assessment with the child: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity-Disorder (ADHD), ASD, reading difficulties, coordination difficulties, language difficulties, and chronic tics. Outcomes were measured at age 25 and included: presence of an emotional disorder, being in receipt of sickness/disability benefit, ability to make and maintain friendships, not being in education, employment, or training (NEET), and self-reported life satisfaction. We will use logistic regression to measure the association between carrying a pathogenic CNV and each functional outcome in ALSPAC. Sensitivity analyses will be conducted on all large (>250kb), rare (<1%) CNVs, as opposed to only pathogenic CNVs.

983 individuals with probable NDs (39.4% female, n = 387) were identified in ALSPAC, including 495 people with ASD, 163 with ADHD, 16 with Tourette's syndrome, 210 with reading difficulties, 295 with language difficulties, and 166 with coordination difficulties. Many individuals met criteria for more than one ND.

43 (4.4%) of individuals with an ND carried a pathogenic CNV. CNV carrier status amongst individuals with a ND was not associated with sex (4.4% of females vs 4.4% of males, OR = 1.007 [0.539–1.882] p = 0.981). Analysis of CNV carrier status on outcomes in NDs will be conducted between February and April 2024.

Evidence in support of poorer outcomes in CNV carriers could suggest that neurodiverse young people with CNVs may benefit from intervention to improve outcomes, and thus more individuals may benefit from genetic testing. Conversely, evidence indicating that CNVs do not impact outcomes may suggest that current clinical guidelines are appropriate within the current research landscape, and that further research is needed to understand the impact of carrying a pathogenic CNV in young people with NDs.

There is a well-established association between sleep disturbance and cognitive decline. Poor sleep can have a significant effect on patient and carer wellbeing and is a potentially modifiable risk factor for dementia. Sleep medications are problematic in cognitive impairment due to the increased risk of adverse events such as falls and confusion. There is good evidence for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) in older adults but its effectiveness in cognitive impairment is unclear. In 2021, only one RCT on CBTI in cognitive impairment was identified (Cassidy-Eagle et al. 2018). This review seeks to establish if there is any new evidence.

Ovid Medline (1946 to present) and clinicaltrials.gov were searched for all interventional trials testing CBTI including RCTs, single-arm studies and protocols, written in English. Inclusion criteria:

1. 1. Adults with a diagnosis of MCI or Alzheimer's dementia;

2. 2. Sleep as a primary outcome, using a validated outcome measure.

172 citations were screened by the first author and 26 underwent full text review. Eight papers were eligible for inclusion. Four of these studied MCI, three looked at people living with dementia (PLWD) and caregivers as a dyad and one combined MCI and Alzheimer's (protocol only).

The search found two pilot RCTs and two protocols for MCI. Cassidy-Eagle et al. (2018) found a highly significant positive effect on four of five sleep outcome measures with large effect sizes. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) decreased from 15.29 to 3.25 (p < 0.001; Cohen's d −4.22). Mattos et al. (2021) also found significant improvements on all sleep outcome measures; ISI decreased from 13.5 to 8.3 (p < 0.01).

Three papers study joint CBTI for PLWD and their care partners (one pilot RCT and two protocols). Song et al. (2024) reported improvements in sleep parameters for both participants in the dyad but were not statistically significant. They are recruiting for a larger trial.

This review identified 7 new RCTs in progress. In MCI, new data continue to show a significant association between CBTI and improved sleep. Published data for people with dementia have not found a significant relationship, although the data set remains very limited. It is not yet possible to synthesise the results and future systematic reviews are needed. If effective, CBTI could offer a lower risk alternative to medications in managing sleep disturbance in people with cognitive impairment.

Referrals to secondary mental health services in the United Kingdom are at record levels. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and cost of living crisis, many experienced a deterioration in their social and financial circumstances. It is widely accepted that social determinants impact mental health and wellbeing. This analysis aimed to investigate socioeconomic and psychosocial stressors contributing to referrals to the Community Mental Health Recovery Service (CMHRS) for the general adult population in Epsom, Surrey.

This retrospective case note analysis focused on Single Point of Access (SPA) referrals made to CMHRS Epsom between 1st September 2022 and 1st September 2023. A random number generator was used to select a cross-section of 30 cases from 141 referrals. Following exclusion criteria, 29 cases were examined using an ICD–10 social determinants of health (Z55-Z65) lens. Finally, thematic analysis was used to identify key socioeconomic and psychosocial factors impacting referred patients.

Patients were most commonly referred to CMHRS for presentations of suicidal ideation and self-harm (n = 13). Referrals were also related to symptoms of depression, anxiety and psychosis, the need for diagnostic clarity and for review of medication. All but one referral (n = 28) cited psychosocial stressors contributing to the patient’s presentation. Five key themes were identified. These were: current unemployment (n = 18), current housing and financial concerns (n = 18), ongoing social isolation (n = 19), relationship conflict and breakdown (n = 10) and a background of child sexual and physical abuse (n = 10). Protective factors, for those able to identify them, were exclusively linked to the patient’s social network (n = 22). Patients cited family members, friends, neighbours, the church and their pets as reasons to stay alive and accept support.

This analysis concluded that referrals to secondary mental health services in Epsom are significantly associated with a person's current and historical social circumstances. Policies and services which provide early intervention support with housing, employment and finances are vital in reducing the mental distress of at-risk individuals while also reducing pressure on mental health services. Reinforcing community and social support systems may be key in helping patients buffer psychosocial stress. Further study on this issue, involving a larger cohort, would be beneficial.

Very Late-Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis (VLOSLP) is a condition resembling schizophrenia, which has a first onset in individuals at age 60 or later. Understanding the risk factors associated with the development of this condition is crucial, given the increasing ageing population and the elevated mortality rate in VLOSLP patients compared with the general population. This scoping review aims to explore and map the risk factors associated with VLOSLP development and begin to identify potential mechanisms linking these factors through comprehensive literature searching, screening and data extraction.

Conducted as a scoping review; MEDLINE, Embase and APA PsycInfo were searched using the terms: “Very-Late Onset Schizophrenia-Like Psychosis”, “VLOSLP”, “Geriatric Psychosis” and “Geriatric Schizophrenia”. Inclusion criteria focused on psychosis with onset at 60 years or older and the identification of at least one potential risk factor. Studies were excluded which did not specifically refer to age of onset or concerned psychosis with an attributable organic cause. Thematic analysis was used to categorise risk factors into biological and psychosocial themes, followed by further organisation into specific subthemes.

Out of 326 initial results, 41 studies met inclusion criteria and underwent data analysis. Key risk factors included female gender, sensory impairment, social isolation, and migration, with potential interconnections identified between factors. Postulated mechanisms for the role of a risk factor in VLOSLP development recorded in the literature were included in the review. Mechanisms showed potential co-linkage between subthemes of risk factor. Migration status was also shown to impact gender as a risk factor, with male migrants experiencing higher rates of VLOSLP than their female counterparts. Thematic analysis highlighted how social isolation, a prominent risk factor, might be linked to, or reinforced by, sensory impairment, trauma, bereavement, and premorbid personality traits.

The scoping review revealed that risk factors for VLOSLP span across biological, social, and psychological domains, with the findings contributing to the broader understanding of schizophrenia-like psychoses in the elderly population. Social isolation emerged as a widely-cited factor, reiterating the importance of managing risk factors for VLOSLP in vulnerable individuals via a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. Results bring attention to the bi-directional relationships between risk factors and psychotic illness, with perceived risk factors a potential consequence of the psychosis. In response to this, future work may involve large-cohort longitudinal studies to outline temporal relationships between risk factors and symptom development.