In this triple blind randomized controlled trial 100 menopause women with age 50–60, whom had been visited in clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Year 2012) and suffered from insomnia after signing informed consent completed demographic and Petersburg Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI) Volunteer participants randomly divided to two group (A, B) and received capsules of 250 mg Lemon balm, or 50 mg Capsules of Starch as placebo in the same shape capsules, two times in a day for one month. PSQI were checked again after one month intervention. Descriptive and inferential statistics (T-Test, pair T-Test) were used. Study approved by ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Most of the women were in the age 50–52 (62%). The results show 20% of participants in intervention group and 8% percent in placebo group showed improvement in the quality of sleep. There was significant difference between average of PSQI in Intervention and Placebo group (P< 0.05)

The results show lemon balm had higher effect on improvement of sleep quality than placebo. Referring to effect of Starch as placebo in some components of PSQI, it is suggested that to do another study by using Starch as intervention.

To asses related factors of sleep disturbance in healthy 50–60 years old Menopausal women.

In this cross sectional study, by randomized sampling, 700 healthy volunteer Menopausal women, with age 50–60 years were interviewed in Health Clinics of West of Tehran (Year 2012). Participants were at least one year after entering menopause period. The study questioner included two main parts of personal characteristics and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed by using SPSS 14 software. (Approved by ethics committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences)

Average of age was 52.9± 3.3, and 62.5% had sleep problems. Average of PSQI square was 7.84 ± 4.4. There were significant correlation between sleep disturbance and occupational status, educational status, husband's occupational status, and economical status (P = 0.002). There were no significant correlation between sleep disturbance and other personal characteristics, and consumption of tea, coffee, or cola.

Sleep disturbance is common in menopause. Research group found its rate in previous study with lower samples, 70% and in this study 62.5%. it is better to provide guiding and considering the educational and occupational factors and delivering suitable guiding and counseling of sleep disturbance and suitable interventions could improve sleep quality, which is a very important for maintaining the quality of life.

To assess the effect of oral capsules of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) on menopausal women's sexual function

In this triple blind randomized placebo controlled trial, 80 healthy volunteers’ 50–60 years old menopause women, whom had been admitted in clinics of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), involved (Year 2010–2011). Questioner had two main parts of personal characteristics, and Sabbatsberg Sexual Rating Scale (SSRS), which was used for subjective evaluation of the sexual function before and after intervention. The participants received GBE 120–240 mg or placebo daily for 30 days. (40 in each group) Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Study approved by ethics committee of (TUMS).

Equality of two groups according to participants’ personal characteristics and pre intervention SSRC were checked. The most domains of sexual function included sexual desire (P<0.05), sexual pleasure (P< 0.01), orgasm (P< 0.05), importance of sex (P< 0.01) during last month and importance of sex in comparison to previous years (P< 0.007) were significantly improved in the GBE group. The mean score of total sexual function in the GBE group had significant difference with placebo group (P< 0.05).

Findings of this study support positive effect of Ginkgo Biloba on menopausal women's sexual function.

Many psychotic and personality disorders of children are the result of deprivation of maternal care or lack of reliability of a child with the attached individual. Since attachment problems are one of the features of borderline personality disorder, this study aims at studying the relationship between attachment styles and symptoms of borderline personality disorder in non-clinical samples.

The present study was conducted as a survey and it was descriptive. Therefore, a sample of 300 individuals were randomly selected and tested. Participants responded to adult attachment styles and symptoms of borderline personality questionnaire. The data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance.

The results revealed that people with avoidant attachment styles compared to those with secure attachment and ambivalent insecure attachment style got the highest score in borderline personality disorder symptoms.

The results obtained in this study are somewhat consistent with this idea that environmental factors such as attachment styles have an important role in the development of borderline personality disorder also these findings are in accordance with with previous research in clinical samples and in line with the theory of attachment styles in borderline personality disorder are debatable.

The subjective sense of well being is central to the concept of quality of life (QoL) and a good QoL should be the ultimate goal to any therapeutic measure. Quality of life and disability are important indices that may help change the perception, treatment and care of those with alcohol or drug dependence problem. The essential objective of this study is to investigate the impact of personality disorders (PD) on the quality of life in a sample of substance use disorder (SUD) patients.

a cross-sectional study, 32 patients were included selected from inpatient addiction unit at the Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, fulfilling the diagnosis of substance use disorder according to DSM-IV classification. They were assessed by; Semistructured psychiatric interview sheet of institute of Psychiatry Ain Shams University, and were subjected to: 1) PCASEE questionnaire for quality of life, 2) Addiction severity index (ASI), and 3) Structured clinical interview for DSM IV, for axis II personality disorder (SCID II).

Statistical analysis of the data was conducted. Regarding sociodemographic data it was found that the marital status, employment were significantly and highly significantly related to subjective QoL of patients respectively. In addition, patients who have mixed and multiple PD were significantly related to lower QoL. Moreover, depressive, histrionic and borderline personalities were significantly related to lower QoL. Regarding the severity profile measured by ASI; drug, legal and psychiatric profiles were significantly related to QoL of patients.

We concluded that patients with comorbid PD suffer from poorer QoL as well as more complications.

Several Clinical studies have shown specific Temperament and Character Profiles in adult ADHD patients. In all studies drug naive patients were included.

The present study was set up to assess whether adult ADHD patients referred to an outpatient clinic would show altered temperament and character profiles after they were put on psychostimulant medication.

During 18 months patients were recruited randomly from two out patient Clinics in Western Brabant, The Netherlands. ADHD symptoms were rated with the ASRS-Dutch version and temperament and character with the VTCI, a shortened Dutch translation of the TCI. Patients were assessed just before the first prescription of psychostimulants (T0) and after subjective clinical effect of the medication (T1).

48 patients gave informed consent and in total 38 completed the study. Significant differences between T1 and T0 were found for Novelty Seeking, Harm Avoidance, Self- Directedness and Self-Transcendence.

Adult ADHD patients can experience significant differences in temperament and character profiles after taking psychostimulant medication, suggesting different attitudes in daily life like carefulness, resilience, selfimage and sense of belonging are encouraged. It is important to discuss these issues with ADHD patients.

A growing body of literature suggests that proinflammatory cytokines may be causally associated with psychiatric symptoms. Illnesses characterized by chronic inflammatory responses are associated with depression. Studies of cytokines and anxiety symptoms are rare, but provide robust evidence that subjects with anxiety have significantly increased levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha.

The authors report a clinical case of a 76-year-old man who was referred by the outpatient surgery clinic to liaison psychiatry consultation. He presented a history of chronic anxiety, mild suspicion, insomnia, anorexia and constipation. He was medicated sequentially with benzodiazepines, antidepressants and lastly antipsychotics - he had no response to any of these medications. Analytically he had mild leukocytosis and cranial computed tomography scan was normal. After two months of follow-up there was a clinical deterioration, with significant weight loss and hypotension. A month later he became seriously ill with prostration, abdominal pain and marked hypotension. He was admitted in an intensive care unit and died of peritonitis following rupture of a chronic appendicitis.

There is evidence that antidepressants reduce the release of proinflammatory cytokines and increase the release of endogenous cytokine antagonists. The literature shows less consistent findings on the potential anti-inflammatory effects of antipsychotics. Risperidone has been shown to reduce proinflammatory cytokines.

This case report suggests that treatment with antidepressants and antipsychotics masked physical symptoms, reduced pain and acute inflammation, contributing to the chronicity of the appendicitis process and delaying the diagnosis, with a fatal outcome.

Epidemiological data about surgeons’ mental health and wellbeing are alarming: burnout was reported in about 40% of surgeons, 19% met criteria for alcohol abuse, and 6% had suicidal ideation. Factors related to the surgical culture may have an influence and impede helpseeking (stigma, shame, and fear for career repercussion).

To explore surgeons’ account of their practice.

To obtain an international consistent description of surgeons’ experience, addressing the problem of their wellbeing.

Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and SSCI have been accessed to identify relevant international qualitative research exploring how surgeons talk about their practice. Meta-ethnography (a systematic review and analysis of qualitative literature that compensates for the potential lack of generalizability of the primary studies and provides new insights by their conjoint interpretation and comparison) have been used to identify key themes and synthesize them.

51 papers have been identified. The six emerging themes have been clustered in two axes. First, patient-surgeon relationship: strong emotions come from this relation due to the extent of personal involvement in decision-making, responsibility and uncertainty. Second, group relations and culture: it shows the influence of the surgical hidden curriculum on behaviours, coping attitudes and help-seeking.

Strong emotional components overwhelm surgical practice, which potentially expose surgeons to vulnerability and isolation. They appeared unprepared for and had difficulties coping with these issues. Our findings suggest that taking into account the relational and emotional dimensions of surgical practice (both with patients and within the institution) might improve surgeons’ wellbeing and mental health.

The adverse experience in childhood (parental deprivation mostly) (AEC) has an important role in predisposing to mood and immuno-inflammatory rheumatic disorders in adults via chronic stress mechanisms. The primary Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) - a chronic, systemic autoimmune disease, which has some common pathogenic links with stress-related mental disorders.

To evaluate the AEC and MD presentation in SS patients.

80 inpatients (mean age 46,2+12,3 yrs) suffering SS were enrolled in the study. MD were diagnosed in accordance with ICD-10 criteria. The severity of depression, anxiety, stress were measured with HADS, MADRS, HAM-A, PSS-10.

The AEC had 78,7% of SS patients (recurrent events – 32,5%). Patients with AEC had an increased risk of developing dysthymia (OR=1,34; 95% CI=0,26–6,83) and depressive episode (OR=1,75 (0,35–8,65)) in adults. Recurrent depression was not revealed in patients with ACE. However, patients with AEC had no reliable differences in the MADRS, HAM-A, HADS, PSS-10 compared to patients without AEC. Patients with AEC had an increased risk of suicide attempts (OR=2,15; (0,25–37,2)) and suicidal thoughts (OR=4,58; (0,25–18,5)). The reliable correlations of the severity of SS symptoms (dry eyes/mouth, lymphoma) and AEC have not been confirmed. Patients with AEC had early onset SS (33,6±13,0 vs 38,1±14,2) and MD (28,4±12,6 vs 34,1±13,5) than patients without AEC.

AE? is a significant risk factor for depression and suicidal thoughts and attempts in patients suffering SS.

The internalized stigma of mental illness leads to negative outcomes (low self-esteem, demoralization, lower compliance to the treatment, unemployment). Previous studies have shown that the prevalence in psychotic patients is about 64%; furthermore, patients with non-psychotic disorders exhibit high prevalence, as well.

Our aim is to study internalized stigma, insight and social functioning in psychotic patients.

Through the investigation of low insight patients, we sought to verify the insight paradox theory and the impact stigma has on social functioning. We also investigated ISMI subscales (alienation, discrimination, stigma resistance, stereotype endorsement, social withdrawal) and the correlation between those elements.

Our sample included 19 psychotic patients: 11 with bipolar disorder; 3 with schizoaffective disorder; 5 with NOS psychosis. Patients were assessed with the following tests: SAI to evaluate insight; PANSS for clinical and psychopathological evaluation; GAF for social functioning; ISMI for the assessment of internalized stigma.

13 patients with mild or complete lack of insight reported low stigma, confirming the Insight Paradox theory. There is a positive correlation, measured with the Pearson correlation analysis, between insight and social functioning (R=0,752*) and between stigma and insight (R=0,024) while stigma and social functioning correlate negatively (R= -0,491*).

Results showed that lower levels of insight are related to higher stigma resistance and higher stigma leads to poorer functioning in social contexts. Higher sample numbers are necessary for further investigations on the subject.

Empathy is the human ability to understand and share other people's feelings through knowledge, observation and memory. Lower levels of empathy lead to poor social functioning, like in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Schizophrenia and Autism. Until today, very few studies have focused on empathic deficits in depressed patients.

Our aim was to evaluate whether MDD causes variations in empathy levels.

We wanted to assess cognitive and affective components of Empathy in a sample of women with MDD, and relate them to clinical issues. We compared these results to a control sample.

Our sample included 20 female patients with MDD and a control group, homogeneous for age and gender. We used the Hamilton scale for depression (HAM- D) to evaluate depression severity, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) to evaluate cognitive and affective empathy, the Faux pas test to assess cognitive empathy; Pearson and Mann tests for statistic analysis.

In general, patients showed mild depression levels (HAM- D: 14, 41± 6, 07). Severity of symptoms and empathy levels were inversely related with Faux Pas and IRI results (R: −0, 5805; R: −0, 5145), with patients being worse than the control group. Patients showed deficits in personal distress and perspective taking IRI subscales.

Our study shows that in depressed patients both components of Empathy are modified; in particular, personal distress increases, while perspective taking decreases. Additional studies and higher numbers of patients will be necessary to further investigate whether empathic deficits are trait- or state-depending MDD characteristics.

Sleep disturbances are an integral part of the biological syndrome of depression and relief from this is often essential to enhance compliance with medications and psychological treatments. Anti-depressants, which are the mainstay of treatment of depressive illnesses, have varying effects on our sleep architecture. It is important for researchers and clinicians to be aware of these effects.

We looked at the available literature on how antidepressants affect sleep patterns and tried to synthesize the findings in this poster.

The primary aim of our effort was to look at how antidepressants alter our sleeping behaviour and how they affect the different stages of sleep.

We tried to look at the available literature and product summary sheets of various antidepressants and have attempted to summarize how they alter our sleep architecture.

SSRIs and TCAs have marked dose-dependent effects on REM sleep in both healthy volunteers and depressed patients, with increased REM-onset latency and decreased REM sleep. Other antidepressants have modest or minimal effects on REM sleep. The effects on sleep are most likely mediated by 5-HT1 receptors.

Most antidepressants affect sleep and the physiological patterns of different sleep stages. These effects are greatest and most consistent on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and tend to be in the opposite direction to the sleep abnormalities found in depression.

Considering that the indigenous ethnic groups of Central Asia have similar sociocultural characteristics, these factors may be reflected in individuals with schizophrenia who have committed serious assaultive acts in Uzbekistan.

Identify the sociocultural characteristics of schizophrenic representatives of indigenous ethnic groups of Central Asia who have committed violent crimes in Uzbekistan and have been found insane in regard to their offence, and to compare their sociocultural characteristics to those of the representatives of other ethnic groups.

The data were collected in 2010–2013 in the Tashkent High Security Psychiatric Hospital via face-to-face interviews and from forensic psychiatric examination statements.

The sample consisted of 201 individuals: 86.6%— indigenous ethnic groups of Central Asia, 13.4% — others; mean age = 36.7 years (SD = 9.91); 85.1% — male. The results of the study show greater representation of male individuals with low educational level, born in the countryside in the group of indigenous ethnic groups of Central Asia; the individuals were rarely referred to psychiatric care because of the popularity of alternative medicine and the stigma attached to mental illness. A positive correlation between violence and various psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, and thought disorder, has also been demonstrated in this group.

Sociocultural characteristics, such as delayed referrals for psychiatric care because of the popularity of alternative medicine and the stigma attached to mental illness among the indigenous ethnic groups of Central Asia, frequently factor into committing serious acts of assault because of developing psychotic symptoms.

Sleep problems are common in older people and often associated with mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression.

The present study examined the association between sleep disturbances in older adults and frequency of depressed mood and other aggravating factors.

The sample consisted of 139 subjects, aged >65 years, members of day care center for older people (KAPI) in the municipality of Tripolis, Greece. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) was applied, to screen the elderly for depression. Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), a self-assessment psychometric instrument, was used to quantify sleep difficulty. Statistics was processed with SPSS 17.0.

56.8% of older people reported inadequate sleep, based on AIS. According to GDS-15, 53.3% of the studied population screened positive for depressive symptoms (43.2% moderate, 10.1% severe). In 79 persons who reported insomnia, 70.9% and 17.7% observed moderate and severe depression respectively, applying the GDS-15. Sleep disorders were more frequent in women (67.7% vs 48.1%, p=0.02), in not married, including divorced and widowed, (85.2% vs 44.7%, p=0.004) and in subjects without children (91.7% vs 53.2%, p=0.25). Insomnia was common in elderly with chronic diseases compared to elderly without co-morbidity (65.8% vs 9.1%, p<0.001), in participants with low monthly income (98.1% vs 1.9%, p<0.001) and in older adults suffering from depression (88.6% vs 6.7%. p<0.001).

Sleep disorders between the elderly of this study are common and strongly associated with depression. Determining the causality of the sleep disturbance could help to treat insomnia in the elderly and improve overall their health.