To investigate the relationship between psychological well-being and measures of active ageing in a British sample of older people. Active ageing is the process of optimising opportunities for health, participation and security to embrace quality of life as people age.

A national survey of quality of life and psychological well-being including 999 people aged ≥65 years living in private households in Britain commenced in 1999. in the most recent follow up of 2007, 323 survivors aged ≥72 years completed a postal survey regarding their quality of life and specifically the process of active ageing. A subset of 42 participants was also interviewed qualitatively in 2008 about their perceptions of active ageing. Psychological well-being at baseline was measured using the 12 item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12) and correlated with measures of active ageing at baseline and in subsequent follow ups. Measures of active ageing included number and frequency of leisure and social activities, physical ability and access to support networks.

A significant positive relationship between psychological well being and measures of active ageing was found at baseline (p< 0.05). Measure of active ageing in 2007 were also correlated with psychological well-being at baseline (p< 0.05). Qualitative interviews in 2008 provided additional insights into this relationship.

Results suggesting a strong relationship between psychological health and ageing actively. Good psychological health may allow the elderly to maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle and reduce isolation and dependence, which in turn may protect against some aspects of poor mental health.

Today, about 10% of the world population are older than 65 and even it is about 30% in some of society. According to growing of population in the word and in Iran and also high prevalence of psychiatric disorders in this group, demographic and epidemiological studies are necessary.

From 1422 subjects 59 years or older, who were live in Ekbatan district of Tehran, 313 subjects were chosen randomly. Finally 204 subjects were enrolled and completed the questionnaires of GDS-15, GHQ and CES-D. from study sample, 104 subjects were selected randomly and interviewed by CIDI to validate psychiatric disorders.

According to our study, 53.4% of subjects were women and 46.6% of them were male and 63% of the population were between 60-75. the life time prevalence for all psychiatric disorders were 35% and the period prevalence were 17.5%. 25.2% of subjects had only one psychiatric disorder and 6.8% and 2.9% of them had two and three or more psychiatric disorders, respectively. the most prevalence of psychiatric disorders were Major depressive disorder, Dysthymic disorder, OCD and PTSD, respectively. Some subjects had not engaged in treatment.

The results of this study revealed that the psychiatric disorders in Iranian geriatric population are common. It seems that these results can be helpful for mental health services.

Delusional misidentification syndromes are widely present in several psychiatric and neurological disorders in the geriatric population. Numerous studies witness growing evidence of organic background in different misidentification syndromes and reduplications.

The authors present a case of a patient with dementia, vascular type where clonal pluralization of the Self appeared as a secondary interpretative delusion after a hallucinatory type of autoscopic experience. the 86-year-old patient was referred to our department because he was talking continuously to his so-called ‘twin’. He considered his experience as a miracle to be investigated by a special medical staff. We discuss the distinctive characteristics of the presented case from other delusional misidentification syndromes and from other psychopathologic and neurological symptoms.

In the presented case the linear evolution and the interpretative aspect of the arising delusional misidentification phenomena were predominant. Overviewing the broad spectrum of concepts on delusional misidentification syndromes, we emphasize the importance of those approaches which enhance the disappearance of the classical functional-organic dichotomy on the double phenomenon and which try to clarify the neurocognitive background of delusional misidentifications.

To estimate the prevalence of depression and of depressive symptoms among older people living in retirement homes within Penacova county. to estimate the percentage of elderly depressed people receiving adequate treatment. to study associations between recorded clinical variables and depression.

We visited all the retirement homes of Penacova County to interview institutionalized men and women older than 64 years, applying a semi-structured protocol that included GDS (geriatric depression screening scale), MMSE, pain scale, Clock Drawing Test, Barthel Index and BSI (Brief Symptom Inventory).

We included 78 subjects (22 Men and 56 Women) with a mean age of 81.3 years. among them 29 were illiterate, 34 had < 4 years of education, 13 had 4 years of education and 2 had a university degree. 56 were widowers and 49 were born in Penacova. the mean GDS value was 17.27. 19,2% were not depressed, 46.1% were depressed and 34,6% were severely depressed.

These results suggest that depression is a common problem affecting older people living in retirement homes. A significant percentage of depressed patients were not adequately treated. This study highlights the importance of screening this population for depression.

Recent studies suggest that the metabolic syndrome and inflammation affect cognitive decline in old age due to vascular risk factors that might cause leukoaraiosis. It is not known which components of the metabolic syndrome are mostly involved.

There were included 60 subjects aged 65-90 years divided in two groups: group A-30 subjects diagnosed with metabolic syndrome according to NCEP-ATP-III criteria; group B-30 subjects used as control for the study group. Inflammation was assessed by measuring the C-reactive protein (CRP) plasma levels. Cognitive assessments included general cognition exam using Mini-Mental State Examination. the subjects underwent head CT-scan in order to observe the presence of the leukoaraiosis. the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was considered when the MMSE score was between 28-21points.

In group A 25 of the subjects presented MCI, while in group B only 13. in group A hyperglycemia was most strongly associated with cognitive function being identified in 80% of the subjects, followed by inflammation (CRP levels>1mg/L), present in 76.6% of the subjects. the subjects from group B presented hyperglycemia in 20% of the cases and high CRP levels in only 16.6% of the subjects. Leukoaraiosis was present in 60% of the subjects in group A, and in 23.3% in group B.

Subjects with metabolic syndrome had a poorer cognitive performance than subjects without metabolic syndrome at general cognition exam. in those subjects with metabolic syndrome hyperglycemia and inflammatory status were most frequently encountered when considered the association with cognitive impairment and was noticed a higher incidence of leukoaraiosis.

The work reported in this paper was supported by grant PNCDI2-41-057/2007 from the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.

Despite the well established genetic basis of schizophrenia, the relationship between genes and the disorder itself is still elusive. Individual endophenotypes, which reduce the complexity of genetic analyses, allow statistical approaches with quantitative trait methodologies. P200 abnormalities of event-related potentials have been reported in schizophrenia with conflicting results. the present study aims to characterize the P200 in first-episode patients and to compare it with that of first-degree relatives and controls.

ERPs were recorded at 19 sites with an auditory oddball for 21 first-episode patients with schizophrenia (mean age=25.14; SD=6.20), 41 of their first degree relatives (mean age=47.65; SD=15.53) and 19 healthy controls (mean age=26.32; SD=7.16). Potentials were averaged for frequent stimuli and P200 amplitude and latency measures were obtained.

Analysis of midline electrodes revealed significant group effects for P200 peak amplitudes (F(2, 78)=3.315, p=.042), but not for peak latencies. Post-hoc analyses revealed that patients with schizophrenia present significantly lower P200 amplitudes (M=2.466; SD=1.564) than controls (M=5.037; SD=2.500) at Pz (T(38)=3.851, p=.003). No other significant differences were found.

The results obtained do not straight-forwardly support the P200 peak amplitude nor peak latency as an endophenotype of schizophrenia. However, the trends of our results may suggest that the P200 amplitudes of relatives may present intermediate values between healthy controls (with higher amplitudes) and patients (with lower amplitudes). Further statistical analyses will be required in order to disentangle the effects of possible confounding variables.

Parental pychosis can have a major impact on the household and studies indicate that they increase the risk of children developing behavioural, social, emotional and educational problems (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004). to our knowledge, there is scarce information available about the mental health status of the sons and daughters cared by psychotic inpatients. Potential interventions that mental health services could adopt by screening this at risk population are missed.

To assess the mental health status of the children cared by the psychotic inpatients admitted to an acute mental health ward in Porto. to determine the number of children that fulfill criteria of mental illness and of those at risk. to refer this population to a specialist clinic.

Prospective study: we will screen the sons and daughters of all the inpatients admitted with psychosis between the 1st September 2008 and the 30th November 2008 to a busy acute inpatient ward at Hospital Megalhães Lemos, Porto. We will use the Robert Goodman Strenghts and Weaknesses Questionnaire for the 18- year old and below and the SCL-90 for the adult population. the population that fulfills criteria for mental health problems and the ones that are identified as at risk will be referred to a specialist clinic and followed-up by an experienced psychiatrist.

To identify and quantify a vulnerable population at high risk of developing mental health problems and offering an early intervention may proove to have an important impact in the household wellbeing.

In some different studies, a high prevalence of interpersonal trauma especially childhood abuse as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been found in patients with several mental illness (SMI): schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorder.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the traumatic life events and PTSD in a sample with SMI.

We enrolled adults patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar I disorder. We excluded patients who score 3 or more in conceptual disorganization, hallucinations and/or unusual contents of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and 4 or more in another item of this scale. Interventions: sociodemographic date and Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire and Distressing Event Questionnaire.

78 patients (52.6% men) with a mean age of 40 years. Diagnostic of the sample: 47.5% schizophrenia, 41% bipolar disorder and 11.5% schizoaffective disorder. Traumatic life events in the childhood: physical abuse, 22.1% (22.5% males and 21.8% females); psychological abuse, 26.9% (14.6% males and 40.5% females, p< 0.05); sexual abuse, 28.2% (21.9% males and 35.1% females).Some abuse in childhood, 48.0% (38.1% males and 62.2% women, p< 0.05).

Sexual abuse in adulthood: 25.6% (43.24% females and 9.7% men, p=0'05).

PTSD, 12.9% (8.3% males and 20.7% females).

Almost the half of the patients have biographical history of traumatic life events in the childhood. These traumatic events are significantly more prevalent in females. in adulthood, almost half of women had suffered sexual abuse.

A fifth part of the women with SMI have comorbidity with PTSD.

Modern computers often use programs that incorporate a programming technique called Object Oriented Programming (OOP), allowing users to manipulate complex ‘computational objects’ such as menus, screen windows, etc with very little effort, say the click of a mouse. OOP deals with structures called objects and allows time and computational effort saving devices such as inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation. We examine whether the brain itself may use OOP and if representation of objects suffers a breakdown in schizophrenia.

Previous models fail to provide a unifying explanation with a computational basis that could explain the psychopathology in schizophrenia. METHODS Using the object oriented programming language JavaTM we designed a system of self-objects named ‘hand’, ‘action monitor’ etc interacting with non-self objects ‘scissors’, ‘hammer’, ‘wall’, etc. in computational experiments, we allow the ‘action monitor’ to fail; the features of disparate objects are allowed to merge, some features of an object are allowed to be shared with other objects, etc.

By transposing only a few lines of code, it is possible to duplicate various features of the psychopathology of schizophrenia.

Our model can demonstrate overinclusion (overabstraction), concrete thinking (underabstraction), loss of ego boundaries (conjoining of disparate objects), delusions (misattribution of object function), lack of insight (poor monitoring of object activity) and passivity (loss of monitoring and misattribution of object activity).

The brain must use the OOP model in its computations. Failure of object representation and manipulation must lie at the core of the psychopathology of schizophrenia.

Induced delusional disorder (also known as shared paranoid disorder or folie à deux) is an uncommon disturbance characterized by the presence of similar psychotic symptoms in two or more individuals. Most commonly a primary case can be distinguished from other one or more cases, in whom the symptoms are induced. the patients implied in the shared delusional symptoms are frequently linked by close relationship bonds, mostly family ties. Its epidemiology remains unclear, because very few data is available. There are some requirements concerning the persons involved for the development of this disorder:

1. 1. Close coexistence and intimate emotional links between the two people are observed;

2. 2. The delusional content is plausible and can be based on past events or expectations;

3. 3. Typically, the induced individual has an easily influenciable personality.

We describe and comment one case of shared paranoid disorder between a 29 year old schizophrenic patient and her 43 years old sister. both share a persecution and prejudice delusion involving the Chinese community of their hometown. after a few days of inward treatment at separated psychiatric wards, the delusional symptoms in the older sister started to improve.

Our intention is making a review on a diagnosis that remains controversial nowadays. Treatment should begin with the separation of the induced and the inducer. Anyhow, a psychopharmacological treatment is required in both individuals. It seems clear, however, that the prognosis of the induced and the inducer is different, according to a variety of factors.

Diagnostic stability in first-episode psychosis shows a wide variability between studies. Amini and cols reported a 50% rate of patients schizophreniform disorder shifting to schizophrenia during the first 12 months period. We report the preliminary follow-up results of our recently ongoing first- episode psychosis unit.

Forty-six patients admitted for a first-episode psichosis to our Inpatient Psychiatric Unit from January 2006 to January 2008 were recruited. Clinical and socio-demographic characteristics were registered during admission period and during the follow-up period.

At admission 52% of the first-episode subjects had a diagnosis of psychosis NOS and 32% a schizophreniform disorder diagnosis. after discharge, most of the patients (72%) had a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder, 16% psychosis NOS and 8% brief psychotic disorder. Six months later, half of the followed-up patients had a schizophreniform disorder diagnosis, and 23% had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. 30% of the patients were drop-outs, mainly referred to other out-patient services. Patients shifting to schizophrenia were younger, predominantly male (75% vs 50% in non-schizophrenia shift), had a lower proportion of university studies and presented a longer hospitalization period at admission. No differences in familial history of psychosis and cannabis use were found. after one-year follow-up period, 50% preserved a schizophreniform disorder diagnosis and 30% were diagnosed as schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders have a high stability in first-episode psychosis during first year follow-up. as in previous studies, male gender is one of the factors that best predicts the shift to schizophrenia.

Despite remission being the primary objective following the first episode of schizophrenia, clinically stabilised patients are rarely studied.

To assess the extent and fluctuation of low-level positive symptoms in patients who are in remission following their first episode of schizophrenia, and consider whether symptoms displayed are similar to those exhibited in the prodromal population.

Eleven patients who had recovered for at least six months following one episode of schizophrenia and subsequently fulfilled remission criteria were interviewed four times over the course of three months. Interviews were based on the Structured Interview of Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS), an in-depth assessment of low-level symptoms that is widely used in the prodromal group. Data was compared to equivalent results from the prodromal population (with data provided by the local ED:IT service).

Over the course of the interviews 73% of participants displayed attenuated positive symptoms, predominantly unusual thought content and suspiciousness. 18% experienced brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms (BLIPS). Analysis with Friedman's test revealed no significant fluctuation in positive symptoms, indicating that they are stable over time. Furthermore, the symptoms exhibited in the sample were closely comparable to those in the prodromal group in the ED:IT service.

The majority of patients in remission are experiencing a form of ‘postdrome’, which appears to be an enduring state. the presence of these symptoms may put patients at an increased risk of relapse. Larger-scale research is required to follow-up this novel preliminary study.

None.