As the Covid-19 pandemic brought about travel and social restrictions, many activities including specialty training events for medical specialty trainees moved online. The European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees, European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and hild and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) Section of UEMS joined forces to turn challenges into an opportunity for CAP trainees and jointly organized the 1st ESCAP/UEMS-CAP/EFPT Training Day.

The main aim was to offer CAP trainees throughout Europe high quality and up to date training content free of charge, making use of the different strengths of the organizing associations.

Content of the Training Day was prepared according to feedback and demand from CAP trainees, collected through a questionnaire prior to the event. This event took place online and ran 9 webinars/workshops as well as a plenary case session where trainees presented real life cases made more challenging with the pandemic and representatives from 3 organizing associations discussed the cases from different perspectives. Remaining webinars/workshops covered a wide range of themes including but not limited to research, leadership, administrative and management skills as well as scientific topics such as eating disorders, medically unexplained symptoms, psychosis.

Almost 200 CAP trainees from 31 countries participated in the event and received certificates of completion. The outcome of the event is being evaluated via quantitative and qualitative methods and similar events will be planned accordingly.

1st ESCAP/UEMS-CAP/EFPT Training Day for CAP trainees was a success for reaching many trainees from across Europe and experimenting with different formats which will inspire future initiatives.

No significant relationships.

Nursing students’ attitudes towards mental illness will affect their perception about caring patients with mental illness and their willingness to work in the field of mental health. Evidence supported that contact with recovery patients can change people’s perception of mental illness.

The study aims to explore the undergraduate nursing students’ encountering experience with recovery patients as educators.

A qualitative study using purposive sampling was conducted with undergraduate nursing students in southern Taiwan. Content analysis was used to identify the students’ experience as encountering with the recovery patient as an educator.

As recovery patients participated in class, sharing their recovery journey and learning with students to produce a recovery story, it provided recovery patients and students an equal and mutually beneficial partnership. Four main themes about undergraduate nursing students’ attitudes were identified as. (1)Changing the mindset to patients with mental illness — We are human beings. There’s not much difference between us. (2)Turning positive attitudes towards patients with mental illness — We can compose a better life together! (3)Closing the distance between students and patients with mental illness — I am willing to be close to you. (4)Reflecting and growing in self-understanding and values — I am recovered, too.

This study found that the strategy of recovery patients as educators can improve future nurses’ attitudes towards mental illness, help them deeply learn about patient’ recovery journey. It might beneficial to help students developing their competency in patient-centered care. Future study could examine the effect of the recovery patients as educators.

No significant relationships.

There is a greater prevalence of oral problems in patients suffering from severe mental illness than in the general population. The psychiatrist use to be, naturally, a health professional with great clinical influence over these patients. Do young psychiatrists in training include oral evaluations on their patients? How does this doctor perceive oral health care in the context of follow-up of people with chronic mental disorders?

To interpret the meanings of the practice or not, regarding oral health guidelines, as reported by residents in psychiatry working in care and follow-up services to patients with severe disorders at a public university.

Clinical-qualitative design. Semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in-depth carried out with six participants. Sample closed by saturation information criterion. Residents see their patients at the General Hospital of the State University of Campinas. Interview material, audio-recorded and transcribed in full, was treated by Clinical-Qualitative Content Analysis, using concepts of theoretical framework from Medical Psychology. Interviewer was a female professor of dentistry.

From the discussion, two categories of analysis were selected for this presentation. (1) medical practice obeys the natural logic of construction of paradigmatic areas: historically, dentistry has created a care model with independence from medicine; (2) dentist is not called to participate in “collusion of anonymity”. This is an expression construct by the psychoanalyst Balint to describe the taking of relevant clinical decisions, without no professional assume the responsibility for these.

These meanings may guide changes in professional conduct as well as in the curriculum of medical training programs.

No significant relationships.

Digital mental health interventions and digital psychiatry have been rapidly implemented over the past decade, particularly with the intent to offer a cost-effective solution in those circumstances in which the current mental health services and infrastructure are not able to properly accommodate the patients’ needs. However, mental health workforce is often poorly theoretical/practical trained in digital psychiatry and in delivering remote consultations safely and effectively, not being common to own curricula-specific training requirements in digital psychiatry and skills.

Our aim is evaluating the level of training, knowledge, experience and perception regarding the topic of digital psychiatry in a sample constituted by medical students, psychiatry trainees and early career psychiatrists from WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions (APAC).

A web-based international cross-sectional survey was carried out to specifically investigating digita psychiatry in APAC regions.

An overall lack of theoretical and/or practical training on new digital tools and digital health interventions in psychiatry has been observed. The level of training influences knowledge background, which, in turn, influences young professionals’ perceptions and opinions regarding digital psychiatry and interventions in mental health.

Implementing psychiatry training programs may significantly improve the level of knowledge and use of digital tools in mental healthcare. Moreover, mental health services and infrastructures should be properly adapted to the digital era, considering the overall weak and heterogeneous technical support and equipment, issues of internet connectivity and other administrative related challenges observed in APAC.

No significant relationships.

We will present experience developing a system for monitoring training placements in psychiatry and community paediatrics, and how this was expanded to provide an automated anonymised MSF for trainers for annual appraisal and will identify trainers in need of additional support and other post/training programme issues. The session will be of interest to educators and medical education leads with practical tips and lessons learnt over the last 8 years since the system was first developed.

The system was also used to identify trainers in need of additional support and other post/training programme issues.

We used an electronic system to gain the infromation as stated in the introduction.

Over the last 8 years we have collected data using this system. the results for our trust will be displayed annoymously but the system is the ficus of this presenation.

The advantages of the system are that it runs throughout the year (so covers each post and placement), has high trainee response rates, has no selection bias (compared with some other MSF systems) and the results are embedded within local quality systems and individual consultant appraisals. The data that the system collects can help provide robust evidence when investigating concerns that might only arise periodically (for example through the annual GMC trainee survey in the UK). We believe that this system will be applicable for doctors providing training in other countries and empowers the improvement of psychiatric training for the profession.

No significant relationships.

Racism is present in most aspects of our society, including healthcare. Differences in health outcomes, and in the quality of mental health treatment for people coming from ethnic minority groups have been demonstrated in the literature. Psychiatry trainees are required to understand the impact of structural inequalities and power differences within mental health services, and to be able to deliver clinical care that is equitable for all.

To provide psychiatry trainees with a space to reflect on unconscious racial bias in clinical work and to explore potential barriers when talking about such topics.

A Race and Equality Reflective Group for psychiatry trainees was organised as an opportunity to discuss unconscious racial bias. Due to an insufficient number of registrations, the session was cancelled. An anonymous feedback questionnaire was sent to all trainees to understand reasons behind this, and to explore potential barriers to participation. The results were analysed and were brought back to a regular Balint group for further exploration.

Twelve trainees filled in the questionnaire. The main themes identified included this topic being a sensitive issue (5; 41.7%), discomfort in trainees (5; 41.7%), insufficient time to participate (4; 33%) and timetable clash (3; 25.9%). Barriers to discussing unconscious racial bias and inequality were identified in further exploration with trainees. The tendency for groups to adopt a split position that was observed, mirrors the dynamics seen in institutional racism.

This work has highlighted the need for ongoing focused, facilitated educational spaces where these issues can be openly discussed and reflected upon.

No significant relationships.

Psychiatry residency training is a stressful transitional period for young doctors who are faced with challenging patients, increased clinical responsibility coupled with lack of clinical experience, and on-call obligations, leaving them at high risk of burnout.

To assess the frequency of burnout among psychiatric trainees, and to identify factors associated with severe burnout.

A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey among psychiatry residents working in Tunisian hospitals. Participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to assess burnout.

Forty residents completed the survey. The average age was 28.08 ± 2.433. The majority of the participants (87.5%) were females, 27.5% were married and 17.5% had kids. One fifth of the residents were smokers, 22.5 % used alcohol and 5% used cannabis. History of psychiatric disorder was reported by 35% of the participants (depression 15%, anxiety 17.5%, bipolar disorder 2.5%). Half of participants were first year residents and 75% had psychiatry as their first-choice specialty. The majority (72.5%) declared working in poor conditions. Overall, 37.5% of the participants met the criteria for severe burnout. Female gender and poor conditions of the workplace were significantly associated with burnout symptoms (p=0.007 and p=0.014 respectively).

Attention to burnout during residency is important, given the potential to implement preventive and management strategies on time for physicians’ to promote wellness and avoid severe consequences.

No significant relationships.

Tunisia is viewed as an advanced country in terms of women’s rights in the Arab world. However, women are more exposed than men to many specific risk factors which greatly contribute to threaten their mental health.

The main objective of this study was to find out the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of women admitted in Razi psychiatric hospital and their access to mental health services.

A cross sectional and descriptive survey was conducted between March and April 2021 in the department of psychiatry D of Razi Hospital including 40 female inpatients.

The majority of patients had low (37.1%) to moderate (61.9%) socio economic status, with primary education (40%), secondary education (20%) and higher education (28.6%). The majority was unemployed (68.8%). A significant difference was observed between adherence to treatment and family support (p=0.04). It was mainly the father or the husband who was taking care of the patient in 50% of cases. The first psychiatric consultation was 2.68 years after having symptoms. Hospitalization was about 4.94 years later. Twenty five percent of them have seen a tradipractioner before consulting. About 46.87% of patients had conflicts with a member of her family and 15.62% of them were victims of either domestic or family violence. The main diagnoses were mood disorders (31.4%) and schizophrenia (42.9%) Time between symptoms onset and hospitalisation was significantly associated with socioeconomic status (p=0.047) and cultural beliefs (p=0.026).

The protection of women’s mental health is not only a medical challenge but also a cultural and political one.

No significant relationships.

Depression during pregnancy leads to deterioration of the mothers’ and the fetus’ health.

To explore women’s perception and attitude towards using antidepressants during pregnancy and identify the factors that influence decision making regarding antidepressants use.

A cross-sectional survey of 991 subjects using convenient sampling. All study subjects (PNU affiliates; staff and students) were invited to fill out an electronic questionnaire, KAAUH staff and PNU female associates who were less than 18 years old were excluded. Answers were reported using 5- point Likert scale. The responses were summed up to give a total score for each respondent. The cutoff point is 75%. Respondents who scored above or equal 75% of the total score was considered as positive perception or favorable attitude.

The majority of women had negative perception and favorable attitude towards using antidepressants during pregnancy reaching 64%. While, women with positive perception and favorable attitude represented about 20% of the study subjects. The main factors influencing decision making were, education specialty (health, none-health) and subject history of diagnosis with any psychological disorder. Social stigma, religious believes and fear of addiction were reported by surveyors to be the reason influencing their perception and attitude about antidepressants use (P value <0.005).

This study reveals that although Saudi women reflect a negative perception towards using antidepressants during pregnancy, yet they have a favorable attitude once depression during pregnancy becomes an issue.

No significant relationships.

Clinicians often do not have experience assessing perinatal patients unless they work as part of a perinatal team. Informal feedback points to a lack of confidence in performing perinatal assessments.

The aim of the project was to assess clinicians’ confidence in performing perinatal assessments in outpatient and inpatient settings including the Emergency Department. Additionally, we wanted to assess whether access to a perinatal assessment tool was beneficial. We hypothesise that clinicians lack confidence in performing perinatal assessments and would benefit from using a perinatal assessment tool.

We designed a survey of 10 questions assessing the above. The survey was sent out to psychiatric trainees and nurses at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The participant’s confidence in completing perinatal assessments in various settings was assessed using a 5 point Likert scale.

52 responses were received. 50% of participants felt not so confident in performing perinatal assessments in the outpatient setting. 40.38%(n=21) of participants felt not so confident in exploring the mother and foetal relationship. 71.15% (n=37) of participants felt that they would benefit from additional teaching with 48.1% of participants citing that they would benefit from access to an assessment tool.

As predicted, the results of the survey show that clinicians lack confidence in performing perinatal assessments. Therefore, we have commenced work on modifying the existing Stafford Interview. This is a structured interview that explores the obstetric and psycho-social background and psychiatric complications of pregnancy. The survey is due to be replicated in other project locations to allow transcultural comparison.

No significant relationships.

Waiting times for gender identity services, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, have been a cause of concern. Despite the waiting time standard for planned elective care in the NHS being a maximum of 18 weeks, the average waiting time for a first appointment with a gender identity clinic is 18 months. This study aims to analyse the effect that these timings have on the transgender community, and whether they impact the risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety.

This study’s main aim is to analyse the correlation between waiting times and mental health burden in the transgender community.

A literature review and analysis on a transgender individual’s mental health and waiting times for Gender Identity Clinics; looking at any key themes and conclusions. Research papers were taken from MEDLINE, The International Journal of Transgender Health, Oxford Academic, SpringerLink and Emerald Insight, with studies publishing date ranging from 2014 – 2021.

The transgender population were found to have higher rates of suicidal ideation, depression and self harm compared to the general population. Longer waiting times were found to contribute to feelings of low mood and suicidal ideation, as well as decreasing overall quality of life.

Longer waiting times can decrease a transgender individual’s quality of life and impact their overall mental wellbeing: especially with the impact of COVID-19 and the rise in referrals.

No significant relationships.

The prevalence of ABO alleles in population is different. Many studies confirmed the correlation between the occurrences of some diseases with different genotypes of ABO blood groups. Studies had shown possible differencese between patients with depressive dissorder and bipolar affective disorders according to ABO blood groups. There are contradictory results; some studies had shown significant association between blood group O and BAP, other showed relationship between unipolar depression and blood type O. Others shoedn association between involuntary depression and blood group A and negative association between blood group A and BAP.

The purpose of this study was to reassess the potential diferences between patients with depressive dissorder and bipolar affective disorders according to ABO blood groups.

A total of 97 adult female psychiatric inpatients participated in this study. 57,7% were diagnosed with depressive disorder and 42,3% were diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder. Type of ABO group were measured from the blood samples taken in the morning after 30 min rest. From whole blood, genomic DNA was isolated on QIAcube device (Qiagen, Germany) using QIAamp DNA Blood mini QIAcube kit (Qiagen, Germany). ABO genotyping on 5 basic ABO alleles was performed using allele-specific PCR.

Comparing ABO blood groups between female patients who are suffering from depressive disorders and bipolar affective disorders, we didn’t found any differences. In both examination groups, higher proportion of A blood group was significant.

The results of this study didn’t support the hypothesis of diferences in ABO blood group between depressive disorders and bipolar affective disorders.

No significant relationships.

Women with reproductive difficulties often feel stigmatized and isolated. Information concerning their specific experience can help plan psychosocial interventions.

The study aims to analyze reproductive difficulties representations in women with different coping orientations.

Participants: 48 women (aged 24-43) from support groups arranged by the “You Are Not Alone” non-profit organization for women with reproductive issues. Based on the questionnaire “Types of Orientations in Difficult Situation”, participants were divided into three groups: approach coping (N=16), avoidance coping (N=9), ambivalent coping (N=23). Content analysis was conducted based on stories about reproduction difficulties experiences.

Table 1

We identified three types of representation of reproductive difficulties in women: approaching the goal of having a child; avoidance (fear of own death/illness/insanity or not having a child); ambivalent coping (alternating approach/avoidance). Funding: The study was funded by RFBR, project number 20-013-00838.

No significant relationships.

The extent to which structural gender inequality contributes to macro-level differences in postpartum depression (PPD) remains largely unknown.

To examine the association of structural gender inequalities with national-level prevalence estimates of PPD symptoms.

Meta-analytically derived national-level estimates for the prevalence of PPD symptoms – based on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) – were combined with economic (e.g., income inequality), health (e.g., infant mortality rate), sociodemographic (e.g., urban population), and structural gender inequality variables (e.g., abortion policies) for 40 countries (276 primary studies). Data came from a prior meta-analysis on PPD prevalence and international agencies (e.g., UNICEF). Meta-regression techniques and traditional p-value based stepwise procedures, complemented with a Bayesian model averaging approach, were used for a robust selection of variables associated with national-level PPD symptom prevalence. Sensitivity analyses excluded primary studies with small sample sizes or countries lacking evidence for psychometric properties of the EPDS.

Income inequality (β = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.07) and abortion policies (β = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.00 to 0.03) were the only variables included in the final, adjusted model, accounting for 60.7% of the variance in PPD symptoms across countries. Gradual liberalizations of abortion policies were associated with a 2% decrease in national-level PPD symptom prevalence. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses.

Structural gender inequalities might be social determinants of PPD, as the liberalization of abortion policies seem to impact women’s perinatal mental health on a population level. More research on structural gender inequality is needed to guide policy and practice.

No significant relationships.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women all over the world. Its physical consequences and psychosocial distress had adverse effect on quality of life (QOL).

Evaluate the QOL among women with BC.

Descriptive cross-sectional study of BC patients, carried out during a period of 5 years. Socio-demographic and medical data was collected based on a pre-established synoptic sheet. The European Organization for Research and Treatment Quality of Life Questionnaires (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC QLQ-BR23 were used to assess the QOL.

A total of 100 patients were included. The mean age was 52 ± 8 years. The mean overall health score was 77.5 ± 25.5. The mean scores of physical and emotional functioning were 82 ± 25.1 and 90 ± 19.5 respectively. The QLQ-BR23 objectified a body image score of 63 ± 23.9, an average score for sexual functioning of 87.3 ± 22 with loss of sexual enjoyment in 75% of cases. The increase in mean overall health score and physical functioning was significantly associated with type of treatment (p = 0.01). The mean score of emotional functioning was correlated with the feeling of support (p = 0.04). The increase in the patient’s body image score was significantly associated with age (p <10-3), marital status (p = 0.01) and having had a mastectomy (p <10-3).

Our results underline the importance of psychosocial care, which must be an integral part of oncological care in women with BC, in order to improve their quality of life.

No significant relationships.

Maintaining sexuality is important to the well-being of women, particularly after menopause and benefits of sexual satisfaction in terms of emotional well-being and quality of life have been well demonstrated.

This study aims to assess the sexual health behaviors in Tunisian women during and after menopause and the awareness of Tunisian partners about the role of the quality of their sexuality regarding their physical and psychological wellbeing.

We comprehensively review the scientific literature using Pubmed database to state Tunisian literature regarding sexual behaviors and function in women during and after menopause. Interviews with twenty Tunisian women after menopause about sexual health have been conducted.

Our bibliographic research revealed a poor literature with only two papers responding to our inquiry but among a specific female population investigated after experiencing breast cancer “Female sexuality in premenopausal patients with breast cancer on endocrine therapy and sexuality after breast cancer: cultural specificities of Tunisian population”. Interrogated women reported a poor sexual satisfaction as well as sexual difficulties in the partner or with him. In fact, there is an important wrong understanding of the female anatomy and physiology by both partners, for the female sexual satisfaction. There is also many wrong cultural ideas about menopause and sexuality.

Currently, sexuality in Tunisian women during and after menopause is influenced by ageing, by previous sexual function and experiences, the male domination in partner’s sexual practices and the sexual functioning in the partner. In general, there is an unfavorable body image and disturbed sexual health.

No significant relationships.

Preschool Behavioural Inhibition (BI) was found to be a temperamental risk factor of anxiety disorders in later life; especially in women. Similarly, previous research revealed that parental behaviour plays a major role in the development and maintenance of anxiety disorders. Gender differences in parental responses to child’s temperament may contribute to the stronger association between BI and anxiety disorders in females.

We aimed to examine the moderating effect of child’s gender in the association between child’s BI and parenting behaviour in a non-clinical sample of parents of preschool children.

A cross-sectional sample of parents (N=94) of preschool children (girls 47.4%) filled out the Behavioural Inhibition Questionnaire (BIQ) and the Multidimensional Assessment of Parenting Scale (MAPS).

Child’s gender was found to moderate the relationships between BIQ scores and MAPS Supportive Parenting (F(3,90)=4.350, p=.007, R2=.127), as well as Hostile Parenting (F(3,89)=3.478, p=.019, R2=.105). In boys, higher BIQ scores were associated with higher levels of Supporting Parenting (b=.005, p=.027), while in girls this association was reversed (b=-.004, p=.037). Furthermore, in boys, no association was found between BIQ scores and Hostile Parenting (b=.005, p=.835); however, higher BIQ scores were related to higher levels of Hostile Parenting in girls (b=.067, p<.001).

Our results suggest that parental responses to their preschool child’s Behavioural Inhibition may vary as a function of child’s gender. This may lead to gender differences in developmental pathways to anxiety disorders.

No significant relationships.

Today the maternal death of black women is four times than the maternal death of white women. A lot has been written about the physical health of black women during pregnancy and childbirth however the perinatal mental health of this group of women is less well researched. I wanted to investigate if black and ethnic minority women in the UK had the same access to perinatal mental health services.

To explore how the access to perinatal mental health services vary between white British and non-white British women.

A literature review was conducted. Papers were selected based on their focus on perinatal mental health service access and differences in access based on ethnicities. Most research focused on the perinatal mental health service access of white British and non-white British groups of women.

The literature review revealed that black African, Asian and minority white women had significantly lower access to community perinatal mental health services when compared to white British women. It was also found that that black African, Asian and minority White women had a higher percentage of involuntary admissions to psychiatric hospitals when compared to white British women.

The literature would suggest that there is less access to perinatal mental health for non-white British women. This suggested that the disparities that exist within perinatal physical health extend into perinatal maternal health.

No significant relationships.

Health Psychology is a scientific branch that studies interpersonal relationships in the field of emotions and behavior in clinical settings. Violence against women is a gender-based action that alarmingly affects the population, with sexual violence (SV) being one of its main phenomena. The complexity of the care offered to SV patients by clinical professionals impacts themselves, affecting their personal lives and the quality of their work.

To explore symbolic emotional meanings attributed by health professionals to care and follow-up of women victims of SV in state service of reference of the Unified Health System.

Clinical-Qualitative design was used to guide semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in-depth. Clinical-Qualitative Content Analysis was employed to treat data. Five participants make up the multi-professional team at the Hospital of the Woman of the State University of Campinas. Theoretical framework chosen to interpret categories was Balintian Medical Psychology.

Three categories were selected for this presentation: The human anguishes as the main challenge and handling of working with sexual violence; “To see things progressing”: to the patient and together with the team, a facilitator of the work; and “I try to leave it on the three’s leaves”: the difficult attempt to separate work from personal life.

Taking care of SV is a very emotionally demanding task. Working with the team and see expected outcomes help clinical professionals deal with negative feelings, avoiding, for example, compensatory traumas. New research about social-cultural impacts of working with SV is important to develop institutional approaches of coping for health teams.

No significant relationships.

Pregnancy and the postpartum are generally characterized by positive feelings and expectations but they may also disguise maternal stress and difficulties. These are typical periods for the onset or relapse of psychiatric symptoms and disorders. Even though suicide during pregnancy and postpartum is rare, it is among the leading causes of maternal perinatal mortality.

To provide an overview on the risk of suicide during pregnancy and postpartum.

PubMed database was searched using combinations of the terms “suicide”, combined with “pregnancy” and “depression”.

The major risk factors for suicidal ideation are previous suicide attempts, self-harm, current or past history of psychiatric disorder, young maternal age, being unmarried, an unplanned pregnancy, substance use disorders, lack effective psychosocial support and discontinuation of psychotropic drugs. Pregnant women with suicidality behavior have also an increased risk for various adverse obstetric outcomes, including miscarriage, preterm delivery, maternal hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Furthermore, the postpartum period is often associated with the onset of mood and psychotic disorders with an increased risk of both suicide and infanticide. Women who have suffered from serious psychiatric conditions either after childbirth or in other phases of life should be informed about the possibility of relapse after subsequent pregnancies, thus presenting a higher risk of suicide.

During pregnancy and postpartum, it is fundamental to investigate suicide risk, including suicidal ideation, thoughts, and intent, especially (but not only) in women affected by mental pathology. Moreover, maternal suicide behaviour affects the child’s neuropsychological development and can also increase the infant´s suicide risk.

No significant relationships.