Somatic symptoms with the heterogeneous character that are not fully explained by a medical condition are common in bipolar disorder (BD) which might interfere with the choice of treatment, health care utilization, medical costs as well as functionality.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate somatic symptoms in remitted type 1 BD and to examine the association of somatization, functionality, and childhood trauma which is a known mediator of adult somatization.

After excluding patients with medical comorbidities, 61 patients diagnosed with BD type-1 according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V) participated in the study. We required at least 8 weeks of remission and confirm it with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). Somatization Scale, Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered to the participants.

Somatization scores were significantly correlated with CTQ (r=.310, p=.016), FAST- total (r=.307, p=.016), FAST-financial issues (r=.357, p=.005) and FAST-interpersonal relationships (r=.320, p=.012) subscale scores while inversely correlated with years in education (r=-,305, p=.017). When a partial correlation was run to determine the relationship between somatization and functioning whilst controlling for childhood trauma, there was no statistically significant correlation between somatization and functioning (p=.076).

Our study suggests childhood trauma may have a major influence on the relation between somatization and functionality in patients with type- 1 BD. When addressing physical symptoms in patients with type-1 BD, an integrated approach including childhood trauma should be considered.

No significant relationships.

Patients with bipolar disorder may adjust their behaviors and choose a coping strategy to face self-stigma and avoid unpleasant social and professional adversities. These coping orientations are either defensive, or active behavioral strategies.

The aim of this study was to assess self-stigma in remitted patients with bipolar disorder and to investigate coping strategies to struggle the internalized stigma.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of 61 patients with bipolar disorder. Euthymia was verified using the Hamilton scale for depression and the Young scale for mania. We used the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) to evaluate self-stigma, the Stigma coping orientation Scale (SCOS) to assess coping strategies.

The mean age of patients was 43.4 years. The sex ratio was 2.4. The mean score on the ISMI was 2.36. More than half of our patients (59%) were self-stigmatized. Secrecy (57%) and withdrawal (56%) were the most adopted coping strategies. The mean self-stigma score was significantly associated with higher scores on defensive coping strategies such as secrecy (p<10-3) and withdrawal (p<10-3). However, scores on challenging (p<10-3), education (p<10-3) and distancing (p=0.014) strategies were inversely correlated with self-stigma scores. The logistic regression analyses revealed a significant association between defensive coping strategies (secrecy and withdrawal) and internalized stigma.

The relationship between defensive coping strategies and self-stigma appears to be bidirectional. Enhancing coping strategies oriented to education, challenging and engaging patients in social interaction and reducing the use of deleterious coping strategies focusing on secrecy and withdrawal may lead to restrict self-stigma.

No significant relationships.

Self-stigmatization in patients with bipolar disorder could lead to shame, self-judgement, impaired quality of life, and could negatively affect self-esteem imeding recovery.

The aim of this study was to assess self-stigma in remitted patients with bipolar disorder and to evaluate its impact on self-esteem.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of 61 patients with bipolar disorder. Euthymia was verified using the Hamilton scale for depression and the Young scale for mania. We used the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) to evaluate self-stigma, and the Rosenberg scale to assess self-esteem.

The mean age of patients was 43.4 years. The sex ratio was 2.4. The mean score on the ISMI was 2.36. More than half of our patients (59%) were self-stigmatized. With regard to self-esteem, the mean score obtained on the Rosenberg scale was 27.72. Low or very low self-esteem was found in 54% of patients. The most self-stigmatized patients had significantly lower self-esteem (p<10-3).

Internalized stigmatization negatively affects self-esteem of patients with bipolar disorder. Psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy would improve self-esteem and enhance psychosocial treatment adherence and move people with bipolar disorder toward a culture of recovery based on hope and self-determination.

No significant relationships.

Working memory (WM) deficit in bipolar disorder (BD) is heterogeneous and seems to be affected by both, demographic and clinical aspects, of the patient.

To assess the WM performance in euthymic bipolar patients (BP) comparing to healthy controls (HC) and to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with it.

A case-control study was conducted among euthymic bipolar patients according to DSM-5. The recruitment of patients was performed in the outpatient psychiatric unit in the university hospital Hedi Chaker in Sfax during the period from January to December 2020. The HC were matched to BP on gender, age and education level. The Screening for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry scale (SCIP) was used to assess the WM performance by the WM test (WMT).

We recruited 61 BP (37 males and 24 females) and 40 HC (20 males and 20 females). The average age of BP was 41.75 years (SD=11.6 years). The BD group included 47 BD type I and 14 BD type II patients. The mean duration of illness was 9.75 years (SD=7.93 years). Thirty-seven BP (60.7%) had a history of psychotic symptoms. The WMT score was significantly lower among BP than HC (p<0,001). The female gender, the type II of BD and the history of psychotic symptoms correlated with a poorer performance on WMT (p=0.019; 0.017 and 0.002, respectively).

BP have shown significant impaired performance in WM even during euthymia. Female gender of patient, type II of BD and psychotic symptoms seem to be the predictors of this impairment.

No significant relationships.

Schizophrenia (SCH) and bipolar affective disorder (BP) are complex disorders that overlapping both in their clinical symptoms and certain familiar characteristics. They share some common characteristcs but there are also key differences. The frequency of overlapping symptoms between these diseases could give us more information about the current validity of the diagnosis based on existing diagnostic criteria. Similarities within and between these two disorders in the future, can possibly redefine greater reliability of diagnosis.

The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of overlapping symptoms between BP and SCH.

The sample included 159 patients diagnosed with SCH and 61 with BP who were followed over a two year period. The research was conducted at the UCCS Psychiatric Clinic. Assessment of clinical symptoms and diagnosis were performed using a structured clinical interview (SCID I), a list of operationalized criteria (OPSCRIT), a scale for the assessment of positive and negative symptoms (PANSS), a scale for the assessment of manic symptoms (YMRS).

The overall PANSS score was significantly higher in patients with SCH compared to patients with BP, but on the general psychopatology there are no significant differences betwen SCH and BP. Symptoms of mania are significantly more pronounced in patients with BP compared to those with SCH.

Our results of overlapping of individual symptoms between SCH and BP can speak infavor of the theory of disease continuum. And can also help us in understanding symptoms and guide us to develop optimal treatment strategies.

No significant relationships.

As a part of continuous destigmatization of mental illness and paople with mental disorders significant importance has media reporting, especially in modern times.

Media reports about mental health (MH) are still an issue of a great discussion concerning their content especially in ethical matters. Many initiatives in different countries resulted in various changes in attitudes and influenced on this topic. But the image of mental illness as well as psychiatry in general are still burdened with the shadow of stigma.

To show development of one of initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) supported by policy makers through the creation and broad distribution of recommendations for ethical media reporting about mental disorders.

In 2019 Task Force appointed by both entities’ ministries of health in BH developed an publication with recommendation for ethical reporting about mental health topics with special highlights on specific mental disorders (schizophrenia, depression, suicide, addictions, etc.). It was widely distributed to media and health institutions in the country and was officially adopted as the recommendation of the national Regulatory Agency for Media. Trough five rounds of educational workshops in 2019 and 2021 more than 150 media and mental health professionals were introduced with the publication as well as practical implementation of this recommendations (as is exercises of giving statement).

In BH is developed very useful tool for more quality media reporting about MH topics as one of important ways for reducing the stigma and discrimination of people with mental disorders as well as promotion of good mental health

No significant relationships.

INTRODUCTION: According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to start a family. Under the Slovenian Infertility Treatment Act, everyone has the right to infertility treatment. A case of a patient in compulsory psychiatric treatment who participated in the process of IVF is presented.

CASE REPORT: A 40-year-old male with paranoid schizophrenia has already been hospitalized thirteen times. He often discontinued therapy, abused drugs and repeatedly exhibited violent behaviour. He already had a child from a past relationship he didn’t care of.

During the compulsory psychiatric treatment ordered by the court his mental status improved because his treatment with antipsychotics was supervised. He was in a relationship with a thirty-year-old partner. After unsuccessful attempts to become pregnant, they expressed a desire to conceive with biomedical assistance. Their application was considered and approved by the IVF Commission.

The procedure was successful but in the 13th week of pregnancy, the patient’s partner changed her mind due to his aggression. Because she was pregnant for more than 10 weeks, she had to submit a request for artificial termination to the Commission for abortion. Her request was granted and the pregnancy was terminated.

CONCLUSION: We live in time of endless possibilities. Despite of violent acts in the past and severe form of mental illness, the couple was granted IVF procedure. Everyone has the right to start a family; however, the question that has to be raised is the extent and reasonableness of involvement of medical profession and/or health care system.

No significant relationships.

The therapeutic alliance is critical to the efficacy of psychiatric treatment and can be weakened by involuntary treatment measures. In Western culture, mental illness is still associated with violence and if significant risk of violence is detected, in Spain a civil court can order the application of involuntary treatments such as Involuntary Outpatient Commitment.

To discuss the effectiveness of some psychiatric involuntary treatments used in Spain.

- Literature review about involuntary psychiatric treatments used in Spain - Case report about a patient undergoing Involuntary Outpatient Commitment

We present the case of a 54-year-old man, diagnosed with schizophrenia, admitted to our acute psychiatric yard more than five times due to violent behavior and psychotic symptoms. Five years ago, he was summitted to a period of three years of Involuntary Outpatient Commitment. In Spain this measure can include the administration of involuntary medication, an injectable antipsychotic treatment in this case. At the end of the order, he immediately stops attending consultations and abandoned psychopharmacological treatment.

Involuntary Outpatient Commitment is a controversial measure and it stirs up the concepts of stigma, coercion, care, patient autonomy and, globally, the values of humanization in psychiatry.

No significant relationships.

Exposure to severe childhood trauma has been associated with the onset and the severity of bipolar disorder in adults.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood trauma and functioning of patients suffering from bipolar disorder.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study, including sixty-one remitted patients with BD. We used the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF) to measure history of traumatic childhood experiences and the Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) to assess functioning.

The mean age of patients was 43.4. The sex ratio was 2.4. Almost two-thirds of patients (64%) had experienced at least one type of childhood trauma. An overall functional impairment was found in 70.5% of participants. The CTQ total score was significantly associated with low educational level (p=0.001), low socio-economic status (P=0.034), a family history of psychosis (P=0.022), the number of mood episodes (P=0.001), the number of hospitalizations (P=0.04), the number of relapses with psychotic features (p=0.002) and that of depressive relapses (P<0.001), rapid cycling (P=0.012), higher rates of suicide attempts (P=0.04) and poor functioning (P<0.001).The logistic regression analyses showed a significant association of childhood trauma with low educational level (p=0.001), high number of depressive episodes (p=0.013) and poor functioning (p<0.001).

Our findings demonstrate that childhood abuse and neglect are risk factors associated with worsening clinical course of bipolar disorder and higher functional impairment. These findings press the urgency for preventive practices and early intervention strategies to diminish the prevalence of childhood trauma and minimize their impact.

No significant relationships.

Reflection on the impact of this law on people with a Mental health disorder is required. It is a complex issue, in which it must be considered that these disorders are very prevalent, can greatly affect the quality of life and are often resistant to treatment.

Explore the first request of this type and review aspects to consider in patients with mental health disorders.

Collection of data from the first patient who requests it and review related aspects.

This is a patient with a personality disorder who presents significant suffering, in a chronic context, but at the same time makes the request in a moment of crisis as an impulsive gesture.

Pending evolution, we consider that it is difficult to assess compliance with the requirements of the law in patients of this type and we recommend caution.

No significant relationships.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is one of the most urgent problems of psychiatry because of their high prevalence, diagnostic difficulties as well as insufficient knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms.

To determine the number of inflammation markers in patients with various forms of ASD in links with features of a clinical condition for creating diagnostic criteria for differential diagnosis and improve reliability.

The clinical examination of patients (135 children with various ASD forms) was carried out by using psychometric scales (CARS, BFCRS, CGI-S). The activity of inflammation markers (LE and α1-PI) and the level of autoantibodies to S-100b and MBP were measured in plasma. Complex evaluation of immune system activation was also conducted, taking into consideration interactions of innate and adaptive immunity.

Non-psychotic ASD forms (Asperger’s syndrome and Kanner’s syndrome) were not accompanied by a change of the immunological indices in comparison with control. In psychotic ASD forms, a significant increase of the studied indices was revealed (р<0.05). Correlation between the complex evaluation of the immune system activation and the stage of the disease (r=0.49, р<0.05) was demonstrated. Also the significant correlations between the severity of autistic disorders according to CARS (r=0.48, p<0.05), catatonic disorders by BFCRS (r=0.42, p<0.05), and the assessment by CGI (r= 0.61, p<0.05) were observed.

The immune markers as well as their complex evaluation may be used as additional diagnostic criteria in the clinical examination for differential ASD diagnostics and assessment of the quality of remission, and also monitoring of the patient condition.

No significant relationships.

The creation of mathematical models for determining the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment based on immune markers of blood is important for differential diagnosis of AD, assessment of the clinical state of patients at different stages of the disease, and optimization of therapy.

To assess the risk of AD in patients with amnestic type of mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) with the use of such markers of inflammation as enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and the functional activity of α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI).

The object of mathematical analysis on the basis of cluster analysis and logistic regression was the database, including the results of the above immunological parameters (enzyme activity of LE and functional activity of α1-PI.) in plasma of 78 patients with aMCI receiving outpatient treatment in the clinic of FSBSI “Mental Health Research Centre”. Among the examined patients there were 25 men and 53 women aged 44 to 89 years (69.1 ± 9.95).

Clustering by k-means and classification by logistic regression indicate the risk of developing AD in patients with aMCI depending on the activity of LE and α1-PI in blood plasma. The total coincidence of objects included in the clusters and in the AD risk group was 94%.

The high coincidence of the two different methods of grouping confirms the previously stated position on the possibility of identifying patients with a high risk of AD among patients with aMCI in the activity of LE and α1-PI in the blood of patients.

No significant relationships.

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are severe mental illnesses that are known to have a considerable overlap in underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. More specifically, disturbances in the kynurenine pathway have been hypothesized as processes bridging altered immune responses and clinical manifestations of these illnesses.

The aim of this study was to investigate the abnormalities in serum kynurenine metabolites in schizophrenic and bipolar patients and the impact of clinical factors.

Four patient groups were included in the current study: 1) Acute bipolar inpatients (n=205); 2) stable bipolar outpatients (n=116); 3) acute schizophrenia inpatients (n=111) and 4) stable schizophrenia outpatients (n=75); and one healthy control group (n=185). Clinical symptoms were established using symptom severity scales. The quantitative determination of serum kynurenine metabolites was performed using LC-MS/MS. General linear model and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to perform the statistical analysis with JMP Pro 15.

In line with previous research, the results indicate that serum kynurenine metabolites are disturbed in schizophrenic and bipolar patients compared to healthy controls. Whereas no differences were observed between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, illness state and duration of illness clearly impacted kynurenine metabolite levels. Acutely ill patients had significantly lower levels compared to stable patients, which seemed to be driven by psychotic symptoms.

To conclude, the results confirm the involvement of the kynurenine pathway in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by lowered peripheral kynurenine metabolite level. In addition, an important role of acute psychotic symptoms and longer illness duration on these metabolite aberrances is demonstrated.

No significant relationships.

Deficits in social cognition have been associated with the onset of emotional and behavioural problems, but the biological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear.

This study examined whether diurnal cortisol patterns, systemic inflammation, or both, explained the association between social cognition difficulties and subsequent emotional and behavioural symptoms.

The sample consisted of 714 individuals from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) with valid data on cortisol measures (age 15 years) and emotional or behavioural problems (age 17 years). Social cognition abilities were measured at 8, 11, and 14 years old. Inflammation was measured using serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6, age 9 years) and C-reactive protein (CRP, age 9 and 16 years). Bayesian structural equation modelling was used to investigate the mediating effect of cortisol or inflammation on the association between social cognitive difficulties and emotional or behavioural problems.

Children with social cognition difficulties were associated with later emotional and behavioural problems. Flattened diurnal cortisol slope was associated with the hyperactivity/inattention problem two years later. Mediation analyses revealed that lower morning cortisol significantly mediated the associations between social communication difficulties at 8 years with hyperactivity/inattention and conduct problems in adolescence, with the adjustment of inflammation and all covariates. Systemic inflammation was not related to social cognitive difficulties or future emotional and behavioural problems.

The finding suggests that social cognition is related to cortisol activities longitudinally. It also expands the evidence that adolescents with behavioural problems are characterised by hypoactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

No significant relationships.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune limbic encephalitis, where psychiatric symptoms are often the initial presentation dominant initially. These patients are mainly admitted to psychiatric wards, due to first episode psychosis (FEP).

Multiple studies analysed whether anti-NMDAR antibodies were present in the sera of schizophrenic patients, but results have not verified this hypothesis. It is possible, however, that unknown autoimmune antibodies play a role in FEP, similarly to anti-NMDAR antibodies.

40 patients with FEP and 30 healthy controls have been recruited to the study. Patients with affective psychosis, drug-related psychosis and patients with diagnosed encephalitis were excluded. The sera were tested with immune fluorescent assays for anti-NMDAR antibodies. A non-specific method was used to test anti-brain antibody activity on monkey-cerebellum and rat-hippocampus slices.

Neither the samples from the 40 patients, nor the samples of healthy controls contained anti-NMDAR antibodies. 14 of the patients’ and only 6 of the healthy controls’ serum showed positive reaction of the neuroendothelium. These results suggest that there is a difference between the groups, although the results are not significant.

None of the 40 patients proved positive for anti-NMDAR antibodies in agreement with previous studies. However, a higher proportion of samples from the FEP group showed activity in the neuroendothelium of non-specific immune fluorescent assays compared to healthy controls. Based on literature and on our experience, it is possible, that unknown autoimmune antibodies play role in FEP.

No significant relationships.

In schizophrenia, abnormal synaptic pruning during adolescence may be due to an altered Complement system activity. While this hypothesis is supported by C4 overexpression in various brain regions of individuals with schizophrenia, such alterations should be replicated and extended to other brain regions relevant to schizophrenia. Moreover, transcriptional studies of genes coding for proteins regulating the Complement system activity are lacking. Furthermore, it remains unknown whether cerebral and peripheral expression of C4 and Complement control proteins (CCP) are related.

To identify altered expression of C4 and CCP (CSMD1, CSMD2, CD46) coding genes at the cerebral and peripheral levels in schizophrenic individuals.

We explored C4 and CCP coding genes expression at the cerebral and peripheral levels. Using shinyGEO application we analyzed gene expression from eight Gene Expression Omnibus datasets obtained from 196 schizophrenic individuals and 182 control subjects. First, we compared gene expression between schizophrenic patients and controls in postmortem cerebral samples from 7 different brain regions. Then, we compared gene expression between schizophrenic patients and controls in 4 peripheral tissues.

We observed C4 overexpression in the DLPFC, parietal, temporal cortex and associative striatum of schizophrenic individuals. We report altered transcriptional patterns of CCP genes in the DLPFC, hippocampus and cerebellum of schizophrenic individuals. CD46 expression was altered in opposite directions between brain and blood of schizophrenic individuals. No significant alteration of C4 expression was observed in peripheral tissues.

Our results support the hypothesis of an altered Complement system activity in various brain regions of schizophrenic individuals which may disrupt the synaptic pruning process during adolescence.

No significant relationships.

Research in recent decades focuses on understanding the role of the immune system in First-Episode Psychosis (FEP) at a young age. Our studies indicate that different stages of schizophrenia differ in the spectrum of inflammation markers. These indicators reflect the activity of the pathological process, using them as markers of the clinical state of patients at different stages of the disease.

To assess the relationship of immune markers with the clinical features of remission in patients after FEP.

Fifty patients aged 15-25 years with post-psychotic depression (PD) after FEP (F20, F25) and 30 healthy men were included in the study. The follow-up period was two years. PD typological variants with positive affectivity (PA) (n=30) and negative affectivity (NA) (n=20) were distinguished. Leukocyte elastase (LE), a1-proteinase inhibitor (a1-PI) activity, and S-100B autoantibodies in plasma samples were measured.

The increase of LE and a1-PI activity in plasma of both types of PD patients compared to controls was detected (p<0.01). There was the highest LE activity and S-100B autoantibodies in PD with NA (p<0.05). The different dynamics of immune markers in both groups were correlated to the clinical features of remission. PD with PA was associated with a decrease in inflammatory markers (p<0.05) and a favorable prognosis. PD patients with NA had a further increase in LE activity and S-100B autoantibodies (p<0.01), and an unfavorable prognosis.

The results confirm using the immune indicators as markers to assess the quality of remission after FEP in young adult age and the risk of recurrent psychotic attacks.

No significant relationships.

The mild encephalitis hypothesis(ME) ( Bechter 2001, NPBR; updated Bechter 2013,Progr NP&BP) proposed that mild neuroinflammation triggered by infections, autoimmunity, trauma or toxicity (including from stress) might causally underly a spectrum of severe mental disorders (SMDs), especially disorders of the schizophrenic and affective spectrum.

The development from ME hypothesis to the new diagnoses of Autoimmune Psychosis (AP) and a subgroup of Autoimmune Encephalitis (AE) and beyond into future research is reviewed and discussed.

Expert review

The subgroup of AE with exclusive or predominant psychiatric symptoms ( compare Graus et al 2016) and all cases of AP ( Pollak et al,Lancet Psychiatry 2020) match the previous poposed ME criteria. AE and AP can now successfully be treated in majority of cases by immune modulatory treatments. These new insights challenge both, the implementation of diagnosis and treatment into clinical reality and forthcoming research on the causality underlying severe mental disorders (SMDs). CSF studies showed in 50-70% of therapy resistant cases of affective and schizophrenic spectrum disorders some abnormalities compatible with mild neuroinflammation ( Bechter et al 2010, J Psych Res), recently confirmed in large patient samples from various university hospitals in Germany ( Endres et al 2018 aso., Rattay et al 2021, aso.).Also post mortem findings are compatible with ME hypothesis in a larger subgroup of SMDs. Open questions of new clinical categorization by refined grading of mild neuroinfalmmation by improved diagnostic methods appear increasingly required, which will be discussed ( Bechter Frontiers Psychiatry 2020).

Mild neuroinflammation appears causally involved in SMD

No significant relationships.

Methamphetamine associated psychosis has increased globally because of the increased usage of the substance. The use of risperidone is noted to reduce the cravings of methamphetamine in patients who have methamphetamine use disorder. This becomes relevant because the number of patients who are being treated with MAP tends to have high relapse rates. MAP is being treated with different antipsychotics and the treatment protocol is made usually for alleviating the symptoms, a formal treatment regimen for patients with MAP is yet to be developed (Chiang et al 2018; Srisurapanont 2021; Edwards and Mooney 2014)

The purpose of this review is to highlight the use of risperidone in reducing the cravings of methamphetamine in patients who have methamphetamine use disorder

PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science literature databases were screened and filtered.With established Inclusion and exclusion criteria, obtained a total of 15578 hits which was refined to 133articles. A total of 10papers were reviewed in detail

Multiple clinical trials have shown that risperidone was effective in lowering drug cravings in methamphetamine use disorder. Along with the effects on craving, risperidone has also been studied for its effect on positive symptoms in patients with MAP (Samei 2016). Risperidone was noted to be effective in reducing positive symptoms.

Risperidone can be effectively used in the acute setting for psychosis and future cravings in the patients. Considering the limited clinical trials and research on risperidone and the cravings of methamphetamine use disorder, studies are needed with longer follow-ups and more samples in the future.

No significant relationships.

With the advancement of technology over the last years, gaming is no longer reserved to adolescents. It has become a growing phenomenon within young adults which should,’t be overlooked as it is accompanied with the risk of addiction.

To study the factors involved in video games addiction behaviors in adults

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on social networks. We solicited adults between 18–40 years. We used the gaming addiction scale (GAS) in its validated Arabic short version.

A hundred and nine participants were included. The mean age was 29.6 ±10.3 with a sex ratio of 1.5.The mean age of the beginning of regular gaming was 16.3± 8.64. we found that40.4% of our participants preferred the mode Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG) while others played casual single player games. A play time of over 20 hours per week was reported by 11.9%of participants. According to the GAS, 25.7%were addicted gamers. Our participants spent an average of 7.94±6.71 hours before they play their first game of the day. We found that the score of Gas was significantly correlated to the male gender of the participants (p<0.000), a higher number of weekly gaming hours (p<0.000),a lower number of hours before gaming (P<0.000) and the mode of games (p<0.000).

Our study showed that contextual factors play an important role in understanding gaming addiction in young adults as a holistic phenomenon,embedding the problematic behavior within the context of the individual the game and gaming practices.

No significant relationships.