The inflammatory response system is important in the pathophysiology of depressive symptoms that are frequent side effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment. The functional rs1800795 IL-6 promoter SNP [-174 IL-6 (G > C)] has been described, with ‘CC’ genotype associated with lower synthesis of IL-6.

The present study was carried out to determine whether rs1800795 IL-6 polymorphism is associated with severity of depression developed during IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment.

We included 54 Caucasian patients receiving pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the prospective cohort study. Symptoms of depression (Montgomery - Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, MADRS, Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised, EPQ-R/N) were assessed before treatment, just after treatment and 24 weeks after treatment.

The mean MADRS ratings were higher in subjects with genotype ‘CC’ (p> 0.1). On the other hand, the BDI and EPQR/ N ratings were higher, and more stable in patients with ‘GG’ genotype (p> 0.1). Higher changes and the lowest values 24 weeks after the end of treatment were associated with ‘CC’ genotype (p< 0.05). The mean values were as follows (begin, end of treatment, 24 weeks after treatment): MADRS ‘CC’ (8.7, 11.3, 4.8), ‘GG’ (6.9, 11.1, 6.0); BDI ‘CC’ (6.9, 8.9, 3.2), ‘GG’ (8.4, 11.3, 6.2); EPQ-R/N ‘CC’ (8.3, 10.1, 7.3), ‘GG’ (10.4, 10.9, 9.2).

Genotype ‘CC’ of IL-6 rs1800795 polymorphism is associated with bigger differences in BDI and EPQ-R/N ratings during IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment, and lower ratings after treatment.

Victimization is the behaviour of the victim in sexual violence that can be violent and non-violent. The aim of the study is to analyse anxiety in victimization in relation to mental disorders, stress and transition weaknesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) in the period 2001 -2010.

Experimental group consists of n= 75 females on psychiatric treatment. They are victims after the rape: non-violent victimization is committed by: persons with mental disorders, victimization by abuse of power and unclear victimization. N= 75 persons make the control group of females with violent victimization. The design of the study is longitudinal, multicentric study with these tests: GDL, EPQ, HAMD, and PIE. Intercorrelation was done statistically, as well as univariable and canonical discriminative analysis.

Violators are male (c2 = 29.970) significance P< 0.001), with broken family (c2 = 0.830), migration (c2 = 0.064), and heredity (c2 = 0.406) NS. Act over mental patient: 16.08% (2002) to 22.61% (2007), act of abuse of power: 2.12% (2001) to 3.55% (2008), and unclear rape acts: 0.88% (2004) to 1.74% (2007) and they are followed by fear in smaller extent. Violent victimization is shown by persons with the fear HAMD15: t-test= 11.01, HAMD19: t-test=13.91, and HAMD21: t-test=14.66.

Anxiety emerges in both non-violent and violent victimization with which it is more expressed. In non-violent victimization anxiety can result in mental disorders in adult period.

Experimental studies support a neurotrophic hypothesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Val66Met brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism on the white matter fibre tracts connecting hippocampus and amygdala with the prefrontal lobe in a sample of patients with MDD and healthy controls.

Thirty seven patients with MDD and 42 healthy volunteers were recruited. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 61 diffusion directions were obtained with MRI 3 Tesla scanner. Deterministic tractography was applied with ExploreDTI and Val66Met BDNF SNP (rs6265) was genotyped. Fibre tracts connecting the hippocampus and amygdala with the prefrontal lobe, namely uncinate fasciculus, fornix and cingulum were analysed.

A significant interaction was found in the uncinate fasciculus (UF) between BDNF alleles and diagnosis. Patients carrying the BDNF met-allele had smaller fractional anisotropy (FA) in the UF compared to those patients homozygous for valallele and compared to healthy subjects carrying the met-allele. A significant 3-way interaction was detected between region of the cingulum (dorsal, rostral and parahippocampal regions), brain hemisphere and BDNF genotype. Larger FA was detectable in the left rostral cingulum for met-allele carriers when compared to val/val alelle carriers.

We provide evidence for the importance of the neurotrophic involvement in limbic and prefrontal connections. The met-allele of the BDNF polymorphism seems to render subjects more vulnerable for dysfunctions associated with the UF, a tract known to be related to negative emotional-cognitive processing bias, declarative memory problems, and autonoetic self awareness.

From last March 2011 until now we have implemented in our Acute Mental Health Unit the Law 42/30-12-2010. This law regulates the existence of free-smoke places.

We have collected the data of the smokers patients that began the process of detoxification. We evaluated their level of dependence (Fargestrom's test), their motivation to smoke and the abstinence syndrome intensity. At three months of their hospital discharge we measured the abstinence from smoking in these patients.

A total of 31 patients were assessed, 22 out of them were treated with patches of nicotine (14 men, 8 women) age range 18 -57 years; 9 out of 31 smokers patients did not use substitutive treatment (6 men, 3 women) age range 22 - 48 years.

At three months, only 2 patients kept the tobacco abstinence (6.4%) and another patient more had reduced the consumption approximately to the half. Six month later only one of them kept abstinent.

We understand the necessary promotion and the prevention of the physical health in our patients, avoiding the consumption of toxic substances as far as possible. It is crucial to improve the efficacy of the interventions aimed at to quit tobacco consumption.

However, the abandon of an addiction should have a fundamentally voluntary character. The addictions in our patients are chronic and recurrent, and they should be approached from a longitudinal perspective including in its treatment plan.

Patients suffering from psychic disorders are characterized with postponed health-seeking. The aim of this study was to find out factors affecting the activity of health care seeking behavior (HCSB).

44 inpatients took part the study. Most of them were male (81%). Mean age was 39,0±12,3. Among patients 32% suffered from affective disorders, 68% - from neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders. Patients were divided into 2 groups with active - aHCSB (n= 32) and passive - pHCSB (n= 12).

Semi-structured were used to find out the anamnestic information. Coping-strategies (Lazarus) test, personality test and attitude towards disease test were used.

In aHCSB group the rate of married patients or patients having non-official relations was higher than in pHCSB group. Contact with psychiatrist prior to current episode of disease predicted aHCSB. Anxiety towards symptoms of disease resulted aHCSB. In aHCSB group neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders were more common and affective disorders, apathy and asthenia were less common than in pHCSB group. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety was higher in aHCSB, while presence of agoraphobia resulted pHCSB. Higher degree of coping strategies (seeking of social support and planning of problem-solving) was present in aHCSB compared with pHCSB group. Patients from aHCSB group had higher exalted personality traits. Sensitive type of attitude towards disease was more common in pHCSB than aHCSB group.

Health care seeking behavior is affected with complex of factors. Knowledge of these factors can be used in prevention of passive health care seeking behavior.

There is scant data about mental disorders among nursing students from Nepal though it is reported high in other parts.

To measure prevalence of psychiatric problems and to determine common stressors among nursing students

This institute based prevalence study included all certificate and bachelor level nursing students of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal during 2011/12. After informed written consent, ‘semi-structured proforma’, ‘General Health Questionnaire 28’ and ‘Gurmeet Singh's Presumptive stressful life events scale’ were distributed to record sociodemographic/ clinical profiles and other relevant information; to screen psychiatric disorder and to study the stressors respectively. The ‘General Health Questionnaire 28’ gives ‘psychiatric caseness’ to subjects with score 4 or more.

Out of total 200 nursing students, 185 could be enrolled during study period. All subjects were female. They were studying in certificate and in BSc. nursing programs in different academic years. Majority were unmarried, less than 25 years of age, were from urban settings and from nuclear family. Among the enrolled subjects, ‘psychiatric caseness’ was present in 88 (47.57%) subjects, with cut off score of 4. The most common stressful events reported from the ‘Gurmeet Singh's Presumptive stressful life events scale’ were related to exam, study and accommodation to institute life, and average total score of the presumptive stress was 164.8 (minimum 0, maximum 706) in last year.

Many nursing students suffer from psychological problems and experience the stress, common stressor being related with nursing education.

To estimate the neuroticism and its relations towards psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) adolescents after the war 1992-1995.

The sample of 217 pupils (108 females and 109 males) aged 15.1±2.1 years divided in three groups from: Srebrenica (n= 69), Zvornik (n= 79), and Bijeljina (n= 69), who were exposed to the war catastrophes in the 1992-1995 war and became refugees and internally displaced persons during and after the war, were assessed on war traumatic events, PTSD presence, neuroticism, and its’ associations. Data collection took place in June 1999 in the adolescents’ schools, with the ethical aproval.

Srebrenica pupils were significantly more introverted. The prevalence of PTSD statistically significantly differed between groups: Srebrenica (73.9%), Zvornik (60.8%) and Bijeljina (47.6%)(Chi-square=9.854, df=2, p= 0.007). The PTSD prevalence, PTSD symptoms’ and social dysfunction were the most severe in Srebrenica, than in Zvornik and finally in Bijeljina group. In Srebrenica group neuroticism significantly associated with PTSD cluster symptoms and problems in social functioning. Adolescents with PTSD, in all three groups and in whole sample, were more nervous. Los of father significantly increased introversion of adolescents in all three groups, and decreased adolescent's sociability in Zvornik and Bijeljina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina refugee and internally displaced adolescents, suffer very frequently from PTSD 3.5 years after war. PTSD prevalence is highly reported and significantly differed between groups. PTSD associated positively with neuroticism and introversion. Los of father significantly increased adolescents’ introversion in all three groups, and it decreased adolescent's sociability in Zvornik and Bijeljina.

Although high rates of smoking have been reported among psychiatric patients, only a few studies examined the prevalence of smoking in bipolar disorder, and findings are inconsistent. We investigated smoking among bipolar patients.

We examined the prevalence of smoking in of 102 patients that met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for bipolar I disorder in Israel and evaluated the relationship between smoking and demographic and clinical data.

Fifty-five of the bipolar patients (53.9%) smoked, with a rate that is 2.36 times higher than among the general population in Israel (22.8%). Significant relationships were revealed between smoking and lifetime history of alcohol dependence/abuse (P = .02), between smoking and history of drug use (P ≤ .01), and between smoking and age of illness onset (P = .04).

The cross-sectional nature of the study and the relatively small sample size preclude generalization of the findings. Nicotine levels were not measured; thus, the information regarding smoking was subjective.

Bipolar patients smoke more than the general population. Bipolar patients that are moderate or heavy smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to consume alcohol and abuse psychoactive substances. Contrary to findings of previous studies, no association was found between clinical variables of bipolar patients and smoking.

Sleep disturbance is common among patients with Parkinson's disease and occurs in approximately two thirds of patients.

The main objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease in Romania.

To asses risk factors associated with excessive daytime sleepiness and nocturnal sleep disorders.

44 consecutive inpatients with Parkinson's disease (41% females) were included in a study of non-motor symptoms, including sleep disturbances. All participants responded to the Parkinson's Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS), where an overall score below 82 or a score below 5 on a sub-item indicate sleep disturbances. Factors associated with sleep were also investigated, with special emphasis on severity of Parkinson's disease, fatigue, mental health and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

The mean age was 67.8 years (range 35-74); the mean Hoehn and Yahr stage was 2.4 (SD 0.8), and the mean UPDRS part III was 22.6 (SD 11.5). Sleep disturbances were common among patients with Parkinson's disease. While only 17% of the sample had an overall score below 82 on the PDSS, 70% of the patients had a score below 5 on one item. There was no significant association between Parkinson's disease severity and any of the sleep items in the PDSS.

The current findings call for increased awareness of sleep problems in patients with Parkinson's disease, especially focusing on the association with mental health problems, fatigue and RLS.

Social interactions dysfunctions make up core symptoms of many mental disorders and have been extensively studied through cognitive paradigms gathered under the concept of social cognition. Nevertheless, a growing body of literature have demonstrated that motor coordination is an important feature of these human social interactions but has been little studied in the context of mental diseases.

In this study, we propose to compare the processes of inter-agent coordination in healthy and socially impaired clinical populations (e.g. schizophrenia and social phobia patients).

20 schizophrenia and 20 social phobia patients were compared to 20 healthy subjects using an hand-held pendulum paradigm in intentional and unintentional interpersonal motor coordination, with different leadership conditions. All participants had psychopathological and neuropsychological evaluations.

Our results demonstrated that each group of subject was characterised by specific signature concerning interpersonal motor coordination. More specifically, instability of the coordination and temporal delay between patient and controls revealed that schizophrenia impaired intentional coordination but not spontaneous non-intentional coordination whereas social phobia only affected leader conditions.

Taken altogether, these preliminary results give evidence that motor control through motor coordination behaviours is a fundamental part of social interactions deficits in schizophrenia and social phobia. These results lead us to examine if the evaluation of motor coordination during a social interactions could help to discriminate the deficits in social interactions and to propose specific therapy for their rehabilitation.

This research was supported by an Agence Nationale de la Recherche grant (Project SCAD # ANR-09- BLAN-0405-03).

In this work analgesic activity of more than 80 derivatives of cage-like amines is investigated. Carbox-, sulfon- and phosphonamides, ureas, sulfonylureas and aminoalcohols. They were got on the basis of stereochemically homogeneous amines (exo- and endo-2-aminomethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-enes and their saturated analogues, exo-5-aminomethyl-exo-2,3- epoxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes, and also sulfolan, deitiforin and amines of adamantane family by comparison to base amines are plugged into the investigated group.

[Figure]

Rigid molecules with «fixed» in space substituents used as models for the study of structure-activity relationship of analgesic activity compounds with their chemical structure.

The investigation of compounds has been carried out on white mise. The acute toxicity (LD50) and analgesic activity («hot plate» method, 55°C) were determined. Explored compounds were entered in a dose equal 1/10 LD50 for 30 minutes prior to testing. Activity of preparations was estimated in % in relation to the control group of animals.

Dependence of analgesic activity on the orientation of substituents in norbornene frame is marked: higher activity for endo-stereoisomers than for exo-form. Analgesic action decreases with disappearance of double bond and increase of number of cycles in carbon frame. The deitiforin derivatives are considerably more active than adamantane analogues.

More than 15 patents of Ukraine are got.

The primary objective will focus the first of all on Group Analysis (GA) as the psychotherapy method and theory of group analysis applied particularly in post-war environments. It outlines in particular a Zagreb Institute for GA Training Programme that took place in Tuzla University Clinical Centre, Department of Psychiatry, in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) in response to 1992–1995 war, in helping to train mental health workers in GA to enable them to treat psychological trauma symptoms of war survivors.

In the GA education in the period of 16 years mental health professionals employed in mental health services were involved as well as other care employees as General Practitioners, Family physicians, pediatricians, gynecologists and neurosurgeons, psychologists and special educators.

Trainees in education were from greater part of BH, and from several towns from neighborhoods countries. In this way a new room for mutual exchanges of experiences and establishing of cooperation was created. Idea of group analytic treatment of persons with mental health problems spread out on the whole region of BH through this model of education. The future of GA application as a psychotherapy model in BH confirmed through established models of education which are employed inowadays in Tuzla, Sarajevo and Mostar. The future of GA is provided in activities focused on foundations of the Institute for Analysis in Tuzla.

Training of Bosnia-Herzegovina mental health workers to effectively use GA with enthusiastic help of GA trainers from Institute for GA Zagreb will develop dialogue culture in postwar BH.

Medication adherence problems increase hospitalization, morbidity and mortality in the patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Indicators of poor adherence to a medication regimen are a useful resource for physicians to help identify patients who are most in need for interventions to improve adherence.

The objective of this analysis was to find out whether symptoms and insight would predict the therapeutic alliance in the treatment of schizophrenia.

We proceeded to a transverse survey with 95 patients affected by schizophrenia followed in ambulatory in the psychiatric department D of the hospital Razi in Tunisia.

A little more than half of our patients were not observing. The behavior of observance was positively correlated in the sex: the men were more observant that the women. The clinical shape of the disease, the level of insight, the cognitive state as well as the age of the disease are not connected to the degree of compliance. On the other hand, the positive or negative psychotic symptoms are strongly correlated in the therapist alliance.

The results of this study suggest that simple measures as the psychoeducation for schizophrenics, and control of the psychotic symptoms advance us on the way of improvement of the therapist alliance and consequently the social reintegration of the patient and his quality of life.

Lower baseline BMI has been associated with more rapid cognitive decline in MCI [Cronk B et al., 2010] while data considering risk of progression to an overt dementia is lacking.

To examine the potential relationship between baseline BMI and changes in BMI over time and the risk of MCI-todementia progression.

Fifty four subjects with MCI were observed longitudinally over the period of 24 months. BMI was measured at baseline and yearly. Demographic and clinical (including the presence of concomitant somatic diseases and neuropsychiatric symptoms) data was collected at baseline. After conducting univariate comparisons, factors which p was < 0,15 were entered into multivariate models.

Subjects with MCI who progressed to dementia had lower BMI at baseline (mean values 19,6 vs 22,5; p< 0,001) and were losing more weight over time (mean values of BMI change over 2 years -1,3 vs -6,5; p< 0,001). In multivariate analysis higher baseline BMI remained as a protective factor (OR= 0,6; 95% CI 0,4-0,9) while losing weight over time (OR= 1,3; 95% CI 1,1-1,5) and apathy could be considered as risk factors. Interestingly the presence of apathy was correlated to lower BMI values both at baseline and over time.

Both lower baseline BMI and a tendency for continuing weight lost over time may be factors related to risk of MCI-to-dementia progression. Correlation of nutritional status measured by BMI with apathy merits further exploration.

The essence of the burnout syndrome is defined as an simultaneous occurrence all of the following symptoms: emotional use-up, devalued view on own achievements and the depersonalization. It is most commonly observed in professions that require frequent contact to other people. Exhausting work above self-capabilities, the disability to deal with problems concerning the work environment combined with chronic stress they are considered to cause psychical and physical disorders, manifesting variously, e.g.: headaches, gastric upsets or persistent tiredness. Low self-esteem makes the human find himself incompetent and losing the point on the results of the regular tasks daily performed at a workplace.

The objective of the study was to analyze the desribed above problem among medical students.

The group of 509 students during 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th year of study inc. 371 women and 138 men was examined. The poll had been compiled within 22 different questions concerning: establishing new relationships difficulties, tiredness persistence, perceiving and dealing with own problems capability, selfestimation strength or the psychosomatic symptoms presence.

The respondents declared as follows - 50%+:persistent exhaustion right after the morning awakening, 29%: worsened relationship to closest group of family and friends, 21%: void of understanding by the nearest neighborhood, 79%: fear about first steps at the first workplace, 49%: inadequate competences to perform standalone profession tasks.

Although rather a small part of the students fit all three BS symptoms defined above, at some people two of them reach.

Although effective treatment for schizophrenia is available, patient's compliance with treatment prescriptions is notoriously poor. Factors influencing compliance were identified: factors linked to patients, factors depending on the therapeutic relation the clinician and factors due to medications.

To study the relationship between treatment techniques and medication compliance in schizophrenia.

A cross-sectional study of patients with schizophrenia and their parents followed as outpatients in the department of psychiatry D in Razi hospital.

95 patients was recruited punctually. 84 patients (88.5%) were receiving long-acting neuroleptic. Just under half patients (48%) were compliant with their treatment. Almost all observing patients (91%) were receiving long-acting neuroleptic. The average dose of NLP prescribed in patients observing is slightly lower than that of not observed. The number of daily doses of treatment also appeared to influence the adherence behavior. The correlation between adverse events and compliance was statistically significant (p = 0.032).

The management of schizophrenia could be greatly improved by considering the medication related factors leading to non compliance. Medication prescription complexity is important to take under consideration. However, strategies for the improvement of compliance must also take into consideration other factors such us patient-related and interactional factors.