With the closure of higher education institutions during the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, students have experienced problems such as interruptions to their education, loss of peer support networks, and mental health issues.

This study aimed to explore adjustment patterns used by students to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A qualitative descriptive study was developed by carrying out Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Portuguese students enrolled in education levels above high school, including undergraduate and graduate programs, were considered eligible. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Each FGD took approximately 60–90 min.

Twelve students were participated in 2 FGDs, each one with 6 participants. Mostly were undergraduate students (Bachelor’s degree), in the field of health area. The thematic analysis revealed three main themes. The first theme was related to the personal sphere and included most of adjustment strategies used, namely: pandemic as a “window of opportunity” to be involved in new academic and professional projects; work-life balance by organizing and separating work from private life; self-care through the adoption of healthy lifestyles; being compassionate with others and compliance with sanitary measures. In the social sphere, students evoked new ways of communicating via digital networking to compensate for the lack of physical proximity and stay in safe contact with friends and relatives. In the contextual sphere, students talked about the importance of adapting the “teaching/learning” environment. Tailored teaching support was a significant strategy, especially in maintaining their motivation.

Several strategies were pointed by students to stay mentally healthy and mitigate delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, positive coping and hope should be integrated into the standard training of students across all study areas.

None Declared

Suicide occurs throughout all the life course, but in 2019 it was the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 years old worldwide.

In Brazil, between 2010 and 2019, 112,230 deaths from suicide were recorded, with a 43% increase in the annual number of deaths from the beginning to the end of that period in all age groups. (SAÚDE, 2021).

To accomplish a space-time analysis of the rate of suicide deaths in the state of Paraná and in its 15th Health Regional, from 2010 to 2020, in the population aged 20 to 69 years, contrasting the pre-pandemic periods (2010 to 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020).

This is an ecological, observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study, using spatial and temporal analysis tools, based on secondary data obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), in the period 2010 and 2020, referring to the 5568 Brazilian cities, with emphasis on the 399 of the state of Paraná and the 30 cities of its 15th Health Regional (HR).

Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (AEDE) techniques were used through GeoDA (version 1.20.0.8) and QGis (version 3.22.4) software to determine the existence of Spatial Autocorrelation (Moran’s Global Index or Moran I) and to calculation and visualization of the Local Spatial Association Indicator (LISA).

Global (Moran I) and local (LISA) spatial autocorrelation coefficients were considered significant when p < 0.05 at a 95% confidence level.

The Space Time Cube is a simultaneous spatial and temporal analysis methodology of ArcGIS Pro Software (ESRI, 2011) that evaluates the behavior of a value in space over a defined time interval.

The arithmetic mean of the age at death by suicide, from 2010 to 2020, was 41.1 years, with a standard deviation of 13.3 years and a median of 40 years. Most deaths in the pre-pandemic period occurred among men aged 20 to 29, followed by women aged 30 to 39 years and men aged 40 to 49 years.

Regarding the most common causes and modes of suicide in the State, there was no significant difference between the periods from 2010 to 2019, pre-pandemic reference, and 2020 (pandemic) in a global perspective. The three main causes of death were: 1) Hanging, strangulation or suffocation (ICD-10 X70, T71) were the majority and accounted for more than half of all causes; 2) Self-harm by gunshot (ICD- 10 X74 and X72); 3) Self-poisoning by pesticides and drugs, respectively (ICD-10 X68 and X61).

This study showed an increase in suicide deaths in the state of Paraná, when analyzing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most affected population was men, aged 20 to 29 years.

None Declared

In 2019, there were 39.5 million patients suffering from bipolar disorder worldwide, resulting in around 8.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and in a significant economic burden. Bipolar disorder is known to be susceptible to factors that disrupt biological and social rhythms. The COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to control it, such as social distancing, home confinement and lockdowns, pose a risk to the stability of bipolar patients. Other factors, for example, reduced access to treatment and stress associated with the disease could also contribute to relapses. Studies have shown that, in 2020, more people with bipolar disorder were hospitalised compared to previous years, including patients without previous history of hospitalizations.

This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on inpatient admissions for bipolar disorder.

Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. A retrospective observational study of patients who were admitted to a psychiatric ward between March 2019 and February 2021 was conducted. The characteristics of patients admitted before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and after (March 2020 to February 2021) were compared statistically.

A total of 850 patient admissions were obtained, 15% of which had a main diagnosis of bipolar disorder. The authors will analyze all the variables in the population admitted. The authors expect to find differences between patients hospitalized before and after the beginning of the pandemic, both in clinical presentation (manic, depressive or mixed episode), psychiatric history, comorbidities, suicide attempts and socio-demographic factors.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on mental health on a global level, plenty of which is still unknown. The findings of this study will likely show the effects of this crisis on bipolar disorder patients.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on mental health globally, resulting in a need for adaptation of mental health services. The psychosocial consequences of this crisis, such as psychological stress, reduction of community care and social support, are known factors that increase the risk of psychiatric decompensation. Compulsory admission is the last line of intervention in individuals who suffer from severe mental disorders and refuse treatment, based on the principles of therapeutic need and social protection. In Portugal, the last law regulating the compulsory admission is in forme since 2004 (Law 36/98 of 24 July), and configures this measure as a hospitalization by court order, happening the same in other European countries. The literature shows that in 2020 there was a significant increase in the proportion of involuntary inpatient admissions for all psychiatric diagnosis.

This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on involuntary admissions to an acute psychiatric service.

Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. A retrospective observational study of patients who were admitted in a General Psychiatric Unit of Hospital Magalhães Lemos between March 2019 and February 2021 was conducted. The characteristics of patients admitted before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and after (March 2020 to February 2021) were compared statistically.

A total of 850 patient admissions were obtained, of which 28% were involuntary. The authors expect to find differences between involuntary inpatient admissions before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in proportion of patients, socio-demographic and clinical factors.

The findings of this study will likely show an increase in involuntary admissions during the pandemic, in agreement with current knowledge. More studies are needed to assess the long-term impact of the pandemic on mental health.

None Declared

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the regulations enforced to control it caused significant alterations in daily routines worldwide. Lockdowns, remote working and schooling favoured virtual interactions and increased “free-time”, with the internet posing as a preferential means of distraction. Statistics from pornographic websites have shown a rise in traffic during lockdown periods, with problematic use of pornography (POPU) emerging as a potential mental health concern.

The authors aim to summarize current knowledge on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on online pornography use.

Narrative review of articles referenced on PubMed and Google Scholar.

The increased exposure to the internet during the pandemic, combined with psychosocial factors such as social isolation, diminished physical contact and intimacy may have contributed to the reported surge in online pornography use. Other associated factors include emotional distress and less availability of other addictive substances and behaviours during confinement periods. Besides the spike in pornography consumption, other aspects were also affected, such as time of usage, search keywords and type of content, with an increase in engagement in illegal pornography. In susceptible individuals, these circumstances may lead to the development of POPU, characterized by impaired control, excessive time spent and perceived negative consequences. Currently, there is a lack of consensual diagnostic criteria for POPU, hindering the detection of these patients and timely management.

Behavioural addictions are an emerging mental health problem, particularly the ones related to internet use. In the aftermath of the pandemic, considering the reported rise in online pornography use, an increase in POPU prevalence is expected. Therefore, more accurate and consensual diagnostic criteria are required, as well as a greater amount of evidence on the treatment of this disorder, in order to improve the approach to these patients.

None Declared

The co-construction of conjugality is influenced by the interactions established in the family as a whole. It manifests itself, therefore, as a relational model in the expression of affectivity and the management of conflicts.

In this clinical case report, the couple assumes relational difficulties focused on the significant reduction of time in individual leisure activities and, on the other hand, a 24-hour coexistence in the same space, in a period of compulsory confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study is exploratory-descriptive, using the case study as an empirical approach.

The case described, reports to Couples Therapy, with the sessions taking place in 2022, in a total of seven. The couple, N, male, and J, female, have been married since 2020, shortly before the first confinement because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding their marital relationship, they reported that it deteriorated due to the difficulty in expressing an adaptive reaction to the stressor confinement and the opposite position regarding their desire to become parents.

Integrative strategies were developed, with different theoretical and operative references. The couple took control of their relationship due to a greater empathic awareness and the establishment of a healthy and balanced communication system.

None Declared

The new coronavirus had a huge impact on individuals from a social, economical and psychological point of view. In march 2020 The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic and highlighted its psychoemotional implications.

The aim of this study was to investigate the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with cutaneous manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Data was collected from one first-line infectious diseases hospital from northeastern Romania. All patients with cutaneous manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection who accepted to answer the quality of life questionnaire (QLQ) were included in the study. The descriptive data analysis was conducted with the SPSS.

A total of 191 patients with cutaneous manifestations and COVID-19 completed a questionnaire concerning their psychological distress and financial burden during the pandemic. Patients with chronic dermatological diseases (psoriasis) – 31% reported the highest level of psychological distress and financial burden compared to patients with acute cutaneous manifestations (chickenpox, dermatitis, infectious mononucleosis, steven-johnson syndrome, etc.). Furthermore, this patients showed generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbances and they attributed their individual psychological distress to the COVID-19 pandemic. This patients received psychological/psychotherapeutic treatment due to the COVID-19 crisis, during hospitalization and after discharge.

During the pandemic, patients with dermatological diseases needs not only medical support but also psychological and psychosocial support. This study results emphasize the importance of monitoring the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with cutaneous manifestations.

None Declared

SARS-Cov-2 pandemic resulted in a great amount of mental health suffering both in patients, families and medical staff.

To assess the personal impact of SARS-Cov-2 management in hospital health care staff.

The study included 300 participants, comprising medical staff, 150 of which directly treated patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection, whilst the rest did not. Participants were asked to fill in online self-assessment scales: PSS-10 (Perceived Stress Scale), BAI (Beck Anxiety Inventory), BDI (Beck Depression Inventory), and SSOSH (Self Stigma of Seeking Psychology Help Scale). The data were collected at the end of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic with the Omicron variant.

238 (79.3%) women and 62 (20.7%) men responded to the online assessment. Participants working in COVID wards had higher scores for anxiety and depression (χ²=12.21, p=0.007). The intensity of depression and anxiety (BDI / BAI) depends on the professional degree (higher in senior specialists and specialists than in nurses and residents), working in shifts (χ²=8.77, p=0.01) and recent contact with patients infected with SARS-Cov-2 (χ²=76.10, p<0.0001). Regarding PSS-10 total scores, participants that had contact with 1-10 SARS-Cov-2 patients during the past month had significantly higher scores than those who did not. SSOSH showed that participants who had more than 5 on-calls per month had significantly higher scores than the participants who had one on-call per month (p=0.008). Logistical regression showed that participants who had higher BDI scores had a probability of 136.67 times higher (95% CI [16.42; 1137.53]) to present high stress levels.

Respondents who had higher scores in the BDI (and not other assessment scales) had by far the highest probability of developing high stress levels.

None Declared

Individuals with severe mental health problems are at greater risk of COVID-19 infection and increased risk of hospitalization and mortality. Vaccination against COVID-19 has demonstrated its importance in preventing and reducing these negative outcomes.

This study aims to assess the vaccination rate of people with mental illness in comparison with the general population.

We will conduct a retrospective evaluation of vaccine uptake in a sample of patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital between the 1st of July of 2021 and the 30th of June of 2022 in the Porto region. According to their vaccination plan, all patients were offered the possibility vaccination. Statistical analysis will be performed to analyse the data.

We expect to assess over 1500 patients. Regarding other studies on the same subject, although in different countries, we may predict that the vaccination rate in our sample will not, statistically, differ from the general population.

Some studies have shown higher resistance and hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccination in mental health patients, however others did not find differences between these patients and the general population. Therefore, this study will allow us to better understand the impact of mental illness in the vaccination rate in our population.

None Declared

During the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, psychological distress, anxiety and depression reached new highs associated with a number of variables such as pandemic related-stress and sleep difficulties. These later two are known to be the precipitant and risk factors for psychological distress/mental disorders, respectively, and negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies can also have a key role on psychological/mental health problems generation and maintenance.

To study stress, sleep difficulties and the use of cognitive emotion regulation strategies by groups of students with different levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic.

496 university students (mean age ± SD=20.99 years ± 2.27; 78.6% women) completed an online questionnaire between January and April, 2021, which included the Mental Health Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, as well as three questions from the Insomnia Scale to evaluate Difficulties in Initiating Sleep (DIS), Maintaining Sleep (DMS) and Early Morning Awakening (EMA). A Sleep Difficulties Index (SDI) was calculated by summing the scores of these three items.

18.3% of the students showed high levels of psychological distress (group 1; scores 1 SD =/< Mean), 62.7% average levels (group 2), and 19% low levels (group 3; Scores 1SD =/>Mean). The group 1, compared with group 3, showed higher levels of sleeping difficulties (DIS, DMS, EMA and SDI), greater stress levels and an increased use of negative emotion regulation strategies, as well as a lesser use of positive emotion regulation strategies. Furthermore, the group 2, with average levels of psychological distress is significantly distinct from the group with better mental health when comparing these same variables.

Almost one fifth of the Portuguese university students report elevated levels of psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical interventions to promote psychological/mental health in this population should focus on reducing stress, promoting adequate sleep habits, reducing the use of negative cognitive emotion regulation strategies and increasing the use of positive ones.

None Declared

Postpartum depression, refers to depressive symptoms within a 12-month period after the birth of an infant in a new father or mother. It’s have been a growing mental health concern, as it is one of the leading causes of poor familial and infant health outcomes. Despite the growing attention being given to fathers’ depression, including in Portugal, prevalence data and its possible correlates are still scarce compared to depression in mothers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To explore and compare levels of depressive symptomatology and to analyze potential correlates for postpartum depression in Portuguese new mothers and fathers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

153 men and 187 women (mean age: 36.61± 4.99 vs. 32.98 ±5.00 years, respectively) were recruited in the perinatal period (7.29±3.22 vs 8.58± 0.97 months post-partum) and answered to an online survey that included questions related to sociodemographic and psychosocial variables and validated questionnaires: Perinatal Depression Screening Scale (PDSS), Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (for Repetitive Negative Thinking/RNT) and Dysfunctional Beliefs Towards Motherhood/Fatherhood Scale (DBTM/F). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 26 for Mac).

New-mothers had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms than new-fathers (41.89±16.94 VS. 33.95±14.99, p<.001). Based on the PDSS’ cutoff point the prevalence of clinically relevant depressive symptoms in male and female progenitors was 21.6% and 39.6%, respectively (p<.001).

DBTF were significantly higher compared to DBTM (p<.05). Male and female progenitors did not differ regarding levels of RNT.

DBT-M/F (r».40) and RNT (r>.55) significantly and positively correlated with PDSS scores.

In both genders, DBT-M/F and RNT significantly (p<.01) predicted PDSS scores explaining 33.8% (Beta: DBT=.136, p=.050; RNT=.538, p<.01) of its variance in fathers and 50.4% in mothers (Beta: DBT=.218, p=.001; RNT=.565, p<.01).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Portuguese recent mothers had higher levels of depressive symptoms when compared to recent fathers. However, in both new mothers and fathers, depressive symptoms’ prevalence and severity were higher than the figures found in samples of new parents outside of the pandemic period and of samples from the general population. Addressing DBT-M/F, as well as RNT, in recent parents, could be relevant in preventing/improving their depressive symptoms.

None Declared

Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has caused a great psychological impact all over the world. With this research, we want to discover the incidence and associated risk factors for depressive symptoms among hospitalized patients. The objective is to investigate patients with criteria of a severe clinical picture and expressed systemic inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection and if they develop mental disorders- depression, measured by Depression, anxiety and stress scale- DASS-21 scale. With this research, we also calculate the index of the immune-inflammatory response SII and test the hypothesis that people with higher SII will develop mental disorders more often. Demographic variables, comorbidities, COVID-19 severity criteria, and the intensity of the organism’s inflammatory response have also been examined. Psychiatric questionnaires were for the first time applied directly to patients with coronavirus infection during hospitalization.

To identify possible risk factors for depression and to investigate the association between disease severity and the occurrence of psychopathology among COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

The subjects are patients suffering from COVID-19, older than 18 years who were hospitalized in the respiratory center KB Dubrava. After an interview and informed consent, demographic data was taken and two psychological questionnaires had been applied. Variables: patient characteristics -demographic data, experience of vulnerability, information on whether they have been previously treated psychiatrically, symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, somatic comorbidities Intensity of systemic inflammation Severity of COVID-19.

A total of 169 patients hospitalized were analyzed. The median age of the patients was 65. There were (62.1%) men and (37.9%) women. On admission, most patients had a severe (134, 79.3%) or critical (17, 10.1%) form of COVID-19. The median Charlson comorbidity index was 3 points. Arterial hypertension was present in 101 (59.8%), diabetes mellitus 42 (24.9%), hyperlipoproteinemia 30 (17.8%), obesity 61 (36.1%), malignant disease 17 (10.1%) patients. 11 (6.5%) smoked and 7 (4.1%) patients consumed alcohol. The median CRPa was 72.75 mg /L. Median SII was 1741. During hospitalization, the median DASS21 score for depression was 14, for anxiety 8, and for stress 6. Regarding depression, it was absent in 49 (29%), mild in 27 (16%), moderate in 47 (27.8%), severe in 18 (10.7%) and extremely severe in 28 (16.6%) patients during hospitalization.

Patients with symptoms of depression during hospitalization felt statistically significantly more likely to be in danger of life due to COVID-19, had a more pronounced intensity of symptoms of COVID-19 upon admission. Additionally, patients with higher DASS 21 scores for depression were significantly more likely to be female, had COPD and required oxygen supplementation at higher flows.

None Declared

The increasing cases of COVID-19 poses a threat on the over strained health care systems, especially in developing countries. Health care systems might need a surge to accommodate the ever increasing number of COVID1-19 cases. Hence, we assessed the Ugandan healthcare systems’ capacity to accommodate the surge in the increased caseloads, which might need admission and critical care due to COVID-19.

Understanding the health systems capacity to accomadate the surge in increase caseload of COVID-19

We assumed that 2% of the Uganda population get symptomatic infections by COVID-19 based on modelled estimates of Uganda and ascertained the healthcare systems surge capacity for COVID-19 under three transmission curves scenarios; 6, 12 and 18 months. We estimated four measures for hospital surge capacity; ICU bed surge capacity, ICU bed tipping point, hospital bed capacity and hospital bed tipping point. Estimates were made for national level and 132 district local government.

The capacity of Ugandan health care system to accommodate the increasing numbers of cases due to COVID-19 is hindered by the lack of oxygen. Only 9 in 20 (46%) of hospital beds had oxygen supply. The hospital bed surge capacity varied across districts. Under the 12 months transmission scenario, the proportion of hospital with available beds, that would accommodate COVID-19 cases varied from 4% in Karomoja district, to 84% in Kampala district. The Ugandan healthcare systems faces a critical gap in ICU beds and ventilator capacity. Only 48 out of 132 districts had at least 1 ICU unit. An additional 2,247 bed and 2,756 ventilators (12 months transmission curve) will be needed to accommodate the caseloads due to COVID-19.

The capacity for Ugandan healthcare systems to manage to manage the COVID-19 caseloads is minimal. There need to address the sub-national variations in bed surge capacity, ICU units and ventilators within the Ugandan healthcare system.

None Declared

In addition to psychological distress in patients with COVID 19, neurological and neurocognitive manifestations, such as memory impairment, are increasingly reported. Screening for cognitive impairment is therefore crucial.

Identify cognitive impairment inpost COVID19.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that took place during the period from 1 st March 15 th May 2021 with 154 patients who were hospitalized at the COVID19 unit at Hedi Chaker Hospital Sfax. The psychometric evaluation, done by telephone, was performed using the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale" for the screening of anxiety-depressive disorders, the "Impact of Event Scale-Revised" for the screening of post-traumatic stress disorder, the Insomnia Severity Index for the evaluation of sleep, the "The Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire" scale and the Mac Nair questionnaire for the evaluation of subjective memory.

The mean age was 66.62 ± 13.34 years. Male patients represented 60.4% of the population. The prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder was 24.7%, 11% and 13.6% respectively. For the assessment of subjective memory, the mean total score of the PRMQ was 27.72 ± 7.71, with that of prospective and retrospective memory 15.41 ± 4.44 and 12.16 ± 3.73 respectively. According to the Mac Nair scale, 18.8% of patients had memory impairment (Mac Nair score >15). Anxious patients showed more memory impairment. Depressed patients had the most impaired scores for total memory (p= 0.03) and retrospective memory (p= 0.022). Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder had more memory impairment (p=0.021).

Psychological distress is multifactorial in its etiology. The medium and long term management of COVID+ patients must therefore be multidisciplinary.

None Declared

In addition to psychological distress, neurological and neurocognitive manifestations, the COVID19 pandemic and its medium- and long-term consequences combine other risk factors to alter sleep.

To screen for COVID19 sleep disorders and to identify epidemiological and clinical factors correlated with this disorder in post COVID19 patients.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that took place during the period from the 1rst of March to the 15th of May 2021 with 154 patients who were hospitalized at the COVID unit19 at the Hedi Chaker Hospital in Sfax Tunisia.

The sleep evaluation, made by telephone, was performed using the “Insomnia Severity Index” scale.

The mean age was 66.62 ± 13.34 years. Male patients represented 60.4% of the study population.

In our study, the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder was 24.7%, 11% and 13.6% respectively.

The mean score of the sleep disorder severity index was 3.94 with extremes of score ranging from zero to 24. Thirty-six patients (23.4%) had insomnia, which was severe in 2.6% of patients.

We found a significant association between gender and sleep disorders. Thus, women were more likely to have insomnia.

A significant association was found between insomnia, anxiety-depressive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.

No significant association was found between disease characteristics and sleep disorders.

In post COVID, patients suffer from an important sleep disorder. Indeed, the management of these sleep disorders in post Covid-19 is essential to improve the quality of life of these people.

None Declared

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19) is a contagious disease. Infected patients are not only the vectors of the disease but also often the victim of the social stigma attached to it.

To assess the social stigma perceived by post-COVID19 patients.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study that took place during the period from 1st March to 15th May 2021 with 154 patients who were hospitalized at the COVID19 unit at Hedi Chaker Hospital in Sfax.

The anxiodepressive disorders were screened using the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale”. Post-traumatic stress disorder was assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised.

Perceived stigma due to COVID19 was assessed by items from the psychometric tool: self-reported instrument measuring COVID19-related stigma.

The mean age was 66.62 ± 13.34 years. Male patients represented 60.4% of the study population.

In our study, the prevalence of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder was 24.7%, 11% and 13.6% respectively.

In our study, 21.4% of the participants felt discrimination and social stigma, especially from neighbors (18.2%).

Anxiety was statistically correlated with the presence of stigma related to COVID19.

We have a highly significant relationship between depression and stigma. (p=0.002)

No correlation was found between stigma and post-traumatic stress disorder.

In addition to social stigma, people with COVID 19 may perceive themselves as different from normal in terms of physical or mental abilities, leading to a high likelihood of self-stigma and social isolation.

None Declared

The most common but most hidden form of violence against women is domestic violence. One out of every three women in the world is exposed to physical, psychological or sexual violence by her close partner at any time in her life (Ünal and Gülseren, 2020). As a result of the social isolation measures and quarantine regulations brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, reports of domestic violence against women have increased.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychological violence, psychological maltreatment and depression, anxiety among Turkish immigrant women living in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Profile of Psychological Abuse of Women, Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) Scale, and The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were delivered to participants.

Our results show that participants who had been exposed to psychological abuse and domestic violence reported to have higher depression and anxiety scores. Furthermore, participants with low income and married to spouses with no formal education or only primary school graduates were reported to have higher depression, anxiety, domestic abuse and psychological maltreatment scores during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Our findings demonstrated that Turkish immigrant women who had experienced psychological abuse and domestic violence by their partners during the pandemic were reported to have higher depression and anxiety.

None Declared

The care relationships of physicians and nurses with patients with Covid-19 had pointed to a scenario explorable from a psychological point of view due to the peculiarities of this pandemic. How do clinicians feel, when caring for their co-workers, in a context that was not so common to see colleagues occupy the patient’s place? What emotional experiences arise from this reality? The results of the present study sought to point out how to handle this caring relationship, in an exceptional context.

To interpret emotional meanings reported by physicians and nurses on their experiences of working at COVID-19 intensive care units during the height of the pandemic.

Clinical-qualitative design of Turato. Data collection with semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in-depth applied to a sample of six professionals, closed by theoretical information saturation according to Fontanella, in a Brazilian university general hospital. Trigger question: “Talk about the psychological meanings of your experience in face of management of patients with COVID-19 at ICU”. Data treatment by the Seven Steps of the Clinical-Qualitative Content Analysis of Faria-Schützer. Theoretical framework from Medical Psychology using Balintian concepts.

We raised initially 4 categories. Three categories were presented preliminarily in this congress, version last year. In this opportunity, we show this special category of analysis that emerged during the deepened discussion of the final results: “The feeling of insecurity: from technique to affective dimension”.

The care relationships between the health professional and the patient hospitalized in the Covid-19 ICU pointed to peculiar transference and countertransference psychodynamic mechanisms between both. Before the pandemic, the care relationship seemed pragmatic and protocolar. During the pandemic, this relationship seemed “more subjective”, building a strongly emotional dimension, as health professionals also began to care for their colleagues in the profession. The egoic defense mechanisms, such as projective and introjective identification were reported as intense.

None Declared

The conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the risks associated with it, led to a deterioration in the emotional state of many people: during the pandemic, an increase in the frequency of anxiety disorders was noted, especially among patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory system. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the respiratory system has been described as very “vulnerable” to the coronavirus.

To study the severity of anxiety and symptoms of dysfunctional breathing (DB) in patients with chronic respiratory diseases in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We used: «The Perceived Stress Scale-10», «State-Trait Anxiety Inventory», «Short Health Anxiety Inventory», and Nijmegen questionnaire.The sample: 89 patients with respiratory diseases, the average age was 49.21±18.3. Of these, 38 patients with upper respiratory tract diseases (URTD) (J30-J39) and 51 patients with lower respiratory tract diseases (LRTD) (J40-J47). 49 people had a history of COVID-19 disease.

The sample of patients with both URTD and LRTD diseases is characterized by a high level of stress (27.13±6.937 vs 28.59±6.014, p=0.293). The average indicators of health anxiety in patients with LRTD diseases significantly exceed those of patients with URTD diseases (20.18±8.881 vs 15.68±7.022; p=0.01), which is consistent with data on a greater assessment of the disease threat compared with patients with upper respiratory tract diseases.The severity of DB symptoms in the group of patients with LRTD diseases significantly exceeds that in the group of patients with URTD (19.05±12.340 vs 24.29±11.470; p=0.042). Also in this group, there is a greater severity of individual symptoms of DB: spasm of the mouth muscles (p= 0.015), accelerated deep breathing (p= 0.002), shallow breathing (p=0.001) and the inability to take a deep breath (p=0.001).When analyzing the symptoms among patients who had and did not have a history of COVID-19, significant differences were found in such manifestations of DB as dizziness (1.98±1.351 vs 1.27±1.232; p=0.024) and confusion in the environment (0.61±0.891 vs 0.18±0.465; p=0.010), and also according to the severity of the symptoms of DB in general (23.76±11.996 vs 17.81±8.461; t=2.007, p=0.043).During the analysis, a relationship was established between the severity of DB symptoms and alertness to bodily sensations (R=0.259, p=0.014), which may indicate both an increase in DB symptoms with increased attention toward sensory sensations, and greater screening activity with an increase in DB symptoms. Increased alertness to bodily sensations is associated with situational stress (R=0.530; p=0.001) and personal anxiety (R=0.495, p=0.001).

The results obtained make it possible to identify categories of patients with chronic respiratory diseases who need psychological counseling and psychotherapy.

None Declared

Perceived sense of control over one’s health contributes to determining health-related behaviors and an individual’s health status. Therefore, it may enhance vulnerability to health anxiety in response to COVID-19 and influence implementation of preventive strategies and adherence to them. Health anxiety may serve as one of the factors that increase the perception of COVID-19 as dangerous and life-threatening. We hypothesized that external health locus of control may demonstrate a connection with higher levels of health anxiety, whereas internal health locus of control may be considered a protective factor alongside some personality traits due to its role in determination of coping strategies.

To assess health locus of control (HLC) in patients with COVID-19 and evaluate its connection with the levels of health anxiety.

The study has involved 62 participants, average age is 23,4±8,2, with 36 of them being diagnosed with COVID-19 one or more times, average age is 24,5±8,9, whereas 26 of them were healthy, average age is 21,8±7,1. The following methods were used: Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (modified for COVID-19), Perceived Stress Scale, the state scale from the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Short Health Anxiety Inventory, Illness- and Treatment-Related Locus of Control Scale, HEXACO-24 Personality Inventory, Self-Government Test.

COVID-19 patients differed from healthy participants by the following parameters: perceived danger of COVID-19 (31,53±9,51 vs 33,92±11,5; p>0,05); perceived stress (28±8,68 vs 26,5±7,3; p>0,05); state anxiety level (23,3±11,1 vs 25,1±12,5; p>0,05); health anxiety (14,3±6,76 vs 13,8±5,7; p>0,05); internal HLC (18,8±3,24 vs 17,8±4,67; p>0,05); external HLC (5,97±1,89 vs 5,81±1,92; p>0,05); extraversion (11,8±3,36 vs 13,10±3,71; p>0,05).

Correlation analysis has revealed mild positive correlations between health anxiety level and both external HLC (0,32; p<0,05) and chance HLC (0,25; p<0,05), mild negative correlation between health anxiety and internal HLC (-0,18; p>0,05). Analysis of COVID-19 related variables found that health anxiety levels were positively correlated with perceived danger of coronavirus disease (0,37; p<0,01), perceived stress (0,59; p<0,001) in the whole sample. Negative correlation was observed between extraversion and health anxiety (-0,49; p<0,05) in the group of COVID-19 patients.

The results obtained in our study demonstrate the connection of the higher levels of health anxiety in COVID-19 patients with more external orientation of HLC. The connection between extraversion and health anxiety is also observed. Our study indicates that participants diagnosed with COVID-19 one or more times tend to have higher health anxiety levels in comparison to healthy participants.

None Declared