In 2020, as in the rest of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic spread in Africa and transformed people’s lives. Adding to the already existing burden of fragile health care systems, especially in low-resource settings, the pandemic response highlighted the need to address the health and well-being of populations in innovative ways. While research findings reported critical impacts on populations’ mental health, few studies assessed this progression within African countries. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Action Against Hunger (ACF), developed and delivered a brief Emotional and Stress Management Intervention (ESMI) to reduce symptoms of emotional distress and increase perceived social support through problem solving techniques and relaxation exercises among adults and youth living in vulnerable communities experiencing a relatively high prevalence of COVID-19 in urban and rural areas in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate whether individuals who received ESMI experienced changes in psychological distress and social support following the intervention and the association between change in psychological distress and change in social support for each country.

This study consisted of secondary analysis of data collected via routine monitoring of activities by ACF for their ESMI programs implemented in community-based centers and health facilities from May to December 2020. Service delivery mechanisms were adapted to each context and setting (i.e., face to face vs. remote, health facilities vs. home visits, etc.). The main outcomes were psychological distress and social support measured with culturally relevant visual analogue scales. All analyses were performed separately for each country.

In total, 1,412 adults and youth (11-17 years old) benefitted from the intervention across all countries and 1,350 were assessed at follow-up. As a result, changes for psychological support and social support with mean scores difference at baseline and follow up were significantly different in all countries. Correlations between changes in distress and changes in social support varied by country, and ranged from negative in Liberia, (r = -.88, p = 0.001), to positive in Ivory Coast (r = .55, p = 0.001), and null in Sierra Leone (r = -.07, p = 0.11). Across countries, the most commonly reported presenting problems were fear of infection, stigma, and socio-economic difficulties, with coping strategies differing by country.

At the onset of a pandemic crisis, low-intensity psychosocial support activities hold potential for reducing psychological distress and improving social support among adults and youth from vulnerable communities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

None Declared

Patients suffering from psychiatric disorders represent a population that is particularly at risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. Vaccination was the most effective strategy to prevent the severe forms of the disease.

We aimed in our study to determine the rate of COVID-19 vaccination and to identify its correlated factors in psychiatric outpatients.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 178 outpatients at the department of psychiatry (Monastir, Tunisia) over a period of one month (from March 2022 to April 2022). Data was collected via a questionnaire focused on two main attributes: (1) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; (2) questions about the flu vaccination history and its modalities.

The mean age of our patients was 44.9±13.7 years. The majority of them (81.5%) had a chronic evolution of their psychiatric disorder (> 2 years). Psychosis was the most represented disorder with 57.3% compared to mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Among our population, 73% of the patients received vaccination against COVID-19. The majority got 2 doses (60%), were vaccinated on their own initiative (68%) and by making an appointment (71.4%). Patients with depressive disorders accessed to vaccination program in 100% of cases. The group of psychotic patients had a vaccination rate of 66%. Vaccination was significantly associated with gender (p=0.001), age (p=0.04), marital status (p<10-3), number of children (p=0.002), housing situation (0.018), diagnosis (p<10-3) and treatment (p=0.01)

Patients with psychiatric disorders experience a distinct burden of the COVID-19 disease. They should therefore be prioritised in vaccine allocation strategies, especially among patients with psychotic disorders.

None Declared

Patients suffering from psychiatric illness represent a population that is particularly vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to the pandemic situation due to several factors.

We aimed in our study to determine the rate of COVID-19 infection and to identify its correlated factors in outpatients of the psychiatry department of Monastir, Tunisia.

This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted on 178 outpatients at the department of psychiatry (Monastir, Tunisia) over a period of one month (from March 2022 to April 2022). Data was collected via a questionnaire focused on two main attributes: (1) sociodemographic and clinical characteristics; (2) questions about the COVID-19 personal and family history.

The mean age of our population was 44.9±13.7 years. The majority of them (81.5%) had a chronic evolution of their psychiatric disorder (> 2 years) and 68.7% were hospitalized at least once in psychiatry. Psychosis was the most represented disorder with 57.3% compared to mood disorders and anxiety disorders. Among our population, thirty seven patients (21%) had a SARS-CoV-2 infection and 3.1% required hospital care. The infection by the virus of a family member was reported by 46% of cases and 2.5% had intrafamilial death due to COVID-19 disease. Patients with depressive disorder were the most affected (55%). COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with gender (p=0.02), marital status (p=0.016), diagnosis (p=0.001), treatment (p=0.02) and intrafamilial spread of the disease (p<10-3).

Patients with psychiatric disorders experience a distinct burden of the COVID-19 disease. Awareness of the vulnerability of this population and psychiatric institutions is necessary in order to adapt mental health care planning and implement preventive measures during potential subsequent pandemics.

None Declared

The viral theory of the development of psychoses was formulated in the 19th century, but the role of viral agents in the pathogenesis of psychoses remains a matter of debate. In the context of the 2020 pandemic, the results of several papers on the characteristics of psychotic disorders in COVID-19 have been published. Coronaviruses are neuroinvasive, capable of affecting mental and body functions.

The aim of the study was to identify patients with acute psychosis without a history of mental disorders in order to test the hypothesis about the possibility of manifestation of schizophreniform psychosis due to a viral attack.

Within a year and a half, 50 patients with mental disorders associated with COVID-19 were identified. The reason for hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital is the development of acute schizophreniform psychosis against the background of a new coronavirus infection. The diagnosis was verified according to traditional clinical criteria and modern psychometric tools. Inclusion criteria: no previous visits to a psychiatrist; verified acute polymorphic psychotic disorder and coronavirus infection COVID-19 (ICD-10); manifestation of psychosis against the background of infection with COVID-19; age 18-60 years; consent to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria: signs of organic brain damage; indications of substance abuse; delirium of any etiology; somatic pathology in the stage of decompensation.

27 women (54%) and 23 men (46%), aged 20 to 57 years (average age 34.5±7.6), of which 18 people (36%) worked, 2 (4%) studied , 29 (58%) people are unemployed. 27 people (54%) are single, 16 (32%) are married, 7 (14%) are divorced; 18 people (36%) were raising children, which indirectly indicated a relatively favorable premorbid functioning. At the time of the examination, the condition was determined by polymorphic psychotic symptoms with a predominance of dissociative-delusional, paraphrenic and oneiric phenomena with plots containing plots of infection and the spread of coronavirus. At the same time, the sum of PANSS is from 53 to 130 (85) points, including PANSS P - from 15 to 37 (27), PANSS N - from 7 to 44 (18), PANSS G - from 23 to 57 (39.9 ); P1 - 5.7; P3 - 5.1. When comparing the obtained data with the world experience, we found some differences. Delusional symptoms were diagnosed twice as rarely, cases with tactile hallucinations were not detected, but catatonic symptoms were observed twice as often, and manic arousal was twice as rare. In general, the studied data are comparable with the results published in the world practice.

The unique experience of the coronavirus pandemic will allow us to assess the influence of environmental factors, namely the role of infections, in the manifestation or predisposition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It is planned to evaluate the dynamics of the course of the disorder after the relief of the acute period.

None Declared

Silexan manufactured from Lavandula angustifolia showed favorable safety and efficacy in subthreshold and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (MADD), and further, especially subsyndromal psychiatric manifestations including depression, sleep disturbances, restlessness, fatigue and pain.

Since the abovementioned clinical phenotypes were repeatedly observed in the course of the so-called post coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) syndrome, which were, importantly, of subsyndromal severity in the most cases, we were confident that Silexan will be efficacious also in this indication.

We report on three adult outpatients treated with Silexan due to psychiatric conditions that occurred in the context of a mild and short-lasting COVID-19 infection.

A 38-years old female experienced fatigue, brain fog, inner tension, restlessness and sad mood with weepiness after recovery of her respiratory COVID-19 infection. Since she did not remit under ongoing psychotherapy (PT), Silexan 80 mg p.o.q.d. was additionally employed and very well tolerated. She achieved full remission of her subthreshold symptoms within one month. A 27-years old male developed GAD including anxiety, inner tension, restlessness, irritability, muscle aches, difficulties in concentrating and in controlling feelings of worry after he recovered from respiratory COVID-19. Following his preference, PT and Silexan 80 mg p.o.q.d. were initiated and very well tolerated. Because of partial response, Silexan was increased to 80 mg twice daily after three weeks. After additional two weeks, he was able to enjoy everyday activities and to comply with working demands without relevant difficulties. A 38-years old female developed a post COVID-19 syndrome with fatigue, anxiety, depression, inner tension, tachycardia, hopelessness and rumination. Due to the current MADD Bupropion 150 mg and subsequently 300 mg p.o.q.d. and Hydroxyzine 25 mg on demand were administered. Although clinical improvement was achieved, the patient discontinued the treatment due to subjective exacerbation of tachycardia and refused any further treatment optimization. Once she agreed to phyto-psychopharmacotherapy, Silexan 80 mg p.o.q.d. was employed and, while well tolerated, increased to 80 mg twice daily after two weeks. The patient was increasingly able to participate at her working and social activities again and stayed stable for four months.

To our knowledge, this is the first report on administering Silexan in subsyndromal and full-blown anxiety and depression with cognitive and psychosomatic symptoms that occurred in the context of COVID-19. While substantial clinical improvements were achieved, no relevant adverse effects occurred.

None Declared

Covid pandemic-related psychological problems mainly include anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances, while evidence regarding suicidality is conflicting between studies. Crete has the highest suicide rate in Greece.

To examine suicides’ rate, gender and seasonal distribution pre-covid, compared to Covid-19 pandemic (2020-2021). Seasonality was studied by quarter of the year.

Data on the number of suicides, demographics, and seasonal distribution by quarter throughout Crete, were collected from the records of the Department of Forensic Medicine/University Hospital of Heraklion Crete, as well as from the Forensic Agency of Crete

We found that in the years 2020 and 2021, number of suicides in Crete are 41 and 40 respectively and do not differ from those of the previous years (Mean1999-2019 = 43.5/year). Also, the distribution of suicides by gender remained stable (Mean men/women 1999-2019=4.6 vs. Mean men/women 2020-2021=4.3). The analysis of the seasonal distribution of suicides showed a reversal of the seasonal distribution in 2020 compared to the previous 5-years, which tends to return to pre-pandemic characteristics in 2021.

The overall rate and gender distribution of suicides in Crete remained stable during the Covid pandemic compared to the previous twenty years. The clear change in the seasonal distribution of suicides in 2020 compared to the distribution of previous years tends to return to previous levels in 2021. Possibly, the change in seasonality in 2020 is related to the fear of death/stress and the short/medium term economic consequences due to the pandemic.

None Declared

Today the psycho-traumatic impact of quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the infodemic, as a separate psycho-traumatic factor, on mental health remain unclear

To study the impact of quarantine and infodemic due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the population of Ukraine

During quarantine 902 Ukrainian people voluntarily completed the questionnaire in Google format a questionnaire containing psychodiagnostic tools for assessing the level of stress L. Reeder, anxiety response GAD-7, depression PHQ-9, strategies for stress-coping behavior E. Heim, vitality S. Maddy and developed by us based on the AUDIT Test for the detection of disorders related to the obsession with news associated with the COVID-19 pandemic

The investigations carried out suggested that the quarantine restrictions could be predisposing factors for mental health impairments. The threat of coronavirus disease, a disruption of a habitual life stereotype, leisure restrictions, a harmful interest in news about the pandemic, and tobacco abuse play an important role in mechanisms of distress formation. The analysis of examination of the quality of life has demonstrated, that 8.14 % had a low level of its physical component, 15.55 % had a low level of its emotional component, and 10.21 % had a low level of a social activity. Under these conditions, risks of increased stress pressure, anxiety, and depression are rising. During the quarantine period, 10.53% recorded a high level of stress, 11.75% had an average level of anxiety, 7.43% had a high level of anxiety, 9.53% had severe depression, and 7.76% had very severe depression. 5.93% were obsessed with information related to the pandemic, at the level of “addiction”, 9.95% “use” information with “harmful consequences”, 20.14% a “risky” level. A low level of vitality had a direct correlation with an excessive interest in news and the use of maladaptive strategies of the types of ignoring, dissimulation and confusion (cognitive), submissiveness, suppression of emotions and self-blame (emotional), avoidance (behavioral) - that is, passive forms of solving problems due to despair in one’s own strength and intellectual resources, with a deliberate underestimation of troubles

Measures on psycho-prevention should be performed on the base of the regularities identified

None Declared

During the Corona virus pandemic, anxiety was one of the most felt emotions. Anxiety can lead to maladaptive coping behaviors, including decreased productivity at work. There are some mechanisms that buffer the devastaing effect that anxiety can have, and one of them is self-compassion. The impact on mental health during the pandemic has increased, especially among healthcare professionals, and needs further exploration

This study aims to investigate the relationships between anxiety, productivity and self-compassion at work among healthcare professionals, as well as, the possibility of self-compassion playing the role of a relationship’s moderator, in a pandemic context.

The study gathers the result from 202 participants, who completed a questionnaire on an online platform. We examined the link between anxiety, respectively COVID-19 anxiety, productivity and self-compassion, as well as the link between self-compassion and productivity among healthcare workers in a pandemic context. In order to emphasize the objectives, the validated BAI, CAS, SPS-SV and SCS-SV scales were used.

In terms of results, significant negative correlations were identified in the relationships between anxiety, COVID-19 anxiety, productivity and self-compassion, and a significantly positive correlation in the self-compassion-productivity relationship. Also, we studied if self-compassion could be a relationship moderator. As the results show, the study identified a statistically insignificant effect of self-compassion on the relationships anxiety-productivity and anxiety of COVID-19-productivity, among health workers.

The present study has achieved its proposed objectives, so that through future research, anxiety, productivity and self-compassion can be explored not only in a pandemic context, but also in a normal context of professional activity in the medical field, and it can also contribute to the identification of other moderators of the anxiety-productivity relationship.

None Declared

The impact of the pandemic on mental health is already evident. In the Special Hospital for Psychiatry Dobrota, Kotor, the number of employees who suffer from anxiety and depression has increased, but the intensity of these disorders has increased in people who were already in some phase of this condition.

Besides the influence of Covid 19 pandemic on the phsical health, the pandemic has left a much deeper impact on the mental health of society, especially on the employees of Health Institutions. There is an evident increase of anxiety and depression as well as burn-out syndrome among employees. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of COVID 19 on the mental health of employees at the psychiatric hospital Dobrota, Kotor.

Data were collected through interviews, anxiety and depression scales from each employee individually. The hospital employs 189 workers, 55 men, 134 women. 42% tested positive once, 12% tested twice or more than once. Of the total number of infected, 86% were women, and 14% were men.

- Our study showed a significant association between the Covid pandemic and mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. These mental disorders were more common in female than in male employees of the Hospital.

In general, the most common feelings are a strong sense of anxiety followed by intense fear and thoughts, tension, excessive caution, increased irritability, resentment, anger and aggression, emotional flatness, anger, sadness and burn out. Depression symptoms that were noticeable were a mood swings, lethargy, a feeling of hopelessness, aimlessness. The anxiety, on the other hand, was determined through various fears, whether a person will find or lose a job, whether he will get sick or not.

None Declared

Patients with long COVID experience a wide range of physical and psychological symptoms. Mental health disturbances include cognitive impairment, memory loss, anxiety, depression sleep disorders…

We aimed to determine to assess mental repercussions in long COVID, especially sleep disturbances and depression.

This is a prospective cohort study including 84 adults Tunisian COVID 19 inpatients who had been discharged alive from hospital. Each enrolled patient was asked about the period before SARS COV2 related hospital stay, and the 6-9 month-period after hospital discharge, using the validated Arabic version of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

The mean age of patients was 57,59 ± 12,84 years with a sex ratio (H/F) 1,2.

As compared with baseline, all assessed outcomes (ISI and PHQ) significantly impaired after the covid-19 infection (p<0.001 for the two cases).

The prevalence of depressive symptoms doubled after the infection (25% to 58,3%).

The prevalence of insomnia was multiplied by 5 after the covid-19 infection (5,95% to 30,95%). ISI score was correlated with the PHQ score (p<0.001; r=0.738).

Our study highlighted the association between COVID-19 infection and the impairment of mental health outcomes. Thus, patients who have experienced COVID-19 illness should be screened for long psychological disturbances even a few months after the infection, in order to guarantee a better quality of life.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic has set unprecedented demand on the medical system globally. Palestine was one of the Arab countries affected

The present study aims to identify the relationship between patience and Stress Tolerance in the medical system in Bethlehem Governorate during the Corona pandemic, as well as to identify the impact of several demographic variables on it.

Descriptive method were used. Appropriate statistical analyses were conducted using (SPSS). A random sample of 160 workers of the medical staff completed the Patience Scale and Coping Processes Scale questionnaire.

: showed there is a significant positive effect for patience on stress tolerance and there were statistically significant differences in the level of patience in favor of males and single workers. It was also found that there is no difference in the specific duties of a health care worker and no variance of statistical evidence was found in the level of patience due to work with Covid patients but there were differences in stress tolerance in favor of those who do not work with Covid patients.

There is a significance in the level of stress tolerance in favor of the National Center in regard to bearing pressure.

There was a negative correlation with statistical significance between stress tolerance and age. The nature of stress changes with age, from episodic to chronic, which in turn affects appraisal and coping processes

This study, which was conducted on a sample of Palestinian medical workers in the Bethlehem area, showed that at the beginning of the pandemic, the medical system in Palestine was not ready to handle Covid 19, and had no precautions to prevent the disease. In spite of that, the doctors and nurses who were undergoing psychological pressure were able to stand at the front line and face the outbreak of the Corona virus.

None Declared

The pathogenesis of mental disorders occurring during the coronavirus pandemic 2 (SARS-COV-2) includes biological and psychosocial factors. Psychopathological consequences associated with the coronavirus disease COVID-19 may occur in different groups of individuals, including patients with a history of COVID-19 and patients with psychiatric disorders preceding COVID-19.

To investigate the peculiarities of the initial psychopathological manifestations in patients with newly diagnosed mental disorders who suffered from COVID-19 and were exposed to the stressors of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

The study involved 97 patients with newly diagnosed mental disorders who suffered from COVID-19 and were exposed to the stressors of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (F 32.0-32.2 – 34 patients, F 40-45 – 32 patients, F 06.3-06.6 – 31 patient). The average age of the examined group was 44.82 ± 5.64 years. Clinico-psychopathological, psychodiagnostic, statistical methods were used.

In the structure of initial psychopathological manifestations detected in patients, the following prevailed: with depressive episodes - weakness and fatigue / asthenia ((87.50 ± 5.94) %), low mood / depression ((71.88 ± 8.07) %) and sleep disturbances ((65.63 ± 8.53) %); with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders – weakness and fatigue / asthenia ((72.73 ± 7.87) %), decreased concentration of attention, memory / cognitive disorders ((66.67 ± 8.33 ) %) and feeling of inner tension ((60.61 ± 8.64) %); with mental disorders of organic genesis – a feeling of internal tension ((75.00 ± 7.78) %), anxiety ((62.50 ± 8.70) %) and weakness and fatigue / asthenia ((59.38 ± 8 .82) %).

In patients with depressive episodes, initial psychopathological manifestations in the form of asthenia, low mood, cognitive disorders, and sleep disorders were detected in a significantly greater number of cases compared to patients with mental disorders of organic genesis (р < 0,05). In the examined subjects of this subgroup, initial psychopathological manifestations in the form of a decrease in mood were recorded in a significantly greater number of cases compared to patients with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders (р < 0,05). In patients with neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders, initial psychopathological manifestations in the form of anxiety, fears and obsessions were noted in a significantly smaller number of cases compared to those examined with mental disorders of organic genesis (р < 0,05).

The obtained data will make it possible to improve the effectiveness of diagnosis and therapy of mental disorders, the formation, course and clinical picture of which were affected by the coronavirus disease COVID-19.

None Declared

In recent years, there has been a well-documented increase in public perception of mental health (MH) matters, and in the related search for support by MH professionals. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has been a notable aggravating factor for MH around the globe, as well as in Greece.

Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine whether a significant change can be seen in the Google Search trends in Greece of specific terms related to MH after the start of the pandemic.

Our data source was the Google Trends platform, which shows the relative volumes of Google Searches (relative search volumes, RSVs) happening in an area for the requested period of time, which in our case was January 2016-September 2022. Through a preliminary filtering of various search terms for data quality, we identified 6 for which the data were then statistically analysed as interrupted time series, to determine the significance of time and COVID-19 for the RSVs.

The terms analysed were “ψυχίατρος” (“psychiatrist”) (T1), “ψυχολόγος” (“psychologist”) (T2), “ψυχική υγεία” (“mental health”) (T3), “mental health” (T4), “κατάθλιψη” (“depression”) (T5) and “άγχος” (“anxiety”) (T6). Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modelling and forecasting was used to account for the impact of previous months’ trends on each following month. The analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the RSVs and time for all terms except T3 (p=.12). However, only T5 and T6 showed a significant change in the trend after March 2020 (p<.05); interestingly, they exhibited a downwards trend compared to their pre-COVID-19 volumes, after a peak in Spring 2020, which was not shared by the rest. T4, T5 and T6 RSVs were also correlated to the number of months since March 2020 (p<.05 for all).

In conclusion, the impact of the pandemic on online search trends related to MH is limited for the majority of cases, and appears to have been time-bound to periods with intense extrinsic pressures (i.e. the emergence of an unknown disease and subsequent measures). More research is warranted to judge public sentiment towards and interest in the importance of MH and the true effects of COVID-19 on those; however, the constant rise of the search volumes is a positive sign for the recognition of the burden of MH issues.

None Declared

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our daily lives in a variety of ways. In hospital settings, patients who are admitted on COVID-19 wards are usually isolated from their family and friends. This, in turn, can lead to patients feeling lonely and having increased level of anxiety.

To assess the level of anxiety and feeling of loneliness amongst the patients during their in-patient stay in a COVID-19 ward.

We aimed to highlight what could be done differently to reduce the amount of anxiety amongst the patients.

We carried out EASe-COVID study to assess level of anxiety and feeling of loneliness amongst the patients during their in-patient stay in a COVID-19 specific ward. We designed 2 questionnaires – 1 for patients, using the GAD-7 anxiety questionnaire and UCLA 3-item loneliness scale and an open-ended questionnaire for staff members. Questionnaires were distributed from January – March 2022 to randomly selected members of healthcare staff and patients on COVID wards. 15 patients returned the anonymised questionnaire, whereas 11 staff members returned the completed questionnaire.

Most of the patients were satisfied with the patient care they received during their stay and did not feel increasingly anxious or lonely during their inpatient stay in the COVID wards. On the other hand, members of the healthcare team felt that they were short staffed and under-trained to deal with the complex patients on the COVID ward. Not being able to spend enough time reassuring patients was a common theme in the responses from the staff questionnaires.

The in-patient stay on COVID wards was generally a positive experience for the patients. However, the study highlighted that the visitation rules and the short staffing were the main issues contributing to anxiety and loneliness highlighted by both staff and patients. It was clear that the staff had a patient centred approach to care, but felt limited by time, experience and staffing.

None Declared

This work presents spatial-temporal relations of time interval estimation in extreme situation. In preliminary analysis of COVID-19 literature and our research (Magomed-Eminov et al, 2021) we identified attributes which people used to describe their experience during lockdown. The categories: limitation of space, freedom, deprivation of action, movement, immobility; negative emotions, disorganization, loss of social contacts, lack of control; avoidance; passive position; victimization - were grouped in factor “restriction of opportunities”.

To show experimentally that spatial-temporal relations depend on what meaning a person gives to extreme or non-extreme situation, how she perceives it - hence what inner mental work fulfills in order to find resources to overcome illness, distress, adversity.

Experimental modelling of extreme situation close to lock-down; content analysis.

In our research-model estimation of short time interval duration in case of self-determination in movement and space and no external limitations of time was almost accurate. In case of limited space and restricted instruction – interval was perceived 2 or 3 times longer than real time. The categories in stories of subjects put in extreme situation instructed to move in one direction in restricted square space opposed to subjects instructed to move freely and in wider space, met the empirical criteria for restriction of opportunities (extreme model) and were categorized in five clusters according to content analysis of self-reports. In brackets we give the features of non-extreme situation (with free instructions to move) characterized by opposite tendencies: a) limitation – featured by boundaries, clamps, tightness (vs freedom); b) negativity of situation perception – by refusal of action, destruction, disorganization, negative emotions, loss (vs positivity); c) static position - by immobility, stiffness, restraint (vs ecstasy, flight, freedom, self-expression); d) avoidance, tendency to escape (vs involvement); e) passive observation and staying in situation (vs active action). The non-extreme features proved to be significantly higher (p<,000) in subjects who received the instruction to move freely in space - opposed to subjects who moved in certain limited space (square).

We revised space-time relations model (D. DeLong; D. Bobko) which demonstrated the tendency for changes of time interval perception in dependence of spatial characteristics. We show another correlation dependent on meaning of situation for individual – extreme or situation of freedom and give interpretation in terms of personality work with negative experience (M. Magomed-Eminov). Research contributes to conception of personality work with one’s own experience in construction of temporal identity, positive outcomes of adversity and meaning mediation while action in extreme situation of lockdown type.

None Declared

Home confinement was implemented worldwide as a response to the covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, almost all school-age children started to receive home-schooling from the beginning of 2020, it was necessary due to the length of the lockdowns. Being quarantined at home imposed an increase in psychological burden and the situation was aggravated because of school closure, lack of outdoor activity, aberrant dietary and sleeping habits, disrupting children’s usual lifestyle and promoting monotony, distress, impatience, annoyance, and varied neuropsychiatric manifestations.

This study aims to understand the correlation between quarantine and psychosocial effects on school-age children.

An integrative literature review was developed in 3 steps: Development of the research question, search for scientific articles in the Pubmed database, and critical analysis of included articles. The search was conducted in September 2022, and articles between 2019 and 2022 were selected, for a total of 510 articles, of which 28 were used.

The confinement caused by the coronavirus imposed an immediate and lingering psychosocial impact on children due to drastic changes in their physical activity, lifestyle, and mental excursions. Even a short-term shutdown of educational institutions and home confinement is indeed troublesome and anticipated to have detrimental effects on children’s physical and mental health and shatter the sense of normalcy that schools used to provide. Another important factor to note is that some children`s had to be detached from their parents due to several factors, this juncture caused ever-lasting psychiatric consequences including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, psychosis, depression, delinquency, and even suicidal tendency.

Thus, frontline physicians must be aware of the psychosocial needs of the quarantined children. Hospital authorities need to make arrangements for children to communicate with parents via audiovisual devices. Government should invest in operational strategies to provide mental healthcare for the quarantined children.

None Declared

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our health system had to face new challenges such as Burnout (BO), particularly among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Our study aimed to examine the prevalence of burnout among HCWs, as well as to identify the sociodemographic and professional factors associated to it.

This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical survey, conducted during the fifth wave of COVID-19 between December 2021 and February 2022, among the healthcare workers of 3 hospitals in Djerba city. We used an online questionnaire to collect their sociodemographic and professional data. Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to assess their burnout level.

Our population consisted of 95 HCWs with a sex ratio of 0.46. Most of them (75%) had an age of less than 40 years. Among our participants, 56.8% were paramedics and 71.6% had a working experience of less than 10 years. A rate of 56.8% worked full-time with a minimum of 36 hours per week and more than 5 on-calls per month in 56.8%.

In our study, 76% of the HCWs were affected by BO. The mean emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and professional accomplishment scores were 35.74 ±12.16, 11.84 ±8.08 and 27.32 ±6.95, respectively. A rate of 69% had a high level of emotional exhaustion, 42% had a high level of depersonalization and 41% had a low level of personal accomplishment.

The subgroup analysis showed that BO was associated with: an age of less than 30 years (p=0.007); having no children (p=0.030); a work experience of less than 10 years (p=0.001); a number of working hours greater than 36 hours (p=0.030) and a number of on-call duties greater than 5 per month (p=0.007).

Our study shows the burden of BO in the HCWs of Djerba, especially among the youngest ones, the least experienced and those with the highest workload. Thus, a special attention must be paid to this condition, and the implementation of a prevention strategy is essential.

None Declared

As of September 2022, over 600 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide. Implemented measures and novelty caused by the epidemic caused wellbeing complaints, including depression and anxiety. One particularly inflicted group are students, who were switched to online education. Many universities have decided to start with face-to-face lecturing again, but as the pandemic is still ongoing, the fear of potentially catching COVID and risking one’s wellbeing are still high.

The study’s aim is to explore the influence of COVID-19 anxiety on wellbeing among university students.

A total of 844 university students participated in a 5-minute paper-pen survey, completing self-report scales including a sociodemographic form assessing relevant information regarding COVID-19, The Covid-19 Anxiety Syndrome Scale (C-19ASS) and the Short Warwick-Edinburg Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS). Bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between the variables.

A negative moderate association was found between COVID-19 anxiety and wellbeing, indicating that presence of anxiety related to COVID-19 may predict a lack of wellbeing among university students.

As a negative association between COVID-19 anxiety and wellbeing was found, we can speculate that the existence of anxiety related to COVID-19 may predict student’s wellbeing. Knowing this, different psychological/wellbeing interventions, trainings and techniques, may be utilized to improve the wellbeing of the student population during and after these trying times, to try and minimize the negative effects of the pandemic on the student population.

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The new coronavirus infection causes severe damage to the human body. One of the most serious complication is cognitive impairment.

According to a meta-analysis by Maxime Taquet et al. (2021), which assessed neurological and psychiatric outcomes among 236,379 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 1.7% of participants over 65 years of age were diagnosed with dementia.

In a US online survey of 1,500 people (Sarah Ballou et al., 2020), about half reported difficulty concentrating on any task after experiencing COVID-19.

It was also found that there is a decrease in the speed of reactions and problem-solving (Jeffrey D. Pyne et al., 2021).

There are a number of studies that present the evidence-based efficacy of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in dementia prevention.

However, in accordance with clinical guidelines for cognitive disorders in the elderly, anti-dementia drugs are not used at the stage of mild to moderate cognitive impairment (Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 2020).

The use of AChE inhibitors in cognitive impairments that do not reach the degree of dementia.

Research data from open sources.

The development of early cholinergic deficiency correlates with the development of cognitive impairment, while acetylcholine has a pronounced neuroplastic effect and increases the number of neurons (Gabriela Dumitrita Stanciu et al., 2019).

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, a positive effect of rivastigmine was found in patients with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. The study’s results show that rivastigmine treatment (3, 6, 9 mg/day) for six months increases brain activity of the hippocampus in the control group by 32,5%. Rivastigmine prevented the clinical progression of symptoms of cognitive impairment and caused activation of some parts of the cerebral cortex (Nagaendran Kandiah et al., 2017).

In a study by Wolfson C. et al. (2002), it was found that rivastigmine can slow down the development of cognitive impairment for at least six months in patients with mild to moderate massive cognitive dysfunction. Subjects treated with 1 to 21 mg per day for 7 to 12 weeks got more favorable ADAS-cog scores for the six months after treatment. While those who took the drug in doses of 6 to 12 mg showed a more pronounced positive effect compared to the placebo group.

The Luca Rozzini in 2006 conducted a study based on 59 subjects with mild cognitive impairment. 15 subjects received both neuropsychological examination and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. As a result, the remaining subjects were behind in terms of abstract thinking and behavioral symptoms, in comparison with a combined treatment group.

It is advisable to conduct further studies on the effectiveness of AChE inhibitors to prevent the progression of mild to moderate cognitive impairment and their transition to dementia.

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Change in any form is threatening and so is the change due to COVID-19 infection. In the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India, many have been infected with coronavirus and many have lost their lives. There was a surge of anxiety, depression and suicide. The impact on psychological functioning also has been immense. There has been a surge in anxiety and depression as the major tool typically used to cope with stress, such as social support, couldn’t be utilized properly. The fear of acquiring COVID 19 infection (coronophobia) and using excessive hygiene measures were also on the rise (3,4). The fear has become more pronounced as living with coronavirus with constant precautions has become the new norm

We would like to present a case report in which the patient developed psychosis due to fear of acquiring COVID 19 infection

Case-report

The first patient was a 37 years old male, farmer who has onset of his symptoms during Covid-19 pandemic in India in 2020. He would be restless and fearful all the time and would take necessary precautions and follow all the necessary hygiene protocols. During the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in India, there were few deaths in his locality. This made him more restless and fearful and he began to believe that he also had acquired covid infection. Despite repeated negative results for SARS-Cov 2, he would deny the results findings. He developed psychotic symptoms during second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was managed on antipsychotics with full remission in six months.

A great deal of attention should be paid to the diagnosis, course and treatment of anxiety caused by COVID-19. If left untreated, it could trigger greater problems such as psychosis as in our case

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