There is substantial evidence indicating that pharmacological treatments targeting glutamatergic transmission are of potential utility in the treatment of drug addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of glutamatergic treatments in patients with pathological gambling.

Fifteen patients fulfilling criteria for pathological gambling and receiving drugs with effects on glutamatergic transmission (amantadine, N-acetylcysteine, gabapentin, pregabalin and topiramate) were enrolled. Gambling craving (Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale, G-SAS, and visual analogue scale, VAS) and relapse (Gambling Timeline Follow Back, G-TLFB) rating scales were administered before and after treatment (1, 3, 6 months follow-up).

Gambling craving and behavior were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) during the study period. Glutamatergic medications also yielded an improvement in treatment retention.

Our results are discussed in the context of the glutamatergic hypothesis of addiction. Our data seem to confirm the utility of targeting the glutamatergic system for the treatment of PG, in particular by acting on craving and increasing treatment retention. in particular, glutamatergic medications may offer some advantages in preventing relapse.

Aim of the study is to evaluate the oral-motor speech disorders in Alzheimer's disease as compared to the speech disorders occurring in the physiological process of aging.

We examined 22 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the age of 68 to 90 years. The control group (C) consisted of 22 people. The test has 5 parts: dialogic speech, descriptive speech, naming, repeating and speaking automated verbal sequences.

Statistically significant differences between AD and C groups in the number of correct and incorrect answers were found. The greatest difference was found between AD and C groups in the descriptive speech. During the repetition of monosyllabic and polysyllabic words in AD occurred significantly more often the articulation errors on repeated speech productions of the same utterance.

The results confirmed the presence of oral-motor speech disorders in Alzheimer's disease. It was stated articulation errors, periphrases and jams. These errors occur in the structure of lexical-semantic and phonological system of the language. No abnormalities were noted in the area of grammar.

Various psychomotor dysfunctions are observed in opioid addicts and HIV- and HIV+ persons. Finding markers and methods for accurately determining the psychomotor functioning has practical importance in the diagnosis, monitoring and modification of treatment.

The aim of the study is to evaluate the sensory-motor coordination, procedural memory and motor learning in HIV- and HIV+ opioid addicts during methadone maintenance treatment.

28 HIV- (19 men and 9 women) and 39 HIV+ (23 men and 16 women) addicts treated with opioid replacement therapy (ORT) were examined. The mean age of participants: 40.1 years HIV-, 38.4 years HIV+, the mean daily dose of methadone: 69.82 ml HIV-, 69.95 ml HIV+, the average duration of addiction: 23.2 years HIV -, 20.4 years HIV+. To evaluate the hand-eye coordination and motor learning Pursuit Rotor Task (PRT) was used.

It was found that HIV+ addicts are more than 25% lower psychomotor performance for hand-eye coordination as compared to HIV- addicts and 50% lower efficiency compared to healthy ones. in HIV+ addicts compared to the HIV- addicts and the healthy ones were more tremor with high amplitude and low frequency and less tremor with small amplitude and high frequency.

The HIV+ opioid addicts have worse motor coordination compared to HIV- addicts and healthy ones but no impairment of motor learning.

The role of social factors in suicidal behaviour is long established. There is growing evidence supporting the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS), as developed by Joiner et al., which postulates that two psychological dimensions linked to thwarted fundamental interpersonal needs, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness are linked to the onset of suicidal desire. The Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) has been designed to assess those dimensions for use in research on the aetiology of suicidal behaviour and as a component of risk assessment in clinical settings. There is currently no available French version.

Our objective was to provide a French adaptation of the INQ. We translated the INQ, and then examined the construct validity of INQ-F in a clinical setting.

The INQ was translated and administered to 50 patients admitted for suicide attempt or suicidal ideation. Scales with validated French versions were used to assess the following dimensions: suicide risk (Ducher Suicide Risk Assessment Scale (RSD), depression (BDI-SF and MADRS), hopelessness (Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and social vulnerability (EPICES).

INQ-F was significantly correlated with suicide risk (rho= .737, p < .001), depression, hopelessness and social isolation. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's alpha = .9137).

Our results support the construct validity of the INQ-F, although complementary studies are needed to further establish it, as well as the relevance of the ITS for suicide risk assessment in clinical settings.

The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the use of opioid drugs and speech intelligibility and discrimination of sound frequencies.

44 opioid addicts (10 women and 34 men) during methadone maintenance treatment were examined. The mean age of participants 33 ± 9 years; the average duration of addiction: 12 years. The Polish Sentence Test (PTZ) for speech intelligibility measurements was used. The test consists of the presentation of 26 sentences, which were disrupted by the babble-noise. in the study of frequency discrimination experimental method is used. Two signals of different frequencies were presented. The task of the study is to identify the frequency-modulated stimulus (target). The study was conducted in a soundproof booth. The Psychoacoustics and Speech Workstations by Tucker Davis Technologies was used.

The difference in speech intelligibility and frequency discrimination between opioid addicts and healthy ones was found. The average value of the intensity of speech sounds in noise (Signal-to-Noise Ratio - SNR) in opioid addicts was -3.7 dB and in healthy ones was -5.6 dB. There was no correlation between the duration of addiction and the speech intelligibility in noise or frequency discrimination.

The influence of taking opioids for speech intelligibility and frequency discrimination was found.

The aim of research is to assess a speech perception in alcohol addicts and healthy ones.

65 alcohol addicts (mean age 38 years, min. 22, max. 66 years) were examined. Patients admitted hearing impaired were excluded. The average duration of addiction: 8.8 years. The measure of speech understanding is the ratio of correctly received phonetic elements to the total number of presented ones. Speech understanding is often determined in the presence of masking noise. Respondents are to arrangement of sentences with words heard in the noise. The test determines the intensity of speech, for which - if it is presented in the noise - observed in 50% of correct answers. This parameter is called the Threshold Reception Speech (SRT). The logatom intelligibility test consists with over 150 presented stimuli. Both tests were conducted in a soundproof booth

In the speech understanding test were found significant difference of average SRT between alcohol addict and healthy ones. The better understanding of speech was found in healthy individuals. in a study conducted in the final phase of detoxification treatment, it was found that the level of speech understanding in addicts was improved (statistically significant). in the logatom intelligibility test wasn’t differences.

It was found that alcohol dependence is associated with worse perception of speech.

A comparison of addiction patterns and occurrence rates between European and United States Veterans will be the backdrop for introducing strategies for treatment and recovery models. Addiction therapists and Case Managers working within the context of the Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States have reported successful use of movies as motivational instruments and sources of heightened insight.

To introduce a catalog of movies that support motivational treatment strategies for addiction.

To explore the experiences of therapists working with movies as treatment adjuncts

To provide an analysis of the effect of the creative impact on therapy within current recovery models.

To encourage therapists and increase confidence in utilizing movies within treatment contexts.

A compendium of relevant movies will be presented. Special attention will be paid to legal issues in Europe/US with regard to when permission is needed to use movie material within the context of treatment. Material from large group of addiction therapists will be made available and analyzed within addiction treatment models.

The anonymous case examples and therapists’ experiences using movies as therapeutic adjuncts will increase awareness, confidence and ability to integrate this approach into approaches to addiction treatment.

Use of movies in addiction treatment increases awareness, creates insights and provides explicit emotional points of identification for patients and clients that facilitate understanding and engagement as treatment is introduced and progresses.

Because of the different receptor profiles, atypical antipsychotics are known to cause metabolic changes such as increased weight gain, type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia,.

In this study, we aimed to observe metabolic side effects of drug use of patients receiving antipsychotic medication in first-episode psychotic disorder.

49 male patients who were hospitalized at Gulhane Military Medical Academy Psychiatry Department with a diagnosis of psychotic disorder according to DSM-IV criteria between May 2011–2012 were included in the study. Blood lipid profiles and liver and renal function tests of the patients before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment were evaluated.

Of the patients participating in the study of 16 were using olanzapine, 15 risperidone, 6 quetiapine, 5 aripiprazole and 7 haloperidol. There was no statistically significant difference between patients before and after treatment in terms of blood lipid profile, the liver and kidney functions. There was also no significant difference according to the antipsychotic drug used.

In studies with long-term follow-up of 6 months or 1 year or a short-term follow-up as 1 month with atypical antipsychotics these values usually seems to have changed. As a result of 2-month follow-up at our study, patients that were being treated with atypical antipsychotics have not shown any changes in the metabolic values.

Psychological hardiness is one of the powerful personality characteristics individuals posses that can help them improve their ability to cope with illness and external pressures. Some researchers considered psychological hardiness as a general criterion for mental health. That is, hardiness can depict a total outcome of mental health in individuals.

The present study aimed at comparing psychological hardiness with mental health among students in Paym-e-noor University in the city of Babol, Iran.

A causal-comparative (ex post facto) design was used to carry out this research. All students studying in Babol Payam-e-noor University in academic year 2012–2013 were involved in the statistical population of the research. 200 students were selected through simple random sampling. Tools of this research were both Hardiness and Mental Health Questionnaires used to analyze data with SPSS software.

Results showed a significant difference between psychological hardiness and mental health variables among male and female students. The mean score of illness criteria in male students was significantly higher than that of in female students. Also, the mean score of psychological hardiness variable in female students was higher than that of in male students.

Psychological hardiness is one of the powerful personality characteristics individuals posses that can help them improve their ability to cope with illness and external pressures. Some researchers considered psychological hardiness as a general criterion for mental health. That is, hardiness can depict a total outcome of mental health in individuals.

Job-related stress is considered a main factor to cause illness resulting in increaseing nurses’ absence from work. This study investigated the relationship of job-related stress in nursing career to the big five personality factors in personnel in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Yasuj, Iran.

A correlative study was conducted with statistical population of all nursing personnel in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Yasuj. 83 nurses working in the hospital were randomly selected to form the statistical sample.

Results revealed no significant positive link between Neo personality traits and job-related stress, death-related stress, conflict with doctors, problems with colleagues, problems with supervisors, amount of work, lack of confidence in treatments, patient and their families -related stress and discrimination-related stress whereas a significant positive relationship between the lack of adequately emotional intelligence and neuroticism- two neo personality factors- (P = 018 and R = 259)was observed. Results of regression analysis indicated that neuroticism could only predict one of the job-related stress (i.e. lack of adequately emotional intelligence) (β = 259). This variable explained only 0.05% variance of nurses’ job-related stress. Also, no prediction could be made by considering factors such as introversion-extroversion, openness, dutifulness as associated with job-related stress in nurses while agreeability could affect the prediction of problems with colleagues-related stress(β = 364),which determined 12% of total variance.

Results have shown that nurses’ score is at the higher level than mean regarding stress related to lack of confidence in treatments, which can be mitigated through workshops and scheduled and applicable training programs.

Based on the assumptions of Group Analysis theorized by Burrow and Foulkes, in the Center for Mental Health of Casarano (Department of Mental Health of Lecce, Italy), it has been experienced the “Workshop of words, sounds and music”, with the aim to develop and empower the skills of the participants promoting the functional re-inclusion in the context of normal life.

The work group has provided weekly meetings and involved 12 schizophrenic patients followed by the Mental Health Center of Casarano. It was stimulated the writing of songs first by lyrics and then by melody starting from individual and group introspective thoughts.

Several songs have been created by the participants and it was released a CD in the recording studio.

It was possible to develop creative moments in which they could be expressed deep emotions that dwell in the individual lives of the protagonists stimulating at the same time socialization as an intrinsic part of the therapeutic process. This allowed the metaphorical language of the unconscious could be communicated to the conscious, resulting in a curative effect on psychosis. in this way, the pent-up energy from the disease has been usefully channeled in a group setting where each component has expressed a new access to mental regenerative sources.

The aim of the study was to disclose the meaning of both clinico-psychopathological and character traits of smoking adolescents in organizing special antinicotine programs.

85 adolescents, middle age 16,1, regular smoking period more, then 1 year. All the adolescents had special clinical signs of tobacco dependence (TD): easy-going adaptation to nicotine intoxication; fast growth of smoking intensity, 1 cigarette per day; the craving for tobacco symptoms (impossibility to control the mental ideas of smoking, somato-vegetative disturbances, high level of irritation, attention deficit). The character traits of heavy smoking adolescents were complicated (according DSM-IV) and included schizo-hysteric, schizo-epileptoid origin

Character traits were strongly associated with intensity of ideatory symptoms of TD and irritation level.

Heavy smoking adolescents need special therapy including both personality and TD approaches - bio-feed-back, psychotherapy.