Psychotic patients are a vulnerable population from a social and health point of view. The SARS Cov-2 pandemic affected millions of people around the world, however, its effects on psychotic patients in Avilés Spain, have not been analized.

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the mortality of patients with psychosis due to SARS Cov-2 in Avilés, Spain with others regions and countries in the European Union. Determine the influence of social condition and antipsychotic treatment on the condition of these patients.

This is a descriptive, observational study, in which patients diagnosed with psychosis in the period 2020-2021 who contracted SARS Cov-2 infection in Avilés, Spain, were studied to determine those who died from this cause. The influence of social status and antipsychotic medication, as well as sociodemographic factors (age, sex, marital status) were analyzed and compared with other regions and countries of the European Union.

Despite the high mortality rate in patients with psychosis, during the years of the pandemic SARS Cov-2 played an important role given the vulnerability of these patients.

The negative effects and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic were at the time a major problem for public health worldwide. This study concluded that the morbidity and mortality of psychotic patients who contracted COVID-19 was lower than the rest of the population.

None Declared

The coronavirus pandemic has affected mental health since its outbreak in 2019 and several studies have revealed that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients were adversely affected.

The aim of our present report is to study the impact of the coronavirus infection on OCD.

We illustrate a case of new emerging obsessions and compulsions after a COVID-19 infection in a patient consulting at the Psychiatry C department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital.

Mr. HB first presented in our outpatient unit of the Psychiatry C department at the age of 32. His medical history was unremarkable except for a COVID-19 infection in June 2022 that did not cause any organic complications. His family history was negative without neurological and psychiatric diseases. Further history revealed that OCD symptoms already started before his infection with COVID-19. At that time, he suffered from compulsions with the urge to constantly wash his hands and check rituals, but his symptoms were not severe enough to make him seek a psychiatric consult or treatment. However, since July 2022, soon after his infection with COVID-19, he suffered from new obsessions and compulsions, he would spend hours calculating all the numbers he sees and counting the number of letters in the words he came across. Non-surprisingly, OCD symptoms caused relevant problems in social life, and at work, he had difficulties concentrating and working. Due to his symptoms, he had neglected hobbies, avoided social contact, spent less time with his family, and even had suicidal thoughts. Therefore, pharmacotherapy with clomipramine was initiated with a maximal dose of 150 mg/d. Because of adverse events and lack of efficacy, he stopped medication and decided to consult our department to seek a different treatment. Therefore, sertraline was started at the dose of 50 mg/d along with psychotherapy.

People with OCD are likely to be more susceptible to the mental health impact of COVID-19. Responses to the pandemic are not only associated with an increase in all Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms and their severity but also the emergence of new types of obsessions and compulsions. Consequently, therapists should consider the effects of the pandemic on all OC symptom dimensions and adjust their treatment plans accordingly.

None Declared

It is known that many psychopharmacological drugs have anti-inflammatory, as well as antibacterial and antiviral effects.

To investigate the association between the severity and duration criteria of COVID-19 with psychopharmacotherapy in double-diagnosed patients.

A total of 169 case histories from a specialized infectious psychiatric department (May 2020 to January 2021) were evaluated. Progression indicators of severe and mild COVID-19, along with the duration of persistent SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding, were assessed in correlation with the administration of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors (FIASMA-active drugs).

The use of any psychotropic agents was associated with a 0.9% increase in the risk of severe course of COVID-19 for each unit increase in the systemic inflammation index PLR, specifically in patients with intellectual disability (ICD-10 codes F70-79), when compared to patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10 codes F20-29): R²McF=0.138; AIC=181; χ²=25.8; df=9; p=0.002. High PLR values and the use of FIASMA-active drugs were associated with prolonged COVID-19 duration, while antidepressant therapy and elevated C-reactive protein levels were associated with a reduced predicted duration of viral shedding in 13.8% of variance: R²=0.0864; AIC=1299; F=5.2(3), p=0.002. Including the nosology of psychiatric disorders in the regression model increased the proportion of explained variance to 22.8%.

Thymoanaleptic therapy for individuals with psychiatric disorders may act as a protective factor against COVID-19. There is no evidence suggesting adverse effects of antipsychotics on the severity and duration of COVID-19. Further research is necessary to investigate the effects of FIASMA-active psychopharmacological agents within nosologically homogeneous groups.

None Declared

The nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is the first choice for screening for depression in primary care and other medical settings. The PHQ-9 has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of depression symptoms, but there is disagreement among researchers about the factor structure of this questionnaire. Recent systematic reviews have found four different factor models of the PHQ-9, with one- and two-factor models being the most common. This discrepancy may be due to linguistic, cultural and clinical differences between the populations studied. The factor structure of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been examined in any study to date.

The aim of our study was to determine the factorial structure and internal consistency of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 in COVID-19 survivors.

Fourteen thousand 725 (female - 11479 (78.0%), age - 18-79 years (M - 47.09, SD - 12.70) participants completed an online survey including the PHQ-9 and an ad hoc questionnaire focusing on sociodemographic and COVID-related characteristics. McDonald’s omega coefficient was estimated to determine the internal consistency of the questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) with weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted estimator and geomin rotation was performed in Mplus 7.

ESEM provided evidence for a three-factor structure of the PHQ-9, representing affective (items 2, 6, 9), anergic (items 1, 3) and somatic (items 3, 5, 7, 8) dimensions of depression. These factors fit the data well (CFI - 0.998; TLI - 0.994; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.028 (0.024 - 0.032)), better than a single factor (CFI - 0. 955; TLI - 0. 940; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.089 (0.087 - 0.092)) and two-factor (CFI - 0.985; TLI - 0.971; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.062 (0.059 - 0.065)). The McDonald’s omega was 0.82.

Our study revealed a three-factor structure of the Russian version of the PHQ-9 in COVID-19 survivors. COVID-19. A high internal consistency of the Russian version of the instrument was confirmed.

None Declared

Rates of anxiety in the general population increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several studies have shown that people exposed to SARS-CoV2 are at increased risk for both exacerbation and de novo development of anxiety disorders. Therefore, screening for anxiety disorders in this at-risk population is essential. In pre-pandemic studies, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) was one of the most commonly used self-report instruments. Its validity has been demonstrated in several studies. However, there is no agreement among researchers about its underlying internal structure. Both one-factor and two-factor solutions have been reported. This discrepancy may be due to linguistic, cultural, and clinical differences between the populations studied. To our knowledge, no studies have been conducted to investigate the factor structure of the GAD-7 in the Russian-speaking community sample and the psychometric properties of this questionnaire in SARS-CoV2 exposed individuals.

The aim of the study was to determine the factorial structure and internal consistency of the Russian version of the GAD-7 in a large sample of Moscow residents exposed to SARS-CoV2.

Fourteen thousand 725 (male - 11479 (78.0%), age - 18-79 years (M - 47.09, SD - 12.70) Moscow residents exposed to SARS-CoV2 completed an online survey including the GAD-7 and an ad hoc questionnaire focusing on socio-demographic characteristics. McDonald’s Omega was used to assess internal consistency. Exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) with weighted least squares means and variance adjusted estimator and geomin rotation was used to assess the factor structure of the Russian version of the GAD-7.

The McDonald’s Omega of the Russian version of the GAD-7 was 0.85, indicating a good internal consistency of the questionnaire. ESEM provided evidence for a one-factor solution that fits the data well (CFI - 0.996; TLI - 0.995; RMSEA (95% CI) - 0.041 (0.037 - 0.045)).

In Russian people exposed to SARS-CoV2, the GAD-7 showed good internal consistency. Our results are consistent with those of previous studies that reported a single-factor solution for the questionnaire.

None Declared

Caregivers in the Sfax region, Tunisia, having been at the forefront in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, were therefore faced with intense stress. It seemed useful and interesting to us to study their adaptation strategies during this period of pandemic.

The aims of our study were to identify the coping strategies used by Tunisian Healthcare workers (HCW) during the Covid-19 pandemic and to study the links of the different coping strategies with perceived social support and trait anxiety.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted among 254 Tunisian HCW working at the Habib Bourguiba and Hedi Chaker university hospitals in Sfax, during period from January 2021 to April 2021. the questionnaire used included an information sheet and three scales; “Social support questionary 6” (SSQ-6), “State Trait Inventory Anxiety Form Y2” (STAI-Y2), and “Ways of Coping Checklist” (WCC).

Using the WCC scale, the strategy most used by participants was the problem-focused one (M = 2.98 ±0.53), followed by the emotion-focused strategy (M = 2.65 ±0 .58), and that centered on the search for social support (M = 2.64 ±0.59). Using the SSQ-6, the mean score for the availability of perceived social support was equal to 8.91±4.59 and the score mean perceived satisfaction was equal to 28.63±5.84. The prevalence of trait anxiety was 50%, according to the STAI-Y2. Statistical tests showed that problem-focused coping was the strategy most adopted by non-anxious participants. They also showed that the higher the availability of perceived social support, the more the social support-seeking coping strategy was chosen, and the higher the perceived satisfaction with perceived social support, the less the emotion-focused strategy was chosen.

It seems necessary to propose a learning program for coping strategies to counter the potential emergence of ineffective strategies and to reinforce the use of effective strategies, in order to improve or maintain optimal well-being of health personnel.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented major health crisis. Current data suggest that psychiatric sequelae may persist for a long time in survivors after infection.

The objectives of our study were to determine the frequency of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder in patients after hospitalization for COVID-19 infection, and to investigate factors associated with their occurrence as well as to identify coping behaviors in these patients.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Ibn Jazzar Kairouan Hospital between September and December 2021 among patients who consulted three months after their hospitalizations for COVID-19 infection. The assessment of the different psychiatric disorders was performed using the validated Arabic versions of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Coping behaviors were studied using the Brief-COPE scale.

Our work included 104 patients. The median age was 55.5 years [IQR:47-64]. The gender ratio M/F was 1.12. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were found in 26.9% and 25% of cases, respectively. The frequency of post-traumatic stress disorder was 22.1% and that of sleep disorders was 41.3%. Problem-solving strategies were the most widely adopted, followed by emotion-focused strategies. Younger age, female gender, persistence of a physical symptom, impairment of daily activity, and stigma were factors independently associated with psychological distress. No association was found between the intensive care unit stay and psychiatric disorders. Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were negatively correlated with the different psychological outcomes studied.

Psychological distress in COVID-19 survivors persists beyond the acute phase and results from an intricacy of several factors. This highlights the importance of regular psychiatric follow-up after hospitalization in order to identify and treat, as early as possible, psychiatric disorders.

None Declared

As the global community grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, its reverberations extend beyond the realm of physical health, significantly impacting mental health care systems. This article delves into the multifaceted effects of COVID-19 on community mental health care referrals, scrutinizing the challenges, adaptations, and potential innovations that have emerged in the wake of this unprecedented crisis. By examining the nuanced interplay between the pandemic and mental health care access, we seek to shed light on crucial considerations for the future of community mental health services in a post-pandemic landscape.

To understand impact of Covid 19 pandemic on number of referrals received by a specific community mental health service.

We analysed number of referrals to a specific community mental health services since July 2019 until July 2022.

During the period assessed we noticed a significant decrease to number of new referrals to a specific community mental health service with onset of covid 19 pandemic. We also noticed a progressive increase to the number of referrals in the first six months of July 2022.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on attendance to healthcare appointments, leading to decreased attendance, shift to telemedicine, delays in care, increased no-shows, and rescheduling of appointments. The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of being prepared for and able to adapt to changes in the healthcare landscape.

None Declared

Baseline beliefs, as conceptualized by R. Janoff-Bulman in her cognitive theory of mental trauma, represent an inherent internal framework that shapes how individuals perceive and assess traumatic events. It is widely acknowledged that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the global economy and the living conditions of individuals. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that during a pandemic, one’s ability to adapt to these altered circumstances is influenced by their foundational beliefs. Consequently, exploring these fundamental beliefs in two at-risk groups, namely university students and individuals with confirmed HIV, becomes a subject of significant interest.

This study aims to examine the fundamental beliefs of patients with HIV and university students in the context of the second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic in Russia.

Data collection took place from January to July 2021 using a custom-developed Google form. The study involved 35 Russian university students majoring in humanities and 59 HIV-positive patients. We employed the WAS-37 methodology, adapted for use in Russia, to assess their baseline beliefs.

We found that on the scales “Fairness” (M = 21.00±3.73 - students, M = 20.53±4.63 - patients, p = 0.616), “Luck” (M = 31.74±5.06 vs M = 29.59±7.33, p = 0.129) and “Control beliefs” (M = 26.66±4.80 vs M = 27.12±4.42, p = 0.636) students did not differ from patients. Scores on the Environment Benevolence scale were higher in students (M = 35.46±7.33 vs M = 30.50±7.09, p = 0.002) and on the Self Image scale were higher in HIV patients (M = 26.63±6.97 vs M = 30.03±5.41, p = 0.010).

During the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, individuals living with HIV, when compared to students, tended to perceive the world around them as being more perilous and unfriendly, while simultaneously viewing themselves as possessing greater integrity. From our perspective, this latter observation could be interpreted as a means of self-defence against the perceived hostility of the external world. In such pandemic circumstances, it may be advisable to consider the use of supportive psychotherapy for individuals living with HIV.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s lives, affecting various aspects of society and potentially altering the quality of life of certain groups. The World Health Organisation defines quality of life as an individual’s physical, psychological, emotional, and social health as perceived by themselves in relation to society. It appears that the pandemic disproportionately affected the most susceptible societal segments, comprising university students who encountered significant stress due to the shift to remote learning, and individuals living with HIV who faced difficulties in accessing medical assistance.

The study aimed to investigate the quality of life of students studying the humanities disciplines and HIV patients during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.

Data collection was conducted from January to July 2021, using a Google form developed by the researchers. The study included 35 students from Russian universities studying humanities specialities and 59 HIV-positive patients. To check the quality of life, we used the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, adapted for use in Russia.

We found that on the domains “physical and psychological well-being” (M = 20.26±3.89 - students, M = 21.43±3.62 - patients, p = 0.144) and “self-image” (M = 19.11±3.53 vs M = 19.52±2.92, p = 0.553) respondents from the two groups did not differ from each other. The domain “microsocial support” was more pronounced in students than patients (M = 10.71±2.48 vs M = 9.17±2.96, p = 0.011). A similar situation was observed in “social well-being” (M = 27.23±4.33 vs M = 24.97±5.24, p = 0.034).

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, individuals living with HIV experienced a lower quality of life compared to students in humanities disciplines. Individuals living with HIV reported lower satisfaction with their relationships within their immediate environment, including family and friends, as well as their overall social well-being, encompassing factors like safety, material wealth, access to medical care, and transportation. In these pandemic conditions, it became evident that individuals with HIV required more extensive social support measures than students.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly become a stressful event for medical workers, so the aim of this research was to study the pandemic-specific working conditions that may be associated with the professional burnout of medical workers in Russia.

To study the pandemic-specific working conditions that may be associated with the professional burnout of medical workers in Russia.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the level of professional burnout. It was filled out by medical workers from January 2021 to November 2022.

The sample consisted of 314 medical workers (57 men and 255 women), whose average age was 36.97±11.93. According to the level of education, the sample included specialists with secondary general education (4.14%), with secondary special education (19.4%), with incomplete higher education (11.46%), with higher education (59.87%) and PhD (5.1%). 35 people (11%) of the surveyed medical workers worked in the red zone.

Working in the red zone is significantly associated with Emotional Exhaustion (p=0.002) and Depersonalization (p=0.002), but not with a Reduction in Professionalism.

The working conditions of medical workers who were significantly associated simultaneously with Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization and Reduction of professionalism (respectively): (1) Lack of confidence in support from the health system and the state in case of illness (r=0.170, p=0.002; r=0.202, p=0.000; r=-0.171, 0. 002); (2) Inability to meet the usual personal needs (daily routine, nutrition, communication with loved ones) as employment increases at work (r=0.200, p=0.000; r=0.154, p=0.006; r=-0.186, 0. 001); (3) Lack of confidence in their own professional competence in the fight against COVID-19 due to lack of knowledge about COVID-19 (r=0.202, p=0.000; r=0.148, p=0.009; r=-0.211, 0. 000); (4) Lack of confidence in their own effectiveness in the fight against COVID-19 due to the increase in the volume of work and the expansion of the scope of professional responsibilities (r=0.234, p=0.000; r=0.152, p=0.007; r=-0.177, 0. 002); (5) Lack of access to up-to-date information about COVID-19 (r=0.190, p=0.001; r=0.158, p=0.005; r=-0.140, 0. 013).

The Emotional Exhaustion scale is also associated with the fear of getting infected and getting sick with COVID-19 (r=0.125; p=0.026), as well as the lack of quick access to testing when COVID-19 symptoms appear (r=0.169; p=0.003).

Thus, not only work in the red zone, but also many specific working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic can become a provocateur factor for the deterioration of the emotional state of medical workers.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

None Declared

Many medical workers suffered from severe professional burnout while working in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few of them had the opportunity to find psychological help.

The aim of the research was to study the relationship between emotional burnout and self-help strategies in medical professionals during the pandemic.

The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the level of professional burnout. It was filled out by medical workers from January 2021 to November 2022.

The sample consisted of 314 medical workers (57 men and 255 women), whose average age was 36.97±11.93. According to the level of education, the sample included specialists with secondary general education (4.14%), with secondary special education (19.4%), with incomplete higher education (11.46%), with higher education (59.87%) and PhD (5.1%). 35 people (11%) of the surveyed medical workers worked in the red zone.

When medical workers experience severe Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, they often try to help themselves by drinking alcohol (r=0.156; p=0.005; r=0.184; p=0.001), eating (r=0.227; p=0.000; r=0.151; p=0.007), taking medications (r=0.204; p=0.000; r=0.212; p=0.005), solitude (r=0.204; p=0.000; r=0.133; p=0.019), watching TV series (r=0.173; p=0.002; r=0.146; p=0.01). With an increase in the Reduction of professional skills, medical workers also eat more (r=-0.148; p=0.009) and try to learn something new, engage in self-development (r=-0.137; p=0.015). It is important to note that the desire to seek psychological help is associated only with Emotional Exhaustion (r=0.121, p=0.032), that is, he/she may be aware at an early stage of professional burnout, when the symptoms of depersonalization and reduction of professional skills have not yet occurred.

Thus, all the considered self-help methods are already used with pronounced symptoms of professional burnout, but do not lead to its pronounced decrease. It is important to note that seeking psychological help is possible with awareness of emotional exhaustion, but not with depersonalization and reduction of professional skills.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to mental well-being both for patients who have suffered from coronavirus disease and for medical workers of this period. The difference in perceptions about COVID-19 in patients and those who care for them reflects the peculiarities of assessing the coronavirus pandemic and their own coping capabilities.

The aim of the research was to compare the perceptions about COVID-19 in patients and medical professionals during the pandemic.

A Short questionnaire of Disease Perception (E. Broadbent) was used to study patients’ perceptions about COVID-19 disease. The same questionnaire was modified for the perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic to study the peculiarities of the perceptions about COVID-19 by medical professionals.

The study was conducted from January 2021 to November 2022. The sample consisted of 314 medical workers (57 men and 255 women), whose average age was 36.97±11.93, and 390 patients (64 men and 326 women), whose average age was 28.58±10.74. 35 people (11%) of the surveyed medical workers worked in the red zone.

Medical professionals and patients tend to assess the impact of the pandemic on life in the same way. However, according to medical professionals, the COVID-19 pandemic will last longer than according to patients (4.93±2.81 vs 3.18±2.29, p=0.000). Doctors assess their ability to control the pandemic significantly worse than patients assess their disease as a result of coronavirus infection (2.82±2.28 vs 5.30±2.88, p=0.000). Medical workers have a worse assessment of the effectiveness of the measures taken to combat the pandemic (4.75±2.63 vs 5.50±2.67, p=0.000). Doctors are less likely to find symptoms of coronavirus (2.88±2.32 vs 4.98±2.75, p=0.000) and less concerned about the spread of COVID-19 (3.75±2.55 vs 4.20±2.63, p=0.023). Whereas patients have a worse understanding of what COVID-19 is (6.32±2.87 vs 5.52±2.83, p=0.000), and they believe that COVID-19 affects their emotional state to a greater extent than doctors did (3.60±2.66 vs 4.39±2.90, p=0.000).

Thus, the specifics of the perceptions about COVID-19 may largely depend on whether a person is faced with a coronavirus in the role of a patient or a medical worker. The emotional state of patients is more affected by the pandemic combined with a worse understanding of COVID-19, while medical workers feel less control and tend to regard the measures taken to combat the pandemic as less effective.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

None Declared

Work in the severe conditions of the pandemic has become a risk factor for the deterioration of the medical workers’ psychological state, which together can lead to professional burnout and, as a consequence, to professional mistakes (Pervichko, Konyukhovskaya, 2020).

The aim of the research was to study the connection between personal factors of medical workers and professional burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The degree of professional burnout was assessed using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) (Maslach, 2000; Vodopianova, Starchenkova, 2008), HEXACO Personality Inventory (short version) was used to study personality traits (Ashton, Lee, 2007; Egorova, et al., 2019).

The study was conducted from May 2020 to October 2022. The sample consisted of 197 medical workers (32 men and 165 women), whose average age was 38.85±12.05.

Honesty as a personality trait is negatively significantly associated with emotional exhaustion (r=-0.268, p=0.000), depersonalization (r=-0.323, p=0.000) and positively associated with a smaller reduction in professionalism (r=0.290, p=0.000). Emotionality in medical workers is positively significantly associated with emotional exhaustion (r=0.358, p=0.000) and depersonalization (r=0.243, p=0.001) and with a greater reduction in professionalism (r=-0.380, p=0.000). Extroversion is negatively associated with emotional exhaustion (r=-0.478, p=0.000) and depersonalization (r=-0.376, p=0.000) and positively associated with a smaller reduction in professional achievements (r=0.566, p=0.000). Benevolence and conscientiousness reveal negative associations with depersonalization (r=-0.248, p=0.001; r=-0.180, p=0.012) and positive associations with a smaller reduction in professionalism (r=0.190, p=0.008; r=0.301, p=0.000).

Thus, the state of emotional exhaustion during burnout is associated with greater emotionality, less honesty and extroversion. Whereas depersonalization and a greater negative assessment of one’s own professional competence and productivity is associated with less honesty, more emotionality, less extroversion, benevolence and consciousness.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

None Declared

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the psychological state of the population, the individual experience of COVID-19 disease may affect the content of perceptions about coronavirus in those who have been ill with it.

The aim of the research was to study the connection between patients’ experience of the disease and their perceptions about COVID-19.

A Short questionnaire of Disease Perception (E. Broadbent) was used to study patients’ perceptions about COVID-19 disease. The wording “disease” was replaced with “COVID-19 disease”.

The study was conducted from January 2021 to November 2022. The sample consisted of 390 patients (64 men and 326 women), whose average age was 28.58±10.74.

The subjective assessment of the duration of COVID-19 disease and its impact on the patient’s life is higher if the patient is still sick with COVID-19 (r=0.340, p=0.008; r=0.312, p=0.000), in a more severe form (r=0.341, p=0.000; r=0.298, p=0.000), less satisfied with the attitude of medical workers during illness (r=0.151, p=0.003; r=0.143, p=0.005), more afraid for the health of their loved ones (r=-0.194, p=0.000; r=-0.181, p=0.000). At the same time, greater concern about COVID-19 and a greater assessment of its impact on the emotional state is associated with patients’ fear for the health of loved ones (r=-0.267, p=0.000; r=-0.242, p=0.000) and more severe course of the disease (r=0.107, p=0.035; r=0.126, p=0.013). Less sense of control in a COVID-19 disease situation is associated with a more severe course of the disease and greater fear for the health of loved ones (r=-0.174, p=0.001; r=0.154, p=0.002).

Thus, whether the patient has recovered after COVID-19 or not yet, how severe this disease was, how satisfied he was with the attitude of medical workers towards him during the illness and how much he fears for the health of loved ones during the pandemic, is related to such perceptions about COVID-19 disease as an assessment of the disease duration, its impact on life, emotional state, concern about one’s own illness and understanding of its nature.

Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.

None Declared

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on March 11th 2020. Since then, the containment measures were leading to increasing mental health problems in the general population and worsening of some pre‑existing psychiatric conditions. To our knowledge, there are few studies characterizing the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on psychiatric hospitalizations across the world.

We aimed to compare the number and characteristics of the hospitalizations in the mental health department of a Portuguese psychiatric hospital from March 2nd 2019 to October 31st 2019 with those that occurred in the same period in 2020.

We conducted a retrospective observational study including all patients admitted to hospital during these periods (n=805). Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics and information about the context of hospitalization were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using t Student Test, Mann‑Whitney and Chi‑square.

In the pandemic period there was a marked reduction in the number of psychiatric hospitalizations. There was a statistically significant difference in the median length of stay and in the percentage of involuntary hospitalizations between the two periods. In 2019, the most frequent International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision) diagnostic categories were F30‑F39 (mood disorders) and in 2020 were F20‑F29 (schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders).

The reorganization of services and the decrease in admissions through the emergency department may explain these results.

None Declared

Long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and other assisted living facilities, have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19. The overall pandemic created an enormous pressure on long-term care workers (LTCWs), making them particularly vulnerable to mental disorders. However, most of the existing evidence regarding the well-being of care professionals has predominantly focused on frontline healthcare workers.

This study aimed to identify long-term psychological needs of LTCWs derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of a project that is developing an intervention to reduce psychological distress in this population group.

We performed a qualitative study with a rapid research approach. Participants were recruited from long-term care facilities located in Catalonia, Spain. Between April and September 2022, we conducted semi-structured interviews inquiring about the most psychologically challenging stages of the pandemic, perceived emotions during those stages, main determinants of those emotions, and their emotional state at the time of the interview. We used a qualitative content analysis method with an inductive-deductive approach.

Thirty LTCWs participated in the study. Mean age was 44 (SD=11,4), 87% were females and one third were from foreign nationalities. The period of the pandemic with highest mental health burden was the outbreak, with almost every worker having experienced some form of emotional distress. Emotional distress persisted over time in more than half of participants, with fatigue and nervousness being the main emotions expressed at the time of the interview. High workload, feeling that pandemic times are not over and poor working conditions that have remained since then, have been the most frequently expressed determinants of such emotions.

Long after the pandemic outbreak, emotional distress is still relevant. The persistent burden of psychological distress points to a need for institutions to take action to improve working conditions and promote employees’ wellbeing.

None Declared

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the quality of life and emotional well-being of the Russian population, with increased emotional disorders such as depression and anxiety. This study focuses on the specific context of Russian university students studying humanities disciplines, who had to adapt to remote learning and self-education during the pandemic.

This study aimed to assess the quality of life and measure the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among Russian humanities students. Additionally, it examined the correlations between quality of life and emotional disorders.

Data collection was conducted between January and April 2021 using a customized Google form. The study included 35 students from Russian universities. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, and levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were determined using the DASS-21 methodology, both adapted for use in Russia.

The mean values for the quality of life domains were as follows: “physical and psychological well-being” (M = 20.65±3.85), “self-image” (M = 19.21±3.54), “microsocial support” (M = 10.39±2.36), and “social well-being” (M = 27.93±4.15). Notably, 54% of respondents exhibited no symptoms of depression, 66% showed no signs of anxiety, and 69% reported no stress. Correlation analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between stress and quality of life, and social well-being did not correlate with emotional disturbances.

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of Russian humanities students did not experience clinical manifestations of depression, anxiety, or stress. To improve their emotional well-being, students should prioritize their physical and psychological health, self-perception, self-esteem, and relationships with their immediate social circles, particularly their families. In this pandemic context, broader social factors such as recreational opportunities took a back seat in students’ priorities.

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A pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus is an immensely traumatic event. Researches indicate that such events significantly impact various aspects of individuals, including their physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and social functions, affecting different components of their personality structure. However, the experience of trauma itself is influenced by implicit internal structures known as underlying beliefs. Consequently, emotional responses to traumatic events may be interconnected with these core beliefs.

This study aimed to explore fundamental beliefs among Russian university students and analyze their associations with emotional reactions such as depression, anxiety, and stress.

Data collection took place from January to April 2021 using a custom-designed Google form. The study involved 35 Russian university students. We employed the WAS-37 methodology to investigate fundamental beliefs and the DASS-21 methodology to assess the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that the mean values of the “Benevolence of the surrounding world” (M = 35.5±7.3) and “Luck” (M = 31.7±5.1) scales are higher than the normative mean values for the Russian population. In contrast, the mean values of the “Fairness” (M = 21.0±3.7), “Self-image” (M = 26.6±7.0) and “Beliefs about control” (M = 26.6±4.8) scales are generally not different from the normative values. Depression has negative correlations with Self-image (rs = -0.590, p < 0.01) and Beliefs about control (rs = -0.509, p < 0.01). No statistically significant correlations of anxiety and stress with baseline beliefs were obtained.

During the second wave of the pandemic, Russian university students tend to view the world around them as less perilous than the broader population does, and they perceive themselves as more fortunate. Depressive feelings among students are linked to their lower beliefs in the value and importance of their self, as well as their perception that the world around them is not sufficiently controllable.

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During a pandemic, the population is required to adapt effectively to drastically altered environmental conditions to avoid the development of psychiatric disorders or other maladaptive responses. This adaptation is closely linked to an individual’s ability to regulate their behaviour effectively and to develop traits such as pliability and autonomy.

The research aims to investigate individual self-regulation among students studying humanities disciplines and individuals living with HIV during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia.

Data collection took place from January to July 2021 using a custom-designed Google form. The study involved 35 university students in Russia specializing in humanities and 59 individuals living with HIV. To assess the development of individual self-regulation and determine its specific profile, we utilized the “Behavioural Self-Regulation Style” questionnaire developed by V.I. Morosanova.

We found that 43% of students have an average level of self-regulation, 37% - high and 20% - low. Among people living with HIV the distribution is similar: 53 % have an average level of self-regulation, 37 % - high and 10 % - low. The analysis of average results of the scales did not reveal statistically significant differences among the groups of respondents. The average profiles have no pronounced peaks and look as follows: planning (M = 5.77±2.16 - students, M = 6.24±1.90 - patients, p > 0.05), modelling (M = 5.26±1.80 vs M = 5.69±1.90, p > 0.05), programming (M = 6.00±1.50 vs M = 5.93±1.66, p > 0.05), performance evaluation (M = 6.26±1.42 vs M = 5.78±1.60, p > 0.05), pliability (M = 6.17±1.87 vs M = 6.58±1.90, p > 0.05) and autonomy (M = 5.00±2.33 vs M = 5.56±2.08, p > 0.05) were almost at the same level in both the student and patient groups.

During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, there were no significant distinctions observed in the self-regulation behaviour styles between students and individuals living with HIV. The majority of participants from these chosen groups demonstrated a similar average level of effectiveness in self-regulating their behaviour, as well as comparable degrees of pliability and autonomy development.

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