Stigma towards mental disorders has been shown to be a major obstacle to recovery and quality of life among people with psychiatric disorders. Despite significant advances in the treatment of mental disorders, stigma remains concerning to patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Singapore is a city state in South-East Asia with a multi-ethnic population. A nation-wide campaign launched in 2018, Beyond the Label, focusing on addressing stigma and promoting social inclusion for persons with mental health conditions.

The aims of the current study were to (i) establish the dimensions of stigma and examine its correlates in the general population of Singapore using a vignette approach, and (ii) examine whether there was any change in stigma levels from 2016 to 2023.

Data for the current study comes from an ongoing nation-wide, cross-sectional study of mental health literacy conducted in Singapore since September 2022. The study population comprises Singapore Residents aged 18–65 years who are currently living in Singapore. Respondents were randomly assigned and presented a vignette describing one of seven specific disorders: alcohol abuse, dementia, depression, depression with suicidality, gambling disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Stigma was assessed using Personal and Perceived scales of the Depression Stigma Scale (DSS) (Griffiths et al. Br J Psychiatry; 2004 185 342-349), and the Social Distance scale (SDS) (Link et al. Am J Public Health 1999; 89 1328–1333).

2500 respondents who completed the survey were included in the current analysis. The mean age of the respondents was 42.8 years. A three-factor model comprising ‘weak-not-sick’, ‘dangerous/undesirable’, and ‘social distance’ provided acceptable fit. Multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that younger age, female gender, students, and dementia vignette were significantly associated with lower weak-not-sick scores while Malay and Indian ethnicity, lower education, and alcohol abuse and gambling disorder vignette were significantly associated with higher weak-not-sick scores. Those of Malay and Indian ethnicities and those with a family member or close friend who had problems similar to the person in the vignette were significantly associated with lower social distance scores.

A significant decrease (p<0.001) in all three factor scores was observed from 2016 to 2023 (Table 1).Table 1.

Mean stigma scores over time

Our study found a significant decrease in stigma from 2016 to 2023 in the Singapore population which indicates the positive impact of anti-stigma initiatives in Singapore. Interventions must be co-developed with males, older adults, and those with a lower education to further reduce stigma in this multi-ethnic population.

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In recent years, mental health has gained prominence in public health, prompting thorough investigations into psychiatric condition trends. This study conducts a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of hospitalizations for Schizophrenia, Schizotypal, and Delirium Disorders in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) over the past five years. By revealing these patterns, it enhances our understanding of regional mental health dynamics and offers insights for intervention strategies, resource planning, and improved mental healthcare. The ultimate goal is to advance more effective and accessible mental healthcare in RS and beyond.

This study aims to analyze the prevalence and epidemiological profile of hospitalizations due to psychiatric disorders to assist in the diagnosis and outcome of affected patients.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective, and quantitative study was conducted regarding hospitalizations for Schizophrenia, Schizotypal Disorders, and Delirium in the state of RS between January 2018 and November 2022. Data were collected from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) in the “Hospital Information System of SUS” section, focusing on the nature of care, age group, gender, and ethnicity of the patients. The information was aggregated over the five-year period based on the four mentioned descriptors and subsequently analyzed to establish a profile of hospitalizations during that period.

The analysis spans from 2018 to 2022, encompassing a total of 28,345 hospitalizations. In 2019, there was the highest number of cases (22.21%), followed by 2018 (21.08%). Urgent care admissions constituted 85.34% of the total. The age group most affected was 35 to 39 years (11.8%). Men were more affected than women (60.18%), and the majority of hospitalizations were among the Caucasian ethnicity (75.12%). The average length of stay was 23.7 days, and the mortality rate stood at 0.26%.

The increasing trend in hospitalizations, peaking in 2019, highlights the need for preventive measures. Urgent admissions (85.34%) underscore the demand for accessible mental health resources. Men in the 35 to 39 age group are disproportionately affected, suggesting specific risk factors. The predominance of Caucasian ethnicity emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive care. A longer average length of stay (23.7 days) underscores treatment complexity, while a low mortality rate (0.26%) signals effective medical care. In essence, these findings inform tailored mental health policies to enhance service quality and prioritize patient-centered approaches.

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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.

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A 36-year-old man with a history of cannabis use disorder since age 16, consuming 8-10 units/day, experienced irritability and tremors upon reducing consumption. His psychiatric issues emerged in 2020, marked by anxiety, abdominal pain, and severe vomiting, leading to a dyspepsia diagnosis. Subsequently, he received psychiatric care at CAS Hospitalet, diagnosed with severe cannabis use disorder. No prior inpatient admissions occurred.

Our project aims to show a case report and summarize the available evidence on cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS).

In May 2023, he voluntarily sought admission to Barcelona’s “Hospital Sant Pau,” aiming for cannabis detox and treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis. He’d endured years of intense abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, worsening over the last two years, with uncontrollable vomiting hindering daily life. Admission saw reduced cannabis use to 3-4 units/day. Inpatient care revealed anticipatory anxiety, rumination, and somatic anxiety, accompanied by distal tremors and internal restlessness due to abdominal discomfort, partially alleviated by 5-10 mg of diazepam.

Treatment included domperidone 10mg/8h, haloperidol drops (5-10 drops/8h), capsaicin ointment, hot showers, and cryotherapy, resulting in gradual relief from abdominal pain. Moderate cravings for tobacco and cannabis led to acetylcysteine 600mg/12h and gabapentin up to 1200mg/8h. Gastric discomfort with SSRIs led to vortioxetine 10 mg/day, well-tolerated with a positive response. Consultation with the GI department confirmed the treatment’s efficacy, emphasizing cannabis abstinence. Upon discharge, cannabinoid hyperemesis symptoms markedly improved, and the patient was referred to “Hospital de Dia.”

CHS is a cyclic vomiting syndrome, preceded by daily to weekly chronic longstanding use of cannabis that can be difficult to diagnose and treat(1,3,4). It is unique in presentation, because of the cannabis’s biphasic effect as anti-emetic at low doses and pro-emetic at higher doses, and the association with pathological hot water bathing (2). The major characteristics are as follows: history of regular cannabis for any duration of time (100%), cyclic nausea and vomiting (100%), resolution of symptoms after stopping cannabis (96.8%), compulsive hot baths with symptom relief (92.3%), male predominance (72.9%), abdominal pain (85.1%), and at least weekly cannabis use (97.4%)(1). Treatments such as topical capsaicin, haloperidol, benzodiazepines, and propranolol have shown symptom relief (3) whereas opioids should be avoided (4). Cannabis cessation appears to be the best treatment (1,3).

1. 1. Sorensen et al. Journal of Medical Toxicology 13 (2017):71-87.

2. 2. Perisetti et al. Annals of gastroenterology 33.6 (2020):571.

3. 3. Senderovich et al. Medical Principles and Practice 31.1 (2022):29-38.

4. 4. Leu, et al. Journal of Emergency Nursing 47.3 (2021): 483-486

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common serious movement disorder in the world, affecting about 1% of adults older than 60 years. The disease is attributed to selective loss of neurons in the substantia nigra, and its cause is enigmatic in most individuals. Patients with PD display both motor and non-motor symptoms. For some patients, the non-motor symptoms are more bothersome than the motor symptoms. One of the most common non-motor symptoms of PD is depression.

Treatment of depression with antidepressant drugs is well established. In the last 20 years use of antidepressant has risen mainly due to the introduction of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Our primary aim was to demonstrate an improvement in depressive symptoms in patients who started treatment with vortioxetine. A secondary aim was to show those who was successfully treated with vortioxetine but was unresponsive to paroxetine and escitalopram without worsening the extrapyramidal symptoms of PD.

In collaboration with the Department of Neurology, we included patients who are being treated for Parkinson’s disease and who meet the criteria for depressive disorder after a psychiatric examination. We divided the patients into two groups: those who had not previously taken any antidepressant drugs and those who were already on therapy with paroxetine and escitalopram but without the expected therapeutic response. All patients were prescribed vortioxetine in their treatment, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was determined during their first meeting with the psychiatrist, and then again after 6 weeks of taking the medication. Also, we used Mini mental state examination (MMSE) to measure cognitive impairment.Our primary outcome measure was the number of patients in each treatment group who responded to treatment. Response was defined as the proportion of patients who had a reduction of at least 50% from the baseline score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)

Our primary outcome measure was the number of patients in each treatment group who responded to treatment. Response was defined as the proportion of patients who had a reduction of at least 50% from the baseline score on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS)

In our research, vortioxetine has proven to be effective in treating depressive symptoms without worsening Parkinson’s disease, unlike paroxetine and escitalopram, which resulted in partial effects.

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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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Tunisian emigrants may consume psychoactive substances in other countries. This community is exposed to sociocultural and legal contexts different from those in Tunisia and the degree of acculturation would tend to increase over time. However, data on the use of psychoactive substances, particularly cannabis, in this particular population are scarce.

This study aims to determine the profile of Tunisian young adults residing abroad who use cannabis.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study. It was carried out in the form of an online survey. We focused on young Tunisians people who have completed their secondary studies at the pilot high school of Sfax and currently residing abroad. Data collection was through Google Forms administred questionnaire.

Thirty-five participants were included in our study. Cannabis use behavior affected 48.6% of them (N=17)) and it was done with friends in a festive setting in 88% of cases (N=15). Cannabis use was more common among people who were single (p=0.001), living alone (p=0.047), had a psychiatric history (p=0.032) and hanging out with friends who also smoked cannabis (p=0.032).Cannabis use was also more common among cigarette smokers (p=0.000) and alcohol consumers (p=0.000). It was significantly more common among people who shared erroneous beliefs about cannabis, that it is a mild drug (p= 0.024) and that it does not cause dependence (p= p=0.042).

Cannabis use among Tunisian young adults residing abroad seems to be a form of poly-consumption, more common among singles, living alone and having a psychiatric vulnerability. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and educational initiatives to address cannabis use within this specific population.

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Chronic mental illnesses can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life and lead to functional disabilities. Scientific interest in overall quality of life and health-related quality of life has been gradually increasing, especially in the context of chronic diseases where the relationship between patients’ long-term functionality and symptom development is not always linear.

Our research aimed to investigate the factors influencing subjective-objective well-being and in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Specifically, we examined the effects of anticipated discrimination on patients’ quality of life, satisfaction with health care, and overall functionality.

We recruited 25 patients from Semmelweis University Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy in Budapest, Hungary. To be eligible, patients had to meet the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder according to DSM-5, cooperate with pharmacotherapy, and meet remission criteria (Andreasen et al., Am J Psychiatry 2005; 162 441-449). We collected socio-demographic data and clinical history, utilized the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) to identify our clinical sample and assess the severity of symptoms. Objective and subjective functionality and well-being were measured using the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile (LQoLP). Self-reported medication adherence were measured with Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8). Additionally, we assessed anticipated discrimination (QUAD), and satisfaction with healthcare (CACHE).

Our findings have unveiled a cross-sectional association between higher self-reported medication adherence and improved quality of life among patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, increased adherence levels, as well as greater satisfaction with healthcare, were linked to enhanced objective and subjective functionality and overall well-being. Additionally, the anticipation of discrimination was found to be associated with reduced quality of life and functionality.

The overall quality of life and objective-subjective functioning in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder can be influenced by various factors. Further research is needed to gain a better understanding of the factors associated with higher quality of life in patients.

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition with varying degrees of social, emotional and behavioural disability. These children require focused and individualised learning plan to facilitate social integration. Robots have been used for this purpose but are not routinely available in several parts of the world. Effective, point of care (POC) digital therapies that can be used anywhere by anyone is the need of the day.

To evaluate the effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven individualised learning plans delivered through POC digital platform (CognitiveBotics) for children with ASD.

After Ethical approval and parental consent, children diagnosed with ASD (Childhood Autism Rating Scale CARS 2) aged 2 years and above were screened for study inclusion and exclusion criteria and enrolled. AI driven individualised learning plan was administered through CognitiveBotics software that could be used on either computer or a tablet. Initially, interactive questions were administered to parents by the AI tool to understand child’s functioning. Based on these, an individualised learning plan was assigned. Each task is delivered using either interactive videos, chatbot and/or animated/AI games. The child’s progress is captured for attention (attempted questions, retries and timeouts) and retention (first time corrects and corrects) continuously. The initial interactive questions administered to parents were repeated to assess child’s progress in real life. Paired ‘t’ test using SPSS version 26 was used to compare initial and final data.

Out of 85 registered children, 41 regularly used the AI tool. Mean age was 43.93 months (range 26 to 72 months). 37 (90.24%) were boys. The baseline mean scores (ranges), were CARS 33.48 (30-39.5); Social quotient 53.4 (27.25-80.32), Developmental quotient 71.35 (45.90-93.33) and IQ 62.34 (36.58-86.83). The base line mean score of parents assessed child function was 115.24 (range 58 to 215). A mean of 15.54 tasks were given (range 5 to 48). At the time of analysis with a mean follow up of 3 months (range 2 to 5 months) the children completed a mean of 10.10 tasks (range 0 to 42). There was significant improvement in child’s learning captured by the AI software based on attention and retention parameters (p = <0.00001). This improvement was also reflected in parent assessed child function (mean 147.15, (59 to 231)) (p = <0.00001). The percentage of improvement in both software captured and parent assessed child function was directly related to the amount of time spent by the child on the software.

AI driven individualised learning approach is effective in teaching skills and promote social integration for children with ASD. Such technology can capture the child’s progress on a day-to-day basis and deliver personalised training.

None Declared

There is a growing interest in understanding the impact of duty hours and resting times on training outcomes and the well-being of resident physicians. Psychiatry resident’s duty hours in Spain comprise a regular working schedule of 37.5h per week and a minimum of 4 mandatory on-call shifts. The most recent duty hours regulations in Spain were transposed from the European Working Time Directive (EWTD). According to Spanish Law, doctors cannot work for more than 48h per week and need to have resting times per day (at least 12h), per week (at least 36h) as well as annual leave (at least a month). However, there is practically no data on this situation in psychiatry resident physicians.

Our aim is firstly, to describe the number of shifts performed by psychiatry resident physicians in Spain. Secondly, to describe compliance with the daily and weekly rests compared to those set in national and European law. Finally, to analyse the difference by demographic variables (gender and year of residency), in both the number of on-call duty shifts and compliance with rests.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed through an online survey adapted from the existing literature. The target population were Spanish psychiatry resident physicians undergoing PGT who started their specialist training during the years 2018–2021. The survey was disseminated through the Spanish regional medical councils to all active psychiatry resident physicians by mail as well as through informal communication channels. The study was authorised by the Spanish Medical Organization’s General Assembly which is the highest ethical and deontological body of physicians in Spain.

55 responses were obtained, of which 61.82% identified as females. The mean number of on-call shifts in the last 3 months was 14.05. This mean was highest in women 14,32 and in the cohort of 2020 15.46 (first year of residency). Among the resident physicians surveyed, 66.07% exceeded the 48h per week limit set by the EWTD and 7% of them did not rest after a 24-h on-call shift. Furthermore, 22% of respondents did not have a day-off after a Saturday on-call shift. The mean working hours when not resting after an on-call-shift were 7 hours. The comparison by gender and year of residency of the main variables can be seen in figures 1 and 2 respectively.

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Image 2:

Psychiatry resident physicians in Spain greatly exceed the established 48 h/week EWTD limit. Likewise, non-compliance with labour regulations regarding mandatory rest after on-call duty and minimum weekly rest periods are observed. Differences can be seen by gender and year of residency. The situation described could potentially create a high-risk situation for the health and psychosocial well-being of resident physicians, hinder learning outcomes and could lead to suboptimal patient care.

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Sexuality is a natural component of human behavior. Sexual health is “a physical, emotional, mental and social state related to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual dysfunction and poor quality of sex life are common in patients with schizophrenia. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is higher in people with mental disorders, and may be related to psychopathology and pharmacotherapy.

Evaluate sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and its consequences in patients with schizophrenia followed and hospitalized in the various structures of the Arrazi psychiatric hospital in Salé.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a questionnaire including sociodemographic and clinical criteria, data on sexual behavior and the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) to assess sexual activity, sexual dysfunction and its consequences in patients with schizophrenia followed and hospitalized in the various structures of the Arrazi psychiatric hospital in Salé. Inclusion criteria: patients of both sexes diagnosed with schizophrenia according to DSM 5 criteria, age greater than or equal to 20 years. Exclusion criteria: intellectual disability, general medical condition known to cause sexual dysfunction (diabetes mellitus, history of vascular accident, congestive heart failure, unstable heart condition, arrhythmia or myocardial infarction in the last six months).

We collected 157 participants. 81% of the participants were men, 67% of whom had left school at college. The majority of patients were born in the city. 85% were unemployed. 89% were heterosexual and 77% were single. 92% smoked cigarettes. 66% had schizophrenia for more than 5 years with 55% having poor adherence to antipsychotics with around 65% on atypical antipsychotics. Around 42% reported currently having sexual relations. 56% of participants had sexual dysfunction, and 67% were dissatisfied with the quality of their sexual relations.

Sexual dysfunction is prevalent in schizophrenic patients, and these problems can be linked to both the illness and its treatment. Sexual dysfunction is also an important factor in therapeutic compliance, which is strongly influenced by the side effects of antipsychotics. It is therefore necessary to know more about the sexual side-effects of medication on patients, and doctors should also systematically ask patients about their sexual history before prescribing psychotropic drugs.

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The negative impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on mental health has been well documented. While most of the evidence comes from samples of adolescents and young adults, few studies have investigated whether ACEs contribute to poorer mental health among older adults. In particular, depressive symptoms are common in old age, and they display heterogeneous patterns of development across individuals. Therefore, it is important to examine if ACEs are predictive of distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults.

Using longitudinal data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), we aimed to examine if ACEs could differentiate between distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms over eight years in community-dwelling older adults.

Participants from ELSA aged 60 or above who reported no psychiatric diagnoses and completed the items of ACEs at baseline (wave 3) were included in the current study. Nine items of ACEs were subject to a principal component analysis to identify the underlying subtypes. Data of depressive symptoms from waves 3 to 7 (2-year apart), assessed with the 8-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, were extracted for modelling the distinct trajectories using latent class growth analysis. The trajectories were predicted by subtypes of ACEs using multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for childhood socioeconomic status, sex, age and ethnicity.

The final sample consisted of 4057 participants (54.4% female, mean age= 71.34 (SD= 8.14)). We identified five trajectories of depressive symptoms (Figure 1): ‘low stable’ (73.4%), ‘increasing then decreasing’ (9.9%), ‘high decreasing’ (7.1%), ‘high stable’ (5.7%) and ‘moderate increasing’ (4.0%). Four subtypes of ACEs (i.e., sexual abuse, separation from natural parents, family dysfunction and physical assault) were evident. Compared to the ‘low stable’ group, higher levels of family dysfunction were reported in the ‘increasing then decreasing’ (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI [1.10 - 1.66], p = .012), ‘high stable’ (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.30 - 1.96], p < .001) and ‘moderate increasing’ (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.18 - 2.04], p = .011) groups. The ‘high stable’ group also reported a higher level of separation from natural parents than the ‘low stable’ group (aOR = 1.34, 95% CI [1.04 - 1.72], p = .047). Sexual abuse and physical assault did not predict any group differences.

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Distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults were predicted by family dysfunction in childhood. Our findings suggested that the negative impact of ACEs on mental health may extend beyond adolescence and young adulthood into the old age.

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Ethnicity and migration have an impact on illness models and consequently how, when and where people seek and obtain care. Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) teams attend high rates of migrant and ethnic diverse populations but the study of ethnic differences in pathways to obtain and maintain care is still scarce . The most consistent findings are that minorities are less involved with primary services, have a higher risk of being treated in a coercive way and are at higher risk of early disengagement. Despite the increasing migration rates there has been very little investigation in Spain.

To investigate ethno-racial differences in pathways to obtain care, adherence and engagement during their first year of follow-up of subjects who start treatment at EIP of Reus, Catalonia, Spain

Participants

This is an observational 12 months follow-up retrospective study including all consecutively subjects with First Episode of Psychosis (FEP) referred to the EIP from January 2015 to January 2019. Visible ethno-racial status was self-reported being grouped as belonging to minority ethno-racial group if they were coded “any other than White regardless of country of origin”. ‘White’ was the majority group

Study variables:

At program entry:

Source of referral

At 12- months:

Adherence to the service:

Admissions to in-patient unit

Disengagement

184 FEP subjects (mean age 22.8 years and 66.1% of males) were included. Nearly 31% belonged to a minority ethno-racial group being the Maghrebi (60.4%) followed by the Latin-American (20.1%) the most frequent minority groups. The 81.2% of the minority group were first-generation migrants and 7.5% second generation migrants. The 52.2 % were referred from community services, 18.5% from emergency unit and 29.3% from inpatient unit. At follow up 64.5%, were highly adherent to EIP (> 75% of attended appointments), 16.7% required hospitalization and 11% disengaged. Multivariate analysis showed that the minority group was 2.19 times more likely to be low adherent [(95% CI 0.78-3.17; p=0.03], 2.89 times more likely to be hospitalised [(95% CI 1.20-6.98); p=0.01], and 4 times more likely to disengage from the EIP [(95% CI 1.35-11.90); p= 0.01] during follow-up than the majority group. No group differences were found in pathways to obtain care or in causes of disengagement.

In agreement with previous studies from other countries we found high rates of ethno-racial diversity in the EIP of Reus. In addition, we also found inequalities in the use of services, being minorities more likely to disengage, to be low adherent to the program and at greater risk of hospitalization. On contrary to other studies we did not find significant differences between groups in the source of referral to EIP

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Schizophreniform Disorder is described pretty similar to schizophrenia, but with the difference of the symptoms duration which have to last for at least 1 month but less than 6 months. Patients have to be back at their baseline functional level once the disorder has resolved. This is a heterogeneous group of patients who have either a disorder similar to schizophrenia or something closer to a mood disorder.

To analyze clinical, psychopathological and epidemiological characteristics of schizophreniform disorder and also review causes, incidence, prevalence, diagnostic, therapeutic tools and the importance of maintaining the treatment, because of the abandonment of the treatment, which is a predictor of relapses.

A review of the main impact literature concerning schizophreniform disorder is done during the last five years: prevalence, incidence, pathogenesis and its relationship with other psychiatric disorders encoded in DSM-V are studied.

The etiology is unknown. Psychotic symptoms can be treated with antipsychotics for 3 to 6 months. They usually respond faster than patients with schizophrenia (75% vs 20% respond within 8 days).

The disease has a favorable prognosis, and has similarities with mood disorders. However, some data suggest a close relationship to schizophrenia. In support of the relationship with mood disorders, patients have more affective symptoms and a better outcome than patients with schizophrenia.

None Declared

Children and adolescents with thalassemia suffer from chronicity of the disease and its treatment, including transfusion dependence and complications of iron overload.

To investigate the quality of life of children and adolescents with Beta Thalassaemia.

This study is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Greek public Children’s Hospital. PedsQL ™ 4.0 Generic Core Scale (Greek version) was used to evaluate HRQOL in 41 thalassemia patients aged between 5 and 18 years and in 41 healthy controls of the same age range. For the analysis, the Statistic Package (SPSS ver.24) was used. Using Spearman’s correlation coefficient, t-test and MannWhitney tests were used, while for variables with three or more levels the Anova and Kruskall-Wallis. In order to investigate the relationship between two quantitative variables, Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used, while the relationship between two qualitative variables was used to control x2. As a statistical significance level, α = 5% was defined.

Of the 41 children with beta Thalassemia who participated in the study, 48.8% (n = 20) were boys and 51.2% (n = 21) girls. The mean age of children was 10.02 ± 4.10 years. For healthy children who participated in the study 51.2% (n = 21) were boys while 48.8% (n = 20) were girls. The mean age of the children was 9.63 ± 3.77 years. Children with Beta Thalassaemia have a lower quality of life in Physical Health and Activity(<0,001), Emotional Health(0,031), School Activities(0,008), Psychosocial Health(0,014), and the overall PedsQL 4.0 (<0,001)questionnaire compared to healthy children. Children between the ages of 5 and 7 have higher levels of quality of life in physical health and activity than older children(<0,001). In addition, children aged 5 to 7 have higher quality of life and overall PedsQL 4.0 score than older children(0,033) Children receiving combination therapy show better quality of life than children receiving subcutaneous therapy (total PedsQL 4.0 <0,001).

Children and adolescents in all five categories had a better quality of life, after improved iron chelating methods and other psychosocial interventions.

None Declared

Microdosing psychedelics has garnered considerable attention within both nonprofessional circles and the scientific community in recent years. This method involves taking small, non-hallucinogenic doses of substances like LSD or psilocybin over weeks or months, purportedly to enhance specific behaviors, emotions, or address psychiatric conditions.

Exploring these assertions is crucial given the potential therapeutic value of microdosing, especially in conditions that respond positively to full psychedelic doses, such as depression. The full psychedelic experience might not always be suitable due to various factors like age, capacity to consent or comprehend the experience (e.g., dementia), or individual personality traits that might hinder surrendering to the experience. Microdosing could potentially serve as a maintenance therapy post-full dose administration, aiding specific psychological or biological processes during therapy or therapeutic exercises.

Recent studies in healthy individuals highlight that small psychedelic doses have nuanced effects on pain perception, mood, neuroplasticity, sleep duration, brain connectivity, and default mode network synchronicity. However, some parameters show null effects after both single and repeated administration.

Our survey research uncovered that individuals with ADHD reported symptom relief through microdosing, deeming it more effective than their conventional treatments. Subsequently, we conducted a naturalistic study following individuals with ADHD across a 4-week microdosing period. Our findings indicated a reduction in symptoms over time, an increase in trait mindfulness, and a decrease in neuroticism compared to baseline. While these results are intriguing, they necessitate validation in a clinical trial. We have recently concluded such a trial and are currently analyzing the data to further explore these effects.

K. Kuypers Grant / Research support from: The author is a principal investigator on a research project that is sponsored by Mindmed, a company that is developing psychedelic medicines.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a self-damaging behavior with typical onset in early adolescence, and shows greater prevalence in females. NSSI is defined by recurrent episodes of intentional self-inflicted damage to body tissue, without suicidal intent. These recurring self-inflicted injuries are done by the indivuduel to relief oneself from negative feelings, to resolve interpersonal difficulties, or to induce positive feelings.

NSSI in DSM-5. has been included among the conditions in need of further study.

NSSI can be interpreted as a maladaptive coping mechanism that can be regarded as an emotional dysregulation. Adverse childhood experiences including physical abuse, neglect or sexual abuse are the strongest predictors of the NSSI. Research has repetitively found strong associations between NSSI and identity diffusion and/or distorted personality traits.

The aim of our study was to assess the association between childhood traumatization, personality characteristics including stages of identity development, and self-injurious behavior among female adolescents that experience difficulties with emotional regulation.

We compared our results to a Hungarian normative sample. The sample consisted of inpatients adolescents, age between 14 and 18, with a diagnosis consisting of „Emotional disorders with onset specific for childhood” or „Mixed disorders of conduct and emotions” with chronic nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior.

Childhood traumatization was measured with the short version of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (H-CTQ-SF). Identity development and identity diffusion were measured with the Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence Questionnaire (AIDA). Temperament and character factors were measured with the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI).

Adolescent patients with NSSI reported severe and multiplex childhood traumatization. These patients scored higher on novelty seeking and harm avoidance and scored lower on the persistence, self-directedness, and cooperativeness factors in the JTCI. These results were compared with the Hungarien normative sample. Adolescents scored higher on the Discontinuity and Incoherence scales of the AIDA.

Our preliminary results suggest that childhood traumatization predicts self-injurious behavior in adolescent females. Additionally, we have found associations between signs indicative of personality disorder, including lower level of self-cohesion, self-integration and self-directedness.

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Bipolar disorder (BD) often has symptoms similar to other mental disorders (BD), and there are no paraclinical criteria for differential diagnosis. (Geoffroy et al. Bip Dis 2017; 5 7). Published work on MD proteomics is scarce and focused on schizophrenia. (Dmitrieva et al. PeerJ. 2022; 10 e13907). Therefore, it is important to study potential biomarkers of BD using easily accessible material—blood serum (Rhee et al. Transl Psy 2023; 13 44). Identification of proteins involved in the pathogenesis of BD will help in the study of the pathogenetic mechanisms of BD, the development of differential diagnostic methods and pathogenetically based drugs.

Carrying out a comparative proteomic analysis of blood serum from patients with BD and healthy individuals to identify potential biomarkers

We analyzed the protein spectrum of the blood serum of 14 patients with BD who were admitted during a depressive episode at the age of 32 [21;52] years with a disease duration of 8[5;11] years. The control group consisted of 10 mentally and somatically healthy individuals corresponding to the gender and age of the BD group. Blood serum was purified from 14 major proteins using affinity chromatography and separated by electrophoresis using the Laemmli method. After trypsinolysis, proteins were identified using HPLC/mass spectrometry on an Orbitrap instrument. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed on the Advanced Mass Spectrometry Core Facility of Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. Protein identification was carried out using the UniProtKB database using the Mascot search engine. The results were tested for significance using the nonparametric Fisher exact test with Yates correction.

In patients with BD, qualitative mass spectrometry revealed differential expression of 21 neurospecific proteins. Among them: Protein dispatched homolog 3, Ceroid-lipofuscinosis neuronal protein 6, SWI/SNF complex subunit SMARCC1, Neurogenic differentiation factor 4, Protein furry homolog-like, REST corepressor 1 – are involved in the proliferation, development and differentiation of neurons; Hemicentin-2, Dystrophin, Voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel subunit alpha-1D, Syntaxin-binding protein 5, Small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel protein 1– participate in synaptic transmission of ion transport and form receptors.

Studying the role of these proteins in BD and their quantitative content in a larger number of patients is promising. This will help in the development of new diagnostic criteria and targets for drug therapy for BD.

Support by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-75-00023.

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Hospital nurses have played a crucial role during the covid-19 pandemic. Research demonstrates the extent to which nurses were experiencing acute stress and psychological distress during the waves of the pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological distress (stress, depression, and anxiety) of nurses working in public hospitals in Greece during the covid-19 pandemic, to identify their coping strategies, and to explore the eventual sociodemographic and work environmental influence on distress and the coping strategies.

Sample consisted of 317 nurses working in public hospitals. A self-report online questionnaire was used for data collection. The first part of the questionnaire comprised the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the second part included the Greek version of the Ways of Coping questionnaire (WAYS), the third part the Oslo Social Support Scale (OSSS-3), and the fourth part included participants’ sociodemographic data. Analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software (version 26.0).

18.4% of participants presented severe depression, 39.9% very severe anxiety, and 22.5% very severe stress. Significantly lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were experienced by those who slept more than 5 hours a day, compared to those who slept up to 5 hours. Participants who were infected with the coronavirus had significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, participants who received moderate/high social support experienced overall less anxiety, stress, and depression than those who received low social support. Finally, the more they sought social support to deal with their problems and the more they avoided stressful situations, the higher the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

A staff care protocol must be applied by every hospital, including rest breaks and night-shift naps, psychosocial support for those who get infected by SARS-CoV-2 and their families, peer support (groups and mentoring), and coping skills trainings.

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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