Major depressive disorder is present in approximately 7% of the general population. There are some patients that remain treatment-resistant - patients who were treated with two or more different medications and did not demonstrate any improvement in their mental state. These patients can be treated with a new treatment – Esketamine. The recommended Esketamine treatment protocol includes 8-treatment sessions, each session lasts about two hours. In our clinic, we added a therapy group after each treatment. The therapy group is led by two co-therapist and lasts 30 minutes. The patients are invited to share their experiences from the session, their thoughts and emotions.

The study that we will present was conducted in the Esketamine treatment unit at a psychiatric hospital. There were two groups - 1. A group whose treatment included a therapeutic group at the end of each Esketamine treatment (n=30); 2. A group whose treatments did not include a therapeutic group at the end of the Esketamine treatment (n=30).

The current study examines the role of the therapeutic group. It compares between the standard treatment protocol, with and without a therapeutic group. All participants completed three questionnaires, about their emotions, three times during the treatment (before the first session, after 4 sessions and after 8 sessions).

We will present first results as well as vignette to demonstrate.

The expectation is to find a better patient experience and a better insight about the clinical changes following the Esketamine treatment, in the group which participates in the therapy group

No significant relationships.

White matter abnormalities have been identified in major depressive disorder (MDD). Although several diffusion tensor imaging studies found decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in MDD, the effect of antidepressants (AD) treatment on white matter integrity has been insufficiently studied.

We sought to examine the effect of AD treatment of MDD on white matter, using DTI, in responders compared to nonresponders.

We included 25 individuals with MDD (HAMD >/=20) without inflammatory, unstable medical/neurological conditions or prolonged duration (> 1 year),or AD or anti-inflammatory treatment >/=1 week preceding first evaluation. Evaluation before treatment and at 16 weeks included depression rating scales, a cognitive battery, inflammatory markers and MRI. Desvenlafaxine was initiated at 50mg with a possible increase to 100mg at 8 weeks.

Changes included: increased volume in responders in the right Inferior Fronto-Occipital fasciculus (p=0.0315) and Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus part 3 (p=0.0050); in remitters in the right Inferior Fronto-Occipital fasciculus (p=0.0359) and Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus part 2 (p<0.05) and 3 (p=0.0481); decreased volume in responders in the left Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus part 1 (p=0.0147) and left Corona Radiata(p<0.05); and in remitters in the left Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus part 1 (p=0.0109) and the Corpus Callosum part 5 (p<0.05); decreased FA in the right Cortico Spinal Tract in remitters (p=0.0175) and responders (p=0.0272), and an increase in FA in the left Uncinate Fasciculus in nonremitters (p=0.0493). These results lose significance following Bonferroni correction.

Overall, AD treatment of MDD was not associated with significant changes in FA, whole brain, or specific tract volume in this study.

This research was funded by Pfizer Canada.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) are a serious public health problem. Suicide prevention programs have been established over the years but many people who are suicidal do not seek treatment, and when they do they will end up in low-threshold sectors such as the Emergency Department in general hospitals. Previous studies about STB are mostly narrative, rather than a date-driven approach and limited in sample size.

The main goal of this study is to describe the prevalence and evolution of STB (ideation, plan or attempt) of the psychiatric patient referred to the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Gasthuisberg (Leuven, Belgium) over a 12 year period.

During a 12 year period (2003-2015), all patients with a psychiatric referral to the Psychiatric Emergency Room (PER) of the University Hospital Gasthuisberg (Leuven, Belgium) were included (N˜25.000). We use descriptive statistics to summarize the data set, focusing on STB in terms of raw numbers, symptoms at referral, mental disorders and demographic characteristics.

Around 1/9 patients presents with suicide attempt; another 1/5 with suicidal thoughts. STB accounts for 35% of psychiatric primary complaints at the PER. Women were more likely to present with STB. The proportion of STB referrals remains stable over the years.

Despite several reforms in mental health care, the PER remains a major entry point into mental healthcare for large proportions of STB patients.

No significant relationships.

Research on cyberbullying has focused on the psychological characteristics of victims and aggressors, but the important roles of bystanders and defenders have not been sufficiently explored (Escortell et al., 2020; Polanco-Levican, Salvo-Garrido, 2021; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018).

The aim is to compare neuroticism, empathy, and Internet addiction in adolescents in different roles in cyberbullying.

1505 adolescents aged 12-17 years old from 8 Federal regions in Russia appraised their experience of cyberbullying (as aggressors, victims, passive bystanders and defenders) using vignettes and filled Aggression Questionnaire (Buss, Perry, 1992), Ten-Item Personality Inventory (Gosling et al., 2003; Egorova, Parshikova,2016); Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983; Karyagina, Kukhtova, 2016) and Chen Internet Addiction Scale (in adaptation Malygin, Feklisov, 2011).

More than one-third of adolescents (37%) reported experience of cyberbullying in different roles, mostly as passive bystanders (52%). Among the active roles were 30% defenders, 10% victims and 7% aggressors. Aggressors have the lowest empathy scores on the scales of Fantasy (F= 5.424, p=0.001) and Empathic Concern (F= 2.914, p=0.034) and Neuroticism (F= 3.060, p=0.028), while defenders, on the contrary, have the highest levels. The level of these psychological characteristics in victims is lower than in defenders and bystanders. These results are coherent with a number of studies (Escortell et al., 2020; Schultze-Krumbholz et al., 2018). There are no significant differences in Internet addiction between adolescents in different cyberbullying roles.

Results can be used to effective intervention and prevention of cyberbullying based on specific personality role profiles. The research was supported by RSF (project No. 18-18-00365)

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project # 18-18-00365.

The response to antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia varies from 14 to 34% in first episodes, and from 45 to 61% in more chronic patients. Nevertheless, the concept of treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) is still a matter of great controversy. Recently, an international group of experts has developed the TRRIP criteria to define treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS), including an ultra-resistance category for clozapine resistant patients. Up till now, there is a scarcity of epidemiological data of TRS with TRRIP criteria.

This study attempts to identify the population diagnosed of schizophrenia that fulfils the minima TRRIP criteria for TRS in our mental health catchment area.

A descriptive and retrospective study has been developed on the patients diagnosed of schizophrenia (ICD.10, F.20) in the catchment area of the Mental Health Service at Jerez Hospital between 2018 and 2019. TRRIP criteria were applied for two independent researchers and, in case of disagreement, consensus was reached by using the LEAD procedure.

The total number of ICD-10 schizophrenic patients identified was 590, from a population of 456.752 in 2019. A group of these, 206 patients (35%) qualified as TRS according to the minima TRRIP criteria, 50% were positive subtype and the rest the negative one. 46.8% were treated with clozapine.

Consensus criteria of TRS minimise the heterogeneity of epidemiological data in literature. Our data suggest a prevalence rate of TRS lower than that of similar studies. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding of this population would undoubtedly contribute to improve preventive and therapeutic strategies.

No significant relationships.

At present, the mental health of members in international Buddhist organizations is often damaged by decontextualized concepts and misleading meditation training. As the treatment of resulting mental diseases presents therapeutic challenges, currently diagnostic and related therapeutic considerations are crucial.

Since subjects predominantly reported having received several diagnoses, with depression, anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder being the most frequently assigned, a diagnostic assessment device was employed for further differentiation.

The questionnaire SCL-90 was used to evaluate the nine dimensions: interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, somatization, obsessive-compulsive disorder, hostility and phobic anxiety.

In a pilot group of eight German-speaking subjects of different Buddhist groups the general psychological burden (GSI) was significantly elevated in six of them. However, the intensity of responses in precisely those two individuals in whom it was not increased was far below the norm (PSDI). Furthermore, seven of the subjects had an above-average number of symptoms indicating burden (PST). All of them showed a heightened level of interpersonal sensitivity and for most of the subjects anxiety, depression, paranoid ideation and psychoticism were above the mean value of the norm group.

As for psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy, extended research with a larger group of such subjects and at the beginning of their treatment is crucial. Particularly, hypotheses on the causes of their social insecurity, depressivity, paranoid thinking as well as psychoticism based on the distorted concepts and neologisms these persons were exposed to (e.g. ‘karma-purification’) as well as their ways of ‘meditation-training’ seems to hold core relevance.

This research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, funding reference number: 01UL1823X.

A delusion of pregnancy is defined as a fixed false belief that one is pregnant in the absence of any evidence to support the pregnant state. Different mechanisms have been advanced to explain this phenomenon.

Herein, we present a case of hyperprolactinemia with delusion of pregnancy during the use of Amisulpride.

Herein, we present a case of hyperprolactinemia with delusion of pregnancy during the use of Amisulpride.

This case concerns a 39-year-old, divorced Tunisian woman with the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder,She has never been pregnant. She was taking Amisulpride at the dose of 400 mg per day with 100mg of Haldol Decanoate. In June 2021, she was admitted to our department as she expressed the thought that she was pregnant. No other psychotic symptoms were reported. There was no history of alcohol or illicit drug use. The physical examination was normal. The blood pregnancy test was negative. A measure of serum prolactin was performed and revealed a high prolactin level at 700 ng/ml. Amisulpride was discontinued. We then recorded the serum prolactin level at one month and then at three months after we stopped Amisulpride. We found that as her prolactin levels decreased her complaint of pregnancy also diminished. Actually, the patient has a normal level of prolactin and has no pregnancy delusion.

Clinicians should be aware that delusion of pregnancy in psychotic patients may be caused by side effects of the treatment. Monitoring of serum prolactin levels in patients under Amisulpride may help to improve the management of these patients.

No significant relationships.

Timely and accurate information is foundational to moderating and curing the COVID-19 for both the public and the scientific community, while repeated media exposure to crisis-related information raises stress and anxiety among general population.

The main goal of the current study was to evaluate the associations between the COVID-19-related information sources and anxiety levels.

An online web-survey recruited participants who were ≥18 years old and lived in Romanian through an online campaign in May 2021. Participants were asked whether they received COVID-19-related information frequently from the following sources: the Internet, traditional media, medical staff in health care settings or from friends, co-workers, or family members. We also assessed participants’ level of anxiety with Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and the cut-off point for anxiety index was set at 45. The associations of each information source with anxiety were examined using multiple regression analyses to control for sex, age, education and other demographic characteristics.

In total, the data of 1559 respondents (1224 female; mean age = 37.03 years and standard deviation (SD)=12.90 years) were analysed. The mean index score for SAS were 44.28 (SD=10.6). The major source of information on COVID-19 was the Internet (59.20%) and medical stuff (58.27%), almost in equal measure, followed by traditional media (48.17%) and friends, co-workers, and family members (30.72%).

Receiving COVID-19 information from the Internet and traditional media was positively correlated with anxiety level (p=0.01), while receiving COVID-19 information from medical-stuff was associated with low levels of anxiety (p=0.03).

No significant relationships.

For older adults, feeling subjectively younger is associated with improvements in cognition, subjective well-being and depressive symptoms. Positive psychiatry is the field that focuses on patient strengths and the promotion of positive outcomes, rather than just mitigation of illness. Younger subjective age may be a useful measure of successful aging, but little is known about how subjective age is associated with positive psychosocial characteristics.

Our objective is to characterize how subjective age is related validated positive psychosocial measures, with the goal of better understanding the determinants of successful aging.

The Successful Aging Evaluation (SAGE) longitudinal study recruited over 1,300 community-dwelling residents of San Diego County, CA, from age 21 to over 100. A single-item question asked “How old/young do you feel?” We used spearman correlations to assess the relationship between subjective age and validated positive psychosocial scales such as the Self-Rated Successful Aging, Life Orientation Test, Personal Mastery Scale, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Adult Hope Scale, and Social Support Index.

Mean chronological age was 65.5, and mean subjective age was 53.6. Mean age discrepancy was 11.5 years. Younger subjective age was positively associated with most of the positive psychosocial characteristics measured, including self-rated successful aging, optimism, personal mastery, resilience, curiosity, hope, and social support.

There is a growing movement within psychiatry to understand the positive characteristics that lead to successful aging. This is one of the first studies demonstrating younger age identities are associated with positive psychosocial characteristics and successful aging.

No significant relationships.

Vagus nerve stimulation produces therapeutic effects for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, heart failure, and others.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effects of the non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation on emotional burnout.

6 right-handed male volunteers aged 18-22 years participated in study. We used the combination of pleasant meditative classical music and a slow bi-polar wave (0.1-0.2 Hz) of electrical non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for 5 minutes. The set of 4 VNS was performed at intervals of 3 days. EEG was registered during the rest state (3 min, closed eyes condition). To measure the severity of emotional burnout in students, we used the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

VNS significantly improve the depersonalization and reduction of personal achievements (components of the emotional burnout). Changes in the psychoemotional state of the respondents were accompanied by the increase in the theta-Fz/alpha-Pz ratio, that reflects an enhancement of the activation level. A set of non-invasive stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve leads to an increase in the level of activation (the ratio of beta / alpha rhythms). The changes in the power of the alpha rhythm may relate to improving of mental process, creativity, creative thinking. An increase in alpha rhythm may reflect internally oriented attention in creative activities.

The preliminary data suggests that the novel mastoid stimulation device may have a prolonged stimulating effect on the brain processes while attenuating the burnout at the same time.

No significant relationships.

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) , inflammatory dermatitis, can lead to physical and psychosocial disability altering the quality of life of these patients.

The objective of this study was to examine the quality of life in patients with chronic hand eczema

Descriptive study collating patients who consulted for CHE, at the Dermatology Department of the CHU Hédi Chaker Sfax, during 3 years (2018-2020). A socio-demographic, clinic , and the Quality of life Questionnaire (DLQI) were administered in this study.

Our study included 12 patients (8 men and 4 women). The mean age was 46.8±11.6 years. The patients were in professional activity in 86.8% of the cases. No patient was in early retirement or disability status. The average duration of the disease was 4.5 years (1- 9 years). All patients were in remission. The intensity of pruritus at the last attack was mild (25.77%), moderate (72.23%), and severe (2%). The impact of pruritus on sleep was noted in 100%. The mean total quality of life score (DLQI) was 6.8±5.5 which means a moderate impairment of quality of life

This work highlights the importance of the impact of this dermatitis on the quality of life of these patients. Therefore, multidisciplinary dermatological and psychiatric management is considered necessary

No significant relationships.

The study of psychopathic traits has increased in recent years, given the impact that these traits have on our society.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between psychopathy traits and ability emotional intelligence by examining the sub-dimensions of both constructs in a sample of incarcerated males.

A total of sixty-three incarcerated adult males (Mage = 37.51) were assessed for psychopathy traits and emotional intelligence levels through the 34-item Self-Report Psychopathy Scale-III (SRP-III) and the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) respectively.

The results revealed that the incarcerated population is characterized by low EI and high psychopathic traits (explained by the scores obtained on the criminal tendencies sub-dimension). Moreover, participants scoring lower in ability EI were more likely to score higher on the callous affect sub-dimension of psychopathy. We also observed an indirect negative effect of ability EI on erratic lifestyle, criminal tendencies and interpersonal manipulation sub-dimensions through the mediating role of callous affect.

These findings offer a better understanding of the relationship between psychopathy traits and ability emotional intelligence and provide empirical support for the need to implement intervention programs in penitentiary centers based on EI training, which could help to reduce antisocial and disruptive behaviours and facilitate future reintegration into society.

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

COVID19 lockdown is having a significant impact on mental health, patients with eating disorders (ED) are particularly vulnerable.

1) To explore changes in eating and other psychological features due to confinement in patients with ED from various European and Asian countries; and 2) to assess differences related to diagnostic subtypes, age and geography.

The sample comprised 829 participants, diagnosed with an ED according to DSM-5 criteria from specialized ED units in Europe and Asia. Participants were assessed using the COVID19 Isolation Scale (CIES).

On one hand, patients with Binge Eating Disorder experienced the highest impact on weight and ED symptoms due to confinement. Together with subjects diagnosed with Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OFSED), they also experienced a deterioration in general psychological state. On the other hand, there was less symptomatic impact on people with Bulimia Nervosa or Anorexia Nervosa and asian and younger individuals appeared to be more resilient in this situation.

The impact of COVID varied by cultural context and individual variation in age and form of illness. Services may need to target preventive measures and adapting therapeutic approaches for the most vulnerable patients.

No significant relationships.

Adolescents spend more time on the Internet than adults, making them susceptible to problematic Internet use (PIU). Evidence shows that PIU has a negative impact on self-esteem among adolescents, disturbing the development of emotional regulation, which makes them more likely to develop depressive symptoms subsequently. However, there is lack of literature focusing on the process that self-esteem may mediate the association between PIU and depressive symptoms.

This study aimed to examine the prospective links between PIU, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms in adolescence.

A total of 1,736 adolescents completed this longitudinal study. The baseline survey was conducted in 2019, and the follow-up surveys were performed at 1-year and 2-year later. Problematic Internet use, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were measured. A cascade model was used to examine the longitudinal associations between PIU, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.

The mean (SD) age of participants was 13.6 (1.5) years at baseline. The final results observed significant within-time associations between PIU, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms at each time point. PIU and low level of self-esteem could predict subsequent depressive symptoms among adolescents, and depressive symptoms were also associated with subsequent PIU and self-esteem.

Both problematic Internet use and self-esteem show bidirectional predictions with depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents. Health-related professionals, schools and families should be aware of the findings of bidirectional associations. Adolescents with problematic Internet use and lower self-esteem should be paid more attention to attenuate the risk of developing depressive symptoms.

No significant relationships.

Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE) is the best characterized neurological complication of thiamine deficiency. Its clinical presentation can be diverse, including hallucinatory or delusional symptoms, and not necessarily associated with the classical triad of WE. This correlates with higher rates of under diagnosis. We present the case of a 72-year-old man with a history of alcoholism who was admitted to the hospital due to behavioural disturbances and subacute delusional ideas of harm.

To review the epidemiology and clinical features of WE, as well as its clinical management.

Review of the literature on WE clinical presentation and management, focusing on psychopathological symptoms, applying the information to this specific case.

Classical triad of WE is only to be found in 10-17% of patients. The most common clinical presentation is changes in mental state (82%), varying from subtle changes in memory, apathy, subtle disorientation or indifference to more severe presentations such as delirium, stupor or coma. Other frequent symptoms include oculomotor dysfunction and gait ataxia. High dose thiamine supplementation therapy has proven effective in preventing clinical progression and permanent neurological damage.

- WE is the most prevalent complication of thiamine deficiency, being associated to alcoholism in 50% of cases. - Changes in mental state is the most frequent form of clinical presentation, not necessarily associated with the classical triad of WE. - WE is a medical emergency that requires high dose thiamine supplementation therapy to prevent permanent neurological damage.

No significant relationships.

There is evidence that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in chronic psychosis but also exists in the early stages.

To study the prevalence and course of MetS over a period of 2 year after a first episode psychosis. To determine whether there may be differences in its prevalence according to the type of antipsychotic used over two years.

A sample of 300 patients participate in the PEPsNa Early Intervention Programme. SMet was determined at baseline and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. The type of antipsychotic used at each assessment moment is collected (none, aripiprazole, paliperidone, others). Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria were used to define MetS.

The prevalence of MetS at baseline is 4.44% and increases to 7.96% at 6 months, 10.1% at 12 months, 8.62% at 18 months and 9.01% at 24 months. The prevalence of MetS increases at 6 (p<0.021) and 12 months (p<0.003) compared to baseline and then remains stable. Only at 6 months assessment there are significant differences (F-Ficher p<0.022) in the presence of MetS (15.8%) in the paliperidone group treatment (oral or LAI).

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) exists from the early stages of psychosis and increases in the first 6-12 months and remains stable thereafter. The type of antipsychotic treatment only seems to have an influence at 6 months, with no differences at other follow-up times.

No significant relationships.

The WHO and the Violence Prevention Alliance define violence as “the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.” The types of violence examined in this study include physical, sexual, verbal and racial as the most commonly reported manifestations of violence in the workplace.

To obtain the most recent statistics on violent acts perpetrated against mental health care workers in the Republic of Ireland. To capture the experiences and attitudes of staff to the reporting of this violence.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) were contacted to obtain the most up to date figures on violence against mental health care workers. An electronic survey based on the WHO’s validated questionnaire on violence was then disseminated to all acute psychiatric units nationally.

There were 6,690 episodes of violence against staff in the Mental Health Division in 2018 and 2019. The survey found, 92.4% of respondents reported verbal abuse, 30.3% recorded physical assault, 15.2% had suffered sexual violence in a 24 month period. 20.3% of study participants took no action. Of those who did, 70% felt that the incident had not been investigated properly. More than half of respondents felt that there were no consequences to the aggressor.

Further work is needed in the prevention of workplace violence as well as improvements in reporting and investigating of incidents when they do occur.

No significant relationships.

Adolescents patients presenting with mood disorders, including disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), often present with the comorbid disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

1) Evaluate the association between suicide in adolescents and various mood disorders. 2) To study the impact of comorbid conditions in DMDD on suicide ideation and attempt in adolescents.

We used 2016-2017 National Inpatient Sample dataset to select patients with mood disorders. Rao Scott adjusted Chi-Square test used to compare the groups with SPSS v26.

In this study, 15195 patients were in the DMDD group (Mean age:12.1,F: 38%) and 219205 in the ‘other mood disorders’ group (Mean age:14.4,F:67%). The odds of SI/SA were two times more in patients with the ‘other type of mood disorder’ (OR:2.07, 95%CI: 1.77-2.14). Patients with the primary diagnosis of DMDD sub-classified into four groups (Group 1: DMDD only (n=5160), Group 2: DMDD+ADHD (n=7240), Group 3: DMDD +ODD (n=700), and Group 4: DMDD+ADHD+ODD (n=2095). SI/SA was prevalent in 30.8%, 26.0%, 22.9% and 26.3% in Group 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively (p: 0.03). SI/SA was more prevalent in females compared to males (31.3% vs. 25.2%). An increase of 1 year in age was associated with a higher SI/SA (OR:1.05, 95%CI:1.01-1.08, 0.01). The SI/SA odds were 5% more in female patients (OR:1.27, p:0.01).

The study reveals that the risk of suicide ideation or suicide attempt is almost twice in the adolescent with mood disorders without DMDD compared to the DMDD group.

No significant relationships.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are among the most debilitating mental disorders and evidence on its pathophysiological underpinnings is scant. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) appears to be involved in the pathophysiology of these complex psychiatric disorders.

The present study investigates the longitudinal variation of serum BDNF levels in a 24-month observational cohort study of Sardinian psychotic patients (LABSP). This study assessed the variation in BDNF serum levels and its relationship with psychopathological and cognitive changes. Further, we also examined if genetic variations within the BDNF gene could moderate these relationships.

Every six months 105 LABSP patients were assessed for their BDNF serum levels, as well as for a series of psychopathological, cognitive, and drug-related measures. Four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the BDNF gene were selected and analyzed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Longitudinal data were analyzed using mixed-effects linear regression models (MLRM).

Analysis showed significantly lower peripheral BDNF levels in psychotic patients with depressive and negative symptoms. BDNF levels were also decreased in patients scoring lower in cognitive measures such as symbol coding and semantic fluency. In addition, Val66Met polymorphism within the BDNF gene significantly moderated the relationship between the severity of negative symptoms and BDNF levels.

Our findings are consistent with previous literature suggesting that peripheral BDNF levels are associated with some cognitive domains and mood disruption in major psychosis. The results also suggest the lack of association between most BDNF genetic variants, except Val66Met polymorphism, with the severity of negative symptoms.

No significant relationships.