Lithium a mood stabilizer may exert adverse effects on memory. We have previously shown that lithium induces state-dependent learning. Cholinergic systems of the brain may play an important role in memory function and mood regulation. In the present study, effects of intra-dorsal hippocampal (intra-CA1) injections of lithium and scopolamine on memory and cross state-dependent learning between two drugs were investigated.

For memory assessment, a one-trial step-down inhibitory avoidance task was used in adult male NMRI mice.

Intra-CA1 administration of lithium (0.5 and 1 μg/mouse) after training or injection of the drug (0.5μg/mouse) before testing impaired memory when retrieval was tested 24 h later. The memory impairment by post-training lithium was reversed by pre-test administration of the drug (0.5μg/mouse, intra-CA1) suggesting lithium state-dependent learning. On the other hand, intra-CA1 administration of scopolamine (0.5, 1 and 2 μg/mouse) after training or injection of the drug (2μg/mouse) before testing impaired memory when retrieval was tested 24 h later. The impairment of memory by post-training injection of scopolamine (2μg/mouse) was restored by the pre-test injection of the drug (1 and 2 μg/mouse). Furthermore, memory impairment induced by post-training injection of lithium (0.5 μg/mouse) and scopolamine (2 μg/mouse) were reversed by pre-test administration of scopolamine (0.5, 1 and 2 μg/mouse) and lithium (0.5 and 1 μg/mouse) respectively. The impairment by lithium was also reversed by physostigmine.

The results suggest that microinjection of both lithium and scopolamine induce state-dependent memory and there may be a cross state-dependency between two drugs.

The brain renin-angiotensin system is involved in learning and memory, but the actual role of angiotensin II and its metabolites in this process has been difficult to comprehend. In the present study we assessed the role of the angiotensin AT1 receptors in certain behavioral effects of angiotensin II using their selective antagonist losartan and PD123319, intracerebroventricularly (icv) administrated.

Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1. sham-operated; 2. Losartan; 3. PD123319. All drugs were stereotaxically icv injected. Learning and memory tests began 2 weeks after the operation, and the ability of the rats to acquire the operant task was studied by means of Y-maze task and passive avoidance task, respectively. The anxiety state was measured in elevated plus maze.

Losartan and PD123319 significantly impaired spatial memory in Y-maze task, suggesting significant effects on short-term memory. In passive avoidance task, both angiotensin II antagonist, significantly decreased step-through-latency, suggesting significant effects on long-term memory. In elevated plus maze measuring anxiety, both drugs diminished anxiety state.

Our results suggest the considerable involvement of the brain ATi angiotensin receptors in the cognition improving effects of angiotensin.

Renin-angiotensin system in the central nervous system participates in the processing of sensory information, learning and memory processes. Inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system, particularly angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists are reported to have potential effects in various learning and memory processes. In the present study we assessed the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril and the angiotensin AT1 receptors antagonists, lostartan and PD123319, in learning and memory processes by means of Y-maze and passive avoidance tasks. The anxiety state was measured in elevated plus maze.

Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: 1. sham-operated; 2. Captopril; 3. Losartan; 4. PD123319. All drugs were stereotaxically icv injected, rather than captopril (i.p.). Learning and memory tests began 2 weeks after the operation, and the ability of the rats to acquire the operant task was studied by means of Y-maze task and passive avoidance task, respectively. The anxiety state was measured in elevated plus maze.

Captopril, losartan and PD123319 significantly impaired spatial memory in Y-maze task, suggesting significant effects on short-term memory. In passive avoidance task, all drugs, significantly decreased step-through-latency, suggesting significant effects on long-term memory. In elevated plus maze measuring anxiety, all drugs diminished anxiety state.

These results suggest the involvement of the brain renin-angiotensin system in learning and memory formation.

This research was supported by grant 502-16-683 Medical University of Lodz.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of cognitive enhancers on quality of life to patients with MCI.

The study comprises a number of 40 elderly patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. These patients were divided in two groups:

• group A that comprises 20 patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment that were treated with piracetamum (daily dose: 1600mg),

• group B that comprises 20 patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment that were treated with antioxidants Coenzima Q10 (daily dose: 15mg).

MMSE score between 28-21points is considered mild cognitive impairment. The inclusion criteria were:

• patients over 65 years,

• patients with mild cognitive impairment.

• The exclusion criteria were:

• patients with mild cognitive impairment due to major depressive disorder and schizophrenia,

• patients with moderate and severe cognitive impairment.

• The patients were evaluated with MMSE (Mini Mental State Evaluation) and GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale) at the inclusion and after 6 months of treatment.

The average of MMSE scores in group A was 25.9 and for group B 25.5. The patients treated with nootropics have had a better outcome, cognitive performance improving with 2,6 points for group A and with 1,8 points for group B. Improvement of cognitive performance improve the quality of life of this patients, the GAF scores improving from 45.4 points to 67.3 in group A and from 44.8 points to 55.3 in group B.

The patients treated with nootopics have had a better outcome regarding cognitive functions and quality of life also. Improvement of cognitive performance improve the quality of life.

Asperger syndrome (AS) is a term used to mark a subgroup of autism with no delay in language or cognitive development. Research reveal language and cognitive impairments in AS (uneven profile of abilities on Wechsler intelligence scales, pragmatic deficits, receptive speech, narrow attention and difficulty in shifting attention, etc). The objective of this study is to examine episodic memory of children with AS. 12 children with AS age from 7-16 years old, 11 males, 1 female participated in the study. All children had an IQ in the normal range.

Buschke Selective Reminding Test was used in the present study as a measure of episodic memory suitable for the age range of the children in the study.

scores gained by the children with AS comparing to the scores of the normally developing children indicate deviation on the measures of recall, long term storage, consistent long term retrieval and increased number of intrusions. Only 3 subjects scored within normal limits. Information produced on immediate recall was not lost over 30-minute delay.

results shows dominant problem in organization of stored information.

PPA is characterized by progressive language dissolution, with remarkable spare of other cognitive domains for at least two years, and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dementia.

A 56-year-old previously healthy man was seen for speech difficulties. He studied Portuguese for 4 years, and then went to live in France, where he learned French for 3 years. He returned definitely to Portugal when he was 42. Since early adolescence he was fluent on speaking, reading and writing in both languages. In the last 12 years he spoke French mainly when visiting his family. Three years ago he started showing disintegration of his second language preceding that of his native one. Upon examination he had laborious, effortful, nonfluent and agrammatic speech, with severe anomia and some repetition and complex-command comprehension difficulties. He could not name, understand or write any French word. The remaining neurological examination was near-normal to age and education level (MMSE - 25/30). Brain MRI showed left-side predominant frontotemporal cortical atrophy. PET scan revealed hypometabolism in the same area and the temporal lobe, anterior cynguli and dorsolateral frontal cortex.

Our patient has nonfluent variant of PPA. Cases like this can give further insight into the neural network subserving language acquisition and dissolution. In proficient bilinguals, the main point on language dissolution in PPA seems to be the recency of use. The best way to confirm this would be to systematically characterize PPA patients on secondary language usage, attained proficiency and disintegration sequence.

The main purpose of the current study was to identification proximal risk factores including stressful life events, abuse specially emotional abuse, planning, methods and availability of methods for committing suicide.

This study has been run in a emergency settings over a period of 1 year and data gathered from a total of 120 participants including 52 male, 68 femal who had recently attempted suicide. The mean age of the samples was 22 (SD=3.9; max=33; min=18) and the mean level of education was 11 (SD=2.3; max=16; min=7). All participants completed the short form of WHO supremiss questionnaire (42 item version).

Data were analyzed using regression logestic and Chi square formula. The alpha coefficient reliability of this short form of WHO supremiss questionnaire was 0.67.

The results showed that the most common way to suicide (%58) was self-poisening (drug over doze with sedatives and anti depressants). The most common proximal risk factors were serious arguments with family or spouse, serious personal physical illness or hopelessness in a short period of time after an acute life event. Approximately %65 of this patients had a serious plan for suicide and Three fourth of patients had problems with their parents who neglect, over protect or abuse them.

The roles of different psychological stressors and vulnerability factores in attempted suicide will vary according to the time lapse from the stressor until the suicide attempt. understanding distal and proximal vulnerability factors involved in attempted suicide has important implications for both theory and practice.

A growing body of scientific literature emphasizes a strong linkage between HIV/Aids and serious mental illness. In the Italian context, specialized services for combined management of dual diagnosis are increasingly requested, and healthcare professionals (HPWs) have to face up the difficulty emerging by this new situation. To bridge these gaps, the present study aimed at studying the representations of dual diagnosis, analyzing HPWs’ experiences from their own perspectives, in order to understand their difficulty and create future good practices in healthcare services.

A quali-quantitative study was conducted with a multidisciplinary sample of professionals (N=91), drawn by HIV/Aids and Mental Health sites. Due to the exploratory nature of the research, data were collected from semi-structured interviews: HPWs were asked about their work experiences with HIV/Aids and Mental Illness. The interviews were fully audio-taped and verbatim transcribed. A computer-aided lexical correspondence analysis was conducted by a dedicated text-analysis software.

Data analysis showed out two main factorial dimensions: the first regarding the representation of the “Management of dual diagnosis within Health Services”, and the second one referring to the “categorization of HIV/Aids-Mental Illness co-morbidity”. Furthermore, four different Representational Conceptions were highlighted, corresponding to as many different ways HPWs use to represent/depict the aims of Health Service in relation to HIV/Aids-Mental Illness co-morbidity.

This study reveals that socio-cultural meanings of dual diagnosis are not fixed; rather, they are ongoing co-constructed within the activities carried out by the HPWs involved in their specific health contexts in the exercise of their profession.

The future of a society depends on children's health. Children's growth and health is directly influenced with mother's health. This study has targeted on defining and comparison of maternal health of mother's with low birth and premature with the one of mothers with term infants.

This descriptive analytic study was carried out on 200 mothers with low birth and premature infants selected by target focused sampling. The date were collated related to maternal health concerning weight, age, smoking, taken drugs pre delivery weight, times of pregnancy, anxiety due to crisis and maternal health care. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.

The findings related to mothers weigh before pregnancy showed that there was not a significant difference between most of the mothers with low birth and premature infants aged between 45 to 54 weight years and mothers with term infants of birth than 105kg (P< 0/01, DF= 182). Regarding maternal health in both groups there was a significant difference between taken drugs and duration and dosage, maternal health and anxiety.

And restlessness.

Since mothers play a major role in care of children and their own mental health influences their children physical and mental health, health team should play close attention to mothers mental physical and social health preservation in order to enhance their children physical and mental health as well.

The term ‘family burden’ has been introduced to describe the adverse consequences of life with severely disturbed psychiatric patients. Its use has been extended to people with intellectual disability (ID). Literature has established a distinction between the intensity of worry and appraisals experienced by caregivers (subjective burden) and the real amount of resources (time, money, health, etc.) spent on the care (objective burden).

To compare the possible effect of gender on the burden experienced by a group of caregivers to people with ID in Spain.

179 adults with intellectual disability clients of the Carmen Pardo-Valcarce Foundation's sheltered workshop in Madrid (Spain) were asked to participate in the present study along with their main caregivers. Burden experienced by caregivers was assessed with the ECFOS-II / SOFBI-II scale (Entrevista de Carga Familiar Objetiva y Subjetiva / Objective and Subjective Family Burden Interview). The tool has been validated for people with ID. It hasan introductory section plus 8 modules which assess different domains of burden.

Only two modules of the scale showed significant differences depending on the gender of the user. These modules refer to the need of assistance in everyday activities and motives for concern for the caregiver (p< 0.05).

In overall terms, caregivers experience the same level of burden when caring either for a son or for a daughter with ID. However, gender differences arise when considering specific domains, showing that social stereotypes can account for a higher level of subjective burden associated to female gender.

Although scientifically controversial, continuity of care for patients with serious mental illness has long been a key-concept in the evaluation of deinstitutionalized mental health services. It is associated with systems integration, and particularly relevant in transitions from in- to outpatient status at the individual level. The theme is highlighted in a close to natural experiment that was part of the VELO-project, were two neighboring mental health service-systems diverge concerning their organization of in- and outpatient services.

To investigate the significance of systems integration of inpatient and outpatient services on continuity of care for individual patients.

244 inpatients from the services case-registry (2005) were followed concerning their pattern of both inpatient and outpatient service use. The results were controlled for length of hospitalization, diagnosis and demographical variables.

Overall for inpatients, the low-integrated system shows significantly less outpatient activity than the high-integrated system. This pattern is not associated with differences in general service profile of the systems, and holds up for patients suffering from schizophrenia and anxiety, but not for affective disorders.

The results may be explained by differences in geographical and managerial organization of the two systems.

High level of systems integration is important in reducing the risk of discontinuity of care for patients suffering from severe mental health problems. Level of integration may interact with differences in vulnerability for transitions of individual patients.

A lot of theories point that developmental problems could be coused by many socio-psychological factors in children’s environment, especially in the family functioning. The purpose of the study is to investigate those factors.

The sample consisted of 60 children from a development counselling services and 90 children with no diagnosed disorders. The parents were administered: a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics (characteristics of family functioning in a primary family and in parents’ families; methods that parents use in upbringing and commitment of parents to the function of upbringing), GRADIR-test (measures family functionality).

We found statistically significant differences in family functionality between two groups of children. The characteristic of family functionality of children with developmental problems is that family relationships are more structured and emotional expression is reduced. By hierarchical regression analyses we found that statistically significant Betas that could predict developmental problems expresses a well functioning mother, aggressive, punishing father and a child with a weak impulse control.

Our findings imply that families of children with developmental problems are well structured (rigid) and emotionally cold, fathers are aggressive and punishing and even though mothers are well functioning and shows healthy behaviour in upbringing, it seems that they don’t have as much influence as pathological patterns in family have.