Behavioral addictions (BAs) are intensely explored during the last decades due to their impact on the quality of life, functionality, socio-economical negative consequences, and high risk of mental health negative consequences. BAs are new challenges for clinicians and researchers due to a lack of well-defined diagnostic criteria, very few available epidemiological data, and scarce information about efficient therapeutic interventions. Cell phone addiction (CPA) has been raising a significant interest for mental health specialists because of its increasing prevalence and potential long-term physical and mental complications. Therefore, an analysis of the available data about the main characteristics of this pathology seems granted.

The main objective of this review was represented by the need to find relevant reports about the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic interventions in CPA.

A narrative review focused on the available treatments for food addiction was performed through a search in four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Web of Science/Clarivate) using the paradigm “cell phone addiction” or “smartphone dependence” and “treatment” or “epidemiology” or “diagnostic criteria” or “risk factors.” No inferior time limit for published papers was established, and the superior limit was July 2023.

A relatively large number of papers regarding this topic were found (n=772), but after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 29 articles remained. Female gender and adolescents, but also high anxiety levels, insomnia, excessive Internet use, less physical activity, and a higher level of dependence have been correlated with CPA. Six validated scales have been identified as possible instruments for monitoring the CPA evolution. Different diagnostic criteria have been suggested, but they still lack clinical validation. Cognitive-behavioral therapy could be helpful, and smartphone applications that limit online time could also be efficient. Treatment of previously mentioned vulnerability factors is also recommended to obtain long-term favorable effects.

CPA is an increasingly explored BA, but validated diagnostic criteria are still missing. The treatment is also based on extrapolations from other addictions. Therefore large sample-based therapy trials are needed.

None Declared

Job satisfaction is a fundamental pillar of the modern workplace. Recognizing the significance of job satisfaction and actively promoting it has become a strategic imperative in today’s work environment.

The present study aimed to assess job satisfaction and work ability among workers in a confectionery factory.

A cross-sectional study conducted in a Sfax confectionery factory included 200 workers. Data were collected between December 2022 and July 2023 using a pre-established questionnaire. This questionnaire encompassed an evaluation of socio-demographic and professional data, measuring the degree of professional satisfaction and the level of work ability using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10.

The gender ratio was 0.64. The mean age was 33.2 ± 8.8 years. Among our workers, 77.5% reported being satisfied with their work. The average perceived work ability score was 8.15 ± 2.087. Employees with higher levels of satisfaction were more likely to have increased work capacity (p = 0.000). Elevated job satisfaction not only boosts work capacity but can also reduce stress levels, improve overall mental well-being, and contribute to a healthier workplace environment. These factors collectively lead to higher work ability.

These findings emphasize the importance of prioritizing employee well-being to enhance overall productivity and company success. Fostering a work environment that prioritizes job satisfaction can lead to a more productive and successful workplace.

None Declared

There is emerging evidence that people with schizophrenia (SCH) struggle to form romantic relationships and are often dissatisfied with their sex lives. Intimate relationships are perceived as normalizing and related to a person’s recovery and better medication adherence. Nevertheless, this area remains scientifically unaddressed, and patients with SCH generally do not feel adequately supported in terms of their sexual health.

The study aims to assess whether challenges in establishing sexual relationships could be connected to: a) decreased salience of sexual intimacy and/or b) compromised ability to detect, recognize, and react to signals of sexual interest.

Forty-three patients with SCH (29 males and 14 females) and a control group of twenty-four participants (11 males and 13 females) were exposed to our first experiment, the Circular attention task. This task was designed to evaluate the salience of erotic stimuli compared to neutral ones. At the beginning of each trial, a black fixation circle appeared in the middle of the screen. When a fixation of 250 ms or longer was detected within the circular area of interest (AOI) around the fixation circle, the fixation circle disappeared, and a pair of erotic/neutral pictures appeared. During the experiment, the eye movements were measured using the eye-tracking device Eyelink 1000plus. For data analysis, we used Wilcoxon signed-rank test to assess the differences between the mean latency to first fixation, mean duration of first fixation, and mean proportion of time spent gazing at the stimulus both for sexual and neutral pictures in the whole sample regardless of sex and patient status. More detailed analysis was performed using 2 (sex: male, female) x 2 (status: patient, control) two-way ANOVA.

Considering the whole sample there was a significant difference in mean latency to first fixation (W = 707, p = 0.007, rrb = -0.379) and mean duration of first fixation (W = 1923, p < 0.001, rrb = 0.739). There was a shorter latency to first fixations towards sexual pictures (M = 952.33 ms) than to neutral pictures (M = 1005.30 ms). First fixations were longer for sexual pictures (M = 280.96 ms) than for neutral pictures (M = 243.73 ms). There was an effect overall in the sample towards the sexual pictures, but it was not different for participants based on their sex or patient status.

Findings revealed that interest in explicit sexual stimuli does not differ based on sex or patient status. Patients with SCH appear to find explicit erotic signals sexually salient, suggesting their interest in sexual intimacy. Our study will further investigate whether persons with SCH are able to interpret, recognize and respond to signals of sexual interest. Based on our results, the guidelines for sexological remediation will be developed.

The study was supported by the Charles University, 1. LF project GA UK No. 56123.

None Declared

Chronotype represents genetically determined behavioral characteristics of a person’s twenty-four-hour activity. Research shows that a person’s chronotype is interrelated with their mental health. Are there similar connections with general health and health related quality of life?

To establish how various chronotypes are represented in university students and if there are any interrelations between chronotypes and health‐related quality of life

We used SF-12 Health Survey и Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) by Horne and Ostberg to survey 305 university students of both genders.

The results showed that the majority of the students (71.2%) have an intermediate chronotype. The second goes a moderate morning chronotype (17.7%), the third – a moderate evening chronotype (9.8%). Definite morning and definite evening chronotypes were revealed in less than 1% of the students. SF-12 Health Survey scale indicators that assess quality of life corresponded to standard scores for the given group of the respondents. We have revealed valid relations in correlational interconnections of the achieved parameters. Thus, the morning chronotype is most consistently associated (p<0.01) in undergraduate university students with higher indicators of health related quality of life including General Health (r=.23), Vitality (r=.21), Role Physical (r=.18), Role Emotional (r=.17), Physical Functioning (r=.16), Social Functioning (r=.13). Mental Health and Bodily Pain in university students are not connected with the chronotype (p>05).

Therefore, this research establishes that the majority of the students are related to the intermediate chronotype, and the morning chronotype corresponds to higher levels of most indicators of health related quality of life excluding the level of mental health.

None Declared

Individuals who suffer from substance use disorder (SUD) are at increased risk of Hepatitis C (HCV). Mount Carmel Hospital (MCH) is the only public service in-patient mental health care facility on the island of Malta. Individuals with SUD are referred to MCH for support with comorbid mental health conditions.

To assess whether current practice meets the UK Clinical Guidelines on Drug Misuse and Dependence (2017) recommendations- yearly screening for HCV, further testing and referral to infectious disease specialists for those who screen positive for HCV. To compare current practice at MCH, Malta with other countries in the European Union and United Kingdom.

Retrospective analysis of HCV screening, investigation and referral practices as recorded on iSoft Clinical Manager records for SUD-related admissions to MCH under the care of addiction specialists in 2022 (n=120). Admissions data were provided by the data protection office, with permission from the Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry, and de-identified at source to safeguard patient confidentiality.

60% (n=72) of the SUD inpatient population underwent screening for HCV according to guideline recommendations. 37% (n=44) of this cohort has received a positive HCV antibody result. 32 persons had HCV RNA load records, 34% (n=11) of whom had a detectable viral load. 50% (n=17) of those who screened positive for HCV were offered an appointment with an infectious disease specialist within the year, 7 attended. The table below compares HCV status between our group and published data for the UK, Austria and Greece. Despite heterogeneity in study designs and populations (we describe an inpatient cohort with diagnosed SUD, not all of whom inject drugs) comparable proportions have undergone HCV screening in the preceding twelve months and similar proportions have chronic HCV infection.

Most SUD inpatients at MCH undergo HCV screening according to guideline recommendations but current practice falls short of ideal coverage and follow-up care. Current screening practices and chronic HCV infection rates at MCH are comparable to other countries in the EU and UK.

None Declared

Parents whose adult child has a serious mental illness are at risk of serious violence from their child. One of the reasons for the high risk of PTSD is violence in the home [1,2]. The high risk of PTSD in parents of patients with schizophrenia is an issue of great concern because parents are likely to fear repeated violence and, therefore, to object to patients being discharged from hospital.

To assess the existence of post-traumatic stress disorder in relatives of patients with schizophrenia treated at the Arrazi University Psychiatric Hospital in Salé following familial violence.

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a questionnaire including sociodemographic criteria, clinical criteria, questions about domestic violence and an “IES-R” post-traumatic stress symptom assessment questionnaire to investigate the existence of post-traumatic stress disorder in relatives of patients with schizophrenia followed up at Arrazi University Psychiatric Hospital in Salé following familial violence.

The response of 72 relatives of schizophrenic patients was collected. About 70% of the participants were mothers. The average age of the participants was 58. All lived with children who had been treated for schizophrenia for more than 18 years (57% of participants). Around 20% of these children were in hospital at the time of completing this questionnaire.

About 80% of the children with schizophrenia spent all their time at home, and about 89% of the participants had already been victims of violence from their sick children. 90% had been sworn at and insulted, the majority blamed themselves for the illness, about 56% had already been kicked or punched, and 36% had already received death threats and 12% serious injuries/.

For all items, parents with a high IES-R score had significantly more experiences of violence than parents with a low IES-R score. The percentage of parents with a high IES-R score was 45%.

The experience of severe violence and hospitalisation of a patient was related to a high risk of post-traumatic stress disorder in parents. These two factors can be considered as traumatic events arising from crisis situations and can have harmful consequences for parents and their schizophrenic children, who are sometimes rejected. There seems to be a need to create crisis intervention programmes that offer a multidisciplinary approach capable of rapidly detecting the exacerbation of a serious mental illness and providing rapid and intensive treatment as quickly as possible. Finally, the provision of support, education or treatment for parents during their child’s hospitalisation is essential.

None Declared

One of the principles of healthcare is preventive focus, that is, the implementation of measures to improve the hygienic education of the population and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The scientific rationale for carrying out primary prevention activities is based on an analysis of morbidity and prevalence rates and their dynamics.

to conduct a comparative analysis of the primary incidence and prevalence of mental pathology in children and adolescents (0-17 years) in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2005-2020 .

statistical data from the Republican Center for Electronic Health and the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic were used  (http://www.stat.kg/ru/rss/), (http://cez.med.kg/).

primary incidence of mental pathology among children and adolescents in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 amounted to 66.2, 44.1, 44.8, 51.1 respectively (based on 100,000 the child population). The prevalence of mental pathology for 2005-2020 was 418.4, 317.0, 312.5, 400.0 respectively (based on 100,000 the child population). That is, morbidity and prevalence rates show higher numbers in 2005 and in 2020 (Diagram №1). In the gender aspect, morbidity rates were higher in males 40.0, 28.0, 31.3, 31.0 compared to females 26.3, 16.1, 17.1, 20.1 (based on 100,000 the child population; (Diagram №2).

Image:

Image 2:

the variability of the obtained indicators of morbidity and prevalence of mental pathology in children and adolescents is due to difficulties in providing specialized psychiatric care to the child population due to the lack of child psychiatrists in the regions of the country, the processes of population migration, and the phenomenon of stigmatization. In this regard, measures and educational programs are needed to improve the provision of psychiatric care to the child population at the level of primary medical and social care.

None Declared

The professional quality of life for psychiatry residents is a complex and multifaceted aspect of their careers. However, the demanding nature of their work can place significant stress on their own psychological well-being. Balancing the need to care for patients while also managing personal and professional responsibilities can be challenging. Nevertheless, psychiatry residents have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of their patients and find fulfillment in their work.

To assess the prevalence of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among psychiatry residents.

We conducted a descriptive online cross-sectional survey in January 2022 among psychiatry residents practicing at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in the Sfax region in Tunisia. Professional life quality was evaluated using The Professional Quality of Life Scale - 5 “ProQOL-5”.

The total number of residents was 34, of which 91.2% were female. Their mean age was 27.94 years±2.43. They were single in 67.6%. They were residents in adult psychiatry in 61.8% and in child psychiatry in 39.2%. For 91.2% of them, the specialty of adult or pediatric psychiatry was their own choice. The individuals had been practicing psychiatry for an average of two years. They reported a personal medical or surgical history, a personal psychiatric history, and a family history of psychiatric disorders in 32.4%, 8.8%, and 50%, respectively.

On the ProQOL-5 scale, we found that 88.2% of the residents had a moderate level of compassion satisfaction, 67.6% had a moderate level of burnout, and 52.9% had a moderate level of secondary traumatic stress.

Our study showed a moderate professional life quality among psychiatry residents, hence the importance of implementing intervention strategies.

None Declared

The prevalence of psychosis in patients with epilepsy is estimated approximately 7.8%. However, postictal psychosis appears to be much less common, with a prevalence of 2% in epilepsy. Postictal psychosis is defined as psychotic episodes starting within less than one week after an epileptic seizure.

Our aim was to study the clinical characteristics and the therapeutic options through a case report and a review of the literature.

Case report and unsystematic literature review were obtained by searching the Pubmed.gov database. Thirty-six articles were identified through searches of this database and thirty-five articles were included in the selection of in-text articles integral

A 32-year-old men patient, without a personal or family history of psychiatric illness, was admitted to a psychiatric unit for a psychotic episode which has started three days before, mystical delusions, irritability, disorganized behavior, and aggressiveness, that had emerged shortly after a cluster of generalized tonic-clonic GTC seizures. Additionally, divided attention and memory deficits were noticed during psychiatric hospitalization.

Past medical history was relevant for epilepsy since he was 20 years olds. He did not regularly attend follow-up neurology appointments and had poor adherence to antiepileptic treatment. Last tomography images, a day before the hospitalization in psychiatry, had documented hypodense lesions in the periventricular white matter and subcortical semi-oval center distributed bilaterally and symmetrically suggestive of leukopathy. During the hospitalization, biochemical screening, renal and thyroid function were normal, serologies for B and C hepatitis were negative.

Psychotic symptoms subsided in the first 36 hours after admission upon treatment with Risperidone 4 mg/day, carbamazepine 600 mg/day, and 15O mg phenobarbital.

From our research, we can deduce that although these syndromes are widely recognized, standard diagnostic manuals fail to acknowledge them, resulting in a noticeable lack of attention in the literature. Therefore, it is crucial for physicians to carefully examine patients with known risk factors for the symptoms of postictal psychosis.

None Declared

The sudden emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a compulsory shift to distance learning due to school closures. Consequently, all educational courses were delivered virtually. To facilitate this transition for students and educators, the Ministry of Education implemented digital learning platforms, such as Taalim.ma and TelmidTice. Furthermore, the Broadcasting and Television National Company reorganized its television channels to maintain continuity throughout the academic year. As a result, trainee teachers have effectively shifted to distance learning, using resources such as e-Takwine, MOOC classes, and digital classrooms.

This study examines the factors that cause discomfort among trainee teachers and evaluates their influence on satisfaction with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We conducted a descriptive study with 370 Moroccan trainee teachers, with a mean age of 28.30 ± 5.99 years. We collected data using a self-administered questionnaire that was divided into three sections. The initial section examined sociodemographic and professional factors, including gender, age, marital status, academic level, and training cycle. The subsequent section focuses on discomfort-inducing factors, including living arrangements during lockdown, digital skills, material availability, network connectivity, and training schedules. Finally, the concluding section analyzes the trainees’ satisfaction and perceptions within their learning community.

The study indicated that 75% of trainee teachers lived in homes with four to seven residents, leading to confined living arrangements. Furthermore, 55% of the participants did not have a designated workspace for studying, focusing, or engaging with instructors. Participants identified various obstacles to online learning, including 80% lacking digital skills, 60% having insufficient equipment, 73.33% experiencing connection and network issues, 78.33% being unfamiliar with online learning, and 68.33% facing an unsuitable training schedule. The study indicates a positive correlation between trainee satisfaction and engagement (r = 0.422, p< 0.001).

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated online education as a crucial resource for ensuring the continuity of education. This study highlights the paramount significance of developing effective e-training policies to direct novice teachers toward successful online learning by alleviating their discomfort factors.

None Declared

Childbirth is a special time for every woman, bringing pregnancy to an end and marking the birth of a new baby. This transitional event presents countless physical and psychological changes. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the result of particularly intense stress, is often linked to the perception of childbirth as a traumatic event, requiring optimized follow-up and screening.

The aim of this current study is to estimate the prevalence of post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder in a sample group of Tunisian women and to determine factors associated with childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is a longitudinal prospective descriptive study conducted among women hospitalized for childbirth in the obstetrics and gynecology department and those who consulted the prenatal outpatient clinic at Taher Sfar Mahdia Hospital. The duration of the study is 7 months, from March 15, 2020 to September 15, 2020. Data collection was based on a pre-established questionnaire determining the various socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Psychometric assessment was carried out using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist Scale (PCL-S).

We enrolled 120 women with a mean age of 28.2± 5.3 years. Few women had a psychiatric history of depression (1.2%) or anxiety (3%), and 29% had a pathological obstetric history. Nevertheless, 12.5% of patients were hospitalized during pregnancy. Eighty-seven patients expressed anticipatory fear of childbirth, and 102 women had good marital and social support. Almost half of deliveries (48.3%) were vaginal, and almost a third (27.5%) were emergency caesarean sections. Level 3 pain was reported in 73.3% of cases. Psychometric assessment revealed a prevalence of PTSD of 5.8%, with PTSD symptomatology in 18.4% of women. PTSD was statistically associated with low level of education (p=0.02), postpartum complications (p=0.05) and gender of newborn (p=0.01).

Postpartum PTSD is a major public health problem affecting the healthy development of the newborn, the overall mental and physical recovery and well-being of the mother.Our findings suggest several intervention points for healthcare practitioners, including careful prenatal screening of past trauma history, social support, pain management and expectations about the birth, within a multidisciplinary approach.

None Declared

Antipsychotic (AP) are increasingly prescribed off-label and used as, but not limited to, anti-aggressive, anti-impulsive, and anti-suicidal medication. The use of second-generation AP (SGAs) has progressively increased compared to first-generation AP (FGAs). FGAs cause more extrapyramidal motor side effects and tardive dyskinesia than SGAs, whereas SGAs generally cause more weight gain and cardiometabolic adverse effects.

Aim of this observational study was to describe the socio-demographic and clinical features of the patients receiving new AP treatment and the features of the pharmacological treatment itself in “real world” context. Furthermore, we aimed to compare socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the subjects who were prescribed either FGAs or SGAs.

Data were collected on the latest new AP prescriptions issued across different settings (two psychiatric wards; five outpatients clinics; and one rehabilitation community) belonging to ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco (located in Milan) in reverse chronological order from May 2023.

Socio-demographic and clinical variables of the subjects who received new AP treatment were collected through medical records. We compared age, age at onset, age at first pharmacological treatment, duration of illness, duration of untreated illness, treatment duration, number of hospitalization and admissions to Day Hospital services, involuntary commitments and suicidal attempts in patients who received either FGAs or SGAs. Chi-square was used for qualitative variables and t-test for quantitative variables. Data were collected anonymously and analyzed using SPSS v.27.

The sample included 155 new AP prescriptions, out of which 29.2% were formulated in the psychiatric wards, 66.9% in the outpatient clinics e 3.9% in the rehabilitative community. Mean age of the subjects was 41.1 ± 16.9 years, 53.2% were male.

The most represented diagnoses were psychotic disorders (32.2%), personality disorders (24.8%), bipolar disorder (16.1%) and depressive disorder (12.8%).

90.7% of new AP prescriptions were SGAs. The most prescribed were aripiprazole (30.5%), quetiapine (21.2%) and olanzapine (15.2%); while the most prescribed FGAs were haloperidol (5.3%), zuclopenthixol (2%) and chlorpromazine (1.3%). 26.2% of the prescriptions were in monotherapy and 83.8% were for oral administration.

The reasons for introduction were partial or absent response to previous treatments (52.3%), disease onset (23.5%), non-compliance (8.3%), adverse effects to previous treatments (6.8%) or other (9.1%). Patients treated with FGA had a longer duration of untreated illness (p<0,001) and a greater number of lifetime hospitalizations (p<0,001) and involuntary commitments (p=0,002).

Patients treated with SGAs have a shorter duration of untreated illness and also lower chance of lifetime hospitalization and involuntary commitment.

None Declared

While chronic inflammation and enhanced imbalance of pro- and antioxidant, including glutathione-dependent, systems contribute substantially to pathogenesis of mental disorders in old age, extent of oxidative stress and degree of inflammatory processes severity are varying among patients with late onset schizophrenia.

Revealing various phenotypes in patients with late onset schizophrenia basing on measurement of activity levels for blood glutathione-dependent enzymes and inflammation markers and analysis of their links with clinical features of the patients.

Of 59 studied women patients 34 were with late onset (after 40 years) and 25 with very late onset (after 60 years) schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychoses (F20; F22.8; F25; F23; F06.2 by ICD-10). 34 mentally healthy women elder than 50 years comprised controls. Glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), neutrophil elastase (NE), and α1-roteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) activities were measured in blood. PANSS, CDSS and CGI-S were used to assess the severity of psychotic symptoms, depression and treatment effectiveness.

In the whole group of patients, GR was lower (p<0.05), and α1-PI was higher (p<0.0001) than in control group. Clustering the patients by their biochemical and immunological signs revealed two clusters (C1, n=34, and C2, n=25) significantly differing by GST (p<0.0001), NE (p<0.0001), and α1-PI (p<0.001) activities. As compared with controls, GST and α1-PI were higher (p<0.05 and p<0.0001), and NE was lower (p<0.05) in C1. As compared with controls, GR activity was lower (p<0.05), NE activity was higher (p<0.001), and α1-PI activity was much higher (p<0.001) in C2. Patients of C1 and C2 did not differ in age, diagnosis, severity of the disease, but differed in clinical features of the course of the disease: significantly more patients with very late onset schizophrenia (76%) were met in C1 (χ2=13.41, p<0.001). Also, different clinical-biological correlations were found in these clusters. Particularly, negative correlations of baseline NE activity with PANSS general psychopathology subscale scores (R=-0.39, p<0.05) and with total PANSS scores (R=-0.39, p<0.05) were found in C1. Positive correlation of GST activity with PANSS positive subscale score was found in C2 (R=0.43, p<0.05).

The revealed clusters differ in the extent of the glutathione antioxidant system impairment and in levels of the immune response markers. The revealing of the patient subgroups on the basis of biological markers reflecting impairments in metabolic and immune systems can represent interest in the search for individual treatment approaches.

None Declared

Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare and complex congenital disorder characterized by a spectrum of symptoms and somatic findings. The prevalence of classic BWS is 1:26,000 births in Europe, and is equal in both sexes. The causes of the disorder are complex and are related to alterations in the expression of one or more genes in the region of chromosome 11. The heterogeneity of the clinical picture results in a spectrum of clinical features, the most common of which include: excessive growth of one side or certain parts of the body, macroglossia, abdominal wall deficits such as umbilical hernia, hypoglycemia, enlarged abdominal organs and an increased risk of developing certain types of tumors in adulthood.

The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of an early multidisciplinary approach in the management of children and adolescents with BWS.

Using clinical practice and a review of the existing limited literature, we examined the complexity of the disease and the importance of psychiatric, psychotherapeutic, and psychological interventions in the treatment of children and adolescents with rare diseases such as BWS.

According to our clinical practice, a number of uncertain physical symptoms and possible complications may in some children with BWS lead to psychomotor retardation and lack of self-confidence due to the often impaired physical appearance. Affected children and adolescents are more likely to be exposed to abuse at school, show more behavioral and learning difficulties, difficulties in social adjustment, and resultant emotional difficulties. After initial genetic and pediatric treatment and subsequent regular monitoring, it is necessary to pay additional attention to the development of psychological sequelae in order to involve them and their families in psychotherapeutic treatment, and intervene in a timely manner so that they can achieve or maintain psychological stability and functionality. Many adolescent patients with BWS do not have significant somatic difficulties that would require pediatric intervention, but often present with symptoms of mental illness.

Psychological stress in children and adolescents suffering from rare somatic diseases represents a negative experience of an emotional and social nature, which affects the course of the disease and interferes with the treatment. Due to a number of possible physical manifestations and outcomes of such diseases, extensive psychological support and care by child and adolescent psychiatrists and the entire medical team is required. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial in the treatment of these patients and results in improved functionality and quality of life.

None Declared

The literature indicates that parental reflective functioning (PRF) is crucial to a good parent-child relationship. Furthermore, genuine parental mentalizing also promotes adaptive emotion regulation in attachment relationships. However, no prior study assessed the relationship between parental mentalizing, emotion regulation and object relation in the early years.

We examined the relationship between PRF, cognitive emotion regulation and perception of the infant among parents of children up to five years old.

In our cross-sectional, non-clinical study, 136 parents completed the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire, the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the Mother’s Object Relationship Scale - short form. In our 12 moderator models, we chose the subscales of the parental perception of the infant (invasiveness and warmth) as dependent variables, the subscales of adaptive and non-adaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation as independent variables, and the three subscales of PRF (pre-mentalization, interest and curiosity, certainty about mental states) as moderators.

Warmth had a positive, weak correlation with adaptive strategies (r(134) = 0.27, p < 0.007), with certainty in mental states (r(134) = 0.24, p < 0.007) and interest and curiosity (r(134) = 0.23, p < 0.007); the correlation between interest and curiosity and non-adaptive strategies was moderate and positive (r(134) = 0.32, p < 0.007). None of the subscales of PRF moderated the relationship between the subscales of emotion regulation and the perception of the infant. The use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies was more likely to affect the perception of warmth (B = 0.05 (t = 2.0584, p = 0.0415), B = 0.04 (t = 1.7887, p = 0.0760)), and the use of non-adaptive strategies was more likely to affect the perception of invasiveness (B = 0.08 (t = 2.1333, p = 0.0348), B = 0.09 (t = 2.3164, p = 0,0221).

Our results suggest that cognitive emotion regulation plays a role in object relation; therefore, we recommend promoting adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies among mothers in the early years.

None Declared

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) is a widely used assessment tool for measuring the psychological well-being of children and adolescents. It consists of 25 items that assess emotional symptoms, conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship difficulties, and prosocial behavior.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental perceptions of difficulties and the results obtained from the SDQ.

Participants were recruited from the initial consultation of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (N=132). Parents completed a questionnaire assessing their subjective perceptions of their child’s difficulties in various domains (home, school, learning activities, relations with friends) on a 4-point scale ranging from “no notion of difficulties” to “very severe difficulties”. They also completed the SDQ scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software.

In this study, 74% of participants had scores on the SDQ indicating potential psychological difficulties. Additionally, 17.4% of participants had scores on the borderline between normal and abnormal results. 47% of patients scored above the cut-line for problems on the hyperactivity/inattention subscale, indicating higher levels of difficulties in this area. Conversely, only 3% of participants scored problematic scores on the peer relationship difficulties subscale. There was no statistical difference between sexes in terms of SDQ scores. A correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between parental perceptions of difficulties and higher SDQ scores and the mean score on the SDQ scale was found to be significantly higher in patients who were rescheduled for another consultation following the evaluation by doctors, compared to those patients who received clinical discharge from the initial consultation (p-value 0,040).

This study provides valuable insights into the concordance between parental perceptions and objective assessments of difficulties in children and adolescents. Parents who perceived their child to have more difficulties also reported higher levels of psychological difficulties on the SDQ. This study highlights the importance of using tools like the SDQ to assess psychological well-being in children and adolescents. It also emphasizes the practical utility of the SDQ as a time-efficient assessment tool for use during initial consultations in child and adolescent psychiatry.

None Declared

The Gaza-Israel conflict has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate geographic confines of the conflict zone.This war certainly has repercussions on people who follow it via the media.

To study the prevalence of acute stress disorder among Tunisian people and determinate the factors associated to it.

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted among Tunisians. Data were collected during October and November 2023, through an anonymous online questionnaire, spread throughout social media (Facebook/Instagram), using the Google Forms® platform.

We used the the National stressful Events survey acute Stress Disorder Short scale (NSESSS) to assess the severity symptoms of acute stress disorder .

The National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESSS) is a 7-item patient assessment measures that assesses the severity symptoms of acute stress disorder in individuals age 18 and older following an extremely stressful event or experience.

A total of 1091 participants completed the questionnaire. The participants had a mean age of 32.7 ± 9.8 years. More females (77.7%) than males (22.3%) participated in the study with a sex ratio (F/M) = 3.5. They were divorced in 2.1% .A history of psychiatric follow-up was found in 19,5% of case.

Results demonstrated that 100% of the respondents closely monitored the war, primarily relying on social media (98.6%) as their primary source of information.

According to the NSESSS ,83.4% of the participants had an acute stress disorder. The breakdown of acute stress disorder severity indicated that 29.7% experienced mild symptoms, 27.5% moderate, 21.6% severe, and 4.6% extreme symptoms.

The factors associated with high score of NSESSS were: female sex ( p=0.000), the divorced people (p=0.001)and previous history of psychiatric follow-up (p=0.000)

These findings indicate a substantial impact of the Palestine-Israel conflict on the mental well-being of the Tunisian population, as evidenced by high rates of acute stress disorder.

Understanding the heightened prevalence of acute stress disorder among different demographic groups following such international conflicts is crucial for developing tailored interventions to support the mental health and well-being of affected individuals.

None Declared

Significant and measurable cognitive symptoms are present at the onset of the disorder and these remain stable in the subsequent period between 2 and 5 years. Their deterioration increases with the course of the disease. Attention, concentration, psychomotor speed and resolution of conceptual tasks are usually affected and are more significant in the presence of positive symptoms.

Sometimes, the typical positive or negative symptoms of the disease do not adequately reflect the severity of cognitive impairment. Measuring this deterioration can be very relevant when evaluating the severity and the prognosis of the disorder.

31-year-old male with a previous diagnosis of schizophrenia of 4 years of evolution. He gets a maintained treatment with amisulpiride 400mg with an apparent good response. A single hospitalization at the onset of the disease. An assassination attempt on his mother is done by suffocation with a pillow and observing a significant cognitive impairment despite an apparent control of the symptoms of schizophrenia.

An exhaustive neuropsychological evaluation is carried out, observing a very important cognitive deterioration that had not been previously detected and allowing a pharmacological adjustment of the underlying disease with global improvement of the patient.

It is very important to evaluate the patient as a whole without forgetting the frequent cognitive damage that these patients can have. An intense neuropsychological study can be very useful to evaluate the prognosis and adequate treatment of the patient in order to reduce serious risks.

None Declared

Chronic pain patients often contend with insomnia symptoms, creating a reciprocal relationship that adds complexity to their condition. Evaluating interventions targeting insomnia in this population becomes paramount, given the intertwined nature of pain and sleep disturbances.

This retrospective pretest design aimed to assess the efficacy of an Internet-delivered sound healing intervention in reducing insomnia severity and addressing sleep- and pain-related parameters among individuals with chronic pain.

Conducted as a community-based project, Tuning for Health provided support to individuals grappling with long-term illnesses. The intervention involved the virtual delivery of a specially crafted sound track using tuning forks over a 6-week period, supervised by an experienced therapist and administered weekly for an hour. Participants were instructed to play the track daily at a time convenient for them. A total of 68 participants (mean age 59.3 years) completed the intervention. Outcome measures, including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a sleep diary, and assessments for anxiety, depression, and pain-related parameters, were collected at the end of the 6-week intervention and repeated after a 6-month follow-up. Negative effects were monitored and reported.

Significant immediate interaction effects (time by treatment) were observed for the pain severity, ISI and various sleep parameters, such as sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, early morning awakenings, and wake time after sleep onset. A time effect for anxiety and depression was noted at the 6-month follow-up. The group exhibited highly significant improvements in pain-related parameters. At the 6-month follow-up, sustained enhancements in sleep parameters and mental health were reported, with no reported side effects.

These unique results suggest the potential efficacy of sound healing in alleviating chronic pain and associated insomnia. Further research with a larger sample size is warranted to validate these findings. Combining sound healing with other treatments may offer enhanced outcomes for individuals dealing with both chronic pain and comorbid insomnia. This study lays the groundwork for future investigations into the promising intersection of sound healing, chronic pain management, and sleep improvement.

None Declared