bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationships Between Strategies Of Stress Coping And Temperament-Character Traits In Subjects With Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Gundogmus I. , Tekin S. , Yasar A.B. , Uzun Ö.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mood disorder, which is characterized by a cycling between the mania and major depression. The relationship between coping strategies and temperament-character traits in BD is unclear at this time.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between strategies of coping stress and temperament-character traits in individuals with BD.

Methods

168 patients diagnosed with BD in full remission were included. All participants were diagnosed by an experienced consultant psychiatrist based on DSM-5 and were assessed with Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) for confirmation to remission. Sociodemographic datas of all participants was obtained and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego–Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and Coping with Stress Scale (CSS) were applied.

Results

75 patients (44.6%) were female and the mean age of the sample was 32.64±10.74 years, the mean duration of illness was 8.23±5.52 years and was found that the mean score of YMRS 5.35±4.19. It was presented Table 1 whether there was a statistically significant correlation between TEMPS-A and CSS subscales.

Conclusions

As coping strategies may be related to temperament-character traits and that could be important for psychological interventions in patients with BD.
Depressive
Hypertimic
Cyclothymic
IrritableAnxiousAvoidance-,067-,159,098-,150-,083,485,095,305,115,387Problem-focused coping strategies-,268-,153,366-,246-,134,004,109,000-,009,161Social support-,191-,495-,060-,646-,416,044,000,535,000,000Total-,256-,399,149-,370-,324,007,000,118,000,001

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Cariprazine’s efficacy in treating affective symptoms – pooled data from schizophrenia and bipolar depression trials
Authors: Mcintyre R. , Dombi Z. , Barabássy Á. , Németh G.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Affective symptoms are a common feature of schizophrenia and define bipolar disorder. Alterations in dopamine neurotransmission and activity at D3-D2 receptors is associated with depressive symptoms providing the rationale for targeting D3-D2 receptors with partial agonists.

Objectives

The aim of the analysis herein is to examine and compare the efficacy of cariprazine in treating affective symptoms in both schizophrenia and bipolar depression.

Methods

Data from 3 schizophrenia [NCT00694707, NCT01104766, NCT01104779] and 3 bipolar I depression studies [NCT013896447, NCT02670538, NCT0267055] were pooled for the analyses. To investigate efficacy across individual affective symptoms, the Marder anxiety/depression and negative symptom items of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and single items of the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were analysed. Improvement across affective symptoms was examined primarily evaluating least square mean differences (LSMDs) in comparison to placebo in mean change from baseline.

Results

The pooled ITT population was comprised of persons with schizophrenia (placebo=442, cariprazine=1024) and bipolar disorder (placebo=460, cariprazine=923). Cariprazine resulted in a significantly greater reduction when compared to placebo in three out of the four Marder anxiety/depression items; anxiety (p<0.01), tension (p<0.001) and depression (p<0.05). Similarly, cariprazine was significantly better than placebo in 9 out of the 10 MADRS individual items; apparent sadness (p<0.001), reported sadness (p<0.001), reduced sleep (p<0.05), reduced appetite (p<0.001), concentration difficulties (p<0.001), lassitude (p<0.001), inability to feel (p<0.001), pessimistic thoughts (p<0.01) and suicidal thoughts (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The results herein indicate that cariprazine treatment is significantly effective at treating affective symptoms in persons with both schizophrenia and bipolar I depression.

Disclosure

I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc.
Predictors of functional impairment in patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Kartal C. , Aydın E.F.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Psychosocial functioning is an an important issue in the follow-up processes of patients with bipolar disorder. Potential predictors of functional impairment in bipolar disorder may give a chance to improve functioning in this group of patients.

Objectives

We aimed to assess the differences between patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls due to childhood traumas, attachment styles, dysfunctional attitudes, affective temperaments and to assess which of these factors may significantly predict the overall functional impairment in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods

63 remitted patients with bipolar disorder and 61 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Asessment was conducted using a sociodemoghraphic and clinical questionnaire, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17-item version (HAM-D-17) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ-28), Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS), Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS-A) and Functioning Assesment Short Test (FAST).

Results

In the patient group scores of childhood traumas, dysfunctional attitudes, cyclothymic, depressive and anxious temperaments, all domains of functional impairment scores except financial issues, and overall functional impairment scores were significantly higher than the control group. Besides this, secure attachment scores were significantly higher in the control group. In the regression analysis anxious temperament and subclinical depressive symptoms significantly positively predicted functional impairment and hyperthymic temperament significantly negatively predicted functional impairment in patients with bipolar disorder.

Conclusions

In the assessment of functioning of patients with bipolar disorder subclinical depressive symptoms, hyperthymic and anxious affective temperament styles might be taken into consideration.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Has Clinical Translation of Scientific Research been a Failure?
Authors: Binder E.
Published: September 2022

While current psychiatric treatments, especially pharmacological ones, are mainly based on initially serendipous findings, recent developments in many research areas promise unprecendented advances in translation to clinical application. The advent of large scale multiomics with single cell resolution, patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells that can be differentiated to brain cells and even form cerebral organoids as well as the possilibility to generate humanized animal models using CRISPR-technologies have been exciting developments on the molecular and cellular side. These advances are paralleled by new technologies to increase resolution in brain imaging and electrophysiological measures as well as brain stimulation techniques. In addition, we have now access to multilevel data from very large cohorts, increasingly with longitudinal measures and using data collection with digital devices and wearables. Artificial intelligence methods open new possibilities to analyze these large scale, multilevel datasets in unbiased ways. This side of the debate will highlight the translational potential of these advances in research possiblities, giving examples from the areas of novel pharmacological treatments and personalized medicine among others. Furthermore, it will highlight how a better understanding of risk factors, genetic, social and environmental, can lead to improvements in prevention programs.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Use of machine learning on clinical questionnaires data to support the diagnostic classification of Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder: a personalized medicine approach
Authors: Grazioli S. , Mauri M. , Rosi E. , Villa F. , Tizzoni F. , Tarabelloni A. , Trabattoni S. , Mauri V. , Colombo P. , Molteni M. , Nobile M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental condition characterized by inattention, motor hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD cognitive and behavioral presentation is characterized by a high heterogeneity (APA, 2013). Indeed, a complex diagnostic process, that considers several validated tools, is, to date, necessary.

Objectives

The main aim is to develop supervised machine learning (ML) algorithms that could be used to support the diagnostic process for ADHD, by identifying the most relevant features in discriminating between the presence or absence of the ADHD diagnosis in children.

Methods

We analyzed data from 342 children (Mean age: 8y 8m ± 1y; 61 F) referred for possible ADHD symptomatology. Assessments were performed by an expert clinician and through questionnaires: Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), Conners Rating Scale for Parents (CPRS) and for Teachers (CTRS). Data were analyzed using a decision tree classifier and random forest algorithms.

Results

The decision tree model performed an accuracy of 0.71. The random forest model that was identified as the best tested, performed an accuracy of 0.77 (Figure 1) and it identified as most informative parent- and teacher-rated DSM-oriented ADHD symptoms (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Random forest confusion matrix and statistics.

Figure 2: Ranking of variables importance.

Conclusions

A random forest classifier could represent an effective algorithm to support the identification of ADHD children and to simplify the diagnostic process as an initial step. The use of supervised machine learning algorithms could be useful in helping the diagnostic process, highlighting the importance of a personalized medicine approach.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Online Functional Metacognitive Intervention for Work-Performance Improvement in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Grinblat N. , Rosenblum S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with reduced work performance. Online interventions increase accessibility of services to clients by removing barriers such as physical distance, which may prevent care.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an innovative functional metacognitive intervention for work-performance improvement of adults with ADHD.

Methods

This study used a wait-list control group design, with a study and a comparison group (total 46 adults, mean age of 35.65 years). All participants had been diagnosed with ADHD, worked at least 3 months at the same place, and were willing to improve their work performance. Intervention sessions were provided mostly online and focused on the adults’ occupational goals in a workplace context. The intervention’s efficacy was evaluated with a focus on participants’ work performance (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure) executive functions (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult), organisation in time (Time Organisation and Participation Scale), and quality of life (Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire).

Results

Participants’ work performance, executive functions, organisation in time and quality of life significantly improved following the intervention. Their achievements were maintained through to the 3-month follow-up.

Conclusions

The online metacognitive functional intervention for work-performance improvement of adults with ADHD was found to be efficient and suitable for clinical use among this population. Future studies with larger samples and additional objective measures are needed to further validate these findings.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Cannabis Induced Psychosis
Authors: Bramness J.
Published: September 2022

Even if most people use cannabis without many negative consequences, some experience cannabis related harms. At higher levels of intake, one of these harms could be psychotic symptoms and even cannabis-induced psychosis. During the last years, we have seen increased treatment seeking for cannabis use disorders in Europe. Parallel with this increase we have seen an increase in the incidence of cannabis induced psychosis in all Scandinavian countries and an increased population attributable fraction for cannabis on the prevalence of schizophrenia has been demonstrated. All this may reflect increased use of cannabis, but more likely increased content of D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is most cannabis products. Many have also pointed to the fact that we have seen an increase in the incidence of schizophrenia in the same period, maybe attributable to cannabis use. If we also take into consideration that up to one third of those with cannabis-induced psychosis over time receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia, we may see at least two implications. Firstly, these findings strengthens the evidence for a causative relationship between cannabis use and schizophrenia, a causative relationship that man have suggested for several years, but that has had some opponents. Secondly, it points to cannabis-induced psychosis should be considered to be a part of the ICD-10 F2-chapter rather than the F1-chapter. This may be true also for the other substance-induced psychosis (F1x.5). An additional argument for this is that for no other psychotic diagnosis, a precipitation factor is mentioned in the diagnosis.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Motibot: the Virtual Coach for healthy coping intervention in diabetes
Authors: Bassi G. , Giuliano C. , Perinelli A. , Forti S. , Gabrielli S. , Mancinelli E. , Salcuni S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Virtual coaches (VCs) can support people with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) by motivating them to better manage their health. Few VCs were aimed at providing psychosocial support. In this regard, motivation is a pivotal construct in diabetes self-management as it allows adults with DM to adhere to the clinical recommendations.

Objectives

The present study aimed to develop a VC able to motivate adults with DM to adopt and acquire healthier coping strategies, to decrease symptoms of depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and diabetes-related emotional distress, while also improving their well-being.

Methods

A total of 12 adults with DM (M=27.91 years; SD=9.82) interacted with a VC, called Motibot using Telegram for an overall duration of 12 sessions. Participants completed a battery of instruments at pre-, post-intervention and follow-up.

Results

highlighted a decrease in anxiety, and depression symptoms between pre-, post-intervention and follow-up, as also showed by the results that emerged through the text mining. Motibot was perceived as motivating and encouraging in the adoption of appropriate coping strategies, such as mindfulness practices. Motibot was also perceived as trustworthy, reflective, and stimulating in its dialogical interaction. Indeed, adults felt involved in the interaction with Motibot, thereby showing an overall perception of a better quality of life, in the absence of diabetes distress.

Conclusions

This study sheds light on the importance of VCs in health care for people with DM for psychosocial support. This is the first experimental study on the matter, and thus, further iterations of the intervention are needed using a larger sample size.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Traumatic brain injury alters presentation of mild behavioral impairment domains across progression of all-cause dementia
Authors: Bray M. , Bryant B. , Esagoff A. , Richey L. , Rodriguez C. , Krieg A. , Cullum C.M. , Lobue C. , Ismail Z. , Peters M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may alter dementia progression, although co-occurring neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) have received less attention. The mild behavioral impairment (MBI) construct relates NPS to underlying neural circuit disruptions, representing an important area of inquiry regarding TBI and dementia.

Objectives

(1) to examine the influence of prior TBI history (preceding study enrollment) on MBI incidence in all-cause dementia (prior to dementia diagnosis, i.e. MBI’s original definition) and (2) to utilize MBI domains as a construct for examining the influence of TBI on related NPS across the course of dementia onset and progression.

Methods

Using National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center data, individuals progressing from normal cognition to all-cause dementia over 7.6±3.0 years were studied to estimate MBI incidence and symptom domains in 124 participants with prior TBI history compared to 822 without.

Results

Moderate-severe TBI was associated with the social inappropriateness MBI domain (ORadj.=4.034; p=0.024) prior to dementia onset, and the abnormal perception/thought content domain looking across dementia progression (HRadj.=3.703,
p=0.005). TBI (all severities) was associated with the decreased motivation domain looking throughout dementia progression (HRadj.=1.546,
p=0.014).

Conclusions

TBI history is associated with particular MBI domains prior to onset and throughout progression of dementia. Understanding TBI’s impact on inter-related NPS may help elucidate underlying neuropathology.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Subjective age and positive psychiatry: Identifying the positive characteristics associated with successful aging
Authors: Lam J. , Aftab A. , Lee E. , Jeste D.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

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.

Objectives

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusions

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.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
“Hypochondriac” discourse in the modern society: a way to self-care about health or health anxiety?
Authors: Tkhostov A. , Rasskazova E. , Emelin V.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Modern social discourse emphasizes an importance of health either as a limiting resource that needs to be “saved” and “restored”, or as a vulnerability that should be protected, or as a “natural gift” that needs support and recovery by natural methods including alternative medicine. Advertisement adds to the social discourse a meaning of health as a sign of success. Research demonstrated that beliefs in any of these meanings is associated with higher adherence to medical recommendations but also higher catastrophizing of bodily sensations, somatosensory amplification and belief in bodily weakness (Rasskazova et al., 2017).

Objectives

To reveal relationships of beliefs and thoughts in “hypochondriac discourse” with subjective importance of health self-care and health-oriented behavior.

Methods

340 participants 17-77 years old filled “Hypochondriac” Discourse Questionnaire (Rasskazova et al., 2016) that includes four scales measuring beliefs and four scales measuring frequency of thoughts about each health meaning, and Health Self-Care Scale (Rasskazova et al., 2021) that differentiates subjective importance of different ways of self-care and activities (Cronbach’s alphas .66-.80).

Results

All beliefs in “hypochondriac discourse” except importance of alternative medicine are related to medical health monitoring and active styles of life (r=.23-.43) but unrelated to reported activities. Frequency of thoughts about “hypochondriac discourse” are related to adherence to health behavior (r=.31-.49).

Conclusions

Frequent thoughts about “hypochondriac discourse” could be protective factor helping to support active life styles but also could lead to over-protection in healthy people. Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 22-28-01643

Disclosure

Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 22-28-01643
Further Validation of the Short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale in a sample of Portuguese Medicine Students
Authors: Carvalho F. , Macedo A. , Manão A. , Cabacos C. , Azevedo J. , Marques C. , Marques M. , Carneiro M. , Telles Correia D. , Novais F. , Carvalho C. , Araújo A. , Pereira A.T.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The Short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS-SF; Raes et al. 2011) is composed of 12 items that evaluate the same six dimensions (Self-Kindness/SK, Self-Judgement/SJ, Common Humanity/CH, Isolation, Mindfulness/M, Over-Identification/OI) as the long scale (26 items). The Portuguese version of the SCS-SF (Castilho et al. 2015) was validated in a vast sample from clinical and general populations, the latter being composed of students, other than from medicine courses.

Objectives

To analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the SCS-SF in a sample of Medicine/Dentistry students.

Methods

Participants were 666 Portuguese medicine (82.6%) and dentistry (17.4%) students (81.8% girls); they answered an online survey including the SCS and other validated questionnaires from the OECD Study on Social and Emotional Skills/SSES: Stress resistance, Emotional control, Optimism and Persistence.

Results

Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed that the model composed of six factors, two second order factors (positive and negative) and one third order factor (total) presented good fit indexes (χ2/df=3.013; RMSEA=.0066, p<.001; CFI=.970; TLI=.948, GFI=.947). The Cronbach’s alfas were .892, .869 and .877 respectively for the total, self-compassion and self-criticism dimension. Pearson correlations of the SCS-SF total score, self-compassion and self-criticism dimensional scores were moderate to high with the SSES measures, from .272/-.236/.247 with Persistence to .709/-.634/.615 with Optimism.

Conclusions

Although reduced to less than half than the original SCS, the SCS–SF is a valid and useful alternative to measure general self-compassion and their positive and negative components in an ongoing longitudinal research with medicine/dentistry students.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Body attitudes and experienced early care and attachment relationships in suicidal adolescents
Authors: Skvortsova E. , Pechnikova L. , Zhuykova E. , Sokolova E. , Ryzhov A. , Kokorina S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Both theoretical conceptualizations (M.&E. Laufers, E. Furman, J. Maltsberger, etc. ) and empirical studies (I. Orbach) suggest an important role body image plays in the dynamics of adolescent suicidal attempts.

Objectives

To study the relationships between body image vulnerability and attachment attitudes concerning early care and current relationships.

Methods

Participants were 100 adolescents with suicidal behavior (46 with suicidal ideation only, 54 with suicide attempts) compared to 100 controls (12-17 years). Body attitudes were assessed with Body Investment Scale (BIS), perceived early care was assessed by Parental Bonding Inventory (PBI), current attachments experiences were assessed with Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ).

Results

Adolescents with suicidal manifestations scored significantly lower on BIS Body Care (p<.001) , but higher on Comfort with Touch scales (p=.05). They did not differ significantly on Body Image and Body Protection scales. With regard to perceived early care, suicidal adolescents did score lower on all Care and Control PBI scales, in both paternal and maternal forms. For current attachments suicidal adolescents scored lower on Confidence (p<.001) and higher on Approval Need (p<0.05) ASQ scales. Correlation analysis suggests, for both groups, stronger relationships of body attitude dimensions to current relationships than to perceived parental care, the former being more marked in clinical group, with Body Image scale being related to all ASQ scales ranging from r=-.32 to r=-.63.

Conclusions

In current study only weaker tendency to care for body in suicidal adolescents was noted. However, in suicidal group the relationship between body image vulnerability and negative experiences of current attachments was stronger.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Resilience Factors Preventing Schizophrenia in Ultra-high Risk Patients: Lessons from Genetics
Authors: Chaumette B. , Jiao C. , He Q.
Published: September 2022

Over the past decades, researchers and psychiatrists in the field of psychosis have moved from a conception of a chronic presentation to a more dynamic paradigm. Accordingly, schizophrenia is now conceptualized as a progressive illness that typically emerges during late adolescence and follows different stages: early vulnerability, ultra-high risk state, first episode of psychosis, and chronic disease. Only one-quarter of the ultra-high risk patients will convert to a full-blown psychotic episode within 3 years while the others, called non-converters, will remain at-risk, develop other psychiatric disorders, or fully recover. The reasons for this differential outcome are not yet understood but this concept opens the way to scientific research to determine the protective factors involved in resilience for non-converters. Based on the Gene X Environment interaction model, schizophrenia results from genetic vulnerability and environmental aggressions which can have an impact on the epigenome and gene expression. Recent studies have shown that genetic variants play a role in the resilience of psychosis. Polygenic risk scores, computed as the addition of genetic polymorphisms, can modulate the effects of genetic at-risk deletions (i.e. del22q11) that predispose to psychosis and may also influence the cognitive symptoms of ultra-high risk patients. Resilience, defined as the ability to withstand adversity, is not only related to external skills or psychotherapeutic care but could also be explained by internal molecular factors. Identifying the genetic factors of resilience might help to stratify the risk and to develop precision medicine in psychiatry.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Predicting the effect of antidepressant treatment on relief from anxiety symptoms
Authors: Spinrad A. , Taliaz D. , Zoller R.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent forms of mental illness, with antidepressants frequently used to treat them. Unfortunately, prescription of antidepressant medication is often inexact and relies on a long trial-and-error process.

Objectives

Using machine Learning (ML) algorithms on readily obtainable clinical and demographic data of individuals diagnosed with depression with anxiety symptoms, we hypothesized that we will be able to derive models which will enable a more accurate treatment selection, focusing on relief from anxiety symptoms.

Methods

Patients’ data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (START*D) were filtered to include only those who have considerable anxiety symptoms. We then analyzed these patients’ response patterns, focusing on their anxious symptomology. Then, feature selection algorithms were applied to select the most predictive features for anxiety relief. Finally, we trained three ML models for three antidepressants: citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, using a training set of participants, and validated them on naïve validation and test datasets. These ML models were then compiled to create a predictive algorithm.

Results

Validating the algorithm on the validation and test sets, our algorithm achieved a balanced accuracy of 64.8% (p<0.001), 79.2% (p<0.001) and 78.03% (p<0.001) for citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings support applying ML to accumulating data to achieve an improvement in the treatment of mood disorders. The algorithm we developed may be used as a tool to aid in the choice of antidepressant medication, specifically for depressed patients who exhibit prominent anxiety symptoms.

Disclosure

Dekel Taliaz is the founder and CEO of Taliaz and reports stock ownership in Taliaz. Amit Spinrad and Roni Zoller serve as data scientists in Taliaz.
Problematic internet use among elementary school students during the Covid – 19 pandemic
Authors: Iliopoulou L. , Koutras V.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

During Covid-19 pandemic schools in Greece were closed and distance education instituted.

Objectives

To find out whether the pandemic circumstances and the catholic internet access affected the time students spend on web activities other than educational duties.

Methods

Our sample consisted of 1213 parents with children from 4th, 5th, and 6th elementary school grades. They were collected with snowball sampling through internet, and they filled closed ended questions anonymous questionary.

Results

During the pandemic the amount of time that children spent on the internet for purposes other than school obligations (social media, videogames, videos) was increasing by the time. On holidays and weekends this time was further increased. Parents mentioned reduced sleep time, reduced interest in hobbies and activities, as well as in person social communication with friends and loss of interest for school and educational matters. Children spend a lot of time on internet activities and sometimes they use it to avoid loneliness and negative situations. According to parents if their child doesn’t spend its preferrable time on the internet, get anxious, irritable, and sad. Often the child hides the time of internet use. Children from families with low socioeconomic, educational level, family income are more vulnerable to develop internet problematic use.

Conclusions

Social isolation, school closures, distance education, cancellation of after school activities and the facile internet access increased problematic internet use. This use is associated with behavioural, emotional and psychosocial problems. It is important to give information and implement educational programs for parents about how to control internet use of their children.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Worries during the COVID-19 pandemic – which were the most prevalent and disturbing?
Authors: Manão A. , Pereira A.T. , Cabacos C. , Amaral A.P. , Soares M.J. , Macedo A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional worries and challenges to people’s lives, with potential implications for psychological well-being.

Objectives

To understand which worries and life changes have affected most the Portuguese general population during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse which contents are associated with higher levels of repetitive negative thinking/RNT and psychological distress/PD.

Methods

In September-December 2020, 413 Portuguese adults (69.2% female; Mean age= 31.02±14.272) were asked one open questions, with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic period: “what was your biggest worry?”; the answers were independently categorized by two researchers. Participants also filled the validated Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire.

Results

The most prevalent worries were about: 1) fear of contamination (oneself and others-48.7%; 2) physical and mental health and well-being (self and others)-27.2%; 3) studies and profession-13.3%; 4) uncertainty about the future-7.7%; 5) economic-financial issues-6.5%; 6) miscellaneous-3.3%; 7) no worries-0.7%. Participants who had worries of the theme 4 had the highest RNT and PD mean scores, followed by themes 3 and 5, and then themes 2 and 1. These thematic groups significantly (p<.01) differ between each other (except 3-5) and from the other groups. RNT was a significant predictor of PD (R2=37.0%, β=.609, p<.001).

Conclusions

People who worry about the future uncertainties, occupational activities and finances should be systematically assessed with regard to their levels of anxiety, depression and stress and they can learn to deal with the RNT as a way to reduce their psychological suffering in times of pandemic.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Burnout or anxiety?! A medical trial regarding resident doctors in a first line University Hospital during COVID 19 pandemic
Authors: Sapaniuc C. , Lacatusu G. , Mihai I. , Rascanu M. , Bran D. , Manciuc D.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been reported as a worldwide emergency. Due to the extensiveness of spread and death, it has been declared as a pandemic.

Objectives

To highlight how COVID-19 pandemic psycho-emotional affects the medical staff of a frontline University Hospital in the “battle” with new coronavirus.

Methods

We employed a cross-sectional survey of 71 resident doctors from a frontline Hospital after a one-year pandemic and analyzed the prevalence and associated factors with work-related psychological distress among our study group.

Results

Out of the hospital resident doctors, 71 participated and completed the questionnaire, offering an overall response rate of 100%. The majority of participants were women (86% - 61). The average age was 29 years. Most respondents were unmarried. A total of 67% of participants were non-smokers, 5% stated that they occasionally consumed alcohol, none of them used drugs. As a result of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data, aspects related to anxiety (21.12% - 15), exhaustion (15.49% - 11), and depression (11.26% - 8) are highlighted. In our study, no people were identified who would reach extreme exhaustion in the work process, due to good resilience and due to a well thought out program of work and rest during the pandemic.

Conclusions

The psychological pressure at work, as well as the one felt after limiting and restricting mobility for shorter or longer periods, had an impact on the psycho-emotional state of health care workers, requiring further psychological reassessments and psychological support.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Education and Training in Psychiatry: Challenges and Consequences of the Last Two Years, Future Perspectives and Actions Needed
Authors: Başar K.
Published: September 2022

Pandemic-related extraordinary work burden on all healthcare professionals had a greater toll on younger colleagues, especially residents in diverse medical fields. Although psychiatry residents’ degree of engagement in COVID-19 related services depends on the state’s and institution’s management of the crisis, it has often led to a significant interruption in the schedule of the training requirements. This interruption also was a consequence of the change in provision of the psychiatric services during the pandemic, such as a decrease in the size of the inpatient clinics, lower number o patients in the outpatient services, fewer ECT. These changes made it more difficult to fulfill the training requirement, which was adopted in some countries. Even when the tasks related to the training were accomplished the quality was difficult to determine. Furthermore, most of the educational activities were switched to online format due to pandemic-related precautions, a change that persists in some activities. Psychiatry education and training, not only postgraduate but also during medical school, requires observation and direct engagement. The switch from face-to-face to online in psychiatry training, including supervision, and service provision constituted a major challenge in psychiatry education. This required further adaptations by the teaching staff as well as the trainees, in their methods of teaching, learning, and interaction. The assessments of competencies presented another challenge for the psychiatry training. Despite all, the introduction of online education provided increased diversity in resources and in some situations increased access. Some challenges required modifications, whereas some beneficial changes are there to maintain.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Predictive value of body composition and core symptoms in schizophrenia for cardiorespiratory fitness: CORTEX-SP study
Authors: Tous-Espelosin M. , Iriarte Yoller N. , Pavón C. , Sanchez P.M. , Sampedro A. , Maldonado-Martín S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) can be directly measured and assessed by the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) or estimated from different field tests as the Modified Shuttle Walking Test (MSWT). The CRF in schizophrenia (SP) population may be altered due to sex, age, body composition and core symptoms variables. However, the extent to which each domain influences CRF in this pathology is still unknown.

Objectives

To analyze the predictive value of body composition and core symptoms in SP for CRF.

Methods

Participants (N = 144, 41.7 ± 10.3 yr old) with SP were assessed with (1) body mass index and fat percentage; (2) upright bicycle ergometer using an incremental ramp protocol and the MSWT; and (3) positive and negative symptoms of the disease [“Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale” (PANSS) and “The Brief Negative Symptom Scale” (BNSS)]. In the Stepwise Multiple Regression analyses, those variables which correlated (Spearman’s Rho) significantly with each CFR scores were included

Results

Lower negative symptoms (P<0.001) and positive PANSS (P=0.035) predicted V̇O2peak (L·min−1) (R2=28.3%). Lower negative symptoms (P<0.001), positive PANSS (P=0.006) and fat body mass (P<0.001) explained V̇O2peak (mL·kg−1·min−1) (R2=46.5%). MSWT was predicted (R2=58.9%) by lower negative symptoms (P=0.001), body mass (P<0.001) and total PANSS (P=0.004).

Conclusions

In patients with SP significantly higher CRF was detected in those with lower negative and positive symptoms, as well as lower body mass. Exercise interventions for improving CRF should be promoting in this population for a better control of core symptoms.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Multivitamin, mineral, and n-3 PUFA supplementation to reduce aggression among long-stay psychiatric inpatients: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: De Bles N. , Rius-Ottenheim N. , Van Hemert A. , Giltay E.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Aggression and violent incidents are a major concern in psychiatric inpatient care. Nutritional supplementation was found to reduce aggressive incidents and rule violations in forensic populations and in children with behavioral problems.

Objectives

To assess whether multivitamin, mineral, and n-3 PUFA supplementation would reduce the number of aggressive incidents among long-stay psychiatric inpatients.

Methods

The trial was a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Data were collected from 25 July 2016 through 29 October 2019 at 8 local sites for mental healthcare in the Netherlands and Belgium. Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive either three supplements containing multivitamins, minerals, and n-3 PUFA or placebo for 6 months. The primary outcome was the number of aggressive incidents using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale – Revised (SOAS-R). Secondary outcomes were the patients’ quality of life, affective symptoms, and adverse events.

Results

In total, 176 participants were randomized (supplements, n = 87; placebo, n = 89). Participants were on average 49.3 years old (SD = 14.5), and 64.2% were male. Most patients had a psychotic disorder (60.8%). The primary outcome of SOAS-R incidents was similar in those assigned to supplements (1.03 incidents per month; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74-1.37) and placebo (0.90; 95% CI: 0.65-1.19), with a rate ratio of 1.08 (95% CI: 0.67-1.74; p = .75). Differential effects were not found in sensitivity analyses on the SOAS-R or on secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

Six months of nutritional supplementation did not reduce aggressive incidents among long-stay psychiatric inpatients.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Long-term Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Fuchs-Leitner I. , Rosenleitner J. , Gerstgrasser N. , Yazdi K.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Vulnerable groups like patients suffering from alcohol use disorders (AUD) are expected to be particularly affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a prior study (N=127), we found that psychosocial COVID-19 factors and living alone elevated the probability for relapse during the initial stage of the pandemic, whereas long-term effects on mental health have yet to be investigated.

Objectives

Here we aimed to investigate the risk of PTSD, as well as levels and developments in depression, anxiety and stress symptomatology as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with AUD.

Methods

Data was collected from a clinical sample of patients with AUD (N=136) in late 2020 and early 2021. PTSD symptoms due to the pandemic were assessed using an adapted version of the impact of event scale (IES-R). Levels in clinical symptoms were collected on the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21), and changes since the onset of the pandemic were assessed additionally.

Results

The high-risk PTSD-group showed higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress, and reported more severe deteriorations in these symptoms, when compared to the low-risk group. A binary logistic regression model revealed psychological and social aspects of the pandemic to increase the probability for PTSD, whereas sociodemographic and other COVID-19 related factors showed no significant effects.

Conclusions

About 30% of patients with AUD indicated an elevated risk of PTSD due to the pandemic, as well as deteriorations in levels of depression, anxiety and stress. These concerning findings should be especially considered in current and future treatment settings.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The organisational climate of NHS Early Intervention Services (EIS) for psychosis: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Csipke E. , Lammas F. , Phillips A. , Dopson S. , Joyce E. , Wykes T.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Cognitive remediation (CR) therapy for psychosis significantly improves recovery but is yet to be widely implemented in UK National Health Service and it is likely to be of greatest value if implemented early. Organisational climate within teams in the health services is one factor likely to affect CR implementation into Early Intervention Services (EIS), that serve those with a first episode.

Objectives

To understand the organisational climate within UK NHS EIS and the barriers and facilitators for the introduction of CR.

Methods

We conducted semi structured interviews with 42 EIS members of four teams in four NHS Mental Heath Trusts.

Results

There were differences between teams, including involvement in decision making, leadership style, and willingness to adopt CR. Resource shortages were considered the main implementation barrier across all teams. The evidence for CR benefits and the recognition of a clinical need was the main facilitator. Teams with more democratic leadership, involving all team members in decision making, and knowledge of both the evidence base and need for CR, may feel better able to successfully incorporate it into their service.

Conclusions

Engaging team members in the implementation process through cooperative and consultative decision-making can stimulate a flattened hierarchical structure, empowering staff to overcome existing and new NHS pressures and effectively deliver evidence-based care. The consideration of local conditions and organisational micro-climates mediate the successful implementation of new interventions and is needed in addition to generic, context-free variables such as resources before new interventions can be introduced.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
COVID-19, Telemedicine and Emergency Department Referrals: Patient Presentations and Follow-up Times to a Community Mental Health Team
Authors: Zubir M. , Costello J. , Ali A. , Erwins C. , Cheasty M. , Judge L.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes to how healthcare services are utilised and delivered.

Objectives

We examine the impact of COVID-19 on the pattern of emergency patient presentations referred on to the community mental health team and the impact of utilising telemedicine on time to follow-up.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all clinical records of patients currently attending our service. We identified presentations to the emergency department (N=119) who were subsequently referred on for mental health follow-up.

Results

Patients being referred to our team from emergency departments were significantly younger during, mean age 33.1 years (SD=12.3) compared to before the pandemic, mean age 40.0 years (SD=14.5), p=0.006 and a higher proportion were new patients during, 55.8%, compared to pre-pandemic period 33.3%, p=0.015. There was also a higher proportion of patients presenting with suicidal ideation and lower proportions of affective, psychosis and suicidal/self-injurious acts during the pandemic period compared to before, p=0.006. The ratio of female to male patients on the other hand were similar during both periods, p=0.853. There appeared to be no difference in median time to follow-up pre and during the pandemic (6.0 vs 5.5 days, p=0.995). Further analysis also found no significant impact on time to follow-up upon implementing telemedicine consultations, with median days to initial follow-up of 6 days pre-pandemic, 4.5 days during pandemic + prior to telemedicine and 6.5 days during pandemic + telemedicine, p=0.602.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary data on the impact of COVID-19 on mental health emergency presentations and utilization of telemedicine on time to follow-up by CMHTs.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.