bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance stability of photovoltaic modules in different climates
Authors: Schweiger Markus , Bonilla Johanna , Herrmann Werner , Gerber Andreas , Rau Uwe
Published: June 2017

The current–voltage (I‐V) characteristics of 15 different photovoltaic modules are monitored during more than 2 years of operation at four locations (Germany, Italy, India and Arizona) corresponding to four different climate zones. The electrical stability of the photovoltaic modules during the time of outdoor exposure is investigated in terms of measured I‐V curve translated to standard test conditions. This translation compensates the influence of module temperature, irradiance, spectral effects and soiling on the I‐V curves. The changes of output power after these corrections are attributed to initial consolidation phases, to long‐term degradation of the electrical properties and to seasonal cycles associated with metastabilities. Modules made from crystalline Si turn out to show no or only minor effects. Thin‐Film modules (CdTe, Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and thin‐film Si) exhibit a wide spread of metastable behaviour with consistent patterns for identical modules in different climates but with significant differences amongst different manufacturers of the same thin‐film technology. We show further that this metastable behaviour influences the energy yield of the modules. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeted functional investigations guided by integrative proteome network analysis revealed significant perturbations of renal tubular cell functions induced by high glucose
Authors: Aluksanasuwan Siripat , Khamchun Supaporn , Thongboonkerd Visith
Published: June 2017

Recently, several studies employed various proteomic approaches to define diabetes‐induced changes in renal proteins. However, functional significance of those datasets in diabetic nephropathy remained unclear. We thus performed integrative proteome network analysis of such datasets followed by various targeted functional studies in distal renal tubular cells treated with high glucose (HG) (25 mM) compared to normal glucose (NG) (5.5 mM) and NG + mannitol (M) (5.5 + 19.5 mM). The data showed that at 96 h when cell proliferation/death, tight junction protein and β‐/F‐actin expression and organization, and transepithelial resistance remained unchanged, only HG caused increased levels of HSP90, HSP70, and HSP60, and increased accumulation of intracellular protein aggregates. In addition, HG also induced overproduction of intracellular ROS, decreased catalase level, increased level of oxidatively modified proteins, increased intracellular ATP level, and defective transepithelial Ca2+ transport. However, both HG and M increased the levels of ubiquitinated proteins. Taken together, this study demonstrated significant perturbations of distal renal tubular cells induced by HG based on targeted functional studies guided by integrative proteome network analysis. These data may, at least in part, lead to better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy.
Value congruence and depressive symptoms among critical care clinicians: The mediating role of moral distress
Authors: Lamiani Giulia , Dordoni Paola , Argentero Piergiorgio
Published: June 2017

Clinicians working in intensive care units are often exposed to several job stressors that can negatively affect their mental health. Literature has acknowledged the role of value congruence and job control in determining clinicians' psychological well‐being and depressive symptoms. However, potential mediators of this association have been scarcely examined. This study aimed to test the mediating role of moral distress in the relationship between value congruence and job control, on the one hand, and depression, on the other hand. A cross‐sectional study involving physicians, nurses, and residents working in 7 intensive care units in the north of Italy was conducted. Clinicians were administered in the Italian Moral Distress Scale—Revised, the value and control subscales of the Areas of Worklife Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory II. Structural equation modeling was used to test the mediation model. Analysis on 170 questionnaires (response rate 72%) found no relations between job control and moral distress. A total indirect effect of value congruence on depression through moral distress (β = −.12; p = .02) was found. Moral distress contributes to the development of depressive symptoms among critical care clinicians who perceive a value incongruence with their organization and therefore should be addressed.
Ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, life satisfaction and school achievement of Roma ethnic minority youth
Authors: Dimitrova Radosveta , Johnson Deborah J. , van de Vijver Fons J.R.
Published: June 2017

This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Explaining Positive Adaptation of Immigrant Youth across Cultures.

This study tested a mediation model of ethnic socialization (i.e., parental practices that promote children's knowledge about their history, heritage culture, cultural authenticity, and ethnic bias management) in Roma youth. Roma are the largest ethnic minority group in Europe subjected to severe discrimination, both currently and historically. Participants were 202 Roma youth aged 14 to 19 years old (M = 16.25, 53% females), who provided self‐reports on their experience of ethnic socialization, ethnic identity, school achievement, and life satisfaction. Cultural pride reinforcement was related to better school achievement, whereas cultural coping with antagonism was positively related to life satisfaction. The study confirmed the model in that ethnic socialization was positively related to life satisfaction through effects on ethnic identity but negatively associated with school achievement. Findings have implications for adaptive cultural mechanisms promoting positive developmental outcomes among historically disadvantaged groups including those intersecting immigrant and multigenerational ethnic minority group categories.
Con
Authors: Musalek M.
Published: June 2017

The analysis of the historical development of the currently used diagnosis schizophrenia in DSM or ICD classification indicates that sticking to established terms and methodologies more and more develops to an obstacle in schizophrenia research. The aim of the currently used operational diagnostic approach was to reach reliability of diagnoses between different psychiatrists and researchers as high as possible. This should improve the communication between different research groups and better the comparison of study results. The aim of a high reliability has surely been reached, however, the expected striking progress in research and clinical praxis failed to materialize till today. Reliability, which means agreement, does not simultaneously means validity. Modern brain and genetic research requires more homogenous clinical syndromes or ‘diseases’ to examine them with scientifically based methodologies and technologies. The prerequisite for doing this, however, is going back to clinical and empirical realities and to integrate these realities into the development of a new generation of classification systems that are free of dogmatic thinking.

Disclosure of interest

The author declares that he has no competing interest.
Combined Analysis of Large Genetic Samples: New Statistical Approaches Improve Gene Discovery
Authors: Smeland O. , Wang Y. , Kauppi K. , Frei O. , Dale A.M. , Andreassen O.A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Cognitive dysfunction is recognized as a core feature of schizophrenia and is considered an important predictor of functional outcomes. Despite this, current treatment strategies largely fail to ameliorate these cognitive impairments. In order to develop more efficient treatment strategies, a better understanding of the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction is needed. Accumulating evidence indicates that genetic risk of schizophrenia contributes to cognitive dysfunction. However, the precise genetic variants jointly influencing schizophrenia and cognitive function remain to be determined.

Aims

Here, we aimed to identify gene loci shared between schizophrenia and general cognitive function, a phenotype that captures the shared variation in performance across several cognitive domains.

Methods

Using a Bayesian statistical framework, we compared genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on schizophrenia from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium cohort (n = 79,757) with GWAS data on general cognitive function from the CHARGE Consortium (n = 53,949). By conditioning the false discovery rate (FDR) on shared associations, this statistical approach increases power to detect gene loci.

Results

We observed substantial polygenetic overlap between schizophrenia and general cognitive function, which replicated across independent schizophrenia sub-studies. Using the conditional FDR approach we increased discovery of gene loci and identified 13 loci shared between schizophrenia and general cognitive function. The majority of these loci (11/13) shows opposite directions of allelic effects in the phenotypes, in line with previous genetic studies and the observed cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Conclusions

Our study extends the current understanding of the genetic etiology influencing schizophrenia and general cognitive function by identifying shared gene loci between the phenotypes.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
A Dimensional Perspective on Sexual Orientation and Gender
Authors: Castellini G.
Published: June 2017

Gender identity - the subjective experience of membership to a gender - is generally taken for granted by most of the persons. It is part of our general identity, and provides a sense of continuity of the self, and interrogative on this aspect of our life are barely present in our consciousness. Exceptions are represented by stages of development such as adolescence or some categories of persons who do not identify themselves into the dichotomous world of men/female. The debate on gender identity recently has broken into the consciousness for Psychopathology, rising interrogatives from different perspectives, including Medicine, Phycology, Anthropology, and Ethic.

In the present symposium we resume the historical trajectory of gender definition, emphasizing the importance of a different perspective on gender than the common definition provided by western culture. We propose a phenomenological perspective on the components of sexual identity, which includes anatomical sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender role. The phenomenological approach is coherent with the dimensional view on sexual identity proposed by the DSM board, as well as by LGBT movements. This position considers Gender Dysphoria and transsexualism as a pole of gender variants continuum. Phenomenology looks at the comprehension of subjective gender heterogeneity, and the subjective world of gender dysphoric persons as the only way to take care of them; every psychological medical or surgical treatment should come as consequences. The phenomenological perspective on gender dysphoria may be useful to understand and partially explain the different subjective satisfaction to common hormonal and surgical treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Reward Circuits and Apathy in Schizophrenia: Neuroimaging and Treatment Strategies
Authors: Aleman A.
Published: June 2017

Approximately 50% of patients with schizophrenia shows deficits in motivation and initiation of goal-directed behavior, which are suggestive of reward system dysfunction. We conducted a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies reporting on the neural correlates of reward processing and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. A significant mean weighted correlation was observerd, revealing deficits in activation of reward neurocircuitry. A more specific findings is comprised activation of the ventral striatum, involved in anticipation of reward, and structures that play a critical role in the ability to represent the value of outcomes and plans. In a study of VTA connectivity in the resting state in a large group of patients with schizophrenia, we found reduced connectivity with lateral prefrontal, temporal and parietal regions to be associated with higher degrees of apathy. Apathy belongs to the most debilitating symptoms of schizophrenia and represents a significant unmet need in its treatment. Quantitative integration of published findings suggests that treatment with noninvasive magnetic brain stimulation can improve negative symptoms. Previous PET-studies have shown that such stimulation may target circuits with dopaminergic innervation. A behavioral treatment approach that may also target reward-related circuits will also be discussed briefly. It can be concluded that recent results regarding reward and motivated behavior in schizophrenia have clinical implications and may help develop novel treatment strategies.

Disclosure of interest

AA received speaker fees from Lundbeck.
Effect of BMI on Resting-state Functional Architecture of the Brain in Healthy Individuals and Patients with Psychosis
Authors: Frangou S. , Micali N. , Natalie R. , Gaelle D. , Bruce M.
Published: June 2017

Elevated body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased multi-morbidity and mortality. The investigation of the relationship between BMI and brain organization has the potential to provide new insights relevant to clinical and policy strategies for weight control. Here, we quantified the effect of BMI on the functional connectivity of the Default-Mode (DMN), Central Executive (CEN), Sensorimotor (SMN) and Visual (VN) networks in 496 healthy individuals that were studied as part of the Human Connectome Project. We found that elevated BMI was associated with disrupted functional integration of sensory-guided (SMN, VN) with internally controlled (DMN, CEN) networks, implicating increased attention to sensory stimuli as a possible mechanism underpinning overeating and weight gain. Our results suggest that weight control strategies should expand to include wider societal policies that incorporate modifications to eating environments and to the visual presentation and branding of food products.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Work Setting and Perceived Stress - are All of Us Exposed to the Same Risks?
Authors: Moscoso A.
Published: June 2017

In this presentation we propose to speak about specific stressors/protective factors that might be present in different settings of work (working in prison, working in addition, working with babies, liaison...) and individual factors that might be linked with more/less perceived stress. It will be done by means of a review of the literature.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Risks and Challenges in Perinatal Mental Health
Authors: Wieck A.
Published: June 2017

Mental illness affects 1 in 5 women during pregnancy and the first year postnatal and in about 1 in 20 women the condition is serious. When a woman with major mental illness becomes pregnant she and her child face a number of risks. These include poor pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and a sharp rise of psychiatric admissions after childbirth. Mental illness is also one of the leading causes of maternal death. Risks to children are impaired parenting and developmental disadvantage in emotional, behavioral and cognitive domains. Parental mental illness also has a significant role in infanticide and abuse-related serious harm to children, with infants <1 year old being most at risk.

A recent analysis has shown that the resulting economic costs to public services and the wider society are extremely high. In view of the wide-ranging consequences, a number of European countries have set up specialized perinatal mental health services. These consist of specialized inpatient units and community teams. The essential components of their service are preconception counselling, expert advice on the use of medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding, joint inpatient admissions of mothers and babies, interventions to improve parenting, and advice to children's social services. None of these countries, however, are yet offering universal access.

In order to improve service provision and outcomes it is important that perinatal mental health is acknowledged more widely as a public health priority. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss approaches to raise awareness and promote perinatal service developments.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Psychiatric Mother and Baby Inpatient Units
Authors: Gressier F. , Glangeaud N.M.C. , Mezzacappa A. , Cazas O. , Sutter-Dallay A.L.
Published: June 2017

During the perinatal period, women may experience severe mental health problems. Research has shown the potential negative impact of mother-baby's separation and of parental psychiatric illness, on the child. MBUs care requires different staff's expertise in order to: treat women with psychiatric disorders, ensure child care and development, and support appropriate mother–infant interaction with “good enough” mothering. For this, a multidisciplinary team is needed. Specific attention is also given to the child's father. Most MBUs may admit women with infants from birth till one year old and during several weeks or months.

More than two third of admitted women are discharged either symptom-free or greatly improved. An efficient follow up at discharge should be prepared with the women, the child's father, when presents, and linked to familial, social and medical resources. Moreover, MBUs staff should collaborate with other psychiatrists, obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians, and social workers. Mother–baby units should be part of a local health perinatal network including maternity unit, neonatal care, and community resources.

Referral for admission in MBUs may be required for women with a first acute episode, or a relapse, of a severe psychiatric disorder such as postpartum psychosis, manic disorder, major depressive episodes, schizophrenia, personality or behavior disorders. Moreover for prevention purposes, referral of women with known chronic mental health problems may start already during pregnancy.

Challenge of benefice and limit of MBUs’ care will be discussed with participants.

Disclosure of interest

Florence Gressier has given talks for Lundbeck and Servier and received a grant from Servier for a postdoctoral degree (2011-2012).
m-RESIST Project as an Example of m-health Approach in Schizophrenia: Content, Aims and Realization
Authors: Corripio I.
Published: June 2017

This communication aims to present m-RESIST, the first mHealth program for patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS). The main objective of this European project is to develop an intervention programme to allow TRS patients to self-manage their condition, which is associated with persistent positive symptomatology, extensive periods of hospital care, and a greater risk of excess mortality and multi-morbidity.

m-RESIST could offer a new tool for mental health professionals to better monitor TRS patients, providing a tailored and optimized therapeutic intervention. In this sense, m-RESIST will develop and validate a mHealth tool aimed to reduce the severity of episodes and further complications. Moreover, this tool will involve and promote a proactive role of patients and caregivers in the therapeutic process, promoting an active and collaborative role with the medical team in the treatment decision-making procedure.

m-RESIST intervention, will integrate: (1) a sensor data analysis module, which will process data coming from smart phone and wearable devices, providing passive information such as movement or social activity; (2) a predictive modeling engine, which will enable prediction of clinically significant events, such as hospitalization, risk behaviors and social isolation; and (3) a clinical decision support system (CDSS), which will provide the users with necessary information to support health-related and clinical decision-making.

The pilots of this project will take place in Tel-Aviv, Budapest and Barcelona during May, June and July of 2017. Although cost-effectiveness variables will also be measured, the main assessment will be focused on acceptability, usability, satisfaction, empowerment and quality of life outcomes.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Euthanasia, Physician Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands in Dementia and Late Life Psychiatric Illness
Authors: Stek M.
Published: June 2017

Background

Although controversial in many countries, in The Netherlands euthanasia or physician assisted death has increased in patients with early stages of dementia, psychiatric illness and in conditions described as ‘being tired of life’ in the oldest old. There is a strong debate about this practice in the community and among professionals often with exclamation marks ranging from medical murder to providing ultimate care.

Objective

To provide figures, describe current practice and debate in The Netherlands with regard to capacity evaluation in older psychiatric patients and end of life questions.

Methods

Review of literature, case reports and own experience in the past decade.

Result and conclusion

There are few studies on the important issue of capacity making in psychiatric patients. The research that was performed does not show that a high threshold of capacity is required for granting euthanasia. Research on physician-assisted death in early dementia is scarce. With regard to end of life questions the debate in The Netherlands is still ongoing.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Suicide and Assisted Suicide in Switzerland: Consequences for Suicide Prevention
Authors: Stoppe G.
Published: June 2017

As in other countries, in Switzerland, the rate of suicide is highest in the elderly. Assisted suicide is allowed and mostly exerted by private organizations like EXIT. The number of assisted suicide cases has doubled during the last five years and is expected to increase. It is mainly committed by women. In the age group 80 + y the number is higher than the number of suicides. To reduce the number of suicides by 25% by 2030, the federal authorities have issued a national action plan in November 2016. It includes preventive means like reduction of access to methods (weapons, drugs), construction of bridges and buildings, education of lays and professionals and specific treatment of those who have attempted suicide. There has been a position paper of Swiss public health concerning suicide prevention in the elderly. Both papers will be presented and discussed.

Concerning assisted suicide there is a broad discussion on the control of the state and on the role of physicians in the process. A survey of Swiss physicians showed much ambivalence. Position papers of gerontological and geriatric societies focused on the role loneliness and the provision of adequate psychiatric help, e.g. for depression, and the overestimation of autonomy.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Identity and Immigration. From Ulysses’ Syndrome to the Identity Construct and their Cultural Development
Authors: Garcia E. , Moreno R. , Tarjuelo B.
Published: June 2017

Immigration is one well known but complex stressor. When we analyze its consequences, we discover the loss of social or family support, the need to afford a new unknown and many times hostile perceived environment, or languages/communications problems. Greek myths have been used as a way to explain how men afford that kind of events/monsters. However as cultural productions, myths grow and change trying to reflex the culture, society and time when they are used. Identity has been a main question for many disciplines, psychiatry has wondered about its construction but society has too, and sometimes last explanations are even better than clinical ones. We would like to discuss the inmigration phenomena using anthropology tools, which previously have nourish other psychiatric disciplines as systemic therapy. If we want to be able to treat immigrants, we have not only to fulfill their physical needs or treat their mental symptoms but to look every travel as a risk one, in which as Ulysses they are at risk of losing what they are, their identity. Identity is described in old Greece as the life lived with others, but not any other person, just those who know us and may accept our own images. In the past, the city, our born place, as a social support was what made us humans. Ulysses, out of Ithaca, found monsters, those who weren’t humans, because they didn’t live in his Greek society. As the new Ulysses, the immigrant maybe should be first helped to construct a new identity, which makes monsters disappear.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Problems of Investigation of Immigrants’ Students and their Relation to Psychopathology
Authors: Kotrotsiou S. , Tsoumani E. , Kotrotsiou E. , Gouva M. , Dragioti E. , Paralikas T.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The purpose of this research was to investigate the problems of first-generation immigrant students and the linkage of these problems with the psychopathology of students.

Objectives

The sample of this study included men and women students, that were second-generation immigrants aged from 18 to > 25 years.

Methods

The research tools used were: (a) Psychopathology Scale (Symptom Checklist 90-R - SCL-90) and (b) State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), (c) the orientation test life (LOT-R) d) Other As Shamer Scale (OAS), (e) Experience of Shame Scale (ESS). The statistical processing of data showedQ (a) the students immigrants have higher levels of student migrants stairways: inferior (OAS), empty (OAS), (Mistakes (OAS), Total internal shame (ESS), characterological shame (ESS), behavioral shame (ESS), bodily shame (ESS), Trait Anxiety (STAI), Somatization (SCL-90), Inter. Sensitivity (SCL-90) and Depression (SCL-90).

Results

The results of our study found high levels of psychopathology students immigrants and students migrant and interpretative this finding is explained by the lifestyle of their parents immigrants and different cultures which have to cope and adapt and their marginalization from society and official institutions, a situation that results in their exposure to a variety of risks to their mental health.

Conclusions

In addition to increased levels of psychopathology, second generation immigrants such as students and the students in our sample suffer from violence the authorities and their fellow citizens.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Quantitative EEG may Help Differentiating Bipolar Disorder at Old Age from Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Metin S.Z. , Metin B. , Kocarslan B. , Salcini C. , Tarhan N.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Especially the behavioral variant of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) may present with impulsivity, social disinhibition or depressive symptoms and these symptoms may create a clinical profile very similar to Bipolar Disorder (BD). In clinical practice, this similarity at symptom level creates substantial diagnostic confusion and often errors. As the treatment approach to the two disorders differ significantly, it is essential to make a reliable differential diagnosis.

Aim

In this study we aimed to identify EEG differences between FTD and BD.

Methods

For this aim we recruited 22 patients with FTD and 32 patients with BD. Patients in both groups were evaluated with a standardized neuropsychological battery and structural MRI. All patients were evaluated with resting EEG. There were no significant age and gender differences between groups.

Results

EEG power analysis showed that FTD group had increased frontal and temporal theta as compared to the BD group. There were no consistent group differences for other bands.

Conclusion

Based on this result we conclude that quantitative EEG may help differentiating BD from FTD and may eliminate diagnostic uncertainty.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Human Based Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
Authors: Küey L.
Published: June 2017

Human based medicine and human based psychiatry are contemporary approaches to the theory and practice of medicine and psychiatry. It is a post-modern way of re-thinking psychiatry enriched by humanities, especially philosophy. In questioning the current research and praxis of psychiatry, it shares the statement by Wittgenstein, “what a curious attitude scientists have″: ‘We still don’t know that; but it is knowable and it is only a matter of time before we get to know it as if that went without saying. So, here, our problematic is not only ‘what and how much we do‘ but also ‘how and why we do‘. The clinician‘s main challenge is harmonizing the current available ‘scientific universal knowledge‘ and the ‘uniqueness’ of that specific person in need of help. In achieving this task, the importance of the synthesis of the clinician's perspective and patient's perspective will be elaborated using depression as a case example. It will be stated that an empathetic understanding of depression, through a subjective, experiential and narrative-centered approach must become a primary concern by building a joint, ongoing, re-construction process of clinical assessment, formulation and treatment. There is no meta-theory explaining “the clinical truth”. From the perspective of a human based psychiatric practice, in fact, we do not need such a meta-theory, but instead, we need multi-level/multi-dimensional approaches, also taking the narrative into consideration. We suggest the clinicians to be modest, honest and respectful towards “the clinical truth”.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Charles-bonnet Syndrome: Hallucinations are in the Eye of the Beholder
Authors: De Uribe-viloria N. , Mayor Toranzo E. , Cepedello Perez S. , Sevillano Benito I. , De Lorenzo Calzon M. , Gomez Garcia M. , Medina Ojeda G. , Ladron De Cegama F. De Uribe
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Charles-Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a clinical entity characterized for visual hallucinations in patients with severe vision impairment and preserved cognitive state. Its pathogeny is still unknown, limiting management options. For diagnosis neurological and psychiatric disorders must be discarded. Treatment is based in three pillars: explaining to the patient the origin and nature of the symptoms, treating the visual deficit when possible, and pharmacotherapy with anti-psychotics.

Objectives and aims

To outline the main characteristics and etiopathogenic theories of the CBS, so as to improve diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

Basing on a case followed in mental health consults, we made a systematic review of the articles published in Medline (PubMed) in the last 5 years, with the following keywords, Charles-Bonnet Syndrome, hallucinations, deafferentation, visual impairment.

Results

We found that all our case and the reported ones had in common the nature and characteristics of the hallucinations, the presence of a trigger, usually a new medicament, and the functional MRI patrons of activity; those patrons located the loss of input prior to the association cortex, which appeared hyper-excitable in functional MRI.

Conclusions

Although the aetiology and pathogeny of CBS is still unclear, present data suggests that the key mechanism may be a dysregulation in the homeostatic adaptation of the neural pathway when it is left without external input, traducing a hyper-function of a physiological process, probably mediated by acetylcholine, as opposed with other neuropsychiatric pathologies, in which the cortex is the primary affected area.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Illusion as a Research Tool for Inter-analyzer Interaction (Iai) Characteristics in a Psychiatric Clinic
Authors: Kovyazina M. , Fomina K. , Varako N.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

IAI does not only play a functional role but also has qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Biological significance of IAI consists in mobilization of some sensory functions and demobilization of others as a response to a stimulus signaling changes in the environment. This constitutes one of the manifestations of body's preparatory reactions for action in the forthcoming situation. It has been established that in patients with psychic pathology such preparation of the body systems is affected, which may manifest through changes in illusion frequency.

Objectives

To apply Charpentier illusion to research IAI characteristics with the purpose of further detection of abnormalities in the sphere of intermodal interaction.

Methods

One of the IAI research methods, is illusion research, e.g. Charpentier illusion, since it is based on interaction between visual and proprioceptive analyzers. Changes in preparatory reaction in subjects with psychic pathology is characterized by decline in illusion frequency, patients in these conditions should evaluate stimuli more correctly than healthy participants. Pre-experimental research design included two subjects: with white matter pathology (patient G., male, 27, full agenesis of CC, based on MRI results) and with IDD (subject A., male, 30).

Results

Research subjects demonstrated absence of illusions, which is indicative of functional weakness of IAI, which results in inconsistency of sensory systems and meaningless perception. IAI plays an important role in formation of human psyche by enabling the development of significant patterns underlying human cognitive activity.

Conclusion

Illusion research is relevant for clinical psychological diagnosis of diseases associated with integrative brain activity disorders.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Pathways to violent extremism and risk assessment of terror detainees
Authors: Marquant T.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Violent extremism has become an important challenge for forensic professionals in prisons. In Belgium, cities like Brussels and Antwerp saw the rise of recruitment hotspots for violent extremism and foreign fighters. Prisons are well-known places where radicalization occurs. Belgium has the most foreign fighters that left to fight in Syria in Europe. Subsequently, incarcerations of radicalized men and women rose for joining terrorists groups. These events have triggered a need to train psychosocial services in prisons into understanding radicalization and the risk assessment of terror detainees. Mental illness in contrast, is known to be rare amongst violent extremists, and risk assessment as well as advising on reintegration will need specific tools for psychosocial services to advise on reintegration.

Aims

The current presentation aims at showing insight into pathways towards violent extremism and introduce risk assessment of terror detainees.

Methods

We assembled literature on follow-up and pathways that lead to radicalization and even to violence extremism. Radicalization is not new, whether it stems from religious, political or other motives. This resulted in important literature on different trajectories towards radicalization.

Results

We will give an overview of the pathways towards violent extremism (Dean, Moghaddan, Bjorgo) and on risk assessment tools (VERA-2, Pressman)

Conclusions

Radicalization happens stepwise in different ways and leads to different types of violent extremists. Pivotal points follow a cognitive opening in the minds of people that might push and pull people towards radicalization and violence. Cases will be used to describe the different types and pathways.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Role of Detention in the Process of Radicalization
Authors: Verbeeck N.
Published: June 2017

Role of detention in the process of radicalization and opinions about detention regime and approach for the prevention of radicalization in jail.

Following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, more attention is being paid to the factors, which play a role in the radicalization process of some Western youth. It was found that a large number of radicalized youth have a history of detention and that often this period of detention played a key role in radicalization. As a psychiatrist working in a prison with a high security department where many suspects of terrorism are incarcerated stay, I was asked to advise on the detention regime and on the way of dealing with difficult inmates. In this presentation I would like to elaborate on the elements during detention which determine the process of radicalization of certain prisoners, based on the current knowledge about the radicalization process and on the knowledge about the background of radicalized individuals in combination with own observations and findings about the detention regime in prisons.

Disclosure of interest

Nils Verbeeck.

Nils.verbeeck@telenet.be

Nils.verbeeck@fracarita.org

Proposal EPA 2017.
Anxiety for Body Symmetry and Sexual Performance in Old and Young Patients, Case Series Presentation
Authors: Christodoulou I. , Kapsimalis A. , Dounias G. , Peitsidis N. , Lahana C. , Gonezou D.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

It is not rare, old patients asking for better aesthetic results on multi-operated bodies causing anxiety and inconvenience. Objectives of our study is to present the emotional confrontation of patients towards surgery.

Methods

We present 4 cases of interest.

Results

A 75-year-old woman with abdominal asymmetry due to lose abdominal walls and prior operations underwent a failed operation because of her own persistence and finally was convinced to stop asking new surgery when she was told that her abdomen would never become symmetrical. A 79- year-old man, keen on parachuting, was interested to improve his sexual performance and tighten his lose skin with a re-operation on his well done hernia operation. A married man of 50-years-old with a temporary colostomy due to ruptured sigmoid colon suffering from acute diverticulitis, two months later was not at all interested in any kind of aesthetic improvement or his sexual life, and his only care was his nutrition and the avoidance of infections. A divorced man of 49-years-old, with a permanent colostomy, due to familial adenomatous polyposis and cancer occurrence on the site of his old operation (prior total colectomy in 1995), not even one time referred to sexual functioning or aesthetic problems, while his constant problem was to take care of his colostomy by himself.

Conclusions

Old age does not mean loss of interest for body icon and sexuality. On the other hand middle-aged men seem to be more practical and less emotional than old patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
A Delphi Study to Establish an Expert Consensus Opinion on Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes, and Potential Complications of Diabetes, Including Brain Health Associations
Authors: Dolan C. , Glynn R. , Lawlor B.A.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has a multifactorial aetiology, and wide-ranging potential health complications, including brain health associations.

Objectives

A number of diabetes risk factors and complications have a strong evidence base. This study will address ambiguity in the literature regarding others.

Aims

Results will inform development of a questionnaire for use among the public and individuals with diabetes, assessing knowledge of diabetes and brain health associations and the role of modifiable risk factors. Aiming to ultimately inform effective preventative strategies for both dementia and depression.

Methods

A systematic literature review preceded this two-round modified Delphi study. Respondents rated their agreement with risk factors for T2DM, and potential complications of diabetes on an e-questionnaire.

Results

Of 46 international experts invited to participate in round-one; 14 responded (30.4%). Thirteen respondents (92.9%) completed round-two questionnaire. Consensus was pre-defined as 70% or more agreement between respondents on questionnaire items. On completion, 11/18 risk factor items for T2DM met consensus criteria however ‘depression’ did not. Of diabetes complication items, 13/16 met consensus criteria (see Table 1).

Conclusions

Study results indicate that international experts consider a number of brain health complications to be associated with diabetes. Results will be incorporated in a diabetes and brain health knowledge questionnaire for use among vulnerable populations.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Relevance of Group Devices in the Psychological Treatment of Elderly Patients
Authors: Emanuelli L. , Garcia De Andreis G.
Published: June 2017

The work aims to demonstrate the relevance of groupal psychotherapies and think tanks in elderly patients, suffering from various psychiatric disorders. The exhibition focuses on the consideration of a structural problem of aging seen from the point of view defences and identifications, which some authors call “caracteropatización of old age”, resulting in stagnation in the development of treatments in therapeutic individual devices.

The paper postulates that groupal devices are more effective in treating patients older than treating individual cutting of different theoretical clinical guidelines, as are more suited to the production of mobilizing stiffened defences and crystallized identifications, won both by various effects of the death drive, which result in specific libidinal stasis, especially expressed in the substitutive formation called by some authors “letting die”.

The statement places the group devices in the Freudian model of cell tissues, herringbone in various texts of his work, but expressed in more detail in “Beyond the Pleasure Principle”, which postulates as the cause of the vital tension constellations composed of different but related cells. Communication is illustrated with clinical vignettes both therapeutic groups and think tanks, as with clinical material from patients who have received both individual treatment and group result of therapeutic work done in the Casabierta institution during the last ten years. As a conclusion and opening of new questions, the text pans across different forms of resistance indication of group psychotherapy, which rooted in many current social representations of the group and the therapeutic.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The Portuguese Participation in the Actifcare (Access to Timely Formal Care in Dementia) European Study: Preliminary Results of Systematic Reviews, Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Authors: Gonçalves-Pereira M. , Marques M.J. , Balsinha C. , Reis T. , Machado A. , Bárrios H. , Alves L. , Verdelho A. , Meyer G. , Woods B. , Wimo A. , Selbaeck G. , Irving K. , Zanetti O. , Orrell M. , De Vugt M. , Verhey F.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

In the context of untimely access to community formal services, unmet needs of persons with dementia (PwD) and their carers may compromise their quality of life.

Objectives/aims

The Actifcare EU-JPND project (www.actifcare.eu) focuses on access to and (non) utilization of dementia formal care in eight countries (The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Portugal), as related to unmet needs and quality of life. Evaluations included systematic reviews, qualitative explorations, and a European cohort study (PwD in early/intermediate phases and their primary carers; n = 453 days; 1 year follow-up). Preliminary Portuguese results are presented here (FCT-JPND-HC/0001/2012).

Methods

(1) extensive systematic searches on access to/utilization of services; (2) focus groups of PwD, carers and health/social professionals; (3) prospective study (n = 66 days from e.g., primary care, hospital outpatient services, Alzheimer Portugal).

Results

In Portugal, nationally representative data is scarce regarding health/social services utilization in dementia. There are important barriers to access to community services, according to users, carers and professionals, whose views not always coincide. The Portuguese cohort participants were 66 PwD (62.1% female, 77.3 ± 6.2 years, 55.5% Alzheimer's/mixed subtypes, MMSE 17.8 ± 4.8, CDR1 89.4%) and 66 carers (66.7% female, 64.9 ± 15.0 years, 56.1% spouses), with considerable unmet needs in some domains.

Conclusions

All Actifcare milestones are being reached. The consortium is now analyzing international differences in (un) timely access to services and its impact on quality of life and needs for care (e.g., formal community support is weaker in Portugal than in many European countries). National best-practice recommendations in dementia are also in preparation.

Abstract submitted on behalf of the Actifcare Eu-JPND consortium.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Association Between the Use of Benzodiazepines and the Occurrence of Acute Angle-closure Glaucoma in the Elderly: A Population-based Study
Authors: Kang B. , Park M.Y. , Lee E. , Kim C. , Namkoong K. , Kim W.J.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

Acute angle-closure glaucoma (AACG) is an ophthalmic emergency, accompanied with severe eye pain, headache, and visual changes because of acute intraocular pressure elevation. Among psychotropic drugs, several antidepressants, typical antipsychotics with strong anticholinergic effects, and topiramate have been known to increase a possibility of AACG. Benzodiazepines have been used widely in the treatment of mental and physical illnesses regardless of age or indication. Since benzodiazepines have some anticholinergic properties and affect pupillae muscles, their use could be theoretically a risk factor for AACG. However, it is unclear whether benzodiazepines actually increase the risk of AACG. To our knowledge, there was no population-based study on the risk of benzodiazepines to the occurrence of AACG.

Objectives/aims

To know whether benzodiazepines increase the risk of AACG in a geriatric population.

Methods

We will perform a case-control study using a geriatric cohort from the National Health Insurance database. Case subjects will be defined as cases diagnosed with AACG confirmed by the claim data of laser iridotomy, which is the definitive treatment of AACG. The controls, which were not diagnosed with AACG, will be matched with case subjects according to similar age, sex, and the scores of the Charlson comorbidity index.

Results

The data handling and statistical analyses will be executed in autumn and winter 2016.

Conclusions

Any preliminary findings of this study will be presented at the EPA 2017. We will discuss the importance of a pharmaco-epidemiological study in the geriatric research.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.