bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Stigma and adherence to medication in patients with psychotic disorders – cross-sectional study
Authors: Vrbova K. , Kamaradova D. , Latalova K. , Ociskova M. , Prasko J. , Mainerova B. , Cinculova A. , Kubinek R. , Tichackova A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Adherence to treatment of mental disorders is one of the key factors influencing its success and, secondarily, the patients’ quality of life and social adaptation.

Aims

The cross-sectional study of 90 outpatients diagnosed with psychotic disorders aimed at determining if there was a relationship between discontinuation of medication in the past, current adherence to treatment and self-stigma.

Methods

The assessment was made with the objective and subjective Clinical Global Impression – Severity scale, Drug Attitude Inventory, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale and demographic data.

Results

The questionnaires were filled out by 79 patients, of whom 5 handed in incomplete questionnaires. Complete sets of data were obtained from 74 patients. The data analysis showed that the levels of self-stigma as assessed by the total ISMI scores was not statistically significantly correlated with most of the demographic factors (age, age of illness onset, gender, education, marital status, employment, duration of the illness, number of hospitalizations and antipsychotic dosage). However, there was a significant negative correlation with current adherence to treatment.

Conclusions

Adherence to treatment is one of the most important prerequisites for successful therapy. Adherence may be enhanced through better motivation and education of patients on the necessity of adhering to treatment recommendations and the consequences of non-adherent behavior. Important factors in adherence also seem to be patients’ stigmatization and self-stigma. Adherence may be increased by promising self-stigma-reducing strategies performed by systematic psychoeducation of patients or as a part of psychotherapeutic counseling.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Mindfulness and insomnia at pregnancy
Authors: Marques M. , Pereira A.T. , Bento E. , Xavier S. , Azevedo J. , Soares M.J. , Freitas V. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

The impact of mindfulness in improving insomnia symptoms is documented in different samples (e.g. anxiety disorders; insomnia samples) and mindfulness based programs for pregnancy refer the association between mindfulness development and the reduction of insomnia symptoms/improvement of sleep.

Objective

To explore differences in the Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire-10 (FMQ-10; Azevedo et at. 2015), between sleep groups, in Portuguese pregnant women.

Methods

Four hundred and nineteen pregnant women (mean age: 32.51 ± 4.759; weeks of gestation: 17.32 ± 4.803) answered the Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire-10 and the Insomnia Assessment Scale (IAS, Marques et al., 2015). Three sleep groups were created considering all the IAS items: good sleepers (no insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment); insomnia symptoms groups (one/more insomnia symptoms; no associated daily impairment; exclusion of other conditions/disorders explaining the symptoms); insomniacs (one/more insomnia symptoms; one/more daily associated impairment; exclusion of other conditions/disorders explaining the symptoms).

Results

There were significant differences in the total FMQ-10 score, the F1/Nonjudging of inner experience and the F2/acting with awareness, between sleep groups [respectively, F (2.402) = 6,933; P = 0.001; F (2.406) = 10.243; P = 0.001; F (2.406) = 37.431; P = 0.002]. Tukey tests indicated that the mean total FMQ-10 and F1/Nonjudging of inner experience scores of good sleepers and insomnia symptoms group were significantly higher than of the insomniacs. The mean value of F2/acting with awareness in the good sleepers was significantly higher than of the insomniacs.

Conclusions

It seems important to develop mindfulness to improve sleep in pregnancy or reduce the impact of insomnia symptoms (common at pregnancy).

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Perceived causes for changes in sleep pattern in postpartum women
Authors: Santos S. , Pereira A.T. , Soares M.J. , Bento E. , Marques M. , Macedo A.
Published: May 2016

Aim

To investigate the causes that postpartum women most mention for changes in sleep pattern and its associations with obstetric and sleep variables and depressive symptoms.

Methods

At three months postpartum 192 women fill in a booklet containing obstetric and sleep variables and the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS; Pereira et al., 2010). If they experienced changes in their sleep pattern, they were asked about the perceived cause(s) (multiple choice). Chi-squared and Student t tests were applied as appropriate.

Results

A total of 64.6% women referred to some cause(s); the most mentioned were feeding/baby care and older children care (32.3%) and worries (baby and life problems related) (29.5%). Women who mentioned feeding/baby and older children care as a cause did not significantly differ in relation to type of delivery, feeding method proportions and in PDSS mean scores. Women who identified worries as a cause vs. women who did not – presented significant differences in proportions of vaginal (20.0%) vs. assisted delivery (52.2%) (OR 4.444), caesarean-section (22.2%) vs. assisted delivery (52.6%) (OR 3.827), in breast-feeding (36.0%) vs. bottle-feeding (12.9%) (OR .263) and in “having trouble sleeping even when the baby is asleep” (28.0% vs. 2.9%) (OR 12.833) (all P<.05). PDSS mean scores were also significantly higher in women who mentioned worries as a cause (50.20 ± 20.622 vs. 58.640 ± 15.766, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish the causes for changes in sleep pattern in postpartum women. Worries as a perceived cause have a higher impact and clinical significance than causes related to baby care demands.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Impact of dialectical behavior therapy on incidence of suicidal attempts and non-suicidal self injury among a sample of Egyptian borderline personality disorder patients
Authors: Abdelkarim A. , Nagui Rizk D. , Esmaiel M. , Helal H.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive psycho-social treatment developed by Marsha Linehan and originally designed for persons meeting criteria for borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is considered as a standard evidence based treatment for suicidal BPD patients in most international guidelines. Although its effectiveness has been proved in multiple studies across different patient populations but almost all the research was conducted in North American or European countries. The current study was the first trial to apply DBT in Egypt with a different language and culture than where the treatment was originally developed.

Objectives

Assessment of incidence of suicidal attempts and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a sample of Egyptian BPD patients enrolled in an outpatient DBT program.

Aim

The aim of the current study was to estimate impact of comprehensive DBT on suicidal attempts and NSSI when applied to Egyptian BPD patients.

Methods

Twenty-five BPD patients, 4 males and 21 females, were included in a comprehensive outpatient DBT program for one year and incidence of suicidal attempts and NSSI were calculated.

Results

Five patients only attempted suicide again with an incidence of 20% and a mean of one attempt/patient. Seven patients attempted NSSI with an incidence of 28%, an overall 22 incidents and a mean of 3 incidents/patient.

Conclusion

Although this was the first time to apply DBT in an Egyptian population, DBT proved to be an effective psycho-therapeutic intervention for suicidal BPD patients across regardless of different language or culture.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Characteristics of individuals who use alcohol at the time of attempting suicide
Authors: Jung D.U. , Kim S.J. , Lim J.S. , Kong B.G. , Kang J.W. , Moon J.J. , Jeon D.W. , Kim Y.S. , Kang E.C.
Published: May 2016

Objective

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of individuals who used alcohol at the time of attempting suicide.

Methods

We divided 143 individuals who attempted suicide by consuming drugs into two groups on the basis of their blood alcohol concentration level: drinker group (n = 79) and non-drinker group (n = 64). We compared epidemiological characteristics and suicidal behavior between the groups by using the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) and the Risk Rescue Rating Scale (RRRS). In addition, we administered the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation–II (APACHE–II) to evaluate the medical lethality of the individuals who attempted suicide. We used Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression to analyze the data.

Results

The drinker group scored lower on the SIS's planning subscale than the non-drinker group did (P = 0.022). The drinker group's blood alcohol concentration levels were negatively correlated with the rescue potential of their suicidal attempt (P = 0.031) and the APACHE-II score (P = 0.003). Higher blood alcohol concentration levels predicted poorer medical outcomes measured by the APACHE-II (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

Our findings support the notion that alcohol use increases suicidal impulsivity, decreases rescue potential, and worsens medical outcomes. Therefore, suicide prevention programs need to include education and counselling about the risks associated with alcohol use.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Talking suicide on Twitter: Linguistic style and language processes of suicide-related posts
Authors: O’Dea B. , Larsen M. , Batterham P. , Calear A. , Christensen H.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide and is largely preventable. The social media site Twitter is used by individuals to express suicidal intentions. It is not yet feasible to contact each Twitter user to confirm risk. Instead, it may be possible to validate risk by linguistic analysis. Psychological linguistic theory suggests that language is a reliable way of measuring people's internal thoughts and emotions; however, the linguistics of suicidality on Twitter is yet to be fully explored.

Objectives & aim

The aim of this study is to characterise the linguistic styles of suicide-related posts on Twitter for the purposes of predicting suicide risk.

Methods

The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program was used to compare the linguistic features of suicide-related tweets previously coded for suicide risk by humans with a set of matched controls. Logistic regression was then used for predictive modelling.

Results

The suicide-related tweets had significantly different linguistic profiles to the control tweets. The “strongly concerning” suicide tweets were found to have fewer words than all other tweets and not surprisingly, references to ‘death’ were significantly higher in this group. A number of other results were found. The final model which distinguished “strongly concerning” suicide risk from the controls was found to have 97.7% sensitivity and 99.8% specificity.

Conclusions

This study confirms that the linguistic features of suicide-related Twitter posts are different from general Twitter posts and that these linguistic profiles may be used to predict suicide risk in Twitter users.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Working alliance and its relationship with treatment outcome
Authors: Cardoso A. , Aguiar P. , Byrne M. , Xavier M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

The therapeutic alliance might be the most important part of beginning clinical relationship and may have an important impact in treatment adherence. In fact, many studies indicate that the therapeutic alliance is the best predictor of treatment outcome.

Objectives

To assess clinical skills and attitudes in mental health professionals(MHP).

Aims

This study explore the impact of clinical skills and socio-demographic factors related MHP may have on treatment adherence of patients with mental health disorders (MHD).

Methods

In this cross sectional study, we use a convenience sample of MHP working in the mental health departments of three general hospitals in Lisbon great area. Data is being collected through individual interviews. We used a optimism scale (ETOS), Medication Alliance Beliefs Questionnaire (MABQ), and socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire.

Results

A convenience sample composed of sixty-five mental health clinician working in a variety of settings is being collected. We don’t found statistically significant differences between the therapeutic optimism and the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of MHP. The average values of optimism found in MHP with additional training in skills training it was higher (t test = 1,64). The results demonstrate that the most of clinicians (n = 42; agree 64,6%; strongly agree, n = 19; 29,2%) believe that have the capacity to positively influence outcomes for people with mental disorders.

Conclusion

This topic, along with a detailed examination of the relationship between therapeutic alliance and treatment adherence, will be the subject of future research projects.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Antipsychotic prescribing patterns in outpatients with severe mental illness
Authors: Kizilay Cankaya P. , Tiryaki A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Prescribing more than one antipsychotic at the same time is becoming common in the treatment of patients with severe mental illness (SMI), although most guidelines recommend monotherapy.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of antipsychotic polypharmacy and to compare the practices of polypharmacy and monotheraphy in terms of the rationale and compatibility of the treatment.

Methods

This study included 235 patients with SMI between 18 and 65 years of age who were followed at KTU Psychiatry Department Schizophrenia-Bipolar Disorder outpatient clinic between January 2007 and December 2014. The sociodemographic and clinical data were evaluated by a chart review form which was prepared by the researcher and designed according to American Psychiatric Association treatment algorithm and National Associated Mental Health Program Directors polypharmacy classification.

Results

138 patients (58.7%) were diagnosed with schizophrenia, 75 patients (31.9%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder and 22 patients (9.4%) were diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. 62 patients (26.4%) were receiving antipsychotic polypharmacy. Combinations of two second-generation antipsychotics were most common. Anticholinergic drug use was significantly more common in patients on antipsychotic polypharmacy. Reported adverse events were more common in patients on polypharmacy but did not reach the level of statistical significance. Patients on antipsychotic polypharmacy were more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Polypharmacy patients were also more likely to receive clozapine and amisulpride whereas monotherapy patients were more likely to receive olanzapine.

Conclusion

Our results confirm previous reports that indicate patients with SMI are most likely to receive antipsychotic polypharmacy.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Four years follow-up in a naturalistic study of adults with ADHD treated with atomoxetine
Authors: Richarte Fernández V. , Corrales de la Cruz M. , Ibáñez Jiménez P. , Corominas Rosso M. , Vidal Estrada R. , Fadeuilhe Grau C. , Palma-Álvarez R.F. , Casas Brugué M. , Ramos-Quiroga J.A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a psychiatric chronic disorder of childhood that persists into adolescence and adulthood in the most part of cases. There are various ways of treating ADHD.

Objectives

Assess the effectiveness and tolerability of atomoxetine long-term and routine clinical practice in adult ADHD treatment. Study the clinical profile of the patients who take atomoxetine.

Aims

The aim of this is to study the treatment of ADHD in adults with a non-stimulant drug atomoxetine.

Methods

We obtain results from 126 patients recruited from July 2009 to May 2013 who have been prescribed Atomoxetine as a treatment for ADHD from the hospital pharmacy.

Results

Comorbid disorders were presented in 57.1% of the patients included at the study (25.3% of which belong to the group of anxiety disorders). The use of other psychotropic drugs associated with atomoxetine was observed in 54.8% of patients. The 62.7% of the patients concerned continued treatment beyond 225 weeks (4 years 3 months) of observation. The Clinical Global Impression Improvement scale (CGI-I) and side effects determine monitoring treatment. A total of 61.9% of patients responded satisfactory to treatment with atomoxetine getting the CGI-I scale a score of 1-2. The duration of therapy and patient age are factors that influence the response. Furthermore, the clinical profile of patients treated with atomoxetine is characterized by different comorbidities, anxious symptomatology and personality disorders. Atomoxetine treatment with has also been shown its effectiveness and safe despite the presence of concomitant comorbidities and psychopharmacological treatment.

Conclusion

Atomoxetine treatment with has been effective and has proven good tolerability profile during treatment.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Chronic rhinosinusitis and mood disturbance
Authors: Erskine S.E. , Beezhold J. , Clark A. , Philpott C.M.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a condition of inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses affecting 6.8 million Britons. It has a great impact on quality of life and productivity. CRS is currently subdivided into two main types – with and without nasal polyps (CRSwNPs and CRSsNPs respectively. Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is severe subtype of CRSwNPs.

Objectives

This study is part of the Chronic Rhinosinusitis Epidemiology Study (CRES). The overarching aim is to determine factors influencing onset and severity of CRS.

Aims

To determine whether those with CRS are more likely to report mood disturbance compared with healthy controls.

Methods

CRES is study-specific questionnaire asking about demographic and socioeconomic factors and past medical history as well as a nasal symptom score (SNOT-22) and SF-36 (QoL – quality of life tool). Questionnaires were distributed to patients with CRS attending ENT outpatient clinics at 30 centres across the United Kingdom from 2007–2013.

Results

A total of 1470 participants were recruited (Table 1). Differences between those with CRS and controls were found; those with CRSsNPs reported significantly more consultations with their GP for depression and anxiety. Patients with CRS also showed significantly poorer mental well-being than controls across the mental health and emotional well-being domains of the QoL tools used. Those with CRSsNPs scored significantly worse than those with nasal polyps across all domains.

Conclusions

Mood disturbance is significantly more common in patients with CRS compared to healthy controls, especially in those with CRSsNPs. This added mental health morbidity needs consideration when managing such patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Impact on personal growth and environment conservation self-perception in a volunteering program with adults with severe mental illness (SMI)
Authors: Cabezas Sánchez D. , Ramírez Macías A. , Sáiz Galdós J.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

“Viaje del Parnaso” is a volunteering project developed at the Day Center Aranjuez2 (CD2) for helping adults with SMI to get a satisfactory and responsible occupation through their implication in a volunteering work in the community, while involved in the maintenance of a green area in the city of Aranjuez.

Objectives/aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the project on the volunteers’ lives in terms of personal growth and environment conservation and compare its results with non-volunteers also attended at the CD2.

Methods

The project was carried once a week during 45 weeks. 11 volunteers participated on the project, plus 5 non-volunteers were considered as cuasi-control group. The instruments applied were an item on “environment conservation” and 2 subscale items of “Personal Growth” from the Ryff Scales of psychological well-being. Measures were applied at baseline, 6 and 12 months after.

Results

Significant differences were found on the environment conservation item between volunteers at baseline and 6 months after (P < 0.05). Results also revealed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between volunteers and non-volunteers at both variables (“environment conservation” and “Personal Growth”) in baseline and 6 months after treatment.

Conclusions

The data from this study suggest that a volunteering program seems to be an effective intervention for bringing about improvements in well-being of people with SMI, and also for increasing their environmental awareness. These improvements may also help to change the stigma of SMI reinforcing mental health patient's contributions to society.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The agitated patient; need for mechanical restraint and prevention measures in relation to psychiatric diagnosis
Authors: Dinamarca F. , Galindo L. , Grifell M. , Perez E. , Chavarria V. , Salgado P. , Perez S.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Psychomotor agitation is a common psychiatric emergency in our environment that can occur in a wide clinical spectrum. Both the agitation itself as the procedures for their control, carry an implicit risk to patient safety and health workers.

Objective

To describe the prevention measures used in patients requiring mechanical restraint in relation to diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.

Material and methods

This is a naturalistic descriptive study. Mechanical restraints made in brief psychiatric hospitalization units of “Hospital del Mar” between January of 2013 to March of 2015, were analyzed by diagnosis. Proportions of the prevention intervention performed by nurses in each episode were compared. The groups of prevention interventions done were: “verbal approach”, “environmental measures”, “psychopharmacological intervention”, “observation increase” and “inability for applying any measure because unpredictability”.

Results

A total of 2986 mechanical restraints were done in brief hospitalization units. Among the results, we find that verbal approach measure was use in 77.23% of patient with personality disorders. Environmental measures were used in 40% of the total of restraints. The most of psychopharmacological intervention was done in alcohol intoxication (50%) and then in psychotic spectrum (42.01%). The inability for applying measures was greater in alcohol intoxication (45.4%).

Conclusion

Some of the results of this study are interesting and consistent with clinical practice (for example, effectivity of pharmacological intervention in psychosis and bipolar disorders, as well verbal approach in anxiety, etc.), we can predict the usefulness of measures applied to prevent a mechanical restraint. Further research is needed in this topic.

Disclosure of interest

L. Galindo is a Rio-Hortega-fellowship – (ISC-III; CM14/00111).
Kynurenine pathway metabolites and suicide attempters among psychiatric inpatients: Preliminary results
Authors: Pompili M. , Erbuto D. , Forte A. , Montebovi F. , Lionetto L. , Girardi P.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Increased concentrations of kynurenine (KYN) pathway metabolites have been associated to several groups of psychiatric disorders. As for suicide risk literature is still inconclusive due to the limited evidence.

Objectives

to test the hypothesis of Increased concentrations of kynurenine as related to suicide attempter.

Aims

We aim to investigate the association between kynurenine pathway metabolites blood levels and suicidal behaviour, in affective disorder patients, in order to explore if kynurenine pathway metabolites could be potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Sample

We enrolled a sample of affective disorder patients and perform detailed diagnoses, as well as detailed assessment of suicidal behaviour using validated questionnaires. We also aim to follow-up individuals included in the current study.

Methods

Plasma KYN was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography in three groups: healthy volunteers (n = 90), patients with mood disorders with a recent suicide attempt (n = 44) and without (n = 44) history of suicide attempt. Analysis of variance tested for group differences in KYN levels. Each was evaluated with psychometric scales. Patients were sampled for 10 cc of venous blood for assay. The preparation of blood samples and assay was processed by a specialist using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Results

Preliminary results will be presented as to shed light if KYN levels differed across groups. According to preliminary calculations we expect that KYN is higher in suicide attempters compared with non-attempters, who did not differ from healthy volunteers.

Conclusions

Our work-in-progress study suggests that KYN and related molecular pathways may be implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Study of the sexual dysfunction secondary to antidepressants in animal models
Authors: Santana Hernández Y. , Redondo Vega M.V. , Zamora Gracia E. , Montejo Gonzalez A.L. , Blázquez Arroyo J.L. , Llorca Ramón G.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Sexual dysfunction is a very important problem in western countries. One of the causes is the treatment with antidepressants; most of the currently available produce sexual dysfunction in men and women (lower libido, anorgasmia, etc.).

Objective

Comparing the nervous system of the animals we expect to find differences to explain the biological substratum of the sexual dysfunction that produce the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Method

Twenty Wistar rats; approximate weight 150 g. It is divided into 4 groups: 2 experimental (paroxetine and agomelatina mouth) and 2 controls. There is a daily conduct. Weighing at the beginning of the study, 14 and 28 days. Is performed sacrifice by decapitation, is extracted from the brain and after fixing paraffin cuts are carried out for their subsequent staining (immunohistochemistry) with their corresponding murine antibody and viewing through optical microscope.

Results

Lower immunoreactivity with the antibody anti-TH in the animals treated with paroxetine, at all levels of the dopaminergic activity (tracks mesolimbica, cortical circuit, nigrostriatal pathway and tubero-infundibular). This decrease is reaffirmed after the statistical treatment of data.

Conclusions

Treatment with paroxetine in animal models causes a depletion of the dopaminergic system that can be one of the biological bases of sexual dysfunction, altering the reward mechanisms as well as producing hyperprolactinemia.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Protective effect of curcumin on diazepam-induced behavioral changes and oxidative stress in rats
Authors: Sevastre-Berghian A. , Făgărăşăn V. , Decea N. , Moldovan R. , Sevastre B. , Tăulescu M. , Filip A.G.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Curcumin (CUR), a polyphenolic compound, extracted from Curcuma longa, is known for its neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of CUR on ambulatory activity, spatial working memory and on oxidative stress in rats induced by Diazepam (DZP) administration.

Aims

To analyze whether CUR may improve the cognitive performance and offer systemic protection from oxidative stress.

Methods

The effect of CUR on DZP-induced memory impairment and oxidative stress was studied on Wistar rats. Group I received a vehicle, group II – vehicle and CUR, group III – vehicle and DZP, group IV – vehicle, CUR and DZP. CUR (150 mg/kg bw) and vehicle were orally administered for five weeks long. DZP (2 mg/kg bw) was administered i.p. 20 minutes before the behavioral tests. Behavioral tests, i.e. Open Field and Y Maze Test, were performed. Malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio were determined in the serum and brain tissue homogenate. Hippocampal sections were histologically assessed. The data were statistically analyzed by one-way ANOVA, followed by Dunns post-test.

Results

DZP decreased (P < 0.01) the number of spontaneous alternations, as compared to control group, thus suggesting an impairment of spatial working memory. Behavioral tests revealed no enhancing effect of CUR on spontaneous alternation behaviors in Y Maze. CUR reversed (P < 0.01) the inhibitory effect of diazepam (P < 0.05) on the ambulatory activity in OFT and decreased the lipid peroxidation in the serum (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The results show that CUR may offer systemic protection from oxidative stress, thus improving the cognitive performance.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Sexual well-being among a cross-national sample of older adults
Authors: von Humboldt S. , Leal I. , Monteiro A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Sexual well-being (SWB) has been an ignored dimension that may contribute to successful aging.

Objectives

To analyze SWB in older adults’ perspective, to investigate the latent constructs that can work as major determinants in SWB and to examine the potential explanatory mechanisms of a SWB overall model, in an older cross-national sample.

Methods

Measures were completed, using a variety of appropriate methods, including demographics and interviews. Complete data were available for 163 older adults aged between 65–97 years (M = 74.2; SD = 4.743). Data were subjected to content analysis. Representation of the associations and latent constructs were analyzed by a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA).

Results

The most prevalent response of the interviewed participants for SWB was ‘affection and care’ (11.0%). A three-dimension model formed by ‘intimacy and well-being’, ‘care, eroticism and desire’, and ‘sexual activity and health’ was presented as a best-fit solution for German older adults. SWB for Portuguese older adults were explained by a three-factor model: ‘intimacy, health and desire’, ‘affection and well-being’ and ‘sexual activity’.

Conclusions

The outcomes presented in this paper emphasized the need to explore the indicators of SWB among older adults and the under-developed potential of a SWB overall model for the older population.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
What predicts adjustment to aging among older women in breast cancer remission? The influence of subjective well-being, sense of coherence, and socio-demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors
Authors: von Humboldt S. , Leal I. , Carneiro F.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To build a structural model to explore the predictors of adjustment to aging (AtA) reported by older women in breast cancer remission.

Methods

Older women in breast cancer remission (n = 214) aged between 75 and 94 years participated in this study. A questionnaire to determine socio-demographic (age, income, professional and marital status, education, household, living setting and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (physical activity, leisure, perceived health, recent disease and medication), and measures to assess AtA, sense of coherence and subjective well-being, were employed. Structural equation modeling was used to explore a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all variables.

Results

Preliminary results indicated that self-reported spirituality (β = .397; P < .001), leisure (β = .383; P < .001), physical activity (β = .267; P < .001), perceived health (β = .211; P < .001), marital status (β = .173; P < .001), professional status (β = .156; P = .009), sense of coherence (β = .138; P < .001), and living setting (β = .129; P = .007), predicted AtA. The variables accounted for 79.2% of the variability of AtA.

Conclusion

Self-reported spirituality and leisure were the strongest predictors of AtA. Our preliminary findings suggest that health care interventions with older women in breast cancer remission still living in the community may benefit from clearly including predictors of AtA, as these are essential for promoting older women’ s aging well.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Analysing correlates for the younger-old and the oldest-old: Adjustment to aging
Authors: von Humboldt S. , Leal I.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Diverse factors may predict the adjustment to aging (AtA) of the younger-old and oldest-old adults’.

Objectives

To build a structural model for exploring whether socio-demographic, health and lifestyle-related variables are predictors of AtA for both groups.

Methods

Research encompassed a community-dwelling sample, of 447 older adults aged 75 years and above (M = 86.27; SD = 6.78; range 75–100). Measures included demographics (sex, marital status, education, household, adult children, family‘s annual income, and self-reported spirituality), lifestyle and health-related characteristics (perceived health, recent disease, physical activity and leisure), and the Adjustment to Aging Scale. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate a structural model of the self-reported AtA, encompassing all the above variables.

Results

Significant predictors for the younger-old are perceived health (β = .425; P < .001), leisure (β = .324; P < .001), professional status (β = .243; P < .001). Significant predictors for the oldest-old are self-reported spirituality (β = .816; P < .001), perceived health (β = .232; P < .001), and income (β = .233; P = .035). The variables explained respectively 64.5% and 61.6% of the variability of AtA, respectively.

Conclusions

Perceived health is the strongest predictor of AtA for the younger-old participants whilst self-reported spirituality is the strongest predictor of AtA for the oldest-old adults.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Choosing wisely in Germany – adapting an international initiative to a national healthcare agenda
Authors: Klemperer D.
Published: May 2016

Overuse and underuse in healthcare is a chronic problem in most healthcare systems. Inspired by the North American Choosing Wisely Initiative, the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF), which actually counts 173 member organisations, decided to address the problem. The aim of the German “Gemeinsam klug entscheiden” (deciding together wisely)-initiative is to reduce overuse, underuse and misuse of health interventions in areas where recommendations of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) are not adequately implemented or missing. Starting point are the positive and negative recommendations of the CPGs, which the AWMF-member societies have developed for more than 20 years, following the manual and rules set up by AWMF. To identify and select recommendations methodological criteria have been developed by a working group in a consensus-based process. The development of AWMF-CPGs follows a methodology that aims to ensure the full integration of evidence, an interdisciplinary and interprofessional perspective, the prevention of bias as a consequence of conflicts of interest and full transparency of the development process.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Quality assessment of mental health rehabilitation services
Authors: Killaspy H.
Published: May 2016

Objectives

Providing good quality mental health care is vital to achieve better outcomes but service quality is a complex, multidimensional construct that extends beyond the delivery of specific evidence based treatments and interventions. This makes it difficult to operationalize and measure, particularly at the international level where different socioeconomic and political contexts impact. Mental health rehabilitation services focus on people with severe and complex psychosis. This group are one of the most socially excluded in society and are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. They are also, be definition, difficult to treat and, historically, have often been institutionalised in hospital or community facilities.

Aims

This presentation will report on the development and application of an internationally validated quality assessment tool for longer term mental health care facilities, the Quality Indicator for Rehabilitative Care (QuIRC).

Methods

The content of the QuIRC was derived from a systematic literature review, international Delphi exercise and review of care standards in ten European countries. Its psychometric properties were assessed in over 200 longer-term mental health facilities across Europe involving validation with over 1750 service users. It has subsequently been used in a national programme of research into inpatient mental health rehabilitation services in England which will also be briefly described.

Results

The QuIRC has excellent inter-rater reliability and validity. Specific aspects of care assessed by the QuIRC have been found to be associated with successful community discharge from inpatient mental health rehabilitation services.

Conclusions

The QuIRC is a free to use, standardised and validated on-line international quality assessment benchmarking and research tool, available in ten European languages.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Overview of European refugee mental health situation
Authors: Muijen M.
Published: May 2016

This presentation will offer information about latest number of refugees and internally displaced people across Europe, their (mental) health problems and activities and interventions coordinated by WHO. It will also suggest ways by which EPA and WHO could continue their effective partnership to assist countries.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Corollary discharge, auditory hallucinations and schizophrenia – a structural network analysis
Authors: Henze R. , Goch C. , Richter J. , Parzer P. , Brunner R. , Resch F. , Stieltjes B.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Corollary discharges (CDs) are the reason most people cannot tickle themselves. They are the brain's way of distinguishing whether a stimulus is associated with one's own actions or something else. In neural terms, CDs are copies of motor plans that are propagated to sensory cortex where they can be compared with inputs. A range of phenomena associated with schizophrenia from auditory hallucinations to visual processing difficulties to the ability of patients to tickle themselves can be explained as pathologies in CD mechanisms. Auditory hallucinations for example involve patients failing to perceive themselves as the author of their own inner speech.

Objectives and aims

To test whether schizophrenia is associated with a structural network disruption that could impair CD signals involved in language processing, adolescents with schizophrenia were examined using magnetic resonance imaging and compared to healthy controls.

Methods

A graph theoretical approach was used to analyse the connectivity in networks centered on:

– Broca's area;

– Wernicke's area.

Connectivity information was acquired using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Results

Compared to healthy controls, adolescents with schizophrenia displayed a lower average degree of connectivity with the left inferior frontal gyrus (Broca's area). No significant differences were found in the degree of connectivity with the right inferior frontal gyrus and the superior temporal gyrus bilaterally (Wernicke's area).

Conclusions

The results suggest a link between schizophrenia and impairment to areas where CDs associated with inner speech plausibly originate.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
Potential relationship between inflammatory markers, neuroimaging findings and treatment response in depression
Authors: Szulc A.
Published: May 2016

Pharmacological therapy in mental disorders is usually effective in 60–70%, the treatment reaction is worsening with the disease progression, and proper medication and early treatment regimen choice is crucial. Research showed that specific brain changes (structural and functional) are present in depressed patients. These abnormalities are probably linked to neurodegeneration. There is also an evidence that inflammation contributes to the depression pathophysiology, and both these processes – neurodegeneration and inflammation are related.

Novel biological markers allow us to better understand the individual mechanisms of treatment response in depression. Recently, several biological measures have been proposed, amongst them – neuropsychological dysfunction, decreased GABA level in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS), body weight, genetic factors and peripheral inflammatory markers. Latest research found that brain changes assessed with neuroimaging methods (including 1H MRS, e.g. glutamatergic system abnormalities), correlate with peripheral inflammatory markers. Furthermore, both these factors taken together may serve as one integrated treatment prediction marker in depressed patients.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.
Alcohol and aggression
Authors: Heinz A. , Kluge U. , Schouler-Ocak M. , Beck A.
Published: May 2016

About half of all murders are committed in Western industrialized countries by subjects under the influence of alcohol. Chronic alcohol use also increases the rate of violent attacks. These findings appear to be due to an interaction between acute and chronic environmental effects (acute alcohol consumption and chronic social isolation stress) on the one hand and limbic processing of aversive stimuli modulated by neurotransmitter systems such as dopamine and serotonin on the other. Animal experiments showed that early social isolation stress can induce serotonin dysfunction and appears to predispose individuals towards increased threat perception. Studies in humans revealed that depending on serotonergic neurotransmission and serotonin transporter genotype, some individuals are prone to show elevated functional activation elicited by aversive and threatening cues. Previous experience with alcohol-related aggression seems to further predispose an individual towards a “fight vs. flight” reaction when confronted with perceived threat during alcohol intake. Together, these findings point to complex gene-environment interactions and a specific role of social isolation stress in the development of alcohol-related aggression.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
The role of the gut microbiota in mood and behaviour. Whether psychobiotics can become an alternative in therapy in psychiatry?
Authors: Van Hemert S. , Marlicz W. , Szachta P. , Pekelharing E. , Ormel G. , Łoniewski I. , Ostrowska L. , Samochowiec J.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Novel research concepts based on therapies aiming to modulate intestinal microbiota are emerging. The evidence is mounting that gut-brain axis plays an important role in the development of mood and depressive disorders [1]. The similarities between blood brain barrier (BBB) and gut vascular barrier (GVB) and their role in chronic diseases have been recently unraveled [2]. Especially convincing data come from animal models, where administration of probiotics and antibiotics in germ and pathogen free mice showed beneficial role in the regulation of behavior, cognition, pain, anxiety and mood.

Aims and results

Based on available data as well as on studies looking at the effect of multispecies probiotics (Ecologic® Barrier containing B.bifidumW23, B.lactisW52, L.acidophilusW37, L.brevisW63, L.caseiW56, L.salivariusW24, L.lactisW19, L.lactisW58) on cognitive reactivity to sad mood in healthy volunteers [3] we designed the human trial aiming to compare microbiome alterations and response to therapy in patients with depression and schizophrenia. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo data support the notion that multispecies probiotics are capable of improving gut barrier function [4] and may alleviate disorders affecting mood and depressive-like behavior. We postulate that therapies modulating the microbiome-gut-brain axis warrant further investigations.

Conclusion

Multispecies probiotics have the potential to influence the gut-brain axis and alleviate mental disorders. Ongoing clinical study in patients with depression and schizophrenia will help to further unravel the role of gut-brain axis in the treatment of patients with psychiatric disturbances.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
E-Mental Health and models of care: The evidence base and feasibility of picking one vs. another?
Authors: Hilty D.
Published: May 2016

The patient-centered care features quality, affordable, and timely care in a variety of settings – technology is a key part of that – particularly among younger generations and child and adolescent patients. The consumer movement related to new technologies is nearly passing clinicians by, as new ways of communicating with others (text, email, Twitter, Facebook) revolutionizes how we experience life and access healthcare. This paper explores a continuum with healthy, innovative behavior on one end (e.g., social media) and pathological Internet use on the other end–and the range of self-help and e-mental healthcare options being used. Specifically, it focuses on how social media adds to, yet may complicate healthcare delivery, such that clinicians may need to adjust our approach to maintain therapeutic relationships, interpersonal/clinical boundaries, and privacy/confidentiality. We suggest planning ahead to discuss expectations about online communication between doctors and patients as part of the informed consent process, offer other do's and don’ts for patients and clinicians, and review applicable guidelines. More research is needed on consumer and patient use of technology related to healthcare, as is an approach to basic and advanced measurement of outcomes.

Disclosure of interest

The author has not supplied his declaration of competing interest.