bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental health and COVID-19 in university students: a qualitative study comparing Italy and the UK
Authors: Riboldi I. , Capogrosso C. A. , Piacenti S. , Calabrese A. , Lucini Paioni S. , Bartoli F. , Armes J. , Crocamo C. , Taylor C. , Carrà G.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic affected all major sectors, including higher education. The measures to contain this deadly disease led to the closure of universities across the globe, introducing several changes in students’ academic and social experience. During the last two years, self-isolation together with the difficulties linked to online teaching and learning, have amplified psychological burden and mental health vulnerability of students.

Objectives

We aimed to explore in depth students’ feelings and perspectives regarding the impact of the COVID-19 on their mental health and to compare these data among students from Italy and the UK.

Methods

Data were resulting from the qualitative arm of “the CAMPUS study”, a large ongoing project to longitudinally assess the mental health of university students enrolled at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Unimib, Italy) and the University of Surrey (UoS, Guildford, UK). We conducted in-depth interviews through the Microsoft Teams online platform between September 2021 and April 2022, and thematically analysed the transcripts.

Results

A total of 33 students (15 for Unimib and 18 for UoS), with a wide range of sociodemographic characteristics, were interviewed. Four themes were identified: i) impact of COVID-19 on students’ mental health; ii) causes of poor mental health; iii) most vulnerable subgroups; vi) coping strategies.

Anxiety symptoms, social anxiety, and stress were frequently reported as negative effects of the pandemic, while the main sources of poor mental health were identified in loneliness, exceeding time online, unhealthy management of space and time, bad organization/communication with university, low motivation and uncertainty about the future. Freshers, international or off-campus students, as well as both extremely extroverted and introverted subjects, represented the most vulnerable populations, because of their extensive exposure to loneliness. Among coping strategies, the opportunity to take time for yourself, family support, and mental health support were common in the sample.

Some differences were found comparing students from Italy and the UK. While at Unimib the impact of COVID-19 on mental health was mainly described in relation to academic worries and the inadequate organization of the university system, UoS students, familiar to the conviviality of campus life, explained these effects as a result of the drastic loss of social connectedness.

Conclusions

The current study highlights the key role of mental health support for university students, mainly during crisis times, and calls for measures to improve communication between students and the educational institution, as well as to encourage social connectedness.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Comparison of mental health presentations of 16–25-year-olds to the Emergency Department during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Authors: Mohan C. , Conaty O. , Moughty A. , Doherty A. , Barrett E. , Clarke A. M.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Studies reported an initial decrease in the number of presentations and incidence of self-harm in young people during the pandemic. As the pandemic progressed young people may have experienced increased levels of distress, contributing to worsened mental health. There is a need for mental health services to evaluate the presentations of young people presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) so that services can meet the needs of young people.

Objectives

To examine the mental health presentations of young people (aged 16-25) to the ED and how this may have changed since the start of the pandemic.

Methods

This study reviewed all 16–25-year-olds presenting to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) who were triaged with a mental health issue in a 2 month period (September-October) over three years – 2019 (Period A), 2020 (Period B), 2021 (Period C). Approval for this service evaluation was granted by the Clinical Audit and Effectiveness Committee at the MMUH.

Results

Of 232 presentations across all periods, there was no significant difference in the number of presentations in each study period - Period A (n=76), Period B (n=79) and Period C (n=77). In all three periods, most presentations occurred out of hours (A: 57.9% [n=44]; B: 74.7% [n=59]; C: 68.8% [n=53]) statistically significant (p=0.034) from before (A) to during the pandemic (B and C). Out of hours arrival by ambulance was most common in in Periods A and B (45.5% and 55.9%). Over all three periods discharge home was the most frequent outcome of assessment (A: 69.7% [n=53]; B: 70.9% [n=56]; C: 76.6% [n=59]). Overall, there was a decrease in self-harm presentations over the period (A: 47.4% [n=36]; B: 41.8% [n=33]; C: 40.3% [n=31]). The percentage of presentations with self-laceration increased during the pandemic (A: 33.3% [n=12]; B: 39.4% [n=13]; C: 48.4% [n=15]). There was a significant increase in attendees who were already taking psychotropic medications (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the majority of 16–25-year-olds present out of hours and do not require admission. Although the number of presentations remained similar, the increase in out of hours presentations and arrivals by ambulance in Period B may reflect increased distress in the initial stages of the pandemic, and restricted access to services. The higher rates of medication prescribing suggests that these young people are already receiving health care, but that their needs are not being fully met. Mental health services should be designed to provide access to mental health care out of hours when young people are most likely to require them.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Dynamic of Covid-19 representations: time, cultural and social factors
Authors: Semenova E. R. , Mitina O. , Pervichko E. , Konyukhovskaya J. , Stepanova O.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

We have already noted in our studies (Pervichko et. al., 2020, 2021) that collective representations about Covid-19 disease, based on its totality, the catholicity of its impact on all spheres of people’s lives, are socially and culturally conditioned: they have their own specifics in different countries, associated with many social, economic, political factors. Moreover, these perceptions change over time.

Objectives

To identify the differences in the Covid-19 representations in residents of different countries and at different stages of the pandemic.

Methods

Modified questionnaire of the internal picture of the disease (Broadbent, 2006), consisting of 8 questions about COVID-19 pandemic. All the items were rated using a 0-to-10 response scale. 1-5 items assess cognitive illness representations. Items 6 and 8 assess emotional representations. Item 7 assesses illness comprehensibility.

Results

To test of the research hypothesis, we used the data accumulated on our platform since April 2020. We selected subsamples: Russian respondents who took the survey in April-May 2020 (1st wave) (1), June-September 2020 (decline) (2), October - December 2020 (3) (2nd wave), 1st half of 2021 (4). At the same time as sample 4, respondents from Azerbaijan (5) and Uzbekistan (6) were surveyed. Finally, there was another sample of Uzbekistan respondents surveyed in the 1st half of 2022 (7). Respondents of both sexes and different ages participated in each sample, with a total of 2908 people. The table 1 shows the sample means for all items in all samples.

In all seven samples, women are characterized by responses indicating their greater tension, stress, and psychological fatigue caused by life in a pandemic. In almost all samples, younger respondents demonstrate greater involvement in the disease and its experiences. Perhaps this is due to the fact that social restrictions affected young respondents to a greater extent.

It was shown that with each new wave, the indicators for the 2, 5, 8 grow, and 3, 4, 7 decreases. At the same time, since no one canceled the pandemic, this year, along with a decrease in indicators for all items corresponding to stress and anxiety, ideas about the possible duration of the pandemic are growing.

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Conclusions

We can say that people have adapted to coexist with this disease and are ready for its continued presence in the world. The average indicators of Azerbaijani respondents indicate a more tense attitude towards the pandemic compared to Russia and Uzbekistan. It can be assumed that this is due to longer and more extensive state anti-epidemiological measures in Azerbaijan.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Open-label: the clinical effects of adding cannbidiol to usual care of patients with residual symptoms in the diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: De Morais E. R. , Zuardi A. W. Z. P. W. , Guimarães F. S. , Osório F. L. , Hallak J. E. , Sanches R. F. , Crippa J. A. S.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a heterogeneous and debilitating neuropsychiatric disorder. First-line antidepressants with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) are unresponsive or partially responsive in 40% of treated patients. Preclinical studies have shown that cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce compulsive behavior in animals, and considering that the release of glutamate in the action of CBD can inhibit terminal axons of neurons in the corticostriatal-thalamo-cortical circuit, we chosefor testing CBD, a drug with few side effects and low toxicity, as an adjuvant in treating OCD.

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical effects of CBD add-on to the usual pharmacological treatment of outpatients diagnosed with OCD.

Methods

Methods: This is an open-label study in which patients received CBD 300mg-day for 30 days in addition to their usual treatments and CBD 600mg-day for an additional 30 days if they have not reduced at least 25% of symptoms compared to the baseline evaluated by the Yale-brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS). Psychometric scales were used to assess the effects of CBD: Y-BOCS, General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), Clinical Overall Impressions-Severity (CGI-S), Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement (CGI-I), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Udvalg Scale for Kliniske Undersogelser (UKU) scale.

Participants: We initially assessed 33 participants in the study. So far, 19 patients have completed the study. Eleven did not complete the study, and 03 patients are still in the study trial.

Results

Mean (SD) Y-BOCS scores decreased from 28.0 (4.8) at baseline to 13.8 (8.6) at week 8, corresponding to a - 50.7% reduction (P<.0001). Anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 scale) (P=0.001) and CGI-Severity scales scores (P<0.001) improved significantly.MeasureBaseline, Mean (SD)Week 4, Mean (SD)Week 8, Mean (SD)Mean Change
(Baseline to Week 4)Mean Change
(Baseline to Week 8)Mean (SD)p-valuet-testY-Bocks28.0 (4.8)17.8 (7.3)13.8 (8.6)10.1 (6.5)<0,0017.114.1 (7.9)<0,0017.7GAD-713.8 (4.4)8.14 (4.9)8.0 (5.7)5.7 (6.4)0,0014.05.6 (5.8)0,0014.1CGI-I5.48 (0.9)3.9 (1.3)3.3 (1.5)1.5 (1.3)<0,0015.282.1 (1.2)<0,0017.4a

n=22;

b

n=19

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Conclusions

We concluded that there was an important reduction in the psychometric scales used with statistical significance. This is a partial analysis of the results as the study progresses. We believe that in the future we will be able to complete this study and have a better analysis of the results that are promising. At the end of the study, other psychometric scales such as CGI-I, epworth scale and UKU will be analyzed.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Electroencephalographic study of the Error Related Negativity in patients suffering from treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Wassouf I. , Dampuré J. , Doolub D. , Harika-Germaneau G. , Jaafari N. , Vibert N.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The physiopathology of patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may differ from that of treatment-responsive patients. Cognitive evoked potentials may be one of the ways to detect these differences. The error-related negativity (ERN) is an electrophysiological correlate of error detection during the execution of a motor task, which is larger in patients with OCD than in typical people. According to the literature, the ERN could vary according the patients’ treatment-resistance.

Objectives

The main goal of this study was to assess whether the ERN, which begins 20 ms before the motor response and reaches its maximum 80 ms later, was different between non-resistant and highly resistant OCD patients.

Methods

Forty-seven OCD patients and their age- and gender-matched controls were asked to perform a flanker task while the potentials evoked by their motor responses were recorded. For each participant, the difficulty of the task was adjusted to get an error rate of about 20%. Treatment-resistance was evaluated using Pallanti and Quercioli’s (Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2006; 30 400-412) resistance scales.

Results

In all participants, response errors evoked an ERN at fronto-central electrodes [Fz, FCz, red and green lines on the figure], whereas the negativity was absent or smaller for correct responses (black and blue lines on the figure, both ps < .01). As expected, the ERN of OCD patients was consistently larger and of longer duration than that of control participants (compare the green and blue lines with the red and black ones, respectively). Interestingly, the amplitude of the potentials evoked by correct responses at central and centro-parietal electrodes on the left side of the brain [C5, C3, CP5] was significantly less negative in treatment-resistant patients (all ps < .05). In control participants, the ERN recorded at fronto-central electrodes were followed by a positive wave which reached its maximum between 170 and 270 ms after the response, and was larger after errors than after correct response. In OCD patients in contrast, this positive wave was absent whether the response was correct or not.

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Conclusions

The significant correlation observed between OCD patients’ treatment resistance and the potential evoked by correct responses on the left side of the brain suggest that this potential could be used as a marker of treatment-resistance. The absence in OCD patients of the positive wave that follows the ERN in control participants suggests that OCD patients were not fully aware of whether or not their response was correct.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
fMRI neurofeedback leads to long-term symptomatic reduction in treatment-resistant
patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Ferreira S. , Machado-Sousa M. , Vieira R. , Magalhaes R. , Coelho A. , Picó-Pérez M. , Morgado P.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) is a severe condition with a profound impact on
the health, social and professional functioning of the patients. More than one third of the
patients do not achieve remission of the symptoms after first‐line treatment with
cognitive‐behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medication.
Neurofeedback is a promising technique that allows the non‐invasive self‐regulation of neural
activity associated with symptomatic manifestation. Previous literature reported preliminary
evidence of positive effects of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) neurofeedback on
OCD symptoms. However, these studies have small samples and/or were not controlled.
Additionally, these studies did not involve treatment‐resistant patients.

Objectives

We aim at developing a fMRI neurofeedback task to treatment-resistant OCD patients and
to explore the underlying brain changes.

Methods

We implemented a sham‐controlled double‐blinded fMRI neurofeedback protocol to target
hyperactivity in orbitofrontal regions in treatment‐resistant OCD patients with
contamination/cleaning symptoms. The protocol had two sessions of neurofeedback (72 min of
total training). The patients included were under treatment‐as‐usual.

Results

Our preliminary results with the experimental group (n = 10
patients) demonstrated decreased OCD and stress symptoms three months after the neurofeedback
sessions. Moreover, immediately after the neurofeedback sessions, we observed reduced
functional connectivity between orbitofrontal and temporoparietal regions, and increased
brain activity in dorsolateral prefrontal and premotor areas during symptomatic provocation.
The brain functional changes might be associated with a better control over
obsessions.

Conclusions

fMRI neurofeedback led to long-term symptomatic reduction in treatment-resistant
patients with OCD. Our results need further validation with the sham‐control group but
highlight the efficacy of fMRI neurofeedback for refractory OCD and the necessity of
prolonged neurofeedback protocols.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorders psychopathological intersection: An exploratory study
Authors: Ferrao Y. A. , Bertoluci M. , Boff L. S. , Beckhauser H. , Ghiorzi I. , Langa G.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Bipolar Mood Disorder (BD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are psychiatric conditions that frequently co-occur and express a challenging phenomenology for treatment and diagnosis, since obsessive-compulsive symptoms tend to fluctuate according to mood phases of BD patients. Understanding the shared psychopathology of this comorbidity has relevant implications for the treatment of these patients, and the hypothesis that BD and OCD would have a shared neurobiology is currently being discussed. Most studies of this comorbidity have examined differences between BD and BD/OCD patients or between OCD and BD/OCD patients. This study aimed to analyze in detail the clinical, phenomenological and psychopathological characteristics of patients with BD, OCD, and BD/OCD.

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze in detail the clinical, phenomenological andpsychopathological characteristics of patients with BD, OCD, and BD/OCD.

Methods

This study consisted of a sample of 21 BD patients, 21 OCD patients and 21 BD/OCD patients who underwent the application of the MINI, Y-BOCS, DY-BOCS, HAM-D, HAM-A, YMRS, of Sensory Phenomena (USP), as well as questions about sociodemographic characteristics, personal and family psychiatric history. We performed the YBOCS scale asking patients with BD to respond 3 times the scale: in the current time (during euthimya) and retrospectively for previous manic or depressive episodes.

Results

BD/OCD group had a higher rate of having stopped working due to comorbid disorders, a higher history of family suicide attempt and completed family suicide, a higher prevalence of substance use disorder in the family, and a higher prevalence of hoarding symptoms. In the BD sample, 47,6% had obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The presence of OCD conferred a higher prevalence of sensory phenomena. Patients reported a 19% (median, 0.19, range -1.00 to 1.88) worsening of OCD during depression, and a 9.5% worsening (median, 0.095, range of -1.00 to 1.36) during the manic phase.

Conclusions

The results suggest that BD/OCD patients have greater loss of functionality, higher rates of hoarding symptoms, family history with greater suicidality and higher rates of substance use disorder (SUD) and worsening of OCD in both mania and depression. The psychopathological findings of this study allow us to conclude that BD/OCD patients have higher morbidity.

LIMITATIONS: Small size sample and possible recall bias in the interview, as questions wereasked retrospectively.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Stigma and contact with mental illness in a university population through volunteering: a case-control study
Authors: Madoz-Gúrpide A. , Ochoa Mangado E. , Cuadrado del Rey P.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Stigma in mental illness has a negative impact on the daily functioning of the patient, their personal development and their clinical prognosis. Direct contact with people who suffer from this pathology could modify the stigma towards these populations.

Objectives

The objective of the study is to assess whether the stigma of mental illness in university students is modified by contact with people suffering from mental illness, established through volunteering activities with that population.

Methods

Observational case-control study. The sample is made up of young subjects (18 to 35 years old) who have studied or are studying a university degree during the 2021-2022 academic year. The cases (n=91) are subjects who have ever volunteered with people diagnosed with mental illness. Those who have not had this experience constitute the control group (n=237).

The variables were collected by completing an anonymous online questionnaire. To analyze stigma, the Attribution Questionnaire-27 questionnaire was used, which offers a total score as well as 9 domains related to stigma. Statistical analysis (including multiple linear regression) was performed with the statistical package IBM SPSS Statistics, version 20.

Results

Once adjusted for age and gender, the case group scores lower, with statistically significant differences, in the subscales Anger (p-value: 0.001), Dangerousness (p-value: 0.000), Fear (p-value: 0.000 ), Coercion (p-value: 0.028), Segregation (p-value: 0.000), Avoidance (p-value: 0.000), as well as in the Total Score (p-value: 0.000). Likewise, it is also observed that the group of cases score higher on the Help subscale (p-value: 0.002).Coefficients
ModelUnstandardized CoefficientsStandardized Coefficientst
Sig.95% Confidence Interval for BBStd. ErrorBetaLower limitUpper Limit(Constant)72,74510,9316,655,00051,23494,256Volunteering13,1003,196,2364,098,0006,81019,391Age,669,342,1131,956,051-,0041,342Gender-,1962,941-,004-,067,947-5,9835,591

a. Dependent Variable: Total Score

Conclusions

Previous contact with patients with mental illness through voluntary activities seems to favor less stigma towards mental pathology.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Eveningness chronotype and depressive affective temperament associated with higher high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression
Authors: Orsolini L. , Pompili S. , Cicolini A. , Ricci L. , Volpe U.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Several studies investigated the role of inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders, by also evaluating how CRP may exert a pathoplastic and/or psychopatological role in mood disorders.

Objectives

The aim of our cross-sectional study is evaluating the high-sensitivity C-reactive-protein (hsCRP) levels in a cohort of unipolar and bipolar depressive inpatients, in relation with psychopathological, temperamental and chronotype features.

Methods

Among 313 screened inpatients, we recruited 133 moderate-to-severe depressive patients who were assessed for hsCRP levels, chronotype with Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and affective temperament with Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS).

Results

hsCRP levels were significantly higher among those with previous suicide attempt (p=0.05), death (p=0.018) and self-harm/self-injury thoughts (p=0.011). In addition, hsCRP levels were significantly higher among patients with hypertension (p=0.020) and dyslipidemia (p=0.013). Moreover, positive correlation were found between hsCRP levels and the number of illness of years (p<0.001). Significant positive correlation were found between hsCRP levels and depressive (p<0.001) and cyclothymic (p<0.001) affective temperaments, while a negative correlations were reported between hsCRP levels and hypertimic (p<0.001) and irritable (p=0.029) affective temperaments. Eveningness chronotypes subject displayed higher hsCRP levels compared to intermediate-type and morningness-type chronotypes (p<0.001). Linear regression analyses, adjusted for all covariates, demonstrated that higher scores at the TEMPS-M depressive, while lower scores at the hyperthymic and irritable affective temperaments [F=88.955, R2=0.710, p<0.001] and lower MEQ scores [F=75.456, R2=0.405, p<0.001] statistically significantly predicted higher hsCRP.

Conclusions

Eveningness chronotype and a depressive affective temperament appeared to be associated with higher hsCRP levels during moderate-to-severe unipolar and bipolar depression. Further longitudinal and larger studies should better characterise patients with mood disorders by investigating the influence of chronotype and temperament.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Comorbidity between physical illness, infection diseases and mental disorders
Authors: Fiorillo A.
Published: August 2023

A paradox of the modern world is represented by the increasing rate of comorbidities, although the life expectancy is increasing worldwide, the number of disease-free years is not improving consequently. Physical comorbidities are often overlooked in people with severe mental disorders, although this problem needs to be adequately managed since it is associated with a worse quality of life and a poorer personal and social functioning. In particular, in people with severe mental disorders is very common the contemporary presence of infectious diseases (mainly TBC and HIV) and other physical conditions, which worsen the long-term prognosis.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Suicide following treatment with electroconvulsive therapy: A nationwide study of risk factors among 11,780 patients
Authors: Østergaard S. D. , Spanggård A. , Rohde C.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Despite the well-established anti-suicidal effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), patients receiving ECT remain at high risk of dying from suicide.

Objectives

In the present study, we aimed to quantify this risk and identify risk factors for suicide among patients receiving ECT.

Methods

We used nationwide Danish registers to identify all patients that initiated ECT between 2006 and 2016. These patients were matched on sex and age to 10 reference individuals from the general Danish population. First, we compared 2-year suicide risk between patients initiating ECT and the matched reference individuals. Second, we investigated if any patient characteristics were associated with suicide following ECT via Cox proportional-hazards regression.

Results

A total of 11,780 patients receiving ECT and 117,800 reference individuals were included in the analyses. Among the patients receiving ECT, 161 (1.4%) died from suicide within two years. Compared to the reference individuals, patients receiving ECT had a substantially elevated suicide rate (Hazard rate ratio (HRR)=44.5, 95%CI=31.1-63.6). Among those receiving ECT, we identified the following risk factors for suicide: Male sex (HRR=2.3, 95%CI=1.7-3.1), age 60-70 years (HRR=1.6, 95%CI=1.0-2.6),
Medium-term higher education (HRR=1.5, 95%CI=1.0-2.2); Long-term higher education (HRR=1.9, 95%CI=1.1-3.1), history of substance use disorder (HRR=2.0, 95%CI=1.4-2.8) and history of intentional self-harm/suicide attempt (HRR=4.0, 95%CI=2.8-5.8).

Conclusions

Among patients receiving ECT, those who are male, aged 60-70 years, have mediumterm to long-term higher education, or have a history of substance use disorder or intentional self-harm/suicide attempt, are at particularly elevated risk of suicide. These findings may guide initiatives to reduce the risk of suicide.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Are Linguistic and Motricity domains intertwined in Schizophrenia? A preliminary analysis.
Authors: Magnani F. , Fascendini N. , Lucarini V. , Marchesi C. , Tonna M.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The disruption of minimal Self is believed to be a core element of Schizophrenia and intimately connected to a disruption of bodily self, which in turn leads to impairments in intersubjectivity dimension. Motor abnormalities have been associated to Schizophrenia since the early conceptualization of the disorder, as well as inefficient body-related multisensory integration processes are considered nowadays a plausible origin of disembodied Self. In particular, there is evidence for significant abnormalities in Peripersonal Space (PPS) extension in Schizophrenia patients. PPS is the plastic sector of space immediately surrounding our body, whose coherent representation is based on efficient body-related multisensory integration processes. With a specific experimental task based on multisensory integration processing, we estimated PPS size and PPS boundary’s demarcation in 27 Schizophrenia patients, confirming a narrower PPS size and weaker bodily boundary in patients, thus paving the way for a deeper investigation of the mechanisms underlying the disruption of bodily self (Ferroni et al., Schziophr.Bull.2022, 5 1085-1093). We suggest that disembodiment might be responsible for the loss of the immediate linkage between Self and others (“intercorporeality”), so linking the disruption of the corporeal dimension to specific anomalies of intersubjectivity in Schizophrenia patients. Since language is one of the most important instrument through which intersubjectivity unfolds, it is intriguing to hypothesize a connection between language and multi-sensory processing.

Objectives

Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating possible correlations between patients’ motor impairments in multi-sensory integration processes and their alterations in language and communicative interactions.

Methods

Twenty-five outpatients were recruited in an experimental task investigating PPS extension; they were administered the Scale for the Assessment of Thought, Language and Communication (TLC) and the Clinical Language Disorder Rating Scale (CLANG).

Results

Our data showed significant correlations between TLC and CLANG total scores and PPS size, with narrower PPS size for more severe formal thought disorders and higher language and communication impairments.

Conclusions

Our preliminary results seem to confirm the presence of a link between language impairment and multi-sensory processing, suggesting that bodily and linguistic disorganization may have a common origin which has yet to be explored in depth. Future research is needed to identify linguistic and motor endophenotypic patterns, potentially intertwined with each other, capable of early predicting Schizophrenia development and thus usable as early diagnostic tools.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Neuropsychiatric presentation of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy occurs to a pregnant Woman: A case report
Authors: Chebli S. , Besbes M. , Felhi R. , Hamdi G. , Paindaveine B.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome resulting from thiamine deficiency (vit B1) wich is often associated with chronic alcoholism. The classical presentation is characterized by ophtalmoplegia, ataxia and confusion.

Unfortunately, WE is still underdiagnosed because it may not always show up with a classical presentation in one hand, and could also be seen in other non alcoholic condition in an other hand which delay diagnosis and managment of early proper treatement

Objectives

This case highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of Wernicke’s encephalopathy, it’s medical etiologies and the importance of improving diagnosis to manage early treatement

Methods

We reported a case of a pregnant women who consulted for alterated mental status , asthenia and occurs to have Wernicke’s encephalopathy due to hyperemesis gravidarum

Results

Mrs X is a 35-year-old pregnant women with a past medical history of a cesarian, an hospitalisation in third month of this pregnancy for vomits, no known psychiatric illness or history of substance abuse. She was brought to the gynecology emergency department for asthenia and altered mental status. MRS X, was lethargic, had not eaten for several days, vomiting for more than a month. On the medical evaluation she appeared confused, disoriented, and unresponsive to verbal or manual redirection and prompting. She had also ataxia and gait incoordination. Laboratory testing was remarkable for lactic acidosis (blood lactate concentration lipasemia and normal electrolyte levels, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture was unremarkable.

A brain MRI was done and showed FLAIR signal abnormalities around the third ventricle and periaqueductal, suggesting Gayet-Wernicke encephalopathy. Thiamine (vit B1) 500mg thrice a day was administrated for the next days in associtation with vitamin B6.

Conclusions

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is an acute reaction to thiamine deficiency which usually presents with a classical triad. However, Clinicians tend to ignore WE in other non-alcoholic clinical settings and the diagnosis becomes even more difficult when thiamine deficiency presents with unusual neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms like catatonia. This case highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of WE, it’s medical etiologies and the necessity of a complete medical evaluation and appropriate investigations to make prompt diagnosis and early management.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Quality of life in employees exposed to organic solvents: A study of 196 cases
Authors: Ladhari N. , Chemingui S. , Mechergui N. , Mersni M. , Ernez S. , Brahim D. , Ben Said H. , Bahri G. , Youssef I.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Occupational exposure to organic solvents remains a real risk for exposed employees, particularly in mental health and quality of life.

Objectives

- To evaluate the quality of life of employees exposed to organic solvents

- To research the professional and extra-professional determinants of this quality of life.

Methods

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that compared 196 employees exposed to organic solvents with 64 non-exposed employees from the same socio-professional environment. The investigation took place in four different companies in the governorate of Tunis. An environmental study combining an evaluation of working conditions and atmospheric monitoring was carried out to identify and quantify exposure to solvents. Quality of life was assessed using the SF36 questionnaire in its Arabic version.

Results

The solvent mixtures to which the employees were exposed mainly contained hexane, toluene, ethyl acetate, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexane, and perchloroethylene. Exposure to these solvents is primarily from glues and paint products. The study population was relatively young (34.1 years +/-9.8), predominantly male (sex ratio=2.2), with an education level of no more than secondary school in 90% of cases, with an average work experience of 10.3 years (+/-8.2) and represented mainly by manual workers (75.4%). The pathological history of the exposed patients was dominated by chronic neuropsychological disorders (48.1%). The global score of SF36 (SFG) was significantly poorer in the solvent-exposed group (SFG= 64.1+/- 21.1 versus 70.1+/-23.3) (p=0.05). Among the eight dimensions of the SF36, a very significant alteration of the dimensions: “perceived health ”, “psychological health” and “repercussion of psychological health on daily activities ” was noted in the solvent-exposed group.

The main determinants of the quality of life of workers exposed to solvents were: level of education, frequency of exposure, length of exposure, and company.

According to the job-exposure matrix, only “perceived health” appeared to be impaired by high levels of cumulative solvent exposure (p= 0.0006).

Conclusions

According to this study, organic solvents can affect the quality of life of exposed employees by acting essentially on perceived health, psychological health, and the “impact of psychological health on daily activities”.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The relationshİp of socioeconomic status with sexual satisfaction through gender roles and sexual myths
Authors: Kizilakca Soyaslan T. , Ozgur Ilhan I.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Sexual life and sexual satisfaction are associated with psychological well-being. It has already been shown that sexual satisfaction is related to sexual myths or stereotypes, somesociodemographic and sociosultural variables, and gender. However, we have not met any study in which socioeconomic status, sexual myths and gender roles were taken together.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate whether socioeconomic status predicts sexual satisfaction through sexual myths and gender roles.

Methods

The Bem Gender Roles Scale (Ozkan and Lajunen Sex Roles 2005;103-110), the Sexual Myths Scale (Golbasi et al. Sex Disabil 2016; 34 75-87), the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (Stulhofera et al. J Sex Res 2010;47 257-268), the Socio-Economic Status Measurement Tool (Kalaycioglu et al. J Soc Res 2010; 1 183-220) were applied face-to-face or online to 185 women and 74 men who had heterosexual relationships. Relationships between scale scores were examined with Pearson correlation analysis. Serial multiple mediator analysis was used to test mediator role of either masculinity or sexual myths in the relationship between socioeconomic status and sexual satisfaction.

Results

We found significant correlations between socioeconomic status and sexual myths (r=-.22, p<.001), between socioeconomic status and sexual satisfaction (r=.13, p<.001), sexual myths and sexual satisfaction (r=.20, p>.001) and between masculinity and sexual satisfaction (r=.18, p=.004), The relationship between femininity and sexual satisfaction was not significant (r=.01, p=.845). Sexual myths (b=-.19, t(257)=-3.48, p<.01) and masculinity (b=.40, t(257)=3.26, p<.01) mediated the relationship between socioeconomic status and sexual satisfaction (b=.15, t(257)= 2.04, p<.05).

Conclusions

Interventions on sexual myths will reduce the effect of socioeconomic disadvantage on sexual satisfaction.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Global Mental Health Meets Social Innovation: the HOW matters
Authors: Wolthusen R. P. F. , Andrä P.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Mental health conditions are rising globally, and COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation. We often think that massive money investments and training of specialized mental health providers, such as psychiatrists, will help alleviate the demand-supply challenge. But the reality is different. Despite all efforts over the last years, the mental health treatment gap, the percentage difference between the number of people needing treatment for mental illness and the number of people receiving treatment, is still 50+% in countries like Germany. The investment of money and the training of specialized mental health providers alone will not be sudcient to decrease this number.

Objectives

We need to learn from and with partners from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), in which a shortage of resources has prevented a signihcant investment in mental health but also has inspired the innovation and implementation of novel approaches to decrease the mental health treatment gap. This reshaped approach allows us to move from Northern Ventriloquism (high-income countries teach LMIC what to do) to honest cross-cultural bidirectional learning. Furthermore, it will hll the “how” gap.

Methods

We know WHY we should act in the (global) mental health field. We also know WHAT we should do. The main question remaining is HOW we can implement any of the activities. To fill this “how” gap, the Dresden-based NGO On The Move e.V. designed an annual 8-week program funded by the European Union, which centers around a global mental health and social innovation curriculum and aims to create spaces of empowerment towards mentally healthier communities. Our participants come from four higher education institutions in Germany, Ghana, and Kenya.

Results

The program, which was recently awarded the TU Dresden internationalization award in the category “Innovative International Research Cooperation,” encourages participants to learn from and with each other. To enable an holistic approach to mental health and diversify the pool of mental health champions, the program includes participants from all fields. Since the start of the program, hundreds of culturally sensitive mental health-related Youtube videos have been recorded and distributed widely in the communities of the participants. The number of participant-led advocacy events has also increased.

Conclusions

Contextually, we will discuss core concepts, such as human-centered and community-based approaches, and how they relate to filling the “how” gap in our presentation. We might not have a blueprint of solutions in terms of decreasing the mental health treatment gap; however, our recommendations can support innovative and customized solutions. From a process perspective, we will compare existing global mental health training curricula with our curriculum and highlight transcultural learning opportunities; we will also discuss the elements of our program that empower our trainees.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The efficacy of psychological interventions for university students: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Barnett P.
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Introduction

Mental health problems are increasingly prevalent among students, necessitating adequate mental health support both for those who with or at risk of developing a mental health disorder.

Objectives

This systematic review examined the efficacy of psychological interventions delivered to student populations and whether interventions with some form of adaptation to the content or delivery of the intervention for students could improve outcomes compared to interventions which had no such adaptation.

Methods

Randomised controlled trials of interventions for students with or at risk of mental health problems were included. Specific adaptation for students (or whether they utilised a student population as a convenient sample) was recorded. Meta-analyses were conducted and multivariate meta-regressions explored the effect of adaptation on the pooled effect size. Eighty-four studies were included

Results

Promising effects were found for both treatment and preventative interventions for anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders. PTSD and self-harm data was limited, and did not demonstrate significant effects. Relatively few trials adapted intervention delivery to student-specific concerns, and overall adapted interventions showed no benefit over non-adapted interventions. There was some suggestion that adaptions based on empirical evidence and provision of additional sessions, and transdiagnostic models may yield some benefits

Conclusions

Interventions for students show benefit though uncertainty remains around how best to optimise treatment delivery and content specifically for students. It would be beneficial to understand how intervention content which is specific to underlying mechanisms of problems experienced by students as well as more transdiagnostic approaches could further support recovery and prevention of mental health problems while at university.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Anxiety and Obesity in Children: Anti-oxidative Medications and Hyperbaric Oxigenation Therapy
Authors: Labunskiy D. , Kukina G. , Kolmykova M. , Kiryukhina S.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Obesity is a grave problem in pediatrics and child psychiatry. It was revealed that in many cases obesity has comorbidity with different mental disorders. Besides a number of endocrine disturbances, immune system deficiency and oxidative stress with free radical oxidation take part in pathogenesis of these phenomena.

Objectives

The essence of the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen lies in the fact that under the influence of elevated barometric pressure, oxygen saturation of body fluids increases: blood, interstitial fluid, which deliver oxygen to organs and tissues, increasing oxygen supply to cells by 5-10 times and eliminating hypoxia (oxygen starvation tissues). Hyperbaric oxygen, normalizing blood circulation in tissues and metabolic processes at the cellular level, has a number of effects that favorably affect the patient’s condition: promotes the formation of a new vascular network in areas where it is damaged or insufficient, has anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory and wound healing effects, has an immunocorrective effect , normalizes hormonal status, enhances the action of a number of pharmacological agents. The aim of our research was to study effects of HBO on children suffering from anxiety and obesityas a result of the mental instability? S;eep disturbances and immune instability

Methods

Sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation were carried out at a pressure of 1.6 ATA: the first session lasted 45 minutes, subsequent sessions was 30 minutes. After HBO, each of the patients during the day showed a steady increase in the saturation index, which persisted until the morning of the next day. An analysis of fluctuations in the saturation index during the day showed its decrease in all patients to a minimum value at 8 am and its general dynamic increase from the beginning of hyperbaric oxygenation. Parameters of immune status, including serum concentrations of IgA, IgM and IgG, circulating immune complexes were studied in pediatric patients, aged from 10 to 14 years old, 42 girls and 34 girls. Mapping EEG was used for evaluation of electric brain activity.

Results

It was found that HBO treatment normalized mental state: patients demonstrated less anxiety and overeating habits, тormalization of sleep, positive dynamics of sleep, reflected in the EEG pattern in the form of alpha waves. Immune reactions were changed: IgA, IgM and IgG, were increased and CIC serum level decreased.

Conclusions

The use of antioxidant therapy in combination with psychopharmacological drugs has long been a well-established method of treatment for a variety of psychopathological conditions. The inclusion of hyperbaric oxygenation in this complex also helps to achieve more distinct results in terms of weight loss in obesity and normalization of the mental state, improved sleep and significant immunocorrection.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared