bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns of antipsychotic prescription in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings: a real world study
Authors: Prodi T. G. , Piccoli E. , Bucca C. , Tomasoni A. , Dell’Osso B.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

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

Objectives

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

Methods

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

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

Results

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

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

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

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

Conclusions

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

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The Impact of cognitive remediation combined with mindfulness and social skills training on social functioning and neural plasticity in early psychosis: preliminary results from a randomized clinical multicentric trial in Italy
Authors: Perlini C.
Published: August 2024

Affective and non-affective psychoses are characterized by deficits in neuro and social cognition, which strongly impact the patient’s psychosocial functioning and health and social system. Recent literature suggests that such deficits could benefit from the innovative combination of evidence-based interventions.

This lecture aims to describe an Italian multisite (Verona, Milano, Pavia), longitudinal randomized controlled trial funded by the Italian Ministry of Health investigating the impact of Cognitive Remediation (CR) alone or combined with other approaches (namely, Mindfulness and Social Skills Training (SST)) on clinical, neuropsychological, social and brain-related outcomes in patients with a DSM5 diagnosis of affective or non-affective psychosis.

In our study, patients underwent clinical and neuropsychological evaluation at baseline (T0), end of treatment (T1), and six months post-treatment (T2), which consisted of nearly four months of CR, CR+ Mindfulness, or CR + SST. The cognitive assessment included the Brief Assessment of Cognition for Schizophrenia (BAC-S) or Affective Disorders (BAC-A) and the Executive and Social Cognition Battery (ESCB), specifically designed to identify impairments in social cognition and executive functions in patients’ real life. Participants underwent a 3T multimodal MRI, including structural and functional sequences at T0 and T1. We also recruited healthy controls for comparative brain mapping at T0.

The present lecture will provide an overview of the research project, along with some preliminary findings on the effect of CR alone or combined with other interventions on clinical and social functioning and brain plasticity, with a focus on the degree of durability and generalization of CR effects to patients’ real life. The study’s outcomes have the potential to inform clinical and rehabilitative settings and tailor combined therapeutic interventions.

Disclosure of Interest

C. Perlini Grant / Research support from: Italian Ministry of Health GR-2016-02361283
The attitude of Tunisian medicine resident toward euthanasia
Authors: Touiti A. , Ben Said C. , Bram N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Euthanasia is the active deliberate ending of life by another person at the explicit request of a patient who is suffering from an incurable condition deemed unbearable by him or her.young doctors in tunisia might be exposed in their daily practice to a request of (E). In some countries the procedure is regulated by law while in others the issue has not been discussed. Before assessing the public opinion the medical core has to be implicated in the debate about the subject.Within the limits of our knowledge this is the first study on the subject in the countries of North Africa

Objectives

To describe the attitudes of tunisian medicine resident toward euthanasia

Methods

The validated questionnaire of physicians’ Attitudes and opinions on assisted suicide and euthanasia was distributed via mails addresses to 50 tunisian resident. The participation was entirely voluntary and anonymity was guaranteed.

Results

Thirty seven medicine resident participate to the study the response rate was 74%. The average age of participants was 28.2years old.The majority;23 were female and 29 had religious beliefs.The most represented speciality was family medicine with 6 participants.Only 2 of doctors were practicing in Europe.About 8 of young doctors were requested for (E).Tunisian medicine residents are generally supportive of the legalization of euthanasia (29), but many have concerns about their own participation in the procedure.

Conclusions

Ethical and legal complexities surround the topic of euthanasia.It is imperative to deepen our understanding of this practice within the context of the North Africa region,in order to formulate a comprehensive and well-informed policy.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Change in Quality of Life After the Relocation of a National Forensic Hospital: A Dundrum Forensic Redevelopment Evaluation Study (D-FOREST)
Authors: O’Reilly A. , Waqar M. U. , Iqbal M. U. , Amin H. , Kennedy H. G. , Davoren M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Forensic psychiatric services address the therapeutic needs of mentally disordered offenders in a secure setting. Clinical, ethical, and legal considerations underpinning treatment emphasize that the Quality of Life (QOL) of patients admitted to forensic hospitals should be optimised.

Objectives

This study aims to examine changes in the QOL in Ireland’s National Forensic Mental Health Service following its relocation from the historic 1850 site in Dundrum to a new campus in Portrane, Dublin.

Methods

This multisite prospective longitudinal study is part of the Dundrum Forensic Redevelopment Evaluation Study (D-FOREST). Repeated measures were taken for all inpatients in the service at regular six-monthly intervals. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was offered to all inpatients and an anonymised EssenCES questionnaire was simultaneously used to measure atmosphere in the wards. Data were obtained at five time points for each individual patient and ward. WHOQOL-BREF ratings were obtained across five time points with comparisons for four time intervals, including immediately before and after relocation. For 101 subjects across the four time intervals, 215 sets of data were obtained; 140 before and 65 after relocation with 10 community patients who did not move. Using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE) to correct for multiple comparisons over time, the effect of relocation, with community patients as a control, was analysed by ward cluster and whether patients moved between wards. Observations were categorised according to security level — high dependency, medium secure, rehabilitation, or community — and trichotomised based on positive moves to less secure wards, more secure wards (negative moves), or no moves.

Results

The hospital’s relocation was associated with a significant increase in environmental QOL (Wald X2=15.9, df=1, p<0.001), even when controlling for cluster location, positive and negative moves. When controlling for ward atmosphere, environmental QOL remained significantly increased after relocation (Wald X2=10.0, df=1, p=0.002). EssenCES scores were obtained within the hospital for three time points before relocation and two time points afterward. No significant differences were found in the three subscales before and after the relocation. All three EssenCES subscales progressively improved with decreasing security level (Patient’s Cohesion: Wald X2=958.3, df=1, p<0.001; Experienced Safety: Wald X2=152.9, df=5, p<0.001; Therapeutic Hold: Wald X2=33.6, df=3, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The GEE model showed that the hospital’s relocation improved self-reported environmental QOL. The cluster location made significant differences, as expected for a system of stratified therapeutic security, with a steady improvement in scores on all three atmosphere subscales.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Adverse psychological outcomes in Brugada syndrome: About a Tunisian familial pedigree from Sfax
Authors: Bouayed Abdelmoula N. , Abdelmoula B. , Assel A. , Fadhlaoui E. , Kaabi O.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Patients with Brugada Syndrome (BS), a rare inherited cardiac channelopathy, with an increased risk of developing arrhythmias, syncope and sudden cardiac death, also present serious adverse psychological outcomes that require medical support to improve their health and well-being as well as those of their families.

Objectives

Here we report psychological concerns of a Tunisian patient who presented to our genetic counselling, with his three children, for molecular exploration of BS type 1.

Methods

Clinical, electrical, biological and psychological characteristics of the patient and his offspring were identified. Cytogenetic exploration using RHG banding and molecular screening of SCN5a gene mutations using High Resolution Melting and sequencing were carried out. Subsequently, genetic counselling was undertaken for all the family members and psychological concerns were reported.

Results

A 51-year-old married man with an academic career was born from a consanguineous couple, with a family history of sudden cardiac death. He was diagnosed with BS1 based on the pathognomonic ST-segment elevation in leads V1–V3, after experiencing palpitations and syncope. He was treated by implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The patient was also being treated for diabetes and dyslipidemia. His children, a girl and two boys, were investigated by ECG, which revealed no electrical disorders. However, both boys reported chest pain on exertion. The 18-year-old girl presented with primary amenorrhea and infantilism, along with a Turner syndrome formula. Molecular analysis revealed none of the targeted mutations in the SCN5a gene. Psychologically, the patient had a phobia of death and reported painful sensations of imminent death at each palpitation. He was anxious about the clinical outcome of his children. The children reported anxiety about their autosomal dominant fathers’ disorder.

Conclusions

Approximately 16% of BS patients experience depression and anxiety. More attention needs to be indorsed to the psychological distress of BG patients and their families.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Empathy as a predictor of burnout syndrome in health professionals of the Colombian Caribbean
Authors: Ruiz Gonzalez E. P. , Muñoz Argel M. N. , Romero Otalvaro A. M. M. , Garcia Castañeda M. G. , Crespi M. C.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Empathy is an essential skill in the doctor-patient relationship since it contributes to improve aspects of health care and patient satisfaction. Nevertheless, burnout research projects have been developed in recent years.

Objectives

To examine the predictive capacity that empathy has on burnout syndrome in health professionals.

Methods

A non-experimental, cross-sectional design was proposed. The type of study was correlational-descriptive since it was sought out to explore a functional relation through the prognosis of a criterion variable. Sample: 200 (100 female and 100 male).

Results

First, the variance of cognitive and Affective Empathy was dug out in the emotional exhaustation criterion scale. Results accounted for 15% of variability in emotional exhaustation. (Corrected R 2 = .15, F = 17,56, p = 0,00). The best predictor of emotional exhaustation refers to Cognitive Empathy. (B = -.27, p = 0.00). It does not seem that Affective Empathy acts as a predictor variable of Emotional Exhaustation. (Table 1).
Table 1

Multiple linear regression analysis considering Emotional Exhaustation as a criterion.

TECACorrected R2FBpCognitive Empathy.1517,5-.27**0,00Affective Empathy-.14.13

The predictive capacity of Empathy in relation to Depersonalization was estimated (Corrected R 2 = .20, F = 25,4, p = 0.00). Cognitive and affective empathy were included as predictor variables and MBI as a criterion variable (Table 2). On one hand, the best predictor of Depersonalization is the Cognitive Empathy. On the other hand, regarding Affective Empathy, it does not act as a predictor of Depersonalization.
Table 2

Multiple linear regression analysis considering Depersonalization as a criterion.

TECACorrected R2FBpCognitive Empathy.2025,4-.32**0,00Affective Empathy-.15.84

Lastly, the predictive capacity of Empathy in relation to Personal Achievement was figured out. (Corrected R 2 = .19, F = 23,4, p = 0.00). Cognitive Empathy is the best predictor for Personal Fulfillment (Table 3).
Table 3

Multiple linear regression analysis considering Personal Fullfilment as a criterion.

TECACorrected R2FβpCognitive Empathy.2025,4 .43**0,00Affective Empathy.00.96

Conclusions

It was noticed that through a linear multiple regression analysis, the variable that best explains Emotional Exhaustation is Cognitive Empathy. Those results are replicated for Depersonalization and Personal Fullfilment.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Determinants of Burnout syndrome among healthcare workers in Sahloul hospital, Tunisia: A cross sectional study
Authors: Fki A. , Thabet O. , Sridi C. , Ksibi S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Healthcare workers are at increased risk of Burnout due to the stressful demands of their job.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and the related factors of burnout in healthcare workers at the Sahloul University Hospital, Tunisia

Methods

Data were collected from a cross sectional study using a questionnaire exploring socio-demographic and professional data, lifestyle habits and pathological history. Burnout was assessed using the French version of the Maslash Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Results

Our study included 135 healthcare workers. The average age was 41.7 ± 9.15 years. 81.5% of the sample was female. Nurses accounted for 60% of staff. More than half (51.1%) worked shifts, with night work in 32.6%. A pathological history was noted in 17.8% of healthcare workers, and a history of work-related accidents in 40.7%. The prevalence of burnout in our study population was 42.6%, with a high emotional exhaustion score in 47.4%, a high depersonalization score in 23.7% and a low personal accomplishment score in 73.3%. Burnout was significantly associated with alcoholism (p=0.016), shift work (p=0.037) and the presence of stress at work (p=0.048).

Conclusions

The prevalence of burnout was high in our study population, hence the importance of setting up a burnout prevention strategy in hospitals.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Innovation in the treatment, interventions and systems of care for opioid use disorder: opportunities to understand multimorbidities
Authors: Baldacchino A. M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Opioid use disorder is still the main presenting illicit substance use disorder that patients present within Addiction and Mental Health Services even though the majority of the patients are polysubstance users. Innovation in the field will allow providers to understand better how systems work to support a population with physical and psychological morbidities

Method

We will present novel narratives in describing:

1.

Standards and principles

2.

Pharmacology

3.

Delivery systems

4.

Neuroscience based interventions

5.

Systems and implementation

Results and Discussion

The above desscriptors will allow a landscape that is less stigmatising and better in responding to the needs of the people who are highly stigmatised and multidisdvantaged.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Assessment of job satisfaction and work ability in a confectionery factory : A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Daoud H. , Sellami I. , Ben Chabene C. , Haddar A. , Ghrab M. A. , Jmal Hammami K. , Hajjaji M. , Masmoudi M. L.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

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

Objectives

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

Methods

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

Results

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

Conclusions

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

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Prevalence of burnout and its correlation with resilience among healthcare professionals in Morocco
Authors: Guider H. , El Alaiki A. , Fadil W. , Hami H. , Hadrya F.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Burnout syndrome arises as a result of chronic workplace stress that has either been inadequately managed or entirely unaddressed, leading to symptomatic manifestations of emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and a decreased sense of professional accomplishment (PA).

Objectives

This study evaluated the prevalence of burnout and investigated its correlation with resilience among healthcare professionals in Morocco.

Methods

A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted in April 2023, comprehensively using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) among 296 healthcare professionals stationed across three institutions located in the Casablanca-Settat region.

Results

A total of 158 responses were obtained. Surprisingly, the results indicate that EE was highly prevalent, impacting 43.7% of respondents, while DP was notably affected 44.9% of participants. Conversely, PA was diminished in 58.2% of the respondents. It is worth noting that 44.3% of the participants displayed reduced levels of resilience. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations were observed between resilience and all three dimensions of burnout. Upon gender stratification, the analysis showed that resilience was significantly associated with two burnout dimensions, EE and PA, among male respondents, whereas among their female counterparts, resilience demonstrated a noteworthy correlation with all three dimensions of burnout.

Conclusions

These findings emphasize the pervasive nature of burnout among healthcare professionals and highlight deficiencies in resilience. It is crucial to consider these factors when crafting healthcare policies and devising focused approaches to effectively prevent and manage burnout.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Crisis resolution teams: are we doing things well?
Authors: Martínez Jambrina J. J. , Gómez L. P. , Alvarez A. M. G. , Miranda C. P. , Alvarez S. P. , Alvargonzalez N. A. , Arias I. F.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Crisis resolution teams (CRTs) are a crucial component of mental health care, providing timely support to individuals experiencing acute mental health crises. This abstract delves into the concept of crisis and seeks to identify the patients who stand to benefit from these specialized services.

Objectives

Defining crisis within the context of CRTs can be complex. It encompasses not only immediate emergencies but also broader mental health distress.

Research suggests that suitable candidates for CRT interventions are those facing acute mental health crises : This includes individuals experiencing suicidal ideation, severe agitation, or severe emotional distress.

La “Escala de Evaluación de Resolución de Crisis” (Crisis Resolution Team Assessment Tool, CRTAT) de Sonia Johnson es una herramienta diseñada para para medir la efectividad de los CRT y la duración de la intervención en crisis. Establece un límite de seis semanas como el período máximo durante el cual se debe ofrecer la atención en crisis.

Existen otras escalas de evaluación para medir la eficacia de la resolución de crisis:

1.

Escala de Intensidad de Crisis (CIS): se utiliza para medir la gravedad de la crisis y la necesidad de intervención inmediata.

2.

Escala de Evaluación de Crisis de Brage Hansen (BCES): se enfoca en la evaluación de crisis suicidas y evalúa la intensidad de la ideación suicida y la urgencia de la intervención.

3.

Escala de Evaluación de Crisis de Eriksson (ECAS): Diseñada para evaluar la intensidad de la crisis en pacientes psiquiátricos, la ECAS se centra en la agitación, la ansiedad y la angustia emocional.

Methods

- Studies have explored the effectiveness of CRTs and the perspectives of service users. Understanding how patients perceive crisis and CRT services is crucial for tailoring interventions effectively.

Results

Conclusions

- CRTs play a vital role in mental health care, offering timely support to individuals experiencing crises. While defining crisis is complex, suitable candidates often include those in acute distress requiring immediate intervention. Understanding the perspectives of service users and the diverse nature of crisis experiences informs effective crisis resolution strategies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Syrian refugees’ experiences while receiving mental health services and psychiatric nursing care: A qualitative study
Authors: Öztürk G. , Timarcioglu K. , Dikec G. , Karali E. , Nacaroglu H. , Cakir H. F. , Seren A. K. H.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Millions of people have migrated because of violence, wars, disasters, and human rights violations, all of which have increased rapidly in recent years. Türkiye has hosted millions of refugees since 2010. Few studies have focused on the mental health needs of refugees or how these needs have been addressed in Türkiye.

Objectives

This study examined the experiences of Syrian refugees in a community center in Turkiye as they access mental health services and receive psychiatric nursing care.

Methods

A qualitative design was adopted in the study. Data were collected from southern Turkiye between November and December 2021. The researchers conducted three semistructured focus group interviews following Colaizzi’s phenomenological method to analyze the qualitative data. A total of 19 Syrian refugees participated in the focus group interviews.

Results

Three key themes related to immigrants’ experiences of receiving mental health services and nursing care were identified: barriers to receiving mental health services, coping with negative experiences in Turkiye, and satisfaction with mental health services. The participants identified the barriers they experienced while receiving health services as those pertaining to language, discrimination, and stigmatization. They also mentioned the methods of coping with these negative experiences in Turkiye. Despite their negative experiences, they expressed satisfaction with the mental health services they received, especially psychiatric nursing care.

Conclusions

This study determined that Syrian refugees face barriers to accessing and receiving mental health services. They stated that mental health professionals in Turkiye approach them with empathy, particularly those in psychiatric nursing. Healthcare professionals may be trained in culturally sensitive care to increase awareness. Studies have frequently examined the experiences of nurses providing care to refugees, but few have focused on evaluating nursing care from the perspective of refugees. Syrian refugees have reported various obstacles in accessing and receiving mental healthcare services. Health professionals, especially psychiatric nurses in mental health psychosocial support centers, must facilitate the processes to eliminate these obstacles.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The Traveling Mind: Moderators, Mediators and Pathophysiology of Migration Psychosis
Authors: Kahil K. , Daou L. , Chabbouh A. , Ghossoub E.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

It is well established that migrants have a 2 to 4 times increase in psychosis risk. However, estimates are highly heterogeneous and vary considerably depending on origin and destination country. It also seems that the relationship between migration and psychosis is complex.

Objectives

In this review, we aim to explore the moderators, mediators and mechanisms behind migration psychosis.

Methods

We searched PubMed using the following terms: “psychosis,” “psychotic,” “migra*”, “immigra*”, “schizophreni*.” “pathogene*”. We limited the search to studies published after 2010 and we screened the title, abstract, and full text. We included a total of 47 studies in this narrative review.

Results

Moderators identified in the literature were country of origin, vitamin D deficiency, male sex, and psychosocial adversity (e.g. exposure to war). Mediators were mostly social, namely discrimination, social exclusion and ethnic minority status, low ethnic density, as well as language distance, unstable housing, and unemployment. Most of the studies we retrieved found that substance use did not fully explain the increased risk for psychosis among migrants. We found that potential pathophysiological mechanisms include stress-induced alterations in dopaminergic neurotransmission, functional and structural alterations in ventral anterior cingulate cortex, as well as possible stress-resultant neuroinflammation.

Conclusions

This review highlights the pathway from psychosocial hardships to neurobiological alterations leading to migration psychosis. Further research is needed to translate these findings into developing preventive measures and tailoring treatment modalities to the migrant population.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
A Bibliometric Analysis of Refugee Health Publications in the Nursing Field by Visual Mapping Method
Authors: Ozturk G. , Dikeç G. , Seren A. K. H.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Millions of people worldwide are forced to migrate to another country and nurses are the key professional for providing necessary health care to this population. Providing nursing care to refugees or immigrants requires diverse transcultural professional competencies based on standardized guidelines.

Objectives

This study was aimed to examine the bibliographic characteristics of quantitative studies conducted on refugees in the nursing field.

Methods

The data were obtained from articles scanned in the Web of Science Core Collection database. The 1672 articles that were published between 1980-and 2023 and met the inclusion criteria were analyzed using VOSviewer and Microsoft 365 Excel software. The PRISMA 2020 Checklist was used for reporting.

Results

Most publications were made in 2020. The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia have the highest number of publications, citations, and international cooperation. Additionally, “mental health” is one of the most used keywords in the studies.

Conclusions

The findings show the importance of empowering nurses working in this field, especially in determining the needs related to mental health services for refugees. The increased migration rates and the growing need for refugee health care highlighted the importance of investment in nursing research within this field. Nurses and researchers should aim to establish partnerships and share best practices with the leading countries. Furthermore, nurses require specialized training to competently evaluate and provide nursing care and mental health services to this vulnerable population. Policymakers must prioritize international collaboration, equitable healthcare, and the integration of mental health services within healthcare systems to improve refugee health and reduce barriers between them and health services.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Reduced resting-state gamma-band power correlate with unaltered glutamate + glutamine levels in patients at clinical-high risk of psychosis
Authors: Tomyshev A. S. , Lebedeva I. , Dudina A. , Menshchikov P. , Kupriyanov D. , Omelchenko M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There is growing evidence of excitation / inhibition (E/I) balance abnormalities in schizophrenia, which might be associated with abnormal gamma frequency oscillations and glutamate concentrations. However, to the best of our knowledge, only one multimodal study have examined such associations between EEG and metabolite characteristics in patients at clinical-high risk of psychosis (CHR) so far.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate potential associations between GLX (glutamate + glutamine) levels and resting-state gamma-band power in CHR individuals and healthy controls (HC).

Methods

Twenty right-handed male patients (16-27 years, mean age 19.9 ± 2.7) fulfilling CHR criteria and 19 healthy male controls (16-27 years, mean age 21.6 ± 3.6) underwent resting-state EEG (16 leads; 10−20 system) and MR spectroscopy at 3T MRI scanner with voxels of 30×30×30mm located in left and right medial prefrontal cortex. Spectral analysis with estimation of gamma-band power (30-45 Hz) were conducted. MEGA-PRESS acquisitions were analyzed with jMRUi (ver. 5.1 Alpha), levels of GLX were calculated as a ratios to creatine + phosphocreatine (GLX/Cr). Gamma-band (30-45 Hz) spectral power and GLX/Cr were compared between groups. Correlations between EEG and metabolite data were analyzed with regression model including age and chlorpromazine equivalents as covariates.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, patients showed reduced spectral gamma-band power in 6 leads (Table). No alterations in GLX/Cr were detected. Positive correlations between altered gamma-power in all leads (except Cz) and GLX/Cr in left medial prefrontal cortex were revealed in CHR (F3: r=0.51, p=0.006; F8: r=0. 54, p=0.004; C3: r=0.37, p=0.037; Pz: r=0.51, p=0.039; P4: r=0.56, p=0.009). No correlations in HC group were found. Chlorpromazine equivalents did not correlate with GLX/Cr of gamma power in CHR group.Table.

Results of between-group comparisons corrected for multiple comparisons

Lead
CHR Mean±SD
HC Mean±SD
p
-value

F
Cohen’s d
Cohen’s d CI 95%F30.97±0.621.4±0.640.00977.2-0.69-1.22 -0.16F80.84±0.611.45±1.030.00727.8-0.71-1.24 -0.19C30.97±0.551.44±0.640.00269.9-0.79-1.32 -0.27Cz1.03±0.611.42±0.520.00747.7-0.70-1.22 -0.18Pz1.17±0.71.62±0.630.00987.1-0.68-1.2 -0.16P41.04±0.661.53±0.660.00518.5-0.74-1.27 -0.22

Conclusions

The findings suggest that clinical-high risk of psychosis is associated with widespread alterations in resting-state gamma-band power. Positive correlations of such alterations with GLX/Cr and absence of such correlations in HC group are presumably indicative of disturbances in the excitation / inhibition balance in CHR individuals.

This study was supported by RFBR grant 19-29-10040

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Cognitive Neuroscience of Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Neurobiology of Empathic Process
Authors: Pinheiro Ramos C. , Marta J. , Freire M. J. , Mendes S. , Gamito A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is diagnosed when an individual displays irregularity in three key domains: social development, communication, and repetitive behavior/obsessive interests.

The theory of mind-blindness in ASD suggests that individuals on the autism spectrum exhibit deficiencies in the typical empathic process, relative to their mental age.

Empathy comprises two primary components: firstly, the capacity to attribute mental states to both oneself and others, and secondly, experiencing an emotional response that aligns with the mental state of the other person.

Objectives

This study aimed to synthetase the latest evidence about the neuropsychiatric basis of empathy in ASD.

Methods

A review was conducted, drawing on reputable sources (PubMed and Web of Science databases).

Results

A neural basis of empathy has built on a model first proposed by Brothers. It was suggested that social intelligence was a function of three regions: the amygdala, the orbitofrontal and medial frontal cortex, and the superior temporal sulcus and gyrus - the “social brain”. Abnormalities in autism have been found in the amygdala, the orbito and the medial frontal cortex.

Amygdala has been implicated primarily in fear perception of facial expressions, as well as in the recognition of other emotions such as sadness and “social” emotions. In addition to fear perception, the amygdala has also been implicated in related processes including eye gaze, affective memory, olfactory learning, and social judgment.

To date, findings on amygdala structure in autism have been mixed, with studies indicating reduced and increased volumes, as well as nonsignificant differences.

Conclusions

ASD is one of the most heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders, and cognitive theories as well as structural findings have linked likely frontal lobe abnormalities to the social and cognitive profiles of autism.

Future studies may elucidate existing data by taking advantage of new and infrequently used data acquisition technologies such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Embodied cognition and urban design: Thoughts through epigenetic advances
Authors: Abdelmoula E. , Abdelmoula B. , Bouayed Abdelmoula N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

In the history of urban planning, the cognitive trend has been a well-established entity since the work of the American urban planner during the mid-’90s; Kevin Lynch. However, for a long time, urban planning has been deprived of the contribution of scientific knowledge from cognitive neurosciences, with a lack of operational recommendations for urban projects.

Objectives

This study aims to reveal the role of embodiment theories in the revolution of urban design and urban projects through emerging findings in epigenetics and post-genomic biology.

Methods

We conducted an exhaustive review of the scientific literature to establish the relationship between embodied cognition and urban design through advances in epigenetics as well as potential applications of such finding. Our inquiry was to find out whether there was a scientific way to measure and quantify the performance of urban spaces.

Results

Our review revealed that, epigenetics and epigenomics have provided new explanations and perspectives to certain debates on the theory of embodied cognition and that of enaction. Epigenetic marks constitute a bodily memory that enables cognition to emerge as a function of the level of adaptation to the environment. In fact, embodiment refers to thoughts, emotions and behaviors based on sensory experiences and bodily positions, while the enaction is a way of conceiving cognition that focuses on the way in which human organisms and minds organize themselves in interaction with the environment.

Conclusions

Cognition is the result of a level of adaptation to the environment determined by physiological parameters that confer possibilities of action depending on previous interactions with the environment. The regulation of epigenetic marks which are technically quantifiable is now recognized as the fundamental mechanism involved in the brain’s ability to create, dismantle or reorganize neural networks throughout life depending on various experiences including environmental ones.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Revisiting Panksepp: a review of his contributions to neuropsychoanalysis
Authors: Ilgin S. E. , Hiçdönmez S. , Atalay H.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Panksepp paved the way for neuropsychoanalysts to better delineate the differences between emotions, feelings, and affect, and their evolutionary purposes. Affect pertains to an individual’s capacity to engage in emotional responses to stimuli, events, memories, and thoughts, while feelings denote the conscious perceptions of emotions, which are primarily social in nature.

Feelings are personal and biographical, while affect remains largely impersonal. Panksepp’s theory of basic affective systems in mammals, dividing emotions into positive and negative categories, is another major contribution to neuropsychoanalysis. Three primary emotions -joy, fear, and disgust- have been identified in humans, which are associated with specific peptides and monoamines (e.g., dopamine and endorphins for joy, norepinephrine and CRH for fear, serotonin and substance P for disgust). These basic emotions are thought to have evolved to address basic life tasks in a phylogenetic and ontogenetic primary stage.

Objectives

This study aims to provide an overview of Jaak Panksepp’s theories and assertions on the journal Neuropsychoanalysis.

Methods

The authors employed a neuropsychoanalytic approach to analyse articles published in the Neuropsychoanalysis journal between 2015-2023.

Results

Emotions primarily function to maintain homeostasis and protect the organism, as in fight or flight responses. In social animals, emotions can sometimes be recognized among individuals of the same and different species. The neurobiological basis of emotional transfer and empathy-like behaviors shed light on cross-species emotion transfer.

Conclusions

The facial feedback hypothesis and the interoceptive inference theory are also discussed as examples of theories for the recognition of emotions as well as the neural mechanisms involved in emotion perception and recognition.

Jaak Panksepp’s valuable insights shed light on the mysteries of human affect, and lay the foundation for future work in the field.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The importance of non-pharmacological approach versus pharmacological treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms (bpsd) in patients with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) in a geriatric institution
Authors: Spirova M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

BPSDs in patients with AD are present up to 90% and can cause serious complications in their overall health. A non-pharmacological approach and cognitive enhancers should be a priority in treatment in order to reduce the use of antipsychotics. In the pharmacological treatment of bpsd, additional therapy is inevitable in many cases

Objectives

the need for adequat educatation of the medical staff in a geriatric center for the nonfarmacological approach in patients with bpsd in AD. Polypharmacy is common in farmacological treatment.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 180 patients hospitalized at geriatric unit in period of January till May 2023 was conducted. 61(33.9%) were patients with AD, 44 or 72.1% were females and 17 or 27.9% were males, with mean age 78.6±5.6 years. 50 patients (82.0%) had potentiated BPSD in the first days of hospitalization and needed additional therapy

Results

: 19 od 61pts (31.1%) were on dual therapy, full doses of donepezil and memantine. 17 (89.5%) needed additional therapy for BPSD; 13 (68.4%) a short-term antipsychotic and 4 (21.1%) patients antidepressant therapy. 22 patients (36.1%) were admitted with donepezil only. 18 (81,8%) needed additional therapy. The remaining 20 (32,8%) were solely on memantine. 15 (75.0%) needed additional therapy

Conclusions

Vast majority of patients AD (82.0%) manifested BPSD and needed additional therapy. Number of scientific papers it is found that cognitive stimulation in persons with moderate dementia has a benefit more than any pharmacological treatment. Education of caregivers of people with AD is inevitable.Opening of day care centers that will enable continuous support as well as individual access which would help delay institutionalization of people with BPSD at ADthe need

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Mania and alzheimer disease, review and case report
Authors: Garcia Moreno M. , De Cos Milas A. , Beatobe Carreño L. , Del Sol Calderón P. , Izquierdo de la Puente A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There are numerous organic causes that can be related to affective symptoms such as neurological, metabolic, infectious and pharmacological. Neurological conditions associated to affective symptoms include vascular lesions, tumors, infections, seizures and dementia. Within cognitive impairment conditions, depressive symptoms are more frequent in vascular dementia and Alzheimer disease, and behavioral or manic symptoms in frontotemporal dementia although we cannot rule out less common associations.

Objectives

To review about organic mania due to dementia

Methods

We carry out a literature review about organic mania accompanied by a clinical description of one patient with manic symptoms and cognitive impairment.

Results

A 80-year-old male was admitted to the short-term hospitalization unit from the emergency department due to maniform symptoms. He had believed for weeks that he was millionaire and capable to cure all the diseases in the world, reason for which he had given away many of his belongings and had tried to register the patent for his invent. He also had future plans to invest all the money he earned from the patent in the construction of roads in Latin America. He had not previous history of mental illness. Neurological study concluded a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease. It was treated as a manic episode with a mood stabilizer and antipsychotic, with partial resolution of the condition.

Conclusions

It is common to find depressive symptoms in cognitive disorders. Although manic symptoms are much more frequent in frontotemporal dementia or other organic disorders, we can also find them in patients with Alzheimer disease. Since there is no specific curative treatment for this disease, concomitant psychopharmacological treatment is recommended if manic symptoms appear.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
How can electronic health records serve as a tool for clinical trials?
Authors: Stewart R.
Published: August 2024

Increasing volumes of information are being collected via electronic health records and there is growing multi-site expertise in utlising these for research. This emerging field of healthcare data science is not only concerned with the technical challenges associated with complex data, but also with the need for effective security and governance in the use of sensitive information with robust structures for stakeholder input and guidance. To date, most of the focus has been on supporting observational cohort studies nested within clinical records data - particularly investigating research questions around treatment response and course/prognosis. It is likely that electronic health records will become increasingly integrated with clinical trials, providing opportunities for pre-study feasibility scoping, targeted recruitment, and enhanced and extended follow-up. In addition, there is interest in emulated trials using routine data. For mental health data science, key challenges lie in the quality and quantity of data made accessible, with a particular need for natural language processing to derive structured data from extensive clinical text. Many of the challenges have been addressed for observational research, creating exciting prospects for a transformed trials landscape.

Disclosure of Interest

R. Stewart Grant / Research support from: Janssen, GSK, Takeda
Impulsivity as a predictor factor of health-related risk-taking
Authors: Megías-Robles A. , Moreno-Ríos L. , Megías-Robles R. , Martínez-Estrella A. , Torres M. A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There is a broad consensus that risk taking is largely determined by risk perception. However, previous literature has shown numerous examples of situations associated with potential health risks where our decisions are not made in accordance with the level of perceived risk.

Objectives

The aim of the present research was to investigate the role of impulsivity in the explanation of the discordance observed between risk perception and risk-taking in health-related domains.

Methods

The sample consisted of 612 participants (Mage = 23.54, 73,2% women). All participants were assessed for levels impulsivity and levels of risk perception and risk-taking propensity in contexts related to health.

Results

Results revealed that higher levels of impulsivity were significantly related to a lower tendency to perceive and take risks in the health domain. Most important for our objectives, we observed that the relationship with impulsivity was significantly stronger for risk taking than for risk perception. Moreover, impulsivity significantly predicted risk taking propensity when controlling for risk perception.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that, in the health-related domains, impulsivity can differentially affect risk perception and risk taking, thus, offering a possible explanation for the inconsistencies observed in the previous literature.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared