bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic and Clinical Determinants of Psychiatric Hospitalization in Northern Greece: A descriptive study
Authors: Porfyri G. N. , Papadopoulou P. , Karakasi M. V. , Vlachaki A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

According to data, psychiatric re-admissions rates vary from 10%-80%, while they negatively affect the patients’ quality of life and life expectancy. The limitation of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations represents a clinical challenge for all mental health professionals.

Objectives

To investigate risk factors of hospitalization in a sample of psychiatric patients in Northern Greece.

Methods

1,633 records of psychiatry inpatients were examined retrospectively throughout the 10-year records of the Psychiatry Department of Papanikolaou General Hospital in northern Greece. The research was conducted between 2013 and August 2023. The sample was divided into subgroups according to gender, diagnosis, and year of hospitalization. A bivariate analysis was performed to examine relationships between the examined variables: (a.) place of residence; (b.) age; (c.) type of admission; (c.) hospitalization duration; (d.) number of lifetime hospitalizations; (e.) lifetime prosecutor’s orders for coercive examination; and (f.) lifetime suicide attempts.

Results

A fairly equivalent number of males and females was included in the study (M: 874; F: 759).The mean age of the sample was 44.7 years with males being younger than females (males 43.23; females 46.39). Males residing out of the co-capital as well as females residing within the co-capital of Greece, Thessaloniki, disclosed higher odds of being hospitalized (p<0.03). Coercive hospitalizations represented 47% of cases, bore the highest duration (20.7 days), and involved the youngest patients. Coercively hospitalized male patients outnumbered their female counterparts (p<0.001). Voluntary urgent hospitalizations duration was estimated at 17.04 days, followed by outpatient admissions (12.64 days) and transfers from other clinics (11.35 days). 37% of patients experienced psychosis while 35% experienced affective disorders. Males were more affected by psychosis (Odds Ratio: 1.35; p<0.001). Females were more liable to affective disorders (OR: 1.78; p<0.001). 7% of the sample had committed suicide attempts, with single suicide attempts being ten times higher than multiple suicide attempts (p<0.001). Females were more than twice as likely as males to commit a suicide attempt (p<0.001). Females tended more to be hospitalized self-willingly (p=0.0015) and to voluntarily terminate hospitalizations prematurely (p=0.0014). Patients with a single hospitalization were seven-fold compared to those with multiple hospitalizations (p<0.001). The average lifetime hospitalization number for a patient was one hospitalization, while the average for a patient with previous hospitalizations was three.

Conclusions

Being in position to identify the patients in high-risk for hospitalization -as well as for suicide attempt- the clinician can proceed to initiatives such as treatment modifications or further involving the patient’s family.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The preferences of Hungarian judges with regard to forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology experts
Authors: Baran B. , Szabó F. Á. , Lisincki A. , Vida L. , Czobor P. , Jekkel É. , Szuromi B.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Although Hungarian forensic psychiatry has a historical legacy dating back to the 1890s, for the past few years there has been a dramatically increasing shortage of forensic psychiatry experts in Hungary, which affects both health care practices and the judiciary.

Objectives

In order to join the international academic unity of forensic psychiatry including research, education and treatment besides expert witnessing, our workgroup aims to facilitate the development of high-level quality standards in modern forensic psychiatry in Hungary. Based on our pilot study on this topic, in the current nationwide study we attempted to delineate the preferences of Hungarian judges regarding the role of forensic psychiatry and forensic psychology experts in both criminal and civil legal proceedings.

Methods

With the help of the National Office of the Courts, Hungarian judges were asked to complete a questionnaire that - besides personal characteristics – comprised specific questions in several areas including; hearing the experts; their preferences when assigning experts; the value of the expert’s oral statement in court; the extent of their reliance on the psychiatric or legal knowledge of the experts; and the ways judges assess their own psychiatric and psychological knowledge. They were also asked to disclose their opinion about the attributes of optimally applicable expert opinions. Respondents provided their answers as rating on a 10-point Likert scale; or as percentage estimates. Besides descriptive statistics, we investigated the difference between the two groups of judges using Chi-square statistics and ANOVA with respect to the association between the answers and the main personal characteristics of judges.

Results

The dataset contains >400 completed questionnaires, returned from all over the country, and the analyses are ongoing. Preliminary results are available for a sample of 125 respondents: 53 criminal court and 72 civil court judges, with 64 of them having a maximum of 14 years and 61 having more than 14 years of work experience. Rating the characteristics of assigned experts, we found a significant association between being a criminal court judge and assigning an expert who is considered as an “acknowledged authority” by peers (p=0.002). Finding it crucial what the assessed people report on the legal case itself was significantly associated with civil court judges (p=0.026).

Conclusions

In the absence of any available nationwide information in Hungary, our study is expected to provide much-needed and fundamental information to the current practice of forensic psychiatry in the country.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Study of the sociodemographic, clinical and criminological characteristics of Tunisian female offenders
Authors: Smaoui N. , Bouattour O. , Gassara I. , Feki R. , Bou Ali Maalej M. , Ben Thabet J. , Zouari L. , Maalej M. , Charfi N. , Omri S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The psychopathology of female crime perpetrators is not well understood since female criminality rates have remained distinctly lower than male criminality.

This study draws on over 20 years of psychiatric expertises to identify sociodemographic, clinical, and forensic characteristics of female perpetrators.

Objectives

-

To describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of female offenders examined for criminal psychiatric expertise.

-

Describe the criminological and forensic characteristics of these women.

Methods

Retrospective and descriptive study, which focused on 56 criminal psychiatric expertise files of female offenders, examined at the psychiatric department “C” at the CHU Hedi Chaker in Sfax, Tunisia, over a period of 24 years.

For each offender, we examined the expert report and the judicial research report. We then transcribed the socio-demographic and clinical information, as well as the criminological and forensic characteristics, onto a pre-established
form.

Results

The accused women in our study had an average age of 35 years and 06 months, and 67.86% of the cases were under 40 years of age, with an educational level no higher than primary school in 62.5% of cases. They were unemployed in 71.4% of cases. Among the accused examined, 76.8% had mental disorders, including 46.6% with personality disorders, 16.3% with intellectual disability, 16.3% with bipolar disorder, 9.3% with depressive disorder, 9.3% with psychotic disorder, and 2.3% with substance use disorder (anxiolytic). We recorded 55.4% offences against persons, including 37.5% homicides and attempted homicides, and 44.6% offences against property, including 23.2% thefts. Dementia in the legal sense was identified in 30.4% of cases. Bipolar disorder accounted for 41.1% of legally demented subjects.

Conclusions

It emerges that the profile of the female criminal is that of a woman under 40, with a low educational and economic level, and most often with an antisocial personality or intellectual disability. It would therefore be important to step up primary prevention work by better educating these at-risk women and to combat the factors contributing to dangerousness among the mentally ill by optimizing their psychiatric care.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The Relationship between Cyber Violence Victimization and Adverse Childhood Experiences
Authors: Ilgin S. E. , Yanartaş Ö. , Polat O.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Nowadays, following the increasing digital technologies, the cyber aspect of violence is becoming more common (Willard, Journal of Adolescent Health 2007; 41) At this point, we can think that cyber violence victimization, environmental factors such as childhood traumas, exposure to violence, and moreover psychological and biological factors play a role (Fan et al., Front. Psychol 2921;12)

Objectives

Our aim was to conduct a study to determine the prevalence of cyber violence victimization among university students and to examine whether this prevalence would be related to negative childhood traumas.

Methods

We reached university students in many cities of Turkey through an online survey between 01 January 2023 and 31 March 2023. A total of 600 students participated. In our survey, we used the Turkish forms of the Childhood Adverse Experiences Scale and the Cyber Victimization Scale, for which sociodemographic data, validity and reliability studies have been completed in Turkish.

Results

University students from 8 different provinces participated in our study. According to the results of our study, it was evaluated that university students who had negative childhood experiences were more likely to become cyber victims. We are exposed to many traumas from the moment we are born, and this exposure is the relationship with the mother, then relatives, friends, teachers, colleagues, etc. It continues throughout life through relationships. There is a moderate relationship between victimization of blocking and damaging behaviors in cyberspace and negative childhood relationships (r = 0.304), a low level relationship between victimization of sexual bullying in cyberspace and negative childhood relationships (r = 0.289), and victimization of spreading rumors in cyberspace. A low degree of correlation (r = 0.277) was found between and negative childhood relationships. (p <0.05)

Conclusions

The widespread use of technology today facilitates the digitalization of violence, as in every field. As a result, cyber violence, like other types of violence, may be associated with childhood traumas, and this can be prevented by being exposed to the least trauma during childhood, and moreover, if we look from Bronfenbrenner’s perspective, if the next generation grows up in a suitable ecological environment, cyber violence victimization can be prevented to that extent.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Female virilization related to congenital adrenal hyperplasia and psychological distress
Authors: Abdelmoula B. , Ramma N. , Ben Yedder M. , Bouaziz I. , Bouayed Abdelmoula N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

In females, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a spectrum of inherited genetic conditions related to the disruption of adrenal steroidogenesis, is among the most common conditions leading to inappropriate virilization. For adolescent and adult women, progression of hirsutism may have many psychological concerns.

Objectives

To explore the psychological distress of a young Tunisian woman who sought medical help and psychological support at a late stage, after suffering from genital ambiguity and severe virilization.

Methods

Harboring phenotypic male transformation at puberty, our patient attended genetic counselling for cytogenetics assessment. Clinical, biological, psychological and genetic explorations were thus carried out.

Results

A 17-year-old female was born from first-degree consanguineous parents, and had healthy siblings (a sister and three brothers). After a single menstrual episode at puberty, she developed amenorrhea and an unexpected progressive virilization, including hirsutism with an inappropriate beard that she had to shave every day and a male voice. Clinical examination revealed a male morphotype with an enlarged clitoris that resemble a penis, male-type pubic hair, underdeveloped of breasts, abnormal cutaneous hyperpigmentation, and a short stature. Pelvic ultrasound revealed a small uterus, but with no visualized gonads. Genetic exploration showed a female 46,XX karyotype and the absence of Y chromosome sequences. Diagnosis of a non-classic CAH was confirmed. Psychological assessment found that the psychological development of the sexual identity corresponded to the assignment of the female sex. A severe psychological suffering due to the non-acceptance of her virile appearance impaired the quality of her daily personal and social life. Stigmata of a depressive syndrome were also revealed.

Conclusions

Particular attention to the psychological assessment of patients with CAH is recommended, as changes in physical appearance have a detrimental impact on psychological and mental well-being.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
DNA methylation risk scores for depression, not today
Authors: Van Assche E. , Hohoff C. , Baune B. T.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

After the success of polygenic risk scores (PRS) that embed a useful summary of genomic information in a comprehensive score, the wish to develop summary statistics for DNA methylation had become more pressing. Developing such a score faces challenges, as the score has to be specific and sensitive as well. Epidemiological research on DNA methylation and depression would benefit from such score.

Objectives

Here, we test a score trained on incident depression (case-control), i.e., a list of published weights for particular CpGs, for its validity in the context of depression severity as measured using MADRS in our sample with depressed patients only.

Methods

DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC 850k BeadChip on a sample of 119 patients with a diagnosis of MDD. After data cleaning, 113 participants were included in the analysis (Mage= 47 years, 57.98% women, MMADRS=27.7). Data processing was conducted using the RnBeads package. From the published reference for the overall sample, a list of 196 CpGs was provided, 170 of these were present in our dataset and used for the score. The list of non-smokers comprised 144 CpGs, of which 124 were available. The score per individual was built using M-values, using the formula: S(weight*DNA methylation value). The score was tested in association with depression and other typical confounders using multiple regression in R. Confounders included ancestry, BMI, age, sex, and 6 cell types. We tested both scores in our sample: smokers and non-smokers.

Results

In contrast to our expectations, none of the regression analyses showed a significant association with depression (MADRS-score). Nonetheless, a significant association was seen with biological sex for both analysis (overall: p=0.036, non-smokers: p=0.026). A reduced model with only this predictor explained 5% and 4% of the variance of the summary score calculated (R2), respectively (overall: p=0.013; non-smokers: p=0.019). One of the ancestry components was marginally significant too in the non-smoker summary score (p=0.065). This was not the case anymore in the reduced model.

Conclusions

Our results show that caution is still in place when using methylation risk scores as specificity and sensitivity might not yet be optimized. The score built for depression incidence does not seem fitting for depression severity at this moment. The use of DNA methylation, a marker that is generally sensitive to confounding factors, for a risk score, might pose more challenges in the context of reliable summary statistics, in particular also for cross-trait examination, which is currently a typical use of polygenic risk scores.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Moving forwards with the Standard THC Unit: what are the next steps?
Authors: Lorenzetti V. , Freeman T.
Published: August 2024

Current metrics of cannabis use are inconsistent. This issue prevents the integration of the literature to date and to robustly measure the health risks and benefits associated with specific levels of cannabis consumption. This talk will overview a number of international initiatives to improve the current metrics of cannabis use.

The Standard THC Unit was created to objectively measure cannabis potency across all products, mode of administration, jurisdictions, contexts and over time.

To build upon the notion of the Standard THC Unit, addional multidisciplinary, international consensus based frameworks have been created.

One such ongoing initiatives, seeks to reach expert consensus on how cannabis potency should be reported in cannabis products in order to clearly and effectively inform consumers. The talk will overview preliminary results of the Delphi.

A similar Delphi methodology was used to establish internationally agreed-upon minimum standards to measure cannabis consumption in research (iCannToolkit), the results of which will be outlined.

Overall, it is imperative for cannabis researchers to join forces with multidisciplinary experts in order to improve metrics of use to inform consumers, general practitioners, researchers and public health experts on the harms and benefits associated with cannabis use.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
ZNF536 dysfunction enhances spontaneous differentiation of the SH-SY5Y cell line into a neuronal-like phenotype
Authors: Kurishev A. , Abashkin D. , Marilovtseva E. , Karpov D. , Golimbet V.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Schizophrenia (SZ) is a common psychiatric neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex genetic architecture. Genomic association studies indicate the involvement of transcription factors in the pathogenesis of SZ. A recent GWAS showed a significant association of ZNF536 with SZ. To date, the molecular functions of ZNF536 are poorly understood and its possible role in the pathogenesis of SZ is unclear.

Objectives

The aim of this work was to develop a model cell line for study ZNF536-mediated pathogenic mechanisms associated with SZ.

Methods

To assess the spatial interaction of ZNF536 with SZ risk loci, we used the Capture-C method. For ZNF536 deletion, SH-SY5Y was sequentially transduced with two lentiviral vectors. The first expressed Cas9 under the control of a tetracycline regulated promoter and the second expressed a pair of sgRNAs for ZNF536 deletion. Puromycin was used to select transduced cells. Stably transduced cells were then treated with oxytetracycline to induce Cas9 expression. In parallel, SH-SY5Y were transduced with lentiviral constructs of Cas9 and sgRNA carrying a spacer lacking targets in the human genome to obtain a negative control. Individual clones were obtained by the limiting dilution method. The ZNF536 deletion was confirmed by PCR and Sanger sequencing.

Results

A spatial interaction of ZNF536 with SZ risk loci was found, suggesting its involvement in SZ pathogenesis. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we obtained several clones with heterozygous deletion of ZNF536. We observed that their growth and proliferation were significantly slowed down. In addition, the mutant clones spontaneously differentiate into a neuron-like phenotype in low-serum medium.

Conclusions

We established a cellular model to study ZNF536-mediated mechanisms associated with SZ.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Quality of life in the people with disability: individual’s perception
Authors: Matsumoto M. M. , Cardilli-Dias D. , Molini-Avejonas D. R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There are few studies about how people with intellectual disability (ID) perceive their own quality of life (QoL), with research being focus, mainly, in the opinion of caregivers and/or family. Thinking about QoL, the World Health Organization developed an instrument that measures QoL, the WHOQOL. In Brazil, this instrument was adapted, validated and translated for people with ID and their caregivers.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to increase knowledge and understanding of how people with ID perceive their own QoL.

Methods

This study was approved by the Ethics and Research Committee. Sample of 51 individuals aged between 19 and 54 years (G1), with medical diagnosis of ID, who did not present physical/mental disabilities and/or mental disorders and 31 caregivers (G2). G1 answered the WHOQOL-DIS-ID questionnaire and G2 answered the WHOQOL-DISID Proxy questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed considering p-value ≤ 0.05.

Results

The individuals with ID presented higher score on the psychological and lower score in the discrimination domain. The caregivers presented higher scores on the physical and lower scores in the autonomy domain. Regard the comparison between self-perception and the perception of caregivers, on Table 1, it was possible to observe significant differences in Psychological, Social, Environmental and all domains for the Disabilities Module.
Table 1.

Correlation between Domains

Domain
Mean G1
Mean G2
SD G1
SD G2
Median G1
Median G2P valuePhysical Capacity72,368,817,119,178,571,40,32Psychological80,167,717,517,983,366,6<0,01*Social Relationships68,854,322,621,666,650<0,01*Environment73,963,314,518,47568,7<0,01*Discrimination43,155,125,416,750500,04*Autonomy65,541,931,425,266,650<0,01*Inclusion77,058,916,120,17554,1<0,01*

Conclusions

It is critical that people with ID participate in the creation and/or changes of inclusion policies and actions. Since the relationship between the perception of self-reported QoL and reported by caregivers are different and converge only in the physical domain.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Aggressive and prosocial behaviors in adolescents from the department of Cordoba, Colombia
Authors: Ruiz Gonzalez E. P. , Muñoz Argel M. N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Prosocial behaviors are voluntary behaviors that are performed for the benefit of other people and promote harmonious relationships with others. This type of enhanced behavior could reduce physical and verbal aggressive acts in adolescents.

Objectives

analyze the association between aggressive and prosocial behaviors in adolescents

Methods

The study was non-experimental of a transactional - correlational type, two evaluation instruments validated in the context were applied to 500 adolescents attending school in the department of Córdoba. The type of sampling was non-probabilistic.

Results

A Pearson correlation was performed, previously verifying the normality of the data, which showed a statistically significant, negative association between the prosocial behaviors and the aggressive behaviors of those evaluated (Table 1).
Table 1:

Correlation between prosocial behavior and aggressive behavior.

PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOURAGGRESSIVE
BEHAVIORPearson correlation-,197**Sig. (bilateral),004N500

Conclusions

Negative associations were identified between the two variables under study, that is, as prosocial behavior increases, aggressive behaviors could decrease. This finding serves as a basis for carrying out future intervention strategies in adolescents in the department of Córdoba.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Impact of emotional intelligence on anxiodepressive disorders in nursing staff in the intensive care unit
Authors: Kahloul M. , Kacem I. , Ghenim A. , Ajmi M. , Naija W. , Chaouch A. , Mrizak N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Working in the intensive care unit (ICU) often involves intensely stressful and emotional situations, which can be strong predictors of poor mental health. Healthcare workers are required to perceive, understand, manage, and use their emotions to provide quality care.

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on anxiodepressive disorders in nursing staff in the ICU.

Methods

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional, analytical study conducted among nursing staff in the ICUs of two hospitals in Tunisia. Data were collected over a 3-month period. EI was assessed using the SSEIT self-report test, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) was used to measure anxiodepressive disorders. Sociodemographic aspects were also taken into account.

Results

We included 92 healthcare workers. The majority were women (67.4%) with an average age of 25 to 54 years. Nurses represented 58.7% of the study population. About half had less than 5 years of occupational seniority. In terms of lifestyle habits, 76% were smokers, 90.2% did not consume alcohol, and 53% had no leisure activities. The majority had no personal, family, or medical psychiatric history.

The mean EI score was 109.9, ranging from 62 to 150. Anxiety was present in 43.49% of participants and depression in 51.08%.

A significant association was observed between anxiety and the perception of emotions (p=0.0196) and the management of others’ emotions (p=0.0261).

As for depression, a significant association was observed between perception of emotions and depression (p=0.0259), as well as between management of others’ emotions and depression (p=0.0126). EI was positively associated with HADS (p=0.0281), with a correlation value of 0.114.

Conclusions

Caregivers with anxiodepressive disorders had significantly lower levels of EI than those without anxiodepressive disorders, suggesting that EI maybe a protective factor against these disorders

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Exploring Mental Health Issues in HCV-Positive Pregnant Women: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Syed A. , Hashmi S. S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The research was conducted to explore the mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, low mood, emotional irrationality, and stressors related to pregnancy in the tertiary care hospital, in Karachi, after getting diagnosed with a life-threatening virus of hepatitis C and to determine the factors associated with depression among HCV-infected pregnant women. There appears to be a dearth of literature on this particular topic, and depression in HCV-infected pregnant women might not be dealt with effectively till this gap in the literature is addressed. The findings are to aid counselors in the formulation of treatment plans to help the patients during pregnancy and it helped to address the gaps in the antenatal care plans and support provided to the vulnerable population like HCV-Infected pregnant women.

Objectives

To explore what are the anxieties, stressors, and fears of HCV-infected young mothers.To explore the experiences of infected young mothers with HCV.

Methods

We have used a qualitative design of the study and a convenient, purposeful sampling technique to acquire the data. In Karachi, Pakistan, a tertiary care hospital will host this trial. Young moms who registered HCV+ infections between January 2022 and June 2022 were included in the study. The tertiary healthcare setting was used for the investigation. The suggested number of 10 young moms with HCV who had been detected during pregnancy and came to the clinic for treatment were selected, those who provided consent and who were neither pregnant nor extremely unwell at the time of the study were eligible. The average age of the inhabitants was 26. There were 42.85% undergraduate mothers, 28.57% mothers with graduate degrees, and 28.57% mothers with postgraduate degrees in the population. Thematic analysis was utilized to evaluate the data, and the themes were generated by looking at the data and creating codes to look into the transcription’s content.

Results

According to the findings, the referral system appeared to place a significant burden on individuals who were already dealing with the potentially fatal hepatitis C infection and were pregnant. In the antenatal period, when there should have been two different doctors’ visits, they were compelled to go to the same clinic.

Conclusions

The finding addressed the importance of specialized care setting in the tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. There is a requirement of training programs for the development of soft skills of health care professionals and there must be awareness sessions to promote and mobilize the understanding of the spread of this disease.

To this research finding the importance of comprehensive health care support was identified. And it also depicts the importance of inclusive antenatal program design.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Evaluation of mental health using MHC-SF in patients with paget’s bone disease
Authors: Feki A. , Sellami I. , Abid C. , Abbes A. , Gassara Z. , Ben jemaa S. , Ezzeddine M. , Kallel M. H. , Fourati H. , Akrout R. , Baklouti S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Paget’s disease is a chronic bone disorder, that is characterized by increased and disorganized bone remodelling, which can lead to bone pain, bone complications such as deformities and fractures, neurological and cardiovascular complications. This physical impact can alter patients ‘mental health and lead to anxiety or depression.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the mental health in patients diagnosed with paget’s bone disease

Methods

Paget’s disease patients were assessed by The Mental Health Continuum Short Form (MHC-SF) score. It consists of 14 items that were selected to represent each fact of well-being: 3 emotional well-being items (reflects hedonic well-being), 6 psychological well-being items, and 5 social well-being items (when combined, reflects eudemonic well-being). Items scores are summed, yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 70. Higher scores indicate greater levels of positive well-being.

Results

Thirty patients were included. 60% were men and 40% were women. The average age was 65 years. Socio-economic level was low in 3.3%, average in 86.7%, good in 10% of cases. 93.3% were married and 6.7% were single. For the medical history, 80% had a previous history and 20% did not. Clinically, 83.3% had pain and 16.7% had no pain. Concerning the disease location, 4 had involvement of the skull, 15 of the spine, 13 of the sacrum, 13 of the femur, 1 of the tibia, 1 of the calcaneus and 3 of the humerus. As for complications, 36.7% had no complications, 56.7% had osteoarticular complications, 3.3% had neurological complications and 3.3% had cardio-vascular complications. Concerning treatment, 90% received bisphosphonate and 10% did not.

For the mental health questionnaire, the mean score was 36.4.

53.3% of patients had poor mental health, 43.3% were moderately healthy and 3.3% were thriving.

No significant associations were noted between level of mental health and age, pain level, complications, location of the disease, alkaline phosphatase and treatment p>0.05.

Conclusions

The impact of paget’s disease is not only physical but also psychological. The MHC-SF is useful to detect the mental illness.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Factors associated with the quality of conflict management among anesthesia technicians
Authors: Ghenim A. , Kahloul M. , Kacem I. , Aloui A. , Chouchane A. , Ajmi M. , Naija W. , Maoua M. , Mrizak N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

A conflict arises when one or more individuals, groups or organizations disagree, creating internal or external tensions that can cause damage. This is particularly serious in operating theatres, where decisions involving life or death are common. Indeed, in this particular context, the multiplicity of stakeholders, the divergence of opinions and decisions related to patient care, the frequency of critical situations, stress and the limitation of resources are established causes of disagreement and tension.

Objectives

To identify factors associated with the alteration of conflict management quality among anesthesia and resuscitation technicians (ART).

Methods

This is an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional and analytical study, enrolling all ART exercising at the two teaching hospitals of Sousse (Tunisia) over a two month period(March 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022). Conflict management was assessed using the Conflict Handling Style Scale.

Results

Our study involved 50 participants, only eight of whom reported having had previous training in communication and conflict management. Conflicts in the hospital were rated frequent to very frequent by 58% of participants. Task conflicts were the most reported (74%). The main causes of conflict were lack of leadership (60%), unequal distribution of tasks (42%) and workload (28%). The main repercussions of the conflicts were the delay in patients care (60%), therapeutic errors (42%), and the cancellation or postponement of some acts (34%). The main factors associated with impaired conflict management abilities were age<40 years (p=0,03), tobacco consumption (p=0,001), and number of dependent children<2 p<10-3).

Conclusions

In light of our results, it would be useful and urgent to develop the soft skills of our human resources, particularly in terms of communication and conflict management.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Exploring The Impact of Positive Behaviour Support Plans on Adult Acute Mental Health Staff Practice
Authors: Plant J. M. , Beezhold J.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

There is a national movement to reduce restrictive interventions due to the harm and distress they can cause which has been reflected in NHS trust policies and practices. NHS trust policies state that all in-patients who may require restrictive interventions must have a Positive Behaviour Support Plan (PBSP) based on a functional analysis of what drives and triggers their behaviour. A PBSP is intended to facilitate understanding and help manage behaviours that challenge by teaching new skills and ways to communicate a person’s needs. Previous research on the use of PBSPs on adult acute mental health wards is limited but research on PICU wards has shown PBSPs have not been implemented into mental health care as intended.

Objectives

Trust policies identify that PBSPs should be implemented to reduce the use of restrictive interventions. However, it is unknown whether PBSPs are being used as part of routine practice on the acute mental health ward. The degree to which staff are aware of patients PBSPs and how they use them to guide their practice is unclear. The service evaluation aims to understand the perspectives, attitudes, and experiences of staff who are responsible for using and implementing PBSPs on the ward. The evaluation aims to investigate how PBSP informs practice and to identify the barriers and facilitators to implementing PBSPs on the ward.

Methods

A volunteer sample of clinical staff members (including Doctors, Nurses, Psychotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Clinical Support Workers) who are responsible for implementing PBSPs on an acute mental health ward in the East of England took part in a focus group which lasted up to an hour. There were four focus groups with between two and four participants per group. A total of thirteen staff members participated in the focus groups. The focus groups lasted up to one hour and were guided by a topic guide. Two members of the project team facilitated the group. Focus groups were audio recorded.

Results

Thematic synthesis will be the overarching approach used to synthesise the qualitative data from the focus groups. The audio recordings will be transcribed. Analysis will be conducted on a within-case basis prior to cross-case analysis aimed to identify common themes. Two evaluators will work together to code, analyse, and synthesise the extracted data.

Conclusions

Based on the results, training may be developed to improve the understanding and implementation of the PBSPs on the ward. The findings may also result in changes to the way PBSPs are used. The results will be presented to the trust chief executives and used to inform how to best support individuals who may be at risk of requiring restrictive interventions.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Relationship Between Quality of Life and Academic Performance in a Sample of Colombian University Students
Authors: Paredes Bermúdez M. , Bayona Velásquez M. , Lora Monsalve M. , Viloria Escobar J. , Perez Correa K. L.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Quality of life encompasses a multidimensional component that includes aspects of lifestyle, health, housing, personal satisfactions, which can affect the academic performance of students in their university studies.

Objectives

To determine the relationship between the quality of life and academic performance of students at the National Institute of Professional Technical Training “Humberto Velásquez García” in Ciénaga, Colombia.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational study involving a sample of 344 undergraduate students who completed the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire, a sociodemographic form, and were asked about their academic performance in the last semester. Data were analyzed using RStudio, where categorical variables were interpreted through relative and absolute frequencies, and quantitative variables through medians. Bivariate analysis was conducted using non-parametric tests such as Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis for group comparisons, and Kendall for correlations.

Results

Academic performance had a median of 4.00, and the quality of life had a median of 47.57. The Mann-Whitney U test showed p=0.03 for gender-based performance comparison. Kruskal-Wallis comparison by age group regarding performance showed p=0.003. The correlation between academic performance and quality of life showed tau=0.120 and p=0.004.

Conclusions

The median academic performance is above the approval point, but the quality of life is below average levels (on a scale of 1 to 100). There are significant differences in median performance among gender and age groups, as well as a very low, positive, and statistically significant correlation between academic performance and levels of quality of life.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Domestic and international medical students’ need for mental health services
Authors: Nikolaev E. , Zakharova A. , Hartfelder D. , Petunova S. , Lazareva E. , Maksimova N. , Grigoreva N. , Litvinova E. , Dulina G. , Vasilieva E. , Alhasan M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Heavy academic loads imposed on medical students explain why it is so important for a university to pay more attention to the issues of maintaining their students’ mental health.

Objectives

To compare the level of mental health and the need for mental health services in domestic and international medical students

Methods

The survey covered 305 domestic and 241 international university students of the Faculty of Medicine. Their mental health level was measured with the SCL-90R questionnaire, their interest to mental health services - by means of a 5-point questionnaire.

Results

The data achieved by measuring the level of mental health with the SCL-90R revealed that in both groups this level is within standard limits. However, the international students showed a higher level of psychopathological distress reflected by GSI index (χ2=2.14; р=.03). Both groups have experienced a visit to a psychiatrist or psychotherapist (12.13% and 8.3% correspondingly). Some of them have undergone treatment in connection with their emotional and behavioral problems (3.28% и 3.73%). Currently, they claim, with the same frequency, that they are in need of a psychiatrist’s or psychotherapist’s help (14.43% и 13.28%). Domestic students, as compared with international students show higher need (χ2=24.55; р=.001) for a psychologist’s help (34.75% and 16.18%).With different frequency, 65.15% of the international students and 89.5% of the domestic students consider mental health services as necessary.

Conclusions

When providing medical support to medical students, it is important to take into account their need for mental health services and to keep in mind their different cultural backgrounds.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
How to manage work-related stress in healthcare professionals: organizational and individual interventions.
Authors: Catapano P. , Luciano M. , Cipolla S. , Pascolo S. , Sampogna G. , Perris F. , Catapano F. , Fiorillo A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Workplaces can be source of significant stress for employees, leading to a series of mental health problems, such as burnout syndrome. Healthcare professionals and other helping professions are especially vulnerable to work-related stress.

Objectives

The aim of the present review is to assess available intervention aiming at improving work-related stress symptoms.

Methods

We conducted a thorough search of relevant articles on PubMed, APA PsycInfo, and Scopus databases, using specific keywords such as “occupational stress,” “stress,” “anxiety,” “depression,” “health personnel,” “health care facilities, manpower and services,” “prevention,” and “control.”

Results

Although significant methodological heterogeneity has been found among studies, regarding assessment tools, target population, and intervention types, we can still draw some satisfactory results. Healthcare professionals have access to various interventions to manage work-related stress symptoms, which can be classified into three categories: 1) individual cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches, 2) relaxation techniques at the individual level, and 3) organizational-level interventions. Mindfulness techniques, relaxation techniques, emotional freedom techniques, and integrated interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in alleviating work-related stress.

Conclusions

To prevent work-related stress among healthcare professionals, interventions should be targeted towards specific categories of healthcare workers based on factors such as age, tasks, and patient types. Well-structured and reliable randomized controlled trials focusing on the most promising interventions, such as mindfulness, need to be carried out in larger samples and with a solid methodology in order to confirm these evidences.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Exploring psychological distress among psychiatric nurses in Tunisia
Authors: Khiari H. , Hakiri A. , Bouchendira M. , Ghachem R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Nurses working in psychiatric departments regularly encounter intricate, stress-inducing, and emotionally challenging situations. The mental well-being of these nurses directly influences the quality of care they deliver.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of psychological distress among psychiatric nurses and to identify the socio-demographic and clinical factors associated with it.

Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted over the course of one month from October 11th to November 8th 2023. Participants included were psychiatric nurses working in Razi Hospital, Tunisia. We collected data using pre-established questionnaire which included socio-demographic and clinical data of the participants. The assessment of psychological distress was conducted using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), validated in Arabic. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in its 25th version

Results

We collected data from 55 nurses working in Razi psychiatry hospital during the time of the study. Among them, 80% (n=44) were female. Their median age was 35 (Min=25, Max=62). Most of participants were married (81.8%, n=45) and 70.9 (n=39) had kids. In our sample, 5.5% (n=3) and 23.6% (n=13) had respectively personal psychiatric and somatic history. Some addictive behaviors were identified among our participants, especially smoking (14.5%, n=379) and alcohol use (3.6%, n=2).

Regarding working conditions, 81.8% (n=45) were assigned shift work. They worked in the men’s ward (43.6%, n=24), the women’s ward (34.5%, n=19), or in both (21.8%, n=12). Furthermore, 45.5% (n=25) reported witnessing a suicide attempt during their work, and 74.5% (n=41) were victims of aggression, primarily by patients (82.5%, n=33). Sixty percent (n=33) said expressed a desire to transfer.

Moderate to extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress was observed in respectively 34.5% (n=19), 61.8% (n=34) and 36.4% (n=20) of cases.

A significant association was found between stress among psychiatry nurses and personal somatic history (p <10-3). No further links were found between depression, anxiety, stress and other clinical factors.

Conclusions

These results emphasize the difficult working environment within psychiatric settings, emphasizing the critical requirement for specific interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of psychiatric nurses.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Demographic Factors, Cumulative Stressors, and Psychological Well-being
Authors: Theodoratou M. , Petrou A. , Kalaitzaki A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian war appear to have adverse mental health effects. These global crises have raised concerns about the long-term psychological well-being of individuals across different demographic groups.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cumulative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian war, emphasizing the relationship between demographic factors and mental health outcomes.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional online survey using convenience and snowballing methods of recruitment. A sample of 170 participants completed demographic questions and Likert-scale assessments using a range of psychometric scales for measuring general psychological distress, perceived stress, personal resilience, traumatic life events, emotional and social effects of trauma, and potential growth after trauma. Participants were requested to respond to the traumatic experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war.

Results

Gender differences were evident, with women reporting higher levels of psychological distress and post-traumatic growth.  Family size had a negative correlation with psychological disturbance. Family status exhibited a positive correlation with traumatic event recall. Specifically, individuals who were either unmarried or divorced demonstrated increased memory recall for such events and levels of psychological distress. Conversely, participants in married or cohabiting relationships displayed diminished recall and lower psychological distress levels.Financial strain strongly correlated with compromised psychological well-being.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the association of demographic factors with cumulative stressors, underscoring the importance of personalized psychosocial interventions. Such interventions can enhance mental well-being and resilience in adversity, ultimately promoting improved psychological health.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared