bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in a 28 year old man: a case report
Authors: Setién Preciados P. , Arroyo Sánchez E. , Díaz Mayoral C.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is a disorder included among the eating disorders criteria group. Prevalence and incidence rates of ARFID in the general population remain largely unknown. Despite ongoing variability in the interpretation of diagnostic criteria in clinical practice, good progress has been made regarding recognition and assessment of ARFID. Different approaches to treatment are currently being explored, with reported outcomes for ARFID vary, consistent with the heterogeneity of the disorder. At present, there is insufficient evidence to determine the likely course and prognosis.

Objectives

Review what avoidant restrictive food intake disorder consists of, the challenges it presents, as well as its prognosis and potential treatments.

Methods

Presentation of a patient’s case and review of existing literature, in regards to ARFID.

Results

The patient in question is not clear he can be diagnosed of avoidant restrictive food intake disorder given his OCD symptoms, which are intertwined. That said, he does not have body dysmorphophobia and does check for all the ARFID criteria. Their prognosis is not good, having failed several psychological and pharmacological treatments.

In literature, there is not much evidence around the disease because of its novelty, being recently included in the DSM 5 as a new class of eating disorders (EDs), not finding high quality studies (meta analysis, systematic review). ARFID is characterised by a lack of interest in eating or avoiding specific types of foods because of their sensory characteristics. This avoidance results in decreased nutritional intake, eventually causing nutritional deficiencies. In severe cases, ARFID can lead to dependence on oral nutritional suplemments, which interferes with psychosocial functioning. The prevalence of ARFID can be as high as 3% in the general population, and it is often associated with gastrointestinal symptom. Given the high prevalence of ARFID, a rapid and systematic nutrition survey should be conducted during every consultation. Its treatment should also be adapted depending on the severity of the nutritional problem and may involve hospitalisation with multidisciplinary care (paediatrician, nutritional therapist, dietitian, psychologists, and speech therapists).

In regards to potential treatments, there is no evidence-based psychological treatment suitable for all forms of ARFID at this time. Several groups are currently evaluating the efficacy of new psychological treatments for ARFID, particularly, family-based and cognitive-behavioural approaches, but results have not yet been published.

Conclusions

Future directions for research could be usefully informed by closer collaboration with other fields, including feeding disorders, emotion processing and regulation, neurodevelopment, and appetite.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Body image as a mediator in the relationship between psychotic experiences and later disordered eating: A 12-month longitudinal study in high school adolescents
Authors: Houissa L. , Hallit S. , Cheour M. , Loch A. A. , Fekih-Romdhane F.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Psychotic experiences (PE) and disordered eating (DE) are frequently observed among the general population, especially in childhood and adolescence. However, the relationship between the two groups of disorders is still unclear.

Objectives

To explore the hypothesis that the pathways from PEs to DE are mediated by body-image disturbances in a sample of adolescents

Methods

We conducted a 12-month longitudinal study on high school students from four different high schools from the Ariana governorate, from April 2022 to April 2023.

Participants were evaluated at baseline then every 6 months with a target length of follow-up of 1 year.

The questionnaire contained

Questions about socio demographic variables

The Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26)

The Multidimensionnal Body Self-Relations Questionnaire Appearance Scale (MBSRQ-AS)

The Community Assesment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-42)

Results

1) Sample characteristics

Sample was constituted of 510 individuals. Of those, 312 (61.2%) were females. Mean age was of 16.05 (SD=1.01) years.

The majority of the students resided in urban areas, accounting for 97.8% of the total.

When it comes to family income, 4.1% of the students’ families had an income of less than 1000 Tunisian Dinars (TD), 25.9% had an income between 1000 and 2000 TD, 32.2% had an income ranging from 2000 to 3000 TD, and the remaining 37.8% had a family income of over 3000 TD.

The EAT-26, MBSRQ-AS and CAPE-42 scores are shown in table 1.
Table 1.

The longitudinal evolution of study variables

Baseline
T 6 months
T 12 months
pPartial Eta Squared η2Disordered eating (EAT-26)11.9 ± 9.411.9 ± 9.712.6 ± 10.2.080.006Self-classified weight (Body image)6.0 ± 1.75.9 ± 1.66.0 ± 1.6.946.001Body areas satisfaction30.9 ± 6.431.8 ± 6.431.4 ± 6.8.025.010Overweight preoccupation9.3 ± 3.69.2 ± 3.79.2 ± 3.7.545.001Appearance Orientation41.0 ± 5.441.6 ± 5.441.6 ± 5.5.007.014CAPE positive dimension (total)39.6 ± 8.739.1 ± 9.139.7 ± 9.5.756.001Body Mass index21.6 ± 3.421.5 ± 3.221.7 ± 3.2.034.009

2) Findings of the mediating analysis

Disordered Eating scores had no significant effect in subjects across time. However, the effect of the interaction between baseline Overweight Preoccupation with Disordered Eating across time was statistically significant (p=0.036). Overweight Preoccupation (Z=85.095, p<0.001), Body Area Satisfaction (Z=25.053, p<0.001), and CAPE positive dimension (Z=59.931, p<0.001) scores had significant main effects between subjects. (figure 1 and figure 2)

Image:

Image 2:

Conclusions

Findings showed that body image disturbances mediated the prospective association between PEs and DE. Adolescents with increased PEs were more likely to experience body image disturbances and, in turn, DE symptoms. These findings offer promising new avenues for prevention and early intervention.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Serotonin Syndrome Following Low-Dose Sertraline: A Case Report
Authors: Chan C. Y.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that is precipitated by the use of serotonergic medications, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs). It usually occurs when high doses of serotonergic drugs are prescribed. It is a medical emergency that requires prompt recognition, cessation of offending drugs and supportive therapy.

Objectives

We present a case of serotonin syndrome that occurred in a patient who was prescribed a low dose of sertraline, and aim to highlight the importance of early detection of this severe condition.

Methods

Details of the case were described. Information was gathered based on medical records.

Results

Patient M was a 29-year-old Malay male with a history of major depressive disorder, who was previously trialed on fluvoxamine 100mg every night but subsequently switched to and maintained on sertraline 75mg every night in 2020. He then defaulted follow up appointments. In 2023, he presented to the emergency services for a suicide attempt and was diagnosed with major depressive disorder with psychotic features. He was restarted on sertraline 50mg every night and risperidone 0.5mg every night was newly started. Two days later, sertraline was increased to 100mg every night. Two days following this increase, he was noted to have altered mental state, fever of 39.3-degree celcius, tachycardia of 120 beats per minute, ocular clonus and generalized hyperreflexia. Sertraline and risperidone were immediately stopped. Blood tests including creatine kinase, lumbar puncture and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain did not show any abnormalities. After stopping of the medications, the patient’s symptoms resolved within 24 hours. Based on clinical symptoms and a normal creatine kinase level, neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) was ruled out. Subsequently, he was restarted on risperidone 0.5mg and mirtazapine 7.5mg every night. He developed symptoms of serotonin syndrome with a low dose of sertraline. Symptoms resolved after the discontinuation of the SSRI.

Conclusions

In this case, differential diagnoses of serotonin syndrome were also considered, such as NMS, encephalitis, meningitis and thyroid storm. NMS was less likely due to the rapid onset of onset and resolution of symptoms. Encephalitis and meningitis were unlikely in view of normal MRI brain and lumbar puncture findings.

There have been case reports of serotonin syndrome developing with lower doses of an SSRI in the pediatric population. There is, however, a lack of literature describing serotonin syndrome with low doses of SSRI in the adult population. To avoid a missed diagnosis, clinicians should monitor closely for SSRI toxicity, including serotonin syndrome, even when low doses of serotonergic drugs are used.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Parents’ Assessment of Their Children’s Use of Technology
Authors: Tepetaş M. , Ünsal A. , Tepetaş Cengiz G. S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The use of technology in many areas of daily life is widespread among both children and adults. Excessive and inappropriate use of technological aids causes significant problems in physical, psychomotor, psychological and social stages of development, especially in childhood. One of the reasons for some problems that arise in adulthood, such as communication problems, anxiety disorders, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and tendency to violence is the excessive and inappropriate use of technology in childhood. For this reason, it is of great importance to complete the developmental stages in childhood in a healthy way.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to qualitatively assess the technology use habits of 48-72 month old preschool children and their parents.

Methods

The study is a qualitative research conducted among the parents of children in Eskişehir and Bolu between March and June 2023. A semi-structured form was used for the personal interviews with the 25 parents who constituted the study group. The interviews were recorded. The audio recordings were then transcribed and a thematic content analysis was conducted. The main themes of the interviews concerned the habits of parents’ and children’s in the use of technology at home, the content used on technological devices and how it is controlled, and the arrangements for technology use at home.

Results

In the interviews, parents reported that when they needed to use technological devices, they most often chose a time and place when the children were not present or asleep. When children spent more time at home, this was the most common reason for increased technology use, while the most common reason for decreased use was that children spent more time outside the home. Most parents limited the amount of time their children’s daily technology using time. It was found that children generally complied with these restrictions, and when they did not, they often expressed themselves with reactions such as sulking/angry/crying.

Conclusions

This study emphasizes that the most important factor determining children’s attitudes towards technology use is their parents’ attitudes towards technology use In order for children to develop a positive attitude towards technology use, it can be beneficial for parents to regulate and control their children’s technology use as well as their own.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The Sense of Resilience of health care professionals in Latvia measured by Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Scale
Authors: Janovskis D. , Eglītis R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

In this research work the sense of resilience was studied, which is an essential factor in reducing the stress of health care workers, it also helps to maintain the sustainability of the work of medical specialists and prevents the burnout syndrome. Aaron Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence scale was used in this study, which helps to determine how health care professionals are able to preserve their mental and physical health.

Objectives

This study is aimed to determine the differences in components of Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence scale for various health care specialists and to describe the factor structure of Coherence scale for health care specialists in Latvia, that forms the sense of resilience for health care specialists.

Methods

The questionnaire used in the study is Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence scale’s (Antonovsky, 1987) Latvian version, that was translated into Latvian and adapted in the research work of A. Veylande, N. Bahmačova (2000). 202 respondents who are representatives of medical professions took part in this study. The obtained data were entered into the MS Excel computer program and were statistically processed using the SPSS 22 computer program.

Results

Looking at the obtained results of this study, it can be stated that Medical Doctors- Specialists have statistically significantly higher Comprehensibility scores than Medical Orderlies (p = 0.01, r = 0.24), while Medical Doctors- Specialists and Medical Doctors- Residents have statistically significantly higher Manageability scores than Medical Orderlies (p= 0.04, r=0.21). Based on the analysis of the results, it has been determined that Doctors-Specialists (p=0.00, r=0.32) and Doctors-Residents (p=0.00, r=0.34) have statistically significantly higher Meaningfulness indicators than Medical Orderlies, as well as Doctors-Specialists (p=0.00, r=0.29) and Doctors-Residents (p=0.00, r=0.31) have statistically significantly higher Meaningfulness scores than Medical Nurses.

Conclusions

Higher scores of the three components of Antonovsky’s scale for Medical Doctors-Specialists and Medical Doctors-Residents compared to Medical Orderlies and Medical Nurses could be explained by a lower overall time that Doctors spend in the department with patients. Higher education helps to overcome stress at work and to become aware of possible strategies for improving the joy of life, ways to reduce stress at work and to relax from work.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Euthanasia and assisted suicide in people with mental disorders: a case report
Authors: Martin De Argila Lorente M. , Franco Lovaco B. , González Guembe M. , Fresnillo Palomera M. , Díaz Mayoral C.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Until 2020, only Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Netherlands legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide in Europe. Spain joined this list in March 2021 with the Euthanasia Regulation Law. However, the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide in individuals with severe mental disorders is complex due to potential cognitive and decision-making challenges. Psychiatrists play a vital role in evaluating such requests.

Objectives

he case of a patient with recurrent depressive disorder requesting euthanasia is presented, followed by a theoretical review of the subject.

Methods

A case is presented with a bibliographic review.

Results

An 89-year-old man with a history of one prior brief psychiatric hospitalization for depression three years ago was admitted after attempting suicide with an overdose of medication. He reports depressive symptoms of several years of evolution. Medical tests came back normal, but he had a urinary catheter due to voiding issues. He was initially on a medication regimen of amitriptyline, clomethiazole, and fluvoxamine. Despite his depressive state, he maintained his cognitive and decision-making abilities. Medication adjustments were made, including discontinuing amitriptyline and switching fluvoxamine to amitriptyline. His depressive symptoms worsened after three days, leading to the addition of trazodone to his treatment. He also developed urinary symptoms and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and metastatic prostate cancer during urological evaluation. Emotionally, he became more apathetic, anergic, and anhedonic, frequently expressing a desire for euthanasia, even with medication changes. Hyponatremia led to the discontinuation of duloxetine and the introduction of venlafaxine. To address anxiety and sleep problems, clomethiazole was replaced with mirtazapine. Upon learning of his cancer diagnosis, his mood deteriorated further, along with increased anxiety and continued mentions of euthanasia. Lorazepam was introduced, and he was informed of his right to request euthanasia after discussing therapeutic options with urology. Following this consultation, the patient became calmer, stopped expressing thoughts of death, and began making short-term plans, including the possibility of receiving palliative care at home upon discharge.

Conclusions

Euthanasia and assisted suicide in severe mental disorders are complex due to ethical and medical challenges. Patients must understand their condition, prognosis, and have decision-making capacity. Assessing their suffering is crucial. Coexisting mental and organic issues complicate the request’s origin. In SMD, determining irreversibility is tricky, as these are often chronic, non-terminal conditions. Exhausting treatment options is essential before considering euthanasia, despite patient treatment refusal. Limited research underscores the need for more studies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The interplay of aggression and psychopathy in a correctional treatment setting
Authors: Voulgaris A. , Briken P. , Stück E.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Aggression is a relevant risk factor for criminal behavior. Psychopathy is known to correlate with a higher risk for violent offenses and research suggests that successful therapy of psychopathy is complicated.

Objectives

Our goal was to explore the overlap between psychopathy and aggression and the specific influence of psychopathic traits on change in aggression during correctional therapy.

Methods

A pre-post-study rating psychopathy and aggression in men imprisoned for sexual and non-sexual violent offenses aged between 20 and 67 (M=37.6, SD 11.6) was conducted. The participants filled out standardized pre- and post-treatment ratings after admission and after an average of 16 months (n=144 for pre-rating, n=89 for post-rating). Psychopathy was measured via the PCL-R and aggression with the BDHI (Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory).

We calculated two-tailed Pearson correlations for BDHI Pre-, Post-, and Change Scores and the PCL-R. Further, the BDHI pre-post-differences were compared using independent t-Tests, effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d (small, medium, and large effect sizes are d = .20, .50, and .80). Also, unpaired t-tests were carried out to compare between participants with lower and higher PCL-R sum scores (median split, mdn= 16.8, M=16.8, SD=7.0).

Results

Psychopathy facets 3 and 4 (lifestyle, antisocial) and the sum score correlate significantly with the pre-, and post-BDHI total score and the subscale direct hostility but not with indirect hostility. Regarding BDHI change scores, only the interpersonal facet of PCL-R correlated significantly with direct hostility and the total BDHI score. In the whole population, a significant reduction of the BDHI was only found in the subscale indirect hostility (p=.015, cohens d= .26). In the subgroup of individuals with lower PCL-R (<16.8) showed a reduction of indirect hostility (p<.001, cohens d= .50) and the total BDHI score (p=.003, cohens d=.42). Interestingly, in the group with higher PCL-R scores no significant reduction of self-assessed hostility via BDHI was observable during therapy.

Conclusions

We identified a significant correlation between psychopathy and aggression, especially regarding facets three, four, and the sum score. Only the interpersonal facet correlated with the change in aggression during treatment in prison. In the group with higher psychopathic traits, no change in aggression was achievable during therapy. Thus, in the aspect of aggression and hostility, our data suggest that higher psychopathic traits may be viewed as a complicating factor for successful therapy.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Epidemiological, clinical, and forensic approach to a series of defendants examined in criminal psychiatric expertise
Authors: Kacem M. , Bouali W. , Abdelaziz M. , Brahim S. , Zarrouk L.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The transgression of the law can be a deliberate act by a lucid adult, but it can also be the result of a deficiency in judgment and discernment due to lack of age or insanity. Psychiatric expertises are more and more solicited in the penal field with the objective of identifying the causal link between mental illness and the criminal act.

Objectives

The objective of this work was to give an overview of the subjects expertised, the offences and the pathologies encountered through the report of a psychiatric expertise activity in criminal law.

Methods

It is a retrospective descriptive study carried out on the criminal psychiatric expertises made for a forensic act in the psychiatric department of Mahdia during the period from January 1, 2003 to March 30, 2022.

Results

In total, we collected 101 defendants. The average age of our study population was 35±12.07 years. The majority of our study sample was male (98%), from an urban area (50%). 46.6% had primary education and only 11.2% had higher education. The defendants were single in 57.8% of the cases, and almost half (45.7%) had no occupation. Two-thirds of the accused (61.2%) had experienced emotional deprivation at a young age. The problematic use of psychoactive substances was found in 10.3%, as well as alcohol consumption in 46.6%. Moreover, 39.7% of the patients had a personal psychiatric history and 19% had been incarcerated at least once. The forensic acts were mostly against people (62.9%) dominated by physical aggression (33.6%) followed by homicide or its attempt in 19% of the cases. The majority of patients were not related to their victims (62.1%). The nosographic diagnosis found was a personality disorder in 32.75% of cases, followed by schizophrenic disorders in 22.4% of cases.

Conclusions

Psychiatric expertise is a useful, complex and noble clinical act. Determining the predictive factors of a possible acting out allows to specify the objectives of interventions aiming at limiting the acts of violence, hospitalizations and incarcerations of patients suffering from mental disorders.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Pain and gain of predictive genetic testing: Particular case of fragile X syndrome
Authors: Bouayed Abdelmoula N. , Ramma N. , Abdelmoula B.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The purpose of predictive genetic tests is to identify carriers or the onset of a disease in pre-symptomatic individuals. Prediction is linked to a negative psychological impact (anxiety, depression, etc.), depending on the perception of risk, the severity of the disease, and the availability and effectiveness of treatments.

Objectives

Here, we report on genetic counselling during predictive genetic testing offered to an Arab family affected by fragile X condition (FXS) caused by the unstable expansion of a CGG repeat (CGGR) in the FMR1 gene.

Methods

A 10-year-old boy who harbored a mental retardation was referred to our genetic counselling for genetic testing as he was suspected to be affected by FXS. Screening of FMR1 gene mutations was conducted for the index case and his mother. A predictive genetic testing for the family members (brothers, sisters and others) was offered, focusing on knowledge of genetics and medical risks of FXS.

Results

FMR1 molecular analysis showed a full mutation (300 to 2000 CGGR) for the boy and a large premutation (100 CGGR) for the mother. During genetic counselling, the family was informed about the significance of the genetic results. In FXS initiated by an expansion of over 200 CGGR. While mental retarded males usually harbor the full mutation, the mother carry a premutation (70 to 200 CGGR). The deficiency of FMR protein (FMRP) in the neurons of affected males leads to brain developmental abnormalities. Some pre-mutated children may show signs of the autism spectrum disorder and females may develop FMR1-related premature ovarian insufficiency. An increased risk of a late onset fragile X tremor ataxia syndrome is identified in pre-mutated men (55 to 200 CGGR) and less in women.

Conclusions

The reduction or loss of FMRP leads to multisystem damage. Neuropsychiatric disorders such as mental retardation, speech and language delay, autism spectrum disorder, sensory hyperexcitation, social anxiety, abnormal eye contact, shyness and aggressive behaviour are common in individuals with the mutation. Affected women are often under-diagnosed because mental retardation is not constant, but minor disorders including a borderline IQ with learning difficulties and emotional disturbances have been reported. Conditions associated with fragile X premutation, a term proposed by the European Fragile X Network (FXPAC), seem to be characterized by many physical and psychological health symptoms. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders and mood disorders are more common in permutated individuals. However, new reports suggested that FXS patients could be at unusually low risk of cancers, because FMRP is over-expressed in multiple cancer tissues.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Gaping gaps in rural mental health care: understanding causes and prioritizing solutions
Authors: Gupta R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Mental health is crucial and is the backbone of all dimensions of health; physical, social and spiritual. Mental health has multiple interfaces and it is important to bring mental health to the center stage as it is the key regulator of all human activities. Unfortunately, there are alarming gaps in mental health care especially in rural areas which require attention of mental health professionals and policy makers.The study aims to understand the causes of these gaps and suggest possible and practical solutions to bridge them.

Objectives

To study the spectrum of mental health gaps present in rural areas of Haryana, a state in the northern part of India and find culturally sensitive and relevant solutions keeping in view the socio economic realities and prevalent legal framework.

Methods

Any factor having bearing on mental health but is operative sub-optimally would be considered as mental health gap for the current investigation. Rural camps were organized in 10 villages to assess the service gap at three different levels: overt (measurable), covert (including attitudinal) and ancillary (including those embedded in the psychiatry evaluation and treatment). The camps were organized by following these three basic steps: 1) Evaluating the geographic and demographic details of the villages selected. This was done by meeting the key stakeholders of the villages and the official health and service statistics available on the government website 2) Camp by multidisciplinary team in the villages with an advance intimation. The team members evaluated the mental health care awareness and the felt needs by interviewing all the villagers attending the camp on that particular day. 3) Post camp review by the team to analyze the service gaps and steps to address and narrow the gaps.

Results

Apart from inadequate availability of professional and infrastructural resources, there were many  attitudinal and ancillary gaps serving as obstacles to treatment seeking. Trust gaps leading to poor acceptance and legislation not congruent with the socio cultural needs were key impediments. Rural people had more faith in Spiritual leaders and faith healers for their mental health issues and medical help was sought only when they have signs of physical illness. Mental health and illnesses were not on priority. Availability, accessibility and affordability of health services were important factors needing immediate attention.

Conclusions

Rural services need to be augmented by de professionalization and task shifting is the key to address and cover the yawning gaps in the services. Massive, coordinated, multidisciplinary and sustainable efforts are needed to bridge the multitude of gaps keeping in view poverty and illiteracy as compounding factors.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Perception of Violence by Psychiatric Nurses: Behind the scenes
Authors: Hamzaoui S. , Mahfoudh K. , Walha S. , Mezri D. , Ouertani A. , Ouali U. , Aissa A. , Jomli R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Violence in psychiatric settings poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses. This study examines psychiatric nurses’ perceptions of violence and its impact on the quality of care they provide.

Objectives

The primary objective is to assess the influence of violence on the quality of care in psychiatric settings, with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of nurses.

Methods

We employed a questionnaire-based survey administered to 30 psychiatric nurses working in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric units of the Razi hospital Manouba. The survey gathered information on the prevalence of violence, types of violence encountered, and the impact on nursing practice.

Results

Of the 30 respondents, 75% identified as female and 25% identified as male. Most of them had more than five years of experience. The primary results revealed that all the psychiatric nurses reported experiencing at least one incident of violence during their psychiatric nursing careers. Regarding exposure to verbal violence, the results indicated that 52% encountered it sometimes, 22% often, 17% very often. Regarding physical violence, 30% experienced it rarely, 26% sometimes, 13% often, and 13% very often. For sexual violence, 56% reported never experiencing it, 8% rarely, 26% sometimes, and 8% very often. These incidents had varying effects on nurses’ emotional well-being, job satisfaction, and the quality of care they were able to provide. 53% of nurses reported experiencing emotional distress and feelings of anxiety as a result of violence, 13% felt anger and frustration. One nurse declared he was not affected emotionally. Most of the respondents (75%) indicated that their job satisfaction had been negatively affected by violent incidents. 40% of respondents stated that violence has a negative impact on their relationship with patients, but they make efforts to maintain care quality. Whereas, 20% found ways to strengthen connections despite challenging experiences.The most commonly endorsed strategies to cope with violence included attempting to master their emotions by remaining calm and patient (78% of respondents), seeking assistance or the presence of other healthcare team members (65%), and maintaining a safe distance from patients (69%). Fewer participants reported raising their voice and adopting a position of authority (30%), while a minority indicated engaging in additional training on the management of violent situations (20%). These results illustrate the diverse range of personal coping strategies.

Conclusions

Violence in psychiatric settings has a multifaceted impact on psychiatric nurses, affecting both their emotional well-being and the quality of care they provide. Strategies for managing and preventing violence, as well as supporting nurses in coping with these challenges, are essential for maintaining high-quality psychiatric care.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Mental Health Status and Fear of COVID-19 in Young Adult Male Inmates in Portugal
Authors: Laranjeira C. , Baccon W. , Mendes R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Incarcerated individuals are subject to a heightened risk of both mental and physical ailments. Hence, it is important to conduct regular assessments of their mental well-being and other potential health hazards.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to examine the subjective experience of fear related to COVID-19 and the psychological consequences of the pandemic among a cohort of young adult male convicts.

Methods

A research design using an institutional-based quantitative cross-sectional approach was used. The data collecting period was from July to September 2022, during which data was gathered at a juvenile correctional facility located in the center area of Portugal. The researchers used questionnaires to gather data pertaining to demographic and health attributes, fear related to COVID-19, as well as measures of depression, anxiety, stress, and resilient coping.

Results

The study included a cohort of 60 incarcerated males who had been imprisoned for a duration exceeding 2 years. The prevalence of stress was found to be the highest among offenders, with around 75% reporting this symptom. Anxiety was the second most often reported symptom, with 38.3% of inmates experiencing it, followed closely by depression, which was reported by 36.7% of the inmate population. The average score on the Fear of COVID-19 Scale was 17.38 ± 4.80, suggesting that participants generally reported mild levels of fear. A total of 38 subjects, accounting for 63.3% of the sample, had low scores in resilience. The participants’ responses indicated that their perceptions of mental health were within a fairly high range, with an average score of 3.62 ± 0.87. Similarly, their perceptions of physical health were also moderately high, with an average score of 3.73 ± 0.95. In terms of global health, participants reported a slightly lower average score of 3.27 ± 0.82 for the preceding month. The Pearson correlation matrix revealed statistically significant associations between fear of COVID-19 and characteristics linked to mental health, with the strength of these associations ranging from moderate to high (p < 0.001). The identification of predictive variables for fear of COVID-19 was accomplished by the use of a multiple linear regression model. Four predictors were identified in the study, namely age, perception of mental health, and overall levels of anxiety and stress. These predictors together account for about 49.7% of the variance in the outcome variable.

Conclusions

The findings of our research indicate a significant prevalence of stress among incarcerated individuals, accompanied by moderate levels of anxiety and depression. Our research has the potential to provide valuable insights for policymakers, mental health professionals, public health specialists, and other relevant stakeholders in the identification and effective management of pandemic-induced anxieties and mental health symptoms.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Mindset and emotional intelligence in pre-service teachers
Authors: Gutierrez Cobo M. J. , Cabello R. , Megías-Robles A. , Fernández-Berrocal P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Pre-service teachers must confront emotionally demanding situations associated with the profession, and they must be prepared for it. Previous literature has shown that two variables are important for managing mental health in this population: emotional intelligence (EI) and mindset. EI is the ability to perceive, facilitate, understand, and manage emotions, while mindset refers to beliefs about the malleability of various life domains. According to their mindsets, those who believe that attributes are malleable are called incremental theorists, and those who believe attributes are fixed are entity theorists.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the influence of intelligence and EI mindset on self-report and ability EI in a sample of 224 female pre-school pre-service teachers (M= 21.27, SD = 4.72).

Methods

Participants completed a questionnaire battery, including intelligence mindset, EI mindset, the Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test, the Trait Meta-Mood scale, and paternal and maternal educational status.

Results

The results showed that incremental EI theories — but not intelligence — were related to higher scores on self-report and ability EI. Specifically, being an incremental theorist of EI predicted 11% and 20% of the variance in global EI and the managing branch of ability EI, respectively

Conclusions

These results suggest that EI mindset training programs could be implemented and evaluated to explore their impact on the EI of female pre-service teachers

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Organized professional response to a large-scale disaster: Earthquakes in Türkiye
Authors: Başar K.
Published: August 2024

In February 2023, a series of earthquakes with high magnitudes affected 11 cities in Türkiye, a region with a population of over 13 million. With more than 50000 recorded deaths and more than 3 million survivors replaced, rescue and recovery efforts were challenging. The Psychiatric Association of Türkiye (PAT) immediately launched a “Disaster and Crisis Management,” which urgently formed and installed a program for psychosocial support and psychiatric care. The program included immediate, medium, and long-term actions. Hundreds of recruitments followed a call for volunteers for on-site and online support. An online “Earthquake and Mental Health” library was launched immediately, and a series of webinars on psychological first aid and disaster psychiatry were organized in the first two weeks. Furthermore, in three major cities, separate interactive meetings where question and answer sessions with trauma experts have been possible were held weekly with smaller groups. Almost a hundred volunteer PAT members served in the region in the first few months after the earthquake. All colleagues in the field, including those who survived the earthquakes, benefited from the resources of the PAT for their needs in housing, food, and mobilization. Starting from the first days, the PAT organized regional centers for coordination, which required financial resources and staff. The demand was high and could only be met with close collaboration with the Turkish Medical Association and the financial support obtained from international agencies, WPA, and other national psychiatric associations. The PAT started an online support system with technical support from a professional company, targeting healthcare professionals and first responders in the earthquake area. Volunteering psychiatrists provided appointment slots, rendering the system available 12 hours a day, seven days a week. With time, as the national healthcare delivery recovered, the PAT activities transformed into coordination, education, and supervision. Furthermore, the psychiatry residency training, which was interrupted due to the disaster, has been supported through a nationwide mentorship program launched by the PAT. The experience of the Psychiatric Association of Türkiye with disasters paved the way for an organized response, which was made possible through national and international solidarity.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Providing psychiatric diagnosis and intervention in patients with chronic medical illness in the community: A novel collaboration between the Psychiatry team and the community team in a Singapore restructured hospital
Authors: Lee W. S. , Lim G. S. , Goh H. Y. , Chan Y. S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Home nursing and medical services have an established role in delivering chronic medical care to populations which face difficulty accessing physical clinics. Those with chronic medical conditions and reduced mobility face a higher likelihood of suffering from psychiatric co-morbidity. However, till date there has been limited research done on home-based psychiatric care in this population.

Since 2021, the Psychiatry department of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) has been collaborating with TTSH Community Health Team (CHT) to manage potential psychiatric issues in community patients.

These patients would be discussed in a weekly multidisciplinary setting. If indicated, home visit by both teams for home-based assessment and treatment would be arranged, allowing for detection and treatment of psychiatric illness.

Objectives

To demonstrate that the collaboration between the psychiatry team and CHT leads to diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric illness in a population that might otherwise have been unable to access psychiatric services.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study on all referrals from the CHT to the psychiatry team, within the 2-year period of August 2021 to August 2023. We collected demographic information, psychiatric history prior to referral, reason for referral, outcome of multidisciplinary discussion, and outcome of the home visits (including diagnoses made, and medications initiated).

Results

A total of 92 patients were referred by the CHT to the psychiatry team. Most were elderly with multiple medical co-morbidities; of note, a history of stroke was present in 24 of the referred patients.

Common reasons for referral include suspected mental illness, risk assessment, and management of behavioural issues.

28 of the referred patients did not have a prior psychiatric history at the point of referral. Among these, home visits involving the psychiatric team were done for 16 patients. 11 (68%) of these home visits led to diagnosis of a new psychiatric illness. 9 of these patients were initiated on psychotropic medications in the home setting.

Conclusions

A significant proportion of patients (68% of home visits without prior psychiatric diagnosis) were newly diagnosed with psychiatric illness, allowing early psychiatric intervention to be delivered. This was achieved in a population with a high prevalence of multiple medical comorbidity and barriers to clinic-based psychiatric evaluation and treatment.

We propose future comparative studies into how the collaboration between the psychiatric team and community health team can improve the quality of life and caregiver experience of patients with chronic medical problems, as well as how the service had improved the confidence of the community health team in identifying and managing patients with possible psychiatric issues.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Socio-emotionalcompetencies in teachers of educational institutions in the department of cordoba, acomparative study between men and women
Authors: Ruiz Gonzalez E. P. , Muñoz Argel M. N. , Romero Otalvaro A. M. , Gracia Castañeda M. G.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

According to Bisquerra Alzina (2003),competencies are defined as a set of knowledge, capabilities, skills and attitudes, necessary to understand, express and regulate emotional phenomena appropriately and which are fundamental in the teaching profesion since they are closely related to students´performance and mental health.

Objectives

compare socio-emotional skills in two groups of participants: female and male

Methods

A non-experimental,cross-sectional design was proposed for this study. The scope of this research is descriptive, in the sense,that it seeks to establish measures in regard to specific variables. Sample (100 female and 100 male).

Results

Results revealed that the evaluated teachers show average level of socio-emotional competencies, (Table 1).The highest scores were encountered in relation to the optimism competence. It suggests that teachers have the ability to obtain favorable balances from adverse situations presented in their daily lives.
Table 1:

Distribution of socio-emotional competency levels in the professionals evaluated

LOW %MEDIUM %HIGHT %EMOTIONAL AWARENESS19801SELF EFFICACY32662EMOTIONAL REGULATION17812EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION6859PROSOCIALITY6859ASSERTIVENESS68212OPTIMISM02179EMOTIONAL AUTONOMY25714EMPATHY8857

Findings showed that there exists a statiscally significative difference (P=0,000) in the empathy and self-efficacy dimensions. Women obtained higher scores in these two abilities in regard to men. (Table 2). No differences were observed in the rest of the competences evaluated.
Table 2:

Differences according to men and women

FEMALEMALESELF EFFICACY1,781,61EMPATHY2,021,96

Conclusions

Although teachers´s socio-emotional competences were classified in medium levels, it is necessary to implement an intervention design that allows to streghten those dimensions since they could improve not only the relationships with their students but also teachers´ mental health.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Analysis of the reasons for consultation in psychiatric emergency triage
Authors: Cruz S. , Ferre S. R. , Español F. V.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The chain of care in psychiatric emergencies should be reviewed to improve assistance.

Objectives

Our objective was to determine the reality behind the reasons for consultation assigned in triage as “Psychiatry Assessment” and “Psychiatric Patient”, examining diagnoses to the discharge of said patients

Methods

To this end, reasons for triage consultation and patient diagnoses are retrospectively collected who were evaluated by the main author in the emergency room of Hospital de Jaén between June 23, 2019 and May 31, 2020. They were selected following these criteria; inclusion: patients with psychiatry consultation, evaluated by the first signatory of the text and with reasons for consultation in triage: “Psychiatric patient” or “Assessment by Psychiatry”. As exclusion criteria: high due to escape. Among the 224 patients evaluated, we found 35 who met criteria

Results

Of the total reasons of consultation collected at beginning, 16.6% corresponds to “Assessment by Psychiatry” (13.9%) and “Patient psychiatric” (2.7%), this being group the second reason for most frequent consultation after of “Anxiety” with 33%. Relating these reasons for consultation with the discharge diagnoses made in these patients, we found that the percentage of patients in each diagnosis would be: Regarding the action plan followed after the evaluation and diagnosis of these patients, it is reported that 45% of them required admission, 37% were referred to Mental Health Unit, 9% to family doctor and 6% to the Drug Addiction Center. - 11.4% of pharmacological intakes; 8.6% of psychotic episodes, symptoms anxiety, treatment renewal and mood disorders personality; respectively; 5.7% of autolytic attempts, autolytic ideation, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, heteroaggressiveness and depression; respectively; 2.9% of adverse effects to drugs among others diagnostics

Conclusions

It is appreciated that the reasons for consultation triated as “Psychiatric patient” or “Psychiatry assessment” does not provide real information about the clinical characteristics of the patient to be evaluated in the emergency room, having a wide range of diagnoses encompassed in these terms. This fact does not allow discern the fundamental reason why the patient goes to the emergency room, nor receive assistance adequate to the problem it presents, nor a correct regulation of waiting and logistical planning. We believe it is advisable to review the use of these terms in the practice of the psychiatric emergencies training all professionals involved in the triage chain and we value the need to count on all emergency services with a standardized triage method for the psychiatric emergencies.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared