bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PW01-178 - Effectiveness, Tolerability And Compliance Of Schizophrenic Patients Under Treatment With Oral Atypical Antipsychotics Or Long-Acting Injectable Risperidone In Daily Routine
Authors: Schreiner A. , Ibach B. , Hargarter L. , Diekamp B.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

This study assessed treatment compliance, effectiveness, tolerability and safety of oral second generation antipsychotics (oSGA) versus long-acting injectable risperidone (RLAI).

Methods

Non-interventional, 24-month study (RIS-SCH-4057) in schizophrenic patients (ICD-10 F20.x; CGI≤5) with monotherapy of oSGA (amisulpride, aripiprazole, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone, or risperidone) or RLAI.

Results

Interim analysis after 12 months including 300 RLAI and 159 oSGA patients (ITT; m/f 48%/52%; age 42.1±11.5 years; mean disease duration 8.8±8.1 years). PANSS, CGI-C and SWN-K significantly improved in both groups (p< 0.001; no between-group differences). Compliance to study medication was 75-100% in >70% of both groups. In RLAI vs. oSGA patients retention rates were higher (54.0% vs. 43.3%; p=0.0542), retention time was 277±11 vs. 254±13 days (p=0.0995), relapse rate/patient/year was 0.15 vs. 0.21 and time to first relapse was 309±7 vs. 290±10 days (p=0.0485). Adverse events (AEs) were reported in 69.0% RLAI vs. 76.1% oSGA patients, serious AEs in 19.7% vs. 19.5%. One RLAI patient died with no causal relationship to study medication. Most common AEs at least possibly related to the study medication in RLAI vs. oSGA patients were fatigue (12.7% vs. 16.4%), disturbance in attention (12.7% vs. 13.8%), dry mouth (13.0% vs. 13.2%), weight increase (11.0% vs. 10.1%), and EPS (3.0% vs. 2.5%). 6.0% RLAI and 6.9% oSGA patients had serious AEs at least possibly related to the study medication.

Conclusions

The trend of these data towards lower relapse rates and longer retention with RLAI vs. oSGA indicates that RLAI therapy may help patients effectively to achieve better long-term outcomes.
PW01-182 - Evidence For Association Of Akt1 Gene Variants With Both Schizophrenia And Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Karege F. , Schürhoff F. , Perroud N. , Méary A. , Leboyer M. , Malafosse A.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Akt1 gene has been associated with genetic etiology of schizophrenia (SCZ). SNPs and haplotypes with significant association were identified in different ethnic schizophrenia. In bipolar disorder (BD), these variants have not been studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the Akt variants both in SCZ and BD. We wished to determine whether the two disorders show similar patterns of association.

Methods

This case-control study included 788 subjects: 384 unrelated SCZ; 130 unrelated BD, and 274 unrelated healthy controls (HC) for six SNPs of the Akt1 gene located at the region spanning 36.9 kb. Genotyping was achieved with the HRM method and primers were designed by Primer3. Genotypic, allelic and haplotypic distribution between SCZ, BD and HC population were evaluated. Analyses were performed with Plink v.1.06.

Results

The analysis identified a significant global distortion in SCZ (p< 0.0005) and a weak association in BD (p< 0.01). A four-SNP haplotype (TCGA) showed a significant association with SCZ (p< 0.0007) and BD (p< 0.006). This haplotype include the Emamian et al's core haplotype (3-SNP 2/3/4/, TCG). Intrestingly, SCZ and BD share this distorted haplotype. Other multi-SNP haplotypes also showed significant association with both diseases. No distortion was observed between SCZ and BD population, and when SCZ and BD were combined, the global p-value improved (p< 0.00005).

Conclusions

Our findings support the role of Akt1 in genetics of both SCZ and BD. The established association in both populations are consistent with the overlap model of theses nosologies.
PW01-184 - An Overview Of The Demobinc Project And Development Of The Quality Indicator For Rehabilitative Care (Quirc)
Authors: Killaspy H. , Taylor T. , King M.
Published: June 2010

Objective

To develop a toolkit (QuIRC) for assessing the living conditions, care and human rights of people with long term mental illness in psychiatric and social care facilities.

Methods

The QuIRC was developed by research partners across ten countries: UK; Germany; Spain; Czech Republic; Bulgaria; Italy; Netherlands; Poland; Greece and Portugal. Its content was informed by triangulation of the evidence on critical components of care collated from: a review of care standards in each country; an international literature review; and Delphi exercises with service users, carers, advocates and mental health professionals in each country. Its final format was agreed by an international panel of rehabilitation and recovery experts.

Results

The toolkit includes 154 questions which assess seven domains of care provided in units for people with longer term mental health problems (living environment; therapeutic environment; treatments and interventions; self-management and autonomy; social inclusion; human rights; Recovery-orientated practice). It is completed by a senior clinician and takes around 90 minutes. Domain ratings can be used to assess and review the quality of care provided locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. A web-based version is under development that provides the unit with a report of its performance on these domains, compared to similar units in the same country. This will increase its accessibility for the review of care standard performance.
PW01-186 - Effects Of Longterm Treatment With Atypical Neuroleptics For Patients With Schizophrenia (Elan): Medication Use, Adherence, Functional Impairment, Quality Of Life
Authors: Laengle G. , Bayer W. , Eschweiler G. , Jäger S. , Pfiffner C. , Weiser P. , Croissant D. , Kilian R. , Becker T. , Steinert T.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Collecting prospective data on medication adherence, course of illness, course of treatment, cost effectiveness and quality of life among patients with schizophrenia under the German health system.

Methods

The ELAN study was conducted as a multi-centre, non-interventional observation study. 374 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10 F2) who had been discharged with a medication of quetiapine (N=183), olanzapine (N=91) or risperidone (N=100) were included. Follow-up interviews were conducted after 6,12,18 and 24 months. Applied instruments comprised PANSS, MARS-S, EPS-M, AIMS-S, GAF, ZST and a questionnaire for quality of life.

Results

For each follow-up, at least 80% of the original sample could be included. After two years, between 39% and 43% of patients continued to take the drug prescribed at discharge. Only between 4% and 7% of patients received no neuroleptic treatment in the last 6 months, respectively. The variety of drugs used increased during the course. Only small differences could be found regarding the defined outcome measures (PANSS, GAF, rehospitalisation rate) and side effects. Changes in medication were mostly due to insufficient efficacy or side effects. Doctor's recommendations had an important influence on patients’ decisions.

Conclusions

Under conditions of routine treatment, medication adherence was much greater and differences between drugs were smaller than reported in randomised controlled clinical trials. Taking into account the low sample selection bias and the small percentage of lost-to-follow-up subjects, this study provides some new insight into routine clinical treatment and outcomes in patients with schizophrenia.
PW01-190 - Left Temporal Lobe Dysfunction In Schizophrenia: A Dichotic Listening Erp Study
Authors: Merlotti E. , Mucci A. , Volpe U. , Vignapiano A. , Corominas Rabassa D. , Romano P. , Galderisi S.
Published: June 2010

Structural and functional abnormalities of the left hemisphere, often involving the temporal lobe were frequently observed in schizophrenia. However, negative and discrepant findings were also reported. Our study aimed to investigate the presence of lateralized impairment of event-related potentials, recorded during a tonal dichotic listening task, in a group of clinically stabilized patients with schizophrenia.

The ERP component N100, related to sensory processing of stimuli and generated in the temporal lobe cortex, was investigated. A passive dichotic listening task was used in order to exclude the effect of attention impairment on the observed ERP abnormalities.

Patients with schizophrenia showed a pattern of hemispheric lateralization comparable with that observed in healthy controls. In both groups, dichotic listening inhibited the augmenting pattern of N100 amplitude with increasing tone intensity. However, patients failed to demonstrate the augmenting pattern of the N100 also with monaural tones, over the left temporal leads. This abnormality did not correlate with the severity of psychopathology. A role of antipsychotic treatment was excluded as the N100 showed a normal pattern of amplitude increase over right temporal leads.

Our results suggest a state of functional inhibition of the left auditory cortex, akin to that induced by dichotic listening, in subjects with schizophrenia, indipendent of psychopathology or drug therapy.
PW01-196 - Relationship Between Schizophrenic Symptoms And Fmri Activity During Performance Of A Working Memory Task
Authors: Wible C. , Hashimoto R. , Molina I.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Recent reports show that psychological functions such as working memory, attention and intention produce overlapping functional activation in the inferior parietal region. Task activation related to attention shifting, theory of mind and agency also overlaps in the inferior parietal and posterior superior temporal regions. We hypothesized that schizophrenic symptoms may stem from abnormal activity in these regions.

Objectives

To understand the relationship between brain abnormalities and symptoms in schizophrenia.

Aims

To show that abnormal activity in the inferior parietal and posterior superior temporal regions during working memory is related to certain schizophrenic symptoms.

Methods

14 schizophrenic and 14 normal control subjects were tested using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conjunction with a verbal working memory paradigm. Symptoms were assessed using the SAPS and SANS scales.

Results

As hypothesized, activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus during working memory was correlated with levels of delusions in schizophrenic subjects. Connectivity strength between regions in the inferior parietal and anterior insula language related regions was related to levels of auditory hallucinations.

Conclusions

These regions are part of speech and voice perception and production networks. Voice perception during conversation also involves gesture processing, working memory and dynamic shifting of attention, as well as social cognition (e.g. theory of mind) and self/other (agency) representation. Overactivation of this social communication system could result in the symptoms of schizophrenia. We will present the results in the context of a framework implicating these regions in the generation of most of the symptoms of schizophrenia.
PW01-197 - Social Support In Patients With Chronic Combat Related Ptsd In Croatia
Authors: Bras M. , Gregurek R. , Milunovic V. , Boban M. , Jasaragic M. , Laco M.
Published: June 2010

Objective

The main aim of this research is to evaluate the connection of various components of social support with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We set up hypothesis that the level of the perceived social support mediates beneficial effects on various PTSD symptoms. Second hypothesis states that perceived social support is in positive connection with quality of life.

Methods

246 outpatients with chronic combat related PTSD participated in this study. On the base of different questionnaires we examined social support, quality of life and PTSD symptomatology (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support- MSPSS, Trauma symptoms inventory -TSI-A, World Health Organization Quality Of Life-BREF). We tried to identify three main factors of social support by factor analysis of MSPSS. Those factors were used in logistic and multiple regression analysis in order to prove our hypothesis.

Results

In contrast to other researchers, we defined only two factors in MSPSS: “family support” explaining 52.9% of total variability and “peer support” explaining 18.5% of total variability. These factors used as predictors were not shown significant in multiple regression analysis predicting the PTSD symptoms defined by TSI-A. However, the levels of perceived social support were positively correlated with all four domains of quality of life.

Conclusion

Our research shows that role of social support in chronic course of PTSD is questionable, possibly due to personality changes and secondary traumatization, which is being supported by other researchers emphasizing it's importance in the early course of PTSD.
PW01-199 - Barriers To Physical Health Care In People With Mental Illness
Authors: de Hert M. , Cohen D.
Published: June 2010

People with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder, have worse physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population. The excess cardiovascular mortality associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is attributed in part to an increased risk of the modifiable coronary heart disease risk factors; obesity, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia.

Over recent years both national and international groups have developed screening and monitoring guidelines but these are not being routinely implemented in the clinical care of patients. A review of the literature identifies barriers to comprehensive screening, monitoring and treatment of somatic co-morbidities on the level of professionals (both within psychiatry as well as in primary care), patients, health care systems (organisational and financial aspects) and health policies.

Psychiatrists and primary care physicians should play an active role in ensuring that patients with mental illness are not disadvantaged. Measures should include the assessment and management of cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes as part of the care of their psychiatric patients. When indicated, shared care with cardiologists, diabetologists, specialist nurses or other specialists should be established.

The aim of the recent joint statement on cardiovascular disease an diabetes in people with severe mental illness of the EPA, EASD and ESC is to reduce cardiovascular risk and to improve diabetes care in patients with SMI and to improve overall health and well-being of the patients (De Hert et al. 2009). This should reduce the burden of physical illness for patients, their families and healthcare services.
PW01-201 - Ptsd And Other Psychiatric Disorders Among Concentration Camp Survivors In Bosnia And Herzegovina
Authors: Licanin I.
Published: June 2010

During war time in Bosnia (1992-1995) many inhabitants and fighters were arrested and incarcerated in concentration camps where many underwent torture and inhuman treatment.

Objectives

To establish the prevalence of PTSD and other psychiatric morbidity and associated factors among the Bosnian Concentration Camp survivors.

Methods

Prospective descriptive study of 750 concentration camp survivors, who were treated at Psychiatric Clinic in Sarajevo, included in the study, which conducted from January 2007-June 2009. These POWs were captured in concentration camps during war time in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lifetime and Current PTSD, IES-R score and other Psychiatric Morbidity as measured using the SCID and the IES-R.

Results

A DSM-IV-TR diagnosis of current PTSD was made in 555 (74%) of the survivors.75 (10%) suffered from Depression, 120 (16%) from Anxiety disorders. PTSD co-morbidity was in 444 (80%) with Personality Disorders, or with Panic attacks, or with drug and alcohol abuse. Current PTSD was associated with higher IES-R scores and older age, lower income, non-islamic religion, larger household size, older age at incarceration, greater length of incarceration, incarceration in two or more camps, experiencing other traumatic events, family history of mental illness and having other psychiatric illness. After treatment 229 (30.53%) of patients had severe Personality disorders after experienced trauma. Majority of PTSD patients were chronic.

Conclusions

Similar to other former Prisoners of War (POWs) elsewhere, these survivors suffer high PTSD prevalence rates and a special veterans’ service is recommended to address this problem and its associated factors among these and other veterans in Bosnia.
PW01-203 - Predictors Of Stigmatizing And Destigmatizing Articles On Mental Illness In The Printed Media: A Central European Perspective
Authors: Nawka A. , Vukušić Rukavina T. , Nawková L. , Adámková T. , Holcnerová P. , Rojnić Kuzman M. , Jovanović N. , Brborović O. , Bednárová B. , Ňuchová S. , Miovský M. , Raboch J.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Many studies describing print media representations of mental illnesses have showed that these depictions are frequently negative and contribute to consequent stigmatization of people with mental illness. The main objective of this international study was to identify predictors of stigmatizing and nonstigmatizing articles on mental illness in Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovakia.

Methods

The study sample comprised all articles pertaining to the topic of mental illness (N=450) chosen from 6 most widely read newspapers and magazines identified during five weeklong periods in 2007. The presence of stigmatization and destigmatization statements was coded and articles were grouped in positive, neutral, mixed and negative clusters. Negative/positive ratio (NPR) was used to assess the predictor value of different features of the article regarding stigmatization.

Results

61.8% of articles contained some stigmatizing statements towards persons with mental illness. The highest NPR was found in articles published in tabloids (6.8), on the front page (3.7) and in the articles where psychotic disorder was mentioned (7.4) and mentally ill person figured as a source of information (1.8). Lowest NPR was found in magazines (0.6), articles in later sections (1.7) that mentioned eating disorders (0.3) and scientific surveys (0.1).

Conclusions

There is a high level of stigmatizing statements in the studied articles. As the strongest predictors of stigmatizing content we have identified articles that are published in tabloids and articles with reference to psychosis. Contrary to this, eating disorders had the least stigmatizing depiction as well as articles containing scientific data.
PW01-204 - Is Stigma Affected By Treatment Of Mental Illness?
Authors: Nearney H. , Beezhold J. , Nordt C. , Howe A.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

The Social Distance Scale (SDS) has been widely used as a proxy to explore stigmatising attitudes towards mental illness.

Objectives

To administer a vignette-based questionnaire incorporating the SDS to first year healthcare undergraduates.

Aims

To compare the attitudes of participants towards active and resolved cases of mental illness.

Methods

567 students were sent an electronic questionnaire containing one vignette selected at random from a possibility of six (describing either active or medically resolved depression, schizophrenia or asthma). Participants then completed the SDS as used by Nordt (2006), to indicate what level of social closeness they would accept with such a person described in the vignette.

Results

180 responses were received (31.7% response rate). Good levels of reliability for the Social Distance Scale were demonstrated (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. A linear regression model was applied which explained 18% of the variance. Respondents showed significantly more social distance towards the vignettes describing active cases of depression, schizophrenia and asthma compared to the vignettes describing medically resolved cases (+0.21; p=0.045). Social distance towards the schizophrenia vignette was significantly higher (+0.28; P=0.031) compared to the depression vignette, and social distance towards the asthma vignette was significant lower (-0.413; p=0.001) compared to the depression vignette

Conclusions

Students were more socially distant towards the active cases of mental and physical illness compared to the resolved cases. A hierarchy of social distance existed, with most distance shown towards schizophrenia, followed by depression, with asthma receiving the least social distance.
PW01-215 - Connections Between Trait Anxiety And The Mechanisms Of Decision Making In Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Andó B. , Szkaliczki A. , Domján N. , László S. , Kurgyis E. , Honti J. , Demeter I. , Szikszay P. , Janka Z. , Álmos P.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

According to recent studies anxiety has a significant impact on cognitive functioning, especially on decision-making. Alcohol dependent patients (ADP) achieve worse performance on decision-making simulation tasks compared to healthy controls. Our aim was to investigate how trait anxiety is connected to decision-making mechanisms in ADP.

Methods

The data of 76 ADP have been analyzed. To examine decision-making mechanisms we used the “ABCD” version of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). The IGT total score was calculated and we divided the task into 5 equal blocks to study the pattern of the decision-making process. We administered the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale. The patient group was arranged into two subgroups with median split method based on the STAI scores. One group (N=38) was characterized by low trait anxiety level, and the other (N=38) had high level of trait anxiety. For comparing the two groups’ decision-making mechanisms we used independent samples t-test.

Results

The group with higher level of trait anxiety performed significantly poorer on the IGT (t=2.09, p=0.04). The detailed analysis of the two groups’ decision-making mechanisms showed that the difference between the groups became significant in the 5th block (t=2.57, p=0.01).

Conclusions

Decision-making deficit is not homogenous in the ADP group, as according to our results the trait anxiety level influences the adequacy of decision-making. Psycho-biological background of the inadequate decision-making needs further investigation and this knowledge could be used in the future to improve decision-making mechanisms of the ADP.
PW01-222 - Adolescents Using Hallucinogens Within A Religious Context: A Neuropsychological Assessment
Authors: Doering-Silveira E. , Lopez E. , Grob C.S. , De Rios M.D. , Shirakawa I. , Bertolucci P.H. , Silveira D.X.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

The use of psychoactive substances has been frequently associated with cognitive impairment. More and more people, including adolescents, use the plant hallucinogen beverage “ayahuasca” throughout the world. Long-term ayahuasca use by adolescents might eventually result in impaired cognitive performance.

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess neuropsychological performance of adolescents who consume ayahuasca within a religious ritual setting.

Method

Forty ayahuasca consuming adolescents and forty adolescents who never used ayahuasca were compared on their performance on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Groups were matched by sex, age, and educational level.

Results

Both groups performed well on all neuropsychological tests. However, there were differences between the groups. Controls outperformed subjects on more complex tests, that is, those requiring more cognitive functions to perform a specific task.

Conclusions

Adolescents who consume ayahuasca performed well on all the neuropsychological tests. However they did not perform as well as the control group whenever extra cognitive strength was required. It is possible that ayahuasca may have some subtle effect on cognition that can only be observed before highly demanding tasks. However, other variables may have interfered with these findings.
PW01-226 - Relapse Related Factors In Drug Dependent Patients After Detoxification Process In An Inpatient Unit
Authors: Grau-López L. , Roncero C. , Gonzalvo B. , Fusté G. , Barral C. , Alvarós J. , Navarro C. , López-Craver M.V. , Voltes N. , Casas M.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

There are few studies about the characteristics of Substance Use Disorder patients that relapse, defined by restart of the substance use that motivated the intake, after discharge from a Detoxification Unit.

Objectives

To analyze the percentage of patients who had a relapse in the following 3 months after discharge and to describe their sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutical characteristics.

Methods

We prospectively studied drug dependents patients admitted to our Detoxification Unit from June 2008 to August 2009. Data was gathered at admission on demographic (gender, age), clinical (main abused drug, psychiatric comorbidities, polydrug users) and therapeutical variables (hospitalisation duration, prescribed treatment). Patients were followed up for 3 months and assessed for relapse at 1 and 3 months by clinical interview, alcohol screening test and/or urinalysis. Results from patients with and without relapses were compared.

Results

The study sample included 103 patients (77,7% men, average age 38,31±9). At month 3, 57,3% of the patients had relapsed. We found significant differences between the relapse and the non-relapse group on the percentage of polydrug users (68,6% vs 31,4%, p=0,05), on heroine as main drug of abuse (76% vs 24%, p=0,05) and psychiatric comorbidities (60,8% vs 39,2%, p=0,04), being psychotic disorders the most frequent. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups concerning therapeutical variables.

Conclusions

More than half of the patients that ended the detoxification process relapsed in the first 3 months. Polydrug use, opiate dependence and having a psychiatric comorbidity might be considered as risk factors for relapse.
PW01-229 - (Mis)Use Of Alcohol By The Young Population In Serbia
Authors: Jugovic A. , Sarajlija M. , Sarajlija A.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Socio-cultural and family context of Serbian post-conflict and transition society intensifies overall risks of alcohol (mis)use.

Aim

The main purpose of this article was to analyze the risk behavior of young people in relation to (mis)use of alcoholic beverages in Serbia. Five indicators were examined: use of alcohol by the very young, frequency of use of alcoholic beverages, the state of getting drunk, combination of alcohol and psychoactive substances and motives for use of alcoholic beverages.

Method

The study included 3.111 participants aged between 16 and 35 years from different parts of Serbia. Collection of data was conducted in April 2007. Participants completed self-administered anonymous questionnaires (modified YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOUR SURVEY) that consisted of sociodemographic characteristics and experiences related to alcohol (mis)use.

Results

Majority of participants reported drinking alcohol at the age of fifteen or younger. Lifetime alcohol use was reported by 75% participants. Prevalence of alcohol drinking was threefold higher among males. The overall prevalence of the state of getting drunk among participants was 36%. During one month before survey 10% of participants have expirienced combination of alcohol and psychoactive substances. Key motives for use of alcoholic beverages were relaxation (33%) and friendship (17%).

Conclusion

Early alcohol use, history of family disorganization and parental alcoholism were identified as factors related to increased risk of (mis)use of alcohol among young in Serbia.

(Mis)use of alcohol was related to significantly higher risk of other risk behaviors as marijuana use, violence, gambling, driving car in alcoholic state.
PW01-231 - Attentional Dysfunctions In Multiple Drug Abuse: Impact Of Drug Clustering, Age Of Onset And Comorbid Mental Disorder
Authors: Kunert H.J.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

So far, research on cognitive functions in multiple drug abusers with a very early age of onset has been only tentative. Furthermore, outcome research for therapy or rehabilitation is urgently needed in subgroups of this heterogeneous cohort of drug abusers.

Methods

Different cognitive domains (i.e. intelligence and attentiveness) of N = 750 patients were tested in a rehabilitation hospital for multiple drug abuse and comorbid mental disorder. The test results were correlated with the prominent drug cluster of the patients over the last 10 years. Calculated were also the impact of age of onset and mental disorder on the attentional system.

Results

Drug clustering showed different effects on attentional functions. Morphine was hardly associated with serious deficits. Cannabis showed effects in the domains of multimodal stimulus processing (i.e. divided attention) and visual attention (visual scanning) with respect to cumulative lifetime dosage and the duration of use. Cumulative use of alcohol also had a negative effect on the attentional system, particularly on frontal executive functions (i.e. flexibility and working memory). The effect of amphetamines, methamphetamines and cocaine varied depending on which other drugs were used. Comorbidity (e.g., schizophrenia or developmental disorders) also had significant effects on the test results.

Conclusions

Specific attentional dysfunctions can lead to diminished behaviour control and impairments in professional abilities (e.g., ability to drive or operate a machine). The results of our study are important for diagnosis and planning therapy or rehabilitation especially in younger patients.
PW01-234 - Severity Of Adicction And Psy-5 Traits In Adolescents With Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Magallón-Neri E. , Goti J. , Canalda G. , Díaz R. , Aso L. , Castro-Fornieles J. , Forns M.
Published: June 2010

The objective of this study was to examine the association of different personality traits on severity of addiction indexes and patterns of drug use level, in a sample of adolescent psychiatric patients with Substance Use Disorders (SUD), based on the dimensional model of Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) of the MMPI-A.

Method

The Teen Addiction Severity Index (T-ASI), the MMPI-A, and an inventory of drug use pattern were administered to 73 psychiatric patients (M=16.0, SD=1.18 years old; 51% male).

Results

Rho Spearman correlations showed significant associations between Disconstraint (DISC) and T-ASI indexes of drug and social problems (rho= .342, p= .003, and rho= .320, p= .006) and also between DISC in relation to level of cannabis use and other drugs than cocaine and amphetamines (rho= .334, p= .004, and rho= .274, p= .023). The dimension of Psychoticism (PSYC) and Aggressiveness (AGGR) showed slight association with cannabis use (rho= .236, p= .045, and rho= .247, p= .035). The Negative emotionality (NEGE) and Introversion (INTR) showed a moderate association with the T-ASI index of psychiatric problems (rho= .265, p=0.023, and rho=.256, p= .029) but not with drug problems.

Conclusions

The DISC trait could represent a good indicator of risk for drug related problems. High scores in PSYC and AGGR are slightly associated to increase level of cannabis use. While psychiatric complaints are associated with NEGE and INTR traits.
PW01-235 - Impairments On The Startle Reflex And The Prepulse Inhibition In Abstinent Alcoholic Males
Authors: Marin M. , Martinez I. , Ponce G. , López J. , Rubio G.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

Startle reflex (SR) is a defensive response to sudden, intense stimuli. Prepulse inhibition (PPI) refers to the ability of innocuous sensory events to reduce SR. PPI has been described as an operational measure of sensorimotor gating that is reduced in several neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, but there is no extensive experience in addictions and alcoholism. The objective of this study was to examine the existence of impairments on SR and PPI in abstinent alcoholic males.

Methods

Subjects were 40 abstinent alcoholic males, aged 18 to 65 years (mean age 44.73), who had met DSM-IV criteria for Alcohol Dependence, being abstinent for more than a month at the moment they were tested. Participants underwent testing for PPI. Subjects were then compared with 35 equal controls.

Results

Magnitudes of the SR were lower in abstinent alcoholic males when compared with controls. This differences were significant (p< 0,05) in trials with prepulse presented 30, 60 or 120 msec before the onset of startle stimulus. There was a significant less percentage of PPI when prepulse was presented 30 msec before the startle stimulus (p< 0,05).

Conclusions

Abstinent alcoholic males exhibit a decrease in the startle response magnitude and in the PPI of the SR. These data suggest that sensory information processing mechanisms could be damaged in abstinent alcoholic patients. The fact that these findings are common to other psychiatric disorders, could indicate the existence of a common vulnerability marker, and could explain the important comorbidity between alcoholism and other mental illness.
PW01-236 - Impulsivity And Startle Habituation As Vulnerability Markers For Alcoholism
Authors: Marin M. , Martinez I. , Ponce G. , Koeneke A. , Lopez J. , Rubio G. , Jimenez-Arriero M.A.
Published: June 2010

Background

Impulsivity has been considered as a risk factor for alcohol dependence. Recent research is focusing on paradigms of the startle response (SR), specifically prepulse inhibition (PPI) and startle habituation (SH), as vulnerability markers for alcoholism. It has been demonstrated impairments in the PPI and the SH in offspring of alcoholics. It has also been shown, using personality questionnaires, that faster habituation may be associated with tendency toward impulsivity and behavioral disinhibition. Our goal is to study the correlation between impulsivity laboratory measures and the SR paradigms, in order to see if they could share a common base as endophenotypes for alcoholism.

Method

The subjects were 40 abstinent alcoholic males, aged 18 to 65 years (mean age 44.73) and who had met DSM-IV criteria for Alcohol Dependence, being abstinent for more than a month at the moment they were tested. Participants underwent testing for PPI and habituation of the acoustic startle response. Impulsivity was assessed with three different laboratory measures: Continuous Performance Test (CPT), Stop-Signal Task and Differential Reinforcement for Low-Rate Responding (DRL6). Analyses were performed using SPSS v.10.0.

Results

We found a significant positive correlation between CPT-tasks and SH (p< 0,01), and Stop-Signal Task-tasks and SH (p< 0,05), but not with DRL6-tasks. No significant correlation was demonstrated between impulsivity measures and PPI.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest the existence of a common base between impulsivity and SH as vulnerability markers for alcohol dependence. Further studies are needed to assess if both could share a common genetic origin.
PW01-238 - Electrophysiological Correlates Of Behavioural Inhibition And Decision Making Processes In Patients With Impulse Control Deficits
Authors: Merz H. , Karch S. , Koller G. , Hock B. , Opgen-Rhein M. , Riedel M. , Pogarell O.
Published: June 2010

Introduction

Patients with impulse control deficits often show cognitive abnormalities especially in executive abilities. One possibility to examine the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms is to assess evoked potentials. In the present study an adapted go/nogo-paradigm was used to investigate electrophysiological correlates of voluntary selection and behaviour control processes in patients suffering from alcohol dependence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Methods

15 patients with alcohol dependence, 15 adult patients with ADHD and 15 control persons were included into the study. Patients with alcoholism were examined twice: before and after an inpatient detoxification.

The participants performed a go/nogo task, comprising three different conditions:

Apart from the go-condition (button press required) and the nogo-task (inhibition of a behavioural response), a voluntary selection task was included in which participants were allowed to freely decide, whether to press the response button or not.

Results and discussion

Response inhibition and voluntary selection processes were related to a fronto-central negativity after 200 ms (N2) and a positivity after 300 ms (P3) in healthy subjects. In patients, the P3 amplitude was reduced compared to the controls. In addition, alcohol dependent patients did not show a N2 potential.

The results indicate fronto-central dysfunctions dysfunctions in either patient group. However, different neuronal processes seemed to be affected in patients with ADHD and patients with alcoholism.
PW01-239 - From First To Final Year Of University Education: Trajectory Of Alcohol Problems In Belarusian Universities
Authors: Osain Welcome M. , Alekseevic Pereverzev V.
Published: June 2010

Objectives

The problem of alcohol use is a major public health problem in the general students’ population in Belarus. We therefore screen for the prevalence and trace the order of increase in alcohol use and related problems among freshmen and seniors in Belarusian universities.

Materials and methods

A total of 565 (1st - 2nd courses, mean age - 18.9yrs), 537 (3rd - 4th courses, mean age - 20.9yrs) and 397 (5th - 6th courses, mean age - 22.8 yrs) university students in Minsk (Belarus) were administered the AUDIT questionnaire, including other alcohol related questions. The cut-off point on the AUDIT was set at 8. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 16.0 version for Windows; the criteria of Pearson, X2 and Student's t testsñ. The probability value for significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results

Alcohol use and related problems increased with increase in the average age and year of study. In the 1st - 2nd, 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th courses, alcohol users were 83.56%, 85.64%, 94.22% respectively and problem drinkers were 14.51%, 17.88%, 20.91% respectively. The use of strong strength alcoholic beverages was linked with a high risk of alcohol related problems, than the use of weak alcoholic beverages in the general students’ population.

Conclusion

The level of alcohol use and related problems in the general students’ population in Belarus are high and show increase in order of increase both in the average age and in the year of study.
PW01-244 - A Retrospective Sibling Study Of Childhood Adjustment In Adults With Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Sethi P. , Easow J. , Luty J.
Published: June 2010

Aim

To retrospectively identify differences in antisocial and delinquent behavior between siblings discordant for serious substance use disorders.

Background

Research has suggested that people who develop serious substance use disorders have delinquent traits as children prior to using any illicit drugs.

Method

A retrospective survey was conducted of 50 pairs of adult siblings who were discordant for serious substance use disorders. The self-report early delinquency scale (SRED) was used to retrospectively assess delinquent traits in childhood and adolescence.

Results

The mean SRED 29 (illegal item) score in treatment seeking opiate dependent people (mean age= 33.5 years) was 19.6 (SE=0.9) compared to 4.8 (SE=0.6) in same sex, non-substance dependent siblings (p< 0.0001; paired Wilcoxon test). The mean SRED 58 (norm violation) score in treatment seeking opiate dependent people was 36.8 (SE=1.7) compared to 10.5 (SE=1.4) in same sex siblings (p< 0.0001; paired Wilcoxon test). 40% of patients were expelled from school compared to 12% of siblings (Yates-corrected Chi2 = 8.78; p = 0.003). 96% of patients reported problems with the police as adolescence compared to 48% of controls (Yates-corrected Chi2 = 26.24; p < 0.0001). Police problems in substance users pre-dated first use of illicit substances by 5.5 years.

Conclusion

The study used a validated instrument and objective reports to confirm significantly higher rates of delinquent behavior and social dysfunction in childhood for substance users compared to non-substance dependent siblings. The delinquent behaviors usually predated serious substance misuse.
PW01-246 - Prenatal Ethanol Exposure Decreases The Number of Serotonin-immunoreactive (5-ht-ir) Cells In The Dorsal Raphe In Ovariectomized Adult Female Rats
Authors: Sliwowska J. , Song E. , Ellis L. , Weinberg J.
Published: June 2010

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) produces physiological and behavioural abnormalities that are consistent with altered serotonin (5-HT) function in male rats. Whether alterations in the 5-HT system persist into adulthood and are present in females remains unknown.

Objectives

We investigated:

1)

the effects of PAE on the number of 5-HT neurons in the brainstem in female adult rats;

2)

the potential influence of ovarian sex steroids, estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on this population of 5-HT neurons.

Methods

Female offspring from prenatal ethanol (PAE), pair-fed (PF) and ad lib-fed control (C) dams were studied in adulthood. Females were assigned to the following groups: 1) ovariectomized (OVX); 2) ovariectomized with estradiol replacement (OVX+E2; mean plasma concentration: 64 pg/ml); 3) ovariectomized and replaced with estradiol (as above) and progesterone (OVX+E2+P4; mean plasma concentration for P4:12 ng/ml); 4) Sham surgery (SHAM). Immunocytochemistry for 5-HT was performed.

Results

PAE decreased the number of 5-HT-ir neurons in the dorsal raphe (DR) in OVX females. There was no effect of PAE the number of DR 5HT-ir neurons in OVX+E2 group, suggesting a possible neuroprotective role of estradiol in PAE animals. Treatment with both progesterone and estradiol compared to estradiol alone caused a further decrease in number of DR 5-HT-ir neurons in PAE but not C or PF animals.

Conclusion

These results provide evidence of the enduring effects of PAE on the serotonergic system, and suggest a role for the ovarian sex steroids in mediating these effects.

Funding

IMPART (CIHR) to JHS, NIH/NIAAA AA007789 and HELP to JW.
PW01-247 - Primary and Secondary Therapy Resistance To NRT In Tobacco Dependence Patients
Authors: Speranskaya O.
Published: June 2010

325 tobacco dependence patients, age 47-76, smoking period more then 25 years, 209 men, 116 women with resistance to nicotin-replacement therapy were examined and anamnestically investigated from their first attempts to start smoking till nowadays.

They turned out to have differences compared to those without therapy resistance.

Primary therapy resistance started with the first attempts to quit. Secondary therapy resistance appeared after several successful quittings.

The patients with therapy resistance had special personality features, such as histero-epileptoid (58,76%), shyso- epileptoid (21,81%) in patients with primary therapy resistance; shyso-histeroid (74,5%) and shyso- epileptoid origin in the cases of the secondary therapy resistance.

The tobacco dependence syndroma has the significant prevalence of its ideatory component from the early period of smoring in every case of therapy resistance.

It showed off as the impossibility to cotnrol the mental ideas of smoking - in the patients with the primary therapy resistance, the lack of control of visual, sensual and assosiative representation of smoking - in the cases of the

All the patients also had essential signs of somato-vegetative and neurotic components of tobacco dependence syndroma. 76,5% of them suffered from comorbid affective dysorders of the dysphoric-depression origin in the patients with primary therapy resistance and senesto-hypochondrial origin in the patients with the secondary therapy resistance besides.

Our findings stress out the nesesserity of complex therapy of tobacco dependence syndroma including psychopharmacotherapy, NRT, byological therapy, espesially in the cases of therapy resistance.
PW01-249 - Treatment Strategies For The Management of The Self-aggressive Manifestations In Heroin Dependence
Authors: Vasile D. , Vasiliu O. , Vasile M.L. , Mangalagiu A.G. , Stanescu B. , Terpan M. , Nastase D.M. , Petrescu B.M. , Bogdan V.
Published: June 2010

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of three different strategies in the management of self-aggressive behavior (defined as repeated overdoses, explicit suicidal attempts or self-mutilation) observed in heroin dependent patients.

Methods

A group of 16 patients, mean age 26.2, diagnosed with heroin dependence, were treated as outpatients, with (1) oxcarbazepine (mean daily dose 900 mg), (2) cognitive behavioral therapy focused on coping strategies and cognitive restructuring (2 sessions per week) or (3) the combination of the previous two methods. All the included patients were monitored for 6 months using Inventory of Drug Taking Situations (IDTS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I), Suicide Attempt-Self Injury Interview-Short Version (SAS II-B) and Global Assessment of Function (GAF). The randomization of the patients in the three groups was single blinded.

Results

Oxcarbazepine was well tolerated and no drop out related to adverse events was registered. Patients that received combined therapy registered an improvement (p< 0.01) in all self-aggressive behaviors (33% to baseline), global functioning (25%) and clinical impression (24%). There was a significant difference between this group and the psychotherapy only treated group (p< 0.01 on SAS II-B, GAF, CGI), but not significant when it was compared to oxcarbazepine group (p=0.06). Regarding the impact of treatment strategies over the severity of addiction, only the combined therapy had some success, by decreasing with 11% the IDTS score.

Conclusion

The combined therapy, using CBT and oxcarbazepine, reduced the risk for self-aggressive behaviors on medium term in heroin dependent patients and mildly decreased the severity of the dependence.
PW01-250 - Addressing Self-image Distorsions As a Core Feature In The Alcohol Dependence Psychoterapeutic Approach
Authors: Vasile D. , Vasiliu O. , Mangalagiu A.G. , Vasile M.L. , Badescu E. , Bogdan V. , Terpan M. , Ojog D.G. , Petrescu B.M.
Published: June 2010

Objective

To establish the frequency of self-image distorsions in alcohol dependent patients and if addressing them through a targeted psychotherapeutic approach would be beneficial.

Methods

A group of 45 patients, 32 male and 13 female, mean age 39.6, diagnosed with alcohol dependence (DSM IV TR), were evaluated for establishing the severity of self-image distorsions, using-baseline and endpoint- Rotter Incomplete Sentence Test (RIST) and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT); for the monitoring of the dependence severity and its associated impairments we used Inventory of Drug Taking Situations (IDTS)-alcohol focused version and Global Assessment of Function (GAF) every 4 weeks for 6 months. From the initial group, 38 (84.4%) patients have been found with moderate and severe self-image distorsions (feeling of insecurity and inferiority, external locus of control, frequent use of denial, regression and projection). They received cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) focused on restructuring cognitive dysfunctional beliefs about self and experimenting new ways to relate to self and significant others.

Results

The psychotherapeutic approach decreased the overall severity of alcohol dependence (-35.7 on IDTS, p< 0.01) and consequently improved the global functioning (+18.2 on GAF, p< 0.01) after 6 months. These results correlated with the improvement of self-image, reflected on the severity of P-Ego scale from RIST (-23.2%, p< 0.01) and on the improvement of defense system (more frequent use of anticipation, suppression and rationalization and less of denial and projection).

Conclusion

Patients with alcohol dependence have very often self-image distorsions and could, therefore, benefit from a psychotherapy that addresses specifically this phenomenon.