bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Illness-Related Domestic Violence Experiences of Individuals Diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Bayram Z. , Aktaş M. C. , Gundogdu H.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Obsessions and compulsions often focus on routine life actions such as consuming, bathing and living in public, so the disorder interferes with the social, family and occupational functioning of both the individual and their caregiver. In OCD, caregivers are often involved in the ritual behaviors of the individual, either by providing avoidance or by assisting in ritual behaviors. Individuals with OCD are often exposed to aggression from family members because of these behaviors. Research has shown that individuals with OCD may experience illness-related domestic violence. In the literature review on the subject, there were no qualitative studies examining the experiences of individuals diagnosed with OCD towards domestic violence caused by the symptoms of the disease. A mix-method study conducted by aimed to explore the illness-related domestic violence experiences of individuals diagnosed with OCD. The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather data from individuals with OCD. The findings of the study revealed that a significant number of individuals with OCD reported experiencing domestic violence related to their illness. This study highlights the importance of addressing the issue of domestic violence in individuals with OCD and the need for appropriate interventions and support.

Objectives

This study was planned to examine the experiences of individuals diagnosed with OCD regarding domestic violence caused by the symptoms of the disease in Turkey.

Methods

The sample of the study was determined by purposive sampling method. The study was conducted with individuals diagnosed with OCD who were being treated in the psychiatric clinics of two university hospitals. The study used mixed methods and was planned in two phases. In the first stage, Socio-Demographic Data Form and Yale-Brown Obsession Compulsion Scale were used. After reviewing the results of these scales, individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 patients who had a history of domestic violence and scored above 16 on the Yale Brown Obsessions and Compulsions Scale. Data saturation was deemed to have been reached and data collection was terminated.

Results

The analysis of the data is still ongoing in detail by the researchers. The findings and relational implications of the study will be presented.

Conclusions

It is thought that the results of the study will provide a basis for further research and intervention programs and contribute to the literature by determining the types of violence experienced by individuals diagnosed with OCD from family members due to the disease, how patients feel in the face of the problems they experience and how they cope with it. In addition, the results of the study are expected to help intervention programs to be developed for families to strengthen treatment adherence.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Is content of delusions in psychotic depression related to the risk of dementia?
Authors: Coelho J. T. , Martins B. , Silva A. , Silveira C. , Machado A. S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Some studies have shown that late-life depression is related to faster cognitive decline and may increase the risk of dementia.

Identifying risk and protective factors for dementia is essential to develop preventive interventions. Some literature has suggested that mood disorders (namely depression) are potential modifiable risk factors for dementia.

Thus, it is important to know clinical presentation of depression that is associated to dementia, as a manifestation of subclinical dementia or as a risk factor for neurocognitive disorders.

Objectives

We aim to identify clinical characteristics related to dementia of inpatients admitted for first time due to depressive episode after 55 years old.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of inpatients admitted between January 1st 2010 and March 31st 2022 in a psychiatry inpatient unit of a tertiary hospital. Descriptive analysis of the results was performed using the SPSS software, version 26.0.

Results

Our sample included 57 inpatients, 15,8% (n=9) with the diagnosis of dementia 5,2 (SD 5,6) years after admission. All of these patients presented a depressive episode with psychotic symptoms, namely delusion activity. In those with hallucinatory activity, no one developed dementia.

Interestingly, 33,3% of patients with dementia (n=3) presented with delusion of ruin, 55,6% (n=5) with delusion of prejudice/persecutory delusion and 66,7% (n=6) manifested delusion of ruin and/or prejudice.

We also found that 42,9% (n=3) of patients with dementia manifested Cotard delusion while this type of delusion was observed in 13,6% of patients without dementia (p=0,095).

Conclusions

Our study has several limitations because is based on results of only one hospital, with a small sample size.

However, since depressive symptoms are potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia, future studies are essential to understand the mechanisms that link depression to cognitive decline as well as clinical characteristics that may constitute predictors of dementia.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
“Neuropsychiatric manifestation of hyponatremia: a case report”
Authors: El Moussaoui N. , Bahetta S. , Tbatou L. , Belbachir S. , Ouanass A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

“Electrolyte abnormalities are commonly encountered in daily clinical practice, and their diagnosis relies on routine laboratory results. Electrolyte disturbances can affect the brain among many other organs and tissues and must be promptly recognized, as they can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications if neglected or not appropriately treated. Neurological manifestations reflect the severity of acute neuronal dysfunction and thus require urgent treatment. Acute and/or severe electrolyte imbalances can manifest with rapidly progressive neurological symptoms, seizures, and psychiatric manifestations. They are more frequently observed in patients with sodium disorders (especially hyponatremia), hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia.

Objectives

Were the psychiatric manifestations secondary to hyponatremia or epilepsy? Or is it a comorbidity? What are the risk factors? And what is the appropriate course of action for this type of patient?”

Methods

We present, through a clinical case, the situation of a 64-year-old patient who experienced status epilepticus secondary to hyponatremia, requiring hospitalization in the neurology department. Subsequently, she developed psychiatric manifestations with a marked change in behavior. She began experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depressive mood, headaches, somatic complaints, and social isolation. Her condition gradually worsened, necessitating hospitalization in the psychiatry department 3 years later.

Results

The patient was placed on Carbamazepine by her neurologist, and since then, she has not experienced epileptic seizures. Her follow-up electrolyte panel initially showed slight disturbances before normalizing. Psychiatric manifestations were concurrent with these somatic symptoms and worsened over time. During her psychiatric hospitalization three years later, after a thorough evaluation, she was prescribed Sertraline ans Risperidone in combination with Carbamazepine, resulting in a significant improvement in her condition.

Conclusions

In summary, this case illustrates the critical impact of electrolyte abnormalities on both neurological and psychiatric health, especially in older patients. Understanding risk factors associated with electrolyte imbalances is crucial for effective diagnosis and management, particularly in the elderly. This underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to address the potential serious consequences of electrolyte disturbances on overall patient well-being.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The study protocol of the winners project: a randomized and controlled trial using a videogame-based training program in pediatric cancer survivors
Authors: Gonzalez-Perez C. , Moran E. , Malpica N. , Alvarez-Linera J. , Melero H. , Alonso M. , Esteban M. , Fernández-Jiménez E. , Perez-Martinez A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Childhood cancer survivors have neurocognitive sequelae that in most survivor follow-up programs are underdiagnosed and for which there is usually no treatment plan.

Video games have demonstrated various psychological and neurocognitive benefits in different subpopulations, such as patients with organic neurological deficits or children with ADHD. However, few studies have been carried out using video games-based interventions in the paediatric oncology population.

Objectives

The aim of this work is to present the WINNERS study protocol, the objectives of which are to diagnose the neurological and cognitive sequelae in child cancer survivors, and to demonstrate the benefit in these areas of a training program based on video games.

Methods

A randomized controlled and unblinded trial is presented. Fifty-six patients aged 8 to 17 years stratified into two age groups (8-12 and 13-17) who had received any of the following treatments 1 to 6 years before the enrolment will be selected: high-dose chemotherapy with blood-brain barrier crossing, intrathecal or intraventricular chemotherapy, CNS radiotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

A neuropsychological evaluation will be performed consisting of a battery of neuropsychological tests to assess parameters such as attention, memory, visuospatial ability or speed of response, as well as a neuroimaging evaluation by structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. The evaluation will be repeated 3 months and 6 months after the enrolment. Patients will be randomized to a treatment group or to a recycled waiting group. Intervention will consist on a 12-week training at home using 3 video games: a brain training game, an exergaming game and a skill training game.

Results

According to the hypotheses of this study, it is expected that the proposed program of videogame-based interventions will improve neurocognitive and other wellbeing parameters in the intervention group.

Conclusions

This study aims to improve the quality of care for patients who have survived a cancer disease by detecting sequelae that have so far been poorly attended, and by proposing a gamification-based intervention program that is effective and attractive for this population.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The winners project: neuropsycological changes after a video game-based training program in pediatric cancer survivors. a case report
Authors: Gonzalez-Perez C. , Moran E. , Malpica N. , Alvarez-Linera J. , Melero H. , Alonso M. , Esteban M. , Perez-Martinez A. , Fernández-Jiménez E.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Children who have undergone an oncological process and have received treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy on the central nervous system may have significant neurocognitive sequelae. Some video games have shown neurocognitive benefits in people with impairments in different areas, such as attention or memory.

Objectives

This work aims to demonstrate the benefit of a video game-based training program to improve the neurocognitive profile in a child survivor of cancer.

Methods

The patient is a 9-year-old female who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 4 years. She received routine treatment of this disease by chemotherapy, including high-dose chemotherapy (with blood-brain barrier crossing) and intrathecal chemotherapy. She is currently 3 years after the end of treatment.

The Continuous Performance Test 3 (CPT-3) (sustained attention/vigilance) was administered before and after a multifaceted training program consisting of playing 3 video games for 12 weeks, as follows: a brain-training game (4 days per week, 7-12 minutes per day), a skill-training game (2 days per week, 10 minutes per day) and an exergaming game (2 days per week, 10 minutes per day).

Results

Prior to intervention, the patient had 3 atypical z-scores on the CPT-3 (z scores: mean = 0, S.D. = 1), with a pattern compatible with ADHD (omissions z = 1.2; hit reaction time z = 3.4; hit reaction time block change z = 1.2). After intervention, she had only an atypical z-score (hit reaction time z = 3.6), with a pattern compatible with slowing, without ADHD.

Conclusions

The neuropsychological evaluation of this patient showed an improvement in his attentional pattern on the CPT-3 after the video game-based training.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Assessment of psychological impact and relationships interpersonal in women with malignant breast neoplasia
Authors: De Oliveira M. C. V. R. , Soares de Oliveira C. B. , Vieira Silva F. P. , Camargo M. P. R. , Gonçalves de Sá N.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Cancer causes an impact in the face of its news, whether due to feelings of anguish, stress and suffering due to the presence of the disease, which can be shared between patients, family members and loved ones. The news regarding the diagnosis generates, in addition to the psychological impact, financial difficulties, as the patient himself can often be responsible for a large part of the family income. Other complications are the difficulties in understanding the disease by the family members and/or the patient, denial of the disease in order to spare the patient from suffering and other loved ones, family conflicts related to the need to adapt to the new routine of daily life that the family should carry out aiming at the well-being of the patient and his treatment.

Objectives

To evaluate the psychological impact and interpersonal relationships in patients with breast cancer treated in the city of Presidente PrudenteSP by a support association.

Methods

This is an observational, quantitative, analytical and cross-sectional study, in which 200 patients with malignant breast cancer will be invited.

Results

The sociodemographic results found were: 62.5% white women, 65.6% aged between 45-65 years, 56.3% married, 46.9% have completed higher education, 56.3% had no family history of cancer, predominance of stages II, III and IV when discovered, 93.5% did not drink, 84.4% did not smoke. On the anxiety scale, 53.1% and 43.8% report getting tired easily and feeling like crying, respectively. On the social adequacy scale, 72.5% continued working only with some limitation during treatment, despite this, 41.4% had minor financial difficulties, 34.5% had difficulties expressing feelings with family members, 40.7% had a relationship well with family members with small arguments and finally 34.8% felt affection for the partner all the time, despite this 36.4% did not have sexual intercourse with them in the last month.

Conclusions

It was concluded, therefore, that when a family member gets sick, they all feel impacted, and each family will deal with the experience in a particular way, therefore, it is worth highlighting the encouragement of family participation in therapy sessions.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Back pain and its association with mental health issues in young doctors
Authors: Ghrab M. A. , Sellami I. , Feki A. , Daoud H. , Abbes A. , Haddar A. , Jmal Hammami K. , Hajjaji M. , Masmoudi M. L.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Among young medical practitioners, the exigencies of daily practice entail many challenges concerning both physical and mental dimensions. The study of the interplay between these two dimensions is crucial to provide the necessary care for this population.

Objectives

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of back pain and its association with mental health issues in young medical practitioners.

Methods

A cross-sectional study (January to April 2023) was conducted in the university interns and residents from Sfax. The Nordic questionnaire was used to evaluate back pain. The Generalized-Anxiety-Disorder (GAD -7) and the Patient-Health-Questionnaire (PHQ-9) were used to assess signs of anxiety and depression respectively.

Results

Our population consisted of 404 young doctors. One-hundred and twenty were males with a sex-ratio of 0.42. Among them, 76 (18.8%) had surgical specialties. Mean age was 28.03±2.89, BMI’s mean was 23.65±3.98. Medical history was reported by 29.2% and psychiatric history by 4.9%. The median of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 score were 3.5 (IQ: [1;6]) and 2 (IQ: [0; 5]). Signs of depression were found in 11.1% of the population whereas anxiety was found in 8.4% of them. Sixty-seven residents (16.6%) reported having back pain in the previous year. Neck pain, upper-back pain and lower back pain were experienced by 8.7%, 6.4% and 10.1% respectively.

Bivariate analysis showed that back pain was associated with PHQ-9 score (p=0.006), GAD-7 score (p=0.018) and it was not associated with BMI (p=0.769) neither with surgical specialties (p=0.824). Lower Back pain was associated with GAD-7 score (p=0.004).

Conclusions

Our study highlights the link between back pain and mental health problems in young doctors. Interventions englobing a better understanding of these two facets are needed to ensure an optimal care for this young population.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
ADHD and BPD, two disorders for the same patient? Psychopathological dimensions and other cross-cutting factors in ADHD and BPD: a pragmatic review
Authors: Paz-Otero M. D. P. , Lozano-Bori E. , Puyal-González S. , Sánchez-Rodríguez J. , Mayor-Sanabria F. , Fernández-Fariña M. , Alberdi-Páramo Í.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The relationship between Borderline Personality Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been highlighted in different studies over the last few years, with an estimated prevalence of around 15-35% of ADHD in adult patients diagnosed with BPD and a 7.4 times higher risk of developing BPD in patients diagnosed with ADHD.

Objectives

To conduct a pragmatic review of the recent literature on the relationship between ADHD and BPD, so that it serves as a starting point for an in-depth study of the sociodemographic, clinical and cross-sectional dimensional factors of both disorders.

Methods

A bibliographic review of scientific articles published in recent years, in English and Spanish, extracted from the MEDLINE database, which delve into the relationship between BPD and ADHD, will be carried out. In addition, the common psychopathological dimensions, such as impulsivity or emotional dysregulation, as well as the weight of other dimensional factors related to both disorders, will be studied.

Results

The results of the selected articles will be grouped, for a better understanding, in the following sections:

-

Clinical factors and shared comorbidities.

-

Psychopathological dimensions: impulsivity and emotional dysregulation.

-

Other common dimensional factors.

Conclusions

There are common symptoms and etiological or perpetuating factors, as well as comorbidities shared in both conditions, which in many cases make the correct diagnosis and, therefore, the appropriate therapeutic approach to these patients, quite difficult. Taking into account the differential characteristics of BPD and ADHD, it is possible to create different profiles that allow a precise approach to both disorders in those cases in which they coexist in the same patient.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Analyze the factors that influence the therapeutic response to psychic trauma
Authors: Serván Rendón-Luna B. , Strada Herrera G. , Mayor Sanabria F. , López Claramunt I. , Reyes Molón L.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Psychic trauma profoundly affects a person’s confidence in himself and others. There is a sudden experience of helplessness, loss of control, fear for one’s own life, and the humiliation of having been violated. The victim may run out of internal and external reference elements.

Objectives

Describe the factors that influence the development of Post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing traumatic experiences.

Methods

Review in the literature of the different factors that influence the subject’s response to the traumatic experience.

Results

1)

Predisposing and precipitating factors:

–

characteristics of the traumatic evento: severity of the stressor agent: dose-dependent, Characteristics of the same: sudden, prolonged, repetitive, intentional; decrease the ability to control the situation and develop effective coping strategies; they question basic cognitive schemas; the symbolic meaning of the traumatic evento.

–

characteristics of the person (predisposing factors of vulnerability): genetic-constitutional vulnerability, adverse experiences in childhood, previous traumatic events: increased vulnerability, personality characteristics, recent stressors or life changes, inadequate support system, use of alcohol, perception locus control more external than internal, pre-existing psychiatric symptoms: neuroticism, anxiety, depression, critical ages of development: time of greatest vulnerability (11-16 years).

2)

Perpetuating and empowering factors: sharing traumatic events, seeking the logic of the facts, rupture of affective ties.

3)

Elements of Resistance: tendency to selectively remember the positive elements in autobiographical memory, acceptance of a certain dose of uncertainty in life, perceiving themselves as survivors, perception of the stressful stimulus as less threatening, Less physiological reactivity to stress, use of humor, positive emotions counteracting during the traumatic process.

4)

Elements of Resilience: ability to extract and assimilate positive elements from negative situations.

Conclusions

Trauma threatens 3 basic assumptions of life: the world is good, the world has meaning, the self has value. The knowledge of these mentioned factors allow a better psychotherapeutic approach to Psychic Trauma.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Post-traumatic stress in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Athimni Z. , Belhadj Chabbeh N. , Chatti S. , Chelly F. , Ben Afia L. , Bouhoula M. , Chouchane A. , Aloui A. , Kacem I. , Maoua M. , Brahem A. , Kalboussi H. , El Maalel O.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals worked under critical care conditions and had to adapt quickly to extreme work situations. They were confronted with several occupational stressors.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and factors associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms among healthcare personnel at Farhat Hached Hospital in Sousse during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among care staff at the Farhat Hached University Hospital in Sousse over a 3-month period during the 4th wave of COVID-19. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering socio-professional and medical data. Post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.23 software.

Results

Our study included 326 health professionals from the CHU Farhat Hached. The mean age of our population was 36.38 ±10.19 years. The sex ratio was 0.23. Most healthcare staff were married (61.3%) and had dependent children (60.4%). Nurses were the most represented at 32.2%, followed by health technicians (22.7%) and medical residents (18.4%). Average job tenure was 10.62±10.69 years, with extremes ranging from 1 to 39 years. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder was 32.5%. Paramedics were more likely to develop post-traumatic stress symptoms (OR=2.3 (IC95%: 1.4-3.8), p=0.001). Leisure activities were protective factors against post-traumatic stress symptoms (OR=0.4 (IC95%: 0.2-0.8), p=0.018). The multivariate analytical study revealed that being a paramedic and having a personal history of COVID19 infection were independently associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare personnel. Lessons learned from this pandemic should help in the development of context-specific strategies to support healthcare workers and promote the protection of their mental health.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The Contribution of Maladaptive Personality Traits to Psychological Distress Among Israeli Women Veterans
Authors: Zerach G. , Shem Tov E. , Shati S.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) during military service is associated with mental health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms. However, knowledge regarding the implications of maladaptive personality traits in psychopathology among female veterans is sparse.

Objectives

The present study aims to use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM–5) -- an alternative model of personality disorder, to examine associations between maladaptive personality traits, PTSD and depression symptoms, among female Israeli veterans.

Methods

A volunteer sample of female Israeli combat veterans (n=616) and non-combat veterans (n=484) responded to self-report questionnaires in a cross-sectional study.

Results

Combat veterans reported higher levels of combat exposure and PTSD symptoms, but not depressive symptoms, than non-combat veterans. Combat veterans also reported lower levels of negative affectivity but higher levels of disinhibition than non-combat veterans. All five traits were positive predictors of psychological distress, with psychoticism constituting the strongest predictor. A moderated-mediation analysis indicated four traits (negative affectivity, detachment, disinhibition, and psychoticism) that had a moderating effect on the relationship between combat exposure and PTSD symptoms, and two of the traits (antagonism and disinhibition) that had a moderate effect on the relationship between combat exposure and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Maladaptive personality traits play an important role in psychological distress following female veterans’ combat service. Future prospective research is necessary to determine the temporal associations between pre-enlistment maladaptive personality traits and post-deployment mental health of veterans.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Parents’ psychosocial needs during the child’s hospitalization in pediatric intensive care units (PICU): a systematic review
Authors: Kalogerogianni I. , Zartaloudi A. , Dousis E. , Evangelou E. , Dafogianni C. , Vlachou E. , Polikandrioti M. , Koutelekos I.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The admission and hospitalization of a child in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) creates stress and anxiety in the family. The family is called upon to make important decisions about the child’s treatment, while roles within the family environment are disrupted.

Objectives

The investigation of the psychosocial needs of the relatives of hospitalized children in the NICU.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of studies published until the end of 2022 in the Greek and English languages in the databases “Pubmed”, “Scopus” and “Iatrotec” with the following keywords: “Pediatric Intensive Care Unit”, “Socio-psychological Needs’ and ‘Parents’.

Results

Of the 26 studies found, 5 studies met the inclusion-exclusion criteria and were included in the review. The most frequently mentioned psychosocial needs of the parents were: (1) the need for complete, immediate and honest information regarding the health status of their hospitalized child and the changes in their condition, (2) the need to provide comfort to the parents during duration of their child’s hospitalization, (3) the parents’ need for psychological support and guidance regarding the care of their hospitalized child, (4) the feeling of security regarding the care provided, and (5) the need for frequent contact with the hospitalized child. Also, it was observed that the medical and nursing staff underestimated some needs of the parents, such as the need for closeness, while there were others that we underestimated, such as the religious needs.

Conclusions

Parents present increased psychosocial needs during their child’s hospitalization in the PICU. Nursing staff play an important role in supporting relatives by providing family-centered
care.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Attitudes and knowledge toward mental disorders among healthcare providers in psychiatric departments
Authors: Askri F. , Lagha M. , Ben Younes K. , Ben Romdhane I. , Wided H. , Labbane R.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Stigma towards mental health disorders is an issue standing in the way of healing and integrating the patient into the social life. Stigmatising does not only come from the general population but also from health care providers. Studies found out that lack of knowledge and skills among health care professionals is associated with stigmatization, which affects the attitudes and the patient’s treatment process.

Objectives

The main aims of this study were to evaluate the attitudes and knowledge about mental health among nurses and psychiatry residents working in psychiatric departments, to explore the relationship between knowledge and attitude toward mental health and to find out the possible link with sociodemographic and work characteristics

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire was conducted in two departments of psychiatry at RAZI hospital focusing on nurses and psychiatrist trainees. The sociodemographic informations, duration and choice of working in psychiatric field, personal experience with mental illness were collected .

The Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire (MHKQ) and the mental illness clinicians attitude scale (MICA-4 )were used to evaluate the participants mental health knowledge and attitude towards psychiatry and people with mental disorders .

Results

A total of 30 health care providers finished the questionnaire. Their median (± interquartile range) age was 29 (±9)  years within a range of 25 to 60 years old. Our participants were predominantly female (N = 26; 86.7%). The overall median of MHKQ scale was 10 (±6) with a higher score in psychiatrist trainees than nurses but no significant difference was found (p= 0.066) However there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the MICA scale (p=0.02) with a negative attitude found in the group of nurses . Participants with no personal experience with mental illness along with those who were obliged to work in psychiatric facilities tend to have higher score on the MICA scale with significant statistically relationships, respectively, p =0.18 and p=0.09 We didn’t find any statistically significant relationship between the total scores of the MICA and MHKQ scales ( rho = -0.206, p = 0.275)

Conclusions

In our study negative attitude toward mental disorders were found in the group of nurses. Education about mental health disorders as well as addressing the importance of mental health outcomes must be included in the first year training of every healthcare provider. New strategies Focusing on improving the knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals are important to make due to their positive effect on the recovery.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Measuring CO in an anti-smoking campaign in Virovitičko-podravska County in Croatia
Authors: Mihaljević S. , Beneš M. , Venus M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Measuring carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaled breath with a visual representation can aid in smoking cessation by increasing smokers’ awareness of how smoking negatively affects their health and how many harmful substances they introduce into their bodies. Individuals attempting to quit smoking can regularly measure CO levels to monitor their progress in reducing this gas in their system.

The national „Smoke Out Day” is a day aimed at encouraging smokers to quit smoking in the Republic of Croatia. It is celebrated on the first day of Lent, as it is a period when most people contemplate giving up something they enjoy throughout the year.

The Institute of Public Health of Virovitičko-podravska County sets up a booth in one of the cities in County on that day. There we offer pamphlets to passersby with information about the harmful effects of smoking and provide them with the opportunity to measure carbon monoxide in their exhaled breath.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore relationship between smoking status, smoke exposure and the levels of exhaled carbon monoxide.

Methods

For measuring CO we used piCO simple Smokerlyzer. From April 2015 till May 2023, 462 individuals have participated in this measurement. The data were processed using the Python programming language version 3.9 and the statistical library Pingouin version 0.5.3. Data visualization was performed using the Seaborn library version 0.12.2. The statistical analyses employed in this study are partial correlations. The Spearman method was used for partial correlations because it can identify nonlinear relationships and is more accurate and robust when the assumptions for Pearson correlation are not met.

Results

Partial correlation analysis indicates that there is a statistically significant relationship between the level of carbon monoxide and the following parameters:

-

Non-smoking status in years (rho = -0.526, p <0.001, two-tailed test).

-

Number of cigarettes smoked per day (rho = 0.369, p <0.001, two-tailed test).

-

Testing time after 3 PM (rho = 0.234, p <0.001, two-tailed test).

-

Number of years as a smoker (rho = 0.230, p <0.001, two-tailed test).

-

Age in years (rho = -0.179, p <0.001, two-tailed test).

-

Time spent in a smoky area (rho = 0.114, p <0.016, two-tailed test).

Conclusions

In summary, these results provide valuable insights into the factors associated with carbon monoxide levels in humans, with smoking-related variables, age, and testing time showing notable partial correlations. It is important to consider these relationships when assessing and managing carbon monoxide exposure and its potential health implications.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Cerebral-cognitive reserve: concept and functions of the cerebral-cognitive reserve
Authors: Sidenkova A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The modern understanding of AD allows us to consider it through the constructs of “vulnerability” and “stability” of the brain as a dynamic system of dialectical interaction between the pathogenic process and the protective process that prevents neurodegeneration. The concept of cognitive reserve (CR) is based on observations of discrepancy between the degree of brain pathology and the severity of clinical manifestations. The concept of “reserve” was proposed to describe the resistance of the brain to a developing damage caused by a pathological process. Stern (2002) considered CR as a protective factor that modifies the impact of brain pathology on cognitive function. The researchers have defined CR as an ability to optimize cognitive function through differential involvement of structures or neural networks of the brain into brain activity.

Objectives

A systematic review of scientific studies has been conducted

Methods

The review includes an analysis of full-text literature sources.

Results

Several possible directions of CR influence on cognitive functions have been described:

1)

CR may reduce the risk of MCI or dementia through mechanisms, which do not depend on the level of neurodegenerative pathological changes in the brain.

2)

CR can interact with the markers of brain pathology or healthaffectingthe future cognitive decline or risk of progression. It has been found that smaller volumes or thickness in some AD vulnerable areas of the brain represent a stronger risk factor for cognitive impairment in people with low CR than in people with higher CR. CR protective effects on clinical outcomes reduce as the number of damaged neurons increases.

3)

The protective effect of CR increasesduring late AD onset and at a low rate of the damaged substrate accumulation.

4)

CR changes the relationship between genetic factors and aging withclinical and cognitive outcomes. The relationship between age and AD pathology level or age-related structural changes in the brain may weaken in people with higher CR

Conclusions

The concept of cerebral-cognitive reserve actualizes the problem of the search for compensatory mechanisms of cognitive deficit in AD, the assessmentof the structure of the reserve, the development and implementationof programs to maintain the reserve, the preventionof its depletion, starting from the preclinical stage of the disease, which can prevent the transformation of preclinical manifestations of AD into cognitive disorders

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
A study on the complex interplay between inflammation and severe mental disorders (SMInflam)
Authors: Della Rocca B. , Luciano M. , De Felice G. , Di Vincenzo M. , Toni C. , Arsenio E. , Sampogna G. , Fiorillo A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

An alteration of inflammatory indices has been reported in several major mental disorders. This alteration seems to be related to disease severity and treatment resistance, but its pathophysiological meaning remains to be established. Patients with severe mental disorders tend to have increased levels of circulating cytokines and increased microglial activity in the central nervous system, suggesting that inflammation may contribute to the onset, or chronicity, of mental disorders. Detecting inflammation‐relevant symptom clusters across mental disorders may represent an important step towards precision medicine in psychiatry.

Objectives

The SMInflam project is a longitudinal, observational, real-world study which aims to: assess a set of inflammatory indices at baseline in a sample of patients with the diagnosis of a major mental disorder; identify inflammatory profiles of these patients using a latent class analysis approach; assess the response to pharmacological treatments of patients with different inflammatory profiles; re-assess the inflammatory indices and profiles at several times during follow-up and test their correlation with the evolution of psychopathology.

Methods

The sample will consist of 50 patients with a diagnosis of a major mental disorders consecutively enrolled at the outpatient unit of the Department of Psychiatry of University of Campania. All enrolled patients will be administered a set of reliable and validated psychopathological assessment tools. We will perform a complete physical evaluation, and a battery of laboratory tests. Peripheral markers of chronic inflammation will be assessed. Clinical and biological assessments will be performed at baseline (T0) and after 3 and 6 months (respectively, T1 and T2).

Results

Expected results include the evaluation of the levels of inflammatory indices in a varied sample of patients with severe mental disorders. According to the pre-post design, these aspects will be evaluated before the start and at the follow-up. We will also take into consideration the role of confounding factors such as age and gender, which represent a critical biological variable influencing such inflammatory pathways.

Conclusions

Collected data will be used for having a more informative, reliable and valid characterization of psychopathology in a vast sample of patients with severe mental disorders. Our study may represent the first of a new wave of methodologically-sound studies on the role of inflammation and psychopathology in patients with severe mental disorders.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Spirituality is Associated with Immune Parameters and Disease Activity in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Módis L. , Aradi Z. , Horváth F. I. , Pikó P. , Szántó A. , Bugán A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The role of spirituality in health and disease is a complex and emerging area of research. Incorporating spirituality into the bio-psycho-social model of health and disease leading to the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model provides a more comprehensive framework. In this context, chronic disorders like primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) are of interest due to their intricate interactions between biological, psychological, and spiritual factors.

Objectives

To study possible relationships between spirituality, immune parameters, and disease activity in pSS patients.

Methods

Patient recruitment for the study took place at the Autoimmune Sjögren specialty clinic, University of Debrecen, resulting in 112 patients. Assessing spirituality of the patients happened through 4 direct questions and the Sprituality Transcendence Scale (24 items). Besides, clinical data of the patients were involved in the study including blood cell counts, rheumatoid factor, immunoglobulin G, Sjögren-specific autoantibodies and disease activity scores (semi-objective and patient reported,). The statistical analysis was conducted applying group comparisons between spiritual and non-spiritual groups, and linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex, age, disease duration, settlement type, education, living in partnership and smoking. Out of the 112 patients 4 gave incomplete response, and therefore got excluded from the analysis, resulting in a total sample size of 108.

Results

Semi-objective disease activity score (ESSDAI) and perceived vaginal dryness was significantly lower in the non-spiritual group. Spirituality was proven as a significant predictor of anti-SSB autoantibody serum activity and ESSDAI, while engaging in prayer/meditation and its duration predicted significantly anti-SSA autoantibody serum activity, perceived skin and tracheal dryness. Concerning logistic regression analysis, we found that an increase of one unit in spirituality reduces the probability with 81.6% of having a detectable, semi-objective disease activity at all. Significant associations were found between the duration of prayer/meditation and both semi-objective and patient reported disease activity scores and autoantibody anti-SSB with an inverse ratio based on logistic regression model.

Conclusions

Spirituality is associated with immune parameters and disease activity in pSS. Patients with spiritual attitude are less likely to have increased disease activity. Besides being spiritual, engagement in individual spiritual activities, such as prayer/meditation has beneficial disease modifying effect. These changes are supposedly due to psychoneuroimmunological pathways. In addition to the biologically measurable variables, the alleviation and aggravation of perceived symptoms (e.g. dryness) are important outcomes of spiritual engagement and practice.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Clinical Insights into Antipsychotics and Rifampicin Interaction: A Case Report
Authors: Abreu P. , Ferreira dos Santos C. , Pereira M. , Vieira Lisboa M. , Cameira M. , Rebelo Soares M.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Antipsychotics are the primary class of drugs used to manage schizophrenia. These medications help control and reduce the severity of these symptoms, allowing individuals with schizophrenia to better function. On the other hand, rifampicin, used as treatment for tuberculosis, is a powerful inducer of several drug-metabolizing enzymes which have the potential to decrease the plasma levels of antipsychotics. Therefore, the presence of multiple pharmacokinetic interactions can alter how antipsychotics are metabolized, leading to a notable clinical impact when these medications are administered concurrently.

Objectives

The objective is to share valuable clinical experiences and insights to aid healthcare providers in making informed decisions when faced with the challenge of co-administering antipsychotics with rifampicin, ultimately ensuring the safety and efficacy of treatment for their patients.

Methods

It will be discussed a case of a 41-year-old woman with the diagnosis of schizophrenia under treatment with paliperidone palmitate and clozapine who had a sudden relapse after starting treatment for latent tuberculosis with rifampicin as a framework for a literature review based off Pubmed.

Results

The antituberculosis drug rifampicin induces drug-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, having the greatest effects on the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4) and therefore can lead to a decrease in the plasma levels of antipsychotic medications that also rely on these pathways for clearance. In this particular case, although specific data on clozapine and paliperidone concentrations were not reported, fluctuations in symptomatology following rifampicin introduction were probably explained by an inducing effect of this drug on their metabolism. So, when initiating rifampicin treatment and when discontinuing it, clinicians should carefully assess the dosages of any concomitant medications that may potentially interact with rifampicin. To ensure effective therapy during rifampicin treatment, it is crucial to monitor both the patient’s clinical response and their blood drug concentrations, making dosage adjustments as necessary.

Conclusions

This case report offers valuable guidance to clinicians on safely and effectively managing drug interactions between antipsychotic medications and rifampicin, ensuring the well-being of their patients during treatment. The co-administration of these medications lacks robust clinical evidence, and notably, there is insufficient data regarding its impact on plasma antipsychotic levels, a crucial factor in determining clinical effectiveness.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared