bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the impact of mental health capacity building of Primary Health Care (PHC) personnel
Authors: Makhashvili N. , Latibashvili T. , Badriashvili R. , Gaprindashvili L.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

COVID-19 poses an immense challenge to health systems and societies, associated with a burden of mental health in the population. The pandemic is uncovering treatment gaps in mental health systems, especially in Low and Middle-Resource Countries, as Georgia. The high burden calls for renewed efforts to integrate mental health into Primary Health Care (PHC) to address increased mental health needs of the population. The capacity building of PHC personnel is ongoing since October 2020, according to mhGAP algorithm. Family doctors (FD) are trained in identification and management in priority mental conditions.

Objectives

The overall aim of the study was to assess the impact of capacity building of PHC personnel. This was an implementation research seeking to understand how effective was the offered capacity building process and what could be lessons learnt.

Methods

We employed a mixed-methods process evaluation design utilising a series of instruments specifically designed to provide data for the domains as training/capacity building, service delivery and user satisfaction.

Results

FD were able to identify the most prevalent conditions - Anxiety (74%) and Depression (39%); in 22.8% the comorbidity was recognized. The psychoeducation was the most common method of management used by 72%. In 39.4% FD were able to recommend at least one medicine to their patients. 83.3% of patients reported improved conditions.

Conclusions

The family doctors are able to identify and manage certain mental health conditions after proper trainings and regular supervision. This study has simultaneously identified targets for change within the broader mental health system.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
‘Maisons Des Adolescents’, Youth Mental Health in France
Authors: Benoit L.
Published: September 2022

Since 1999, more than 100 “Maisons des Adolescents” (MDAs) - “House of Adolescents” - have been developed in France. These integrated youth-friendly facilities enabled young persons to gain access to specific care. The various medical programs of MDAs depend on the priorities of local communities rather than on official regulations. Most MDAs offer the following essential services: a “Health and Prevention Space” open daily; multidisciplinary consultations; consult liaison for youths hospitalized in medical units; a home visiting service; outpatient clinic including art workshops; refresher courses for school work; peer and parent support groups. The MDAs from the start addressed an age group (young people aged 11-21 years) rather than an illness. They thus provide primary prevention for young persons according to the World Health Organization definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” The success of the MDA network is already widely acknowledged by users, professionals, and policymakers.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Study of resilience in a population of tunisian residents and interns in medicine
Authors: Zouari A. , Guermazi F. , Tabib F. , Guermazi A. , Hentati S. , Baati I. , Masmoudi J.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Resilience is the ability to bounce back or cope successfully with stress. Fostering resilience is a promising way to mitigate the negative effects of stressors and prevent burnout.

Objectives

Study the level of resilience among Tunisian medical interns and residents.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study between March 1 and April 15, 2021. Medical interns and residents were invited to complete an online self-questionnaire. We used the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) to assess the level of resilience.

Results

The total number of participants was 56 of which 28.6% were male. The average age was 26.76±2.52 years. Most of the students had studied at the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax, 58.9%. 64.3% of the participants were residents, 55.4% of them in a medical specialty. 75% of participants were working in a medical department. The average years of practice was 2.27±1.23. The number of working hours per week exceeding 40 hours was found in 60.7% of participants. The number of shifts per month exceeding 4 shifts was found in 67.9%. 46.4% of the participants wanted to change their profession and 44.6% regretted choosing medicine. The mean score by BRS was 2.79±0.48. The level of resilience was high in 42.9% of the participants and normal in the rest of the respondents.

Conclusions

The level of resilience was normal to high in Tunisian medical interns and residents. Assessing the presence of burnout and the coping strategies used could provide insight into the quality of work life.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Mental Health Home Care program to pacients with Serious Mental Disorders
Authors: Bañón González S.M. , Ogando Portilla N. , Montalvo Vico C. , Garcia Sánchez F. , Gutiérrez Rodríguez M. , Gutiérrez Labrador R.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The Mental Health Home Care is a program whose main objective is to provide care to people with a Serious Mental Disorders with difficulties to maintain continuity of treatment and link between the different resources. It is a program that guarantees continuity of care and facilitates the link between the different rehabilitation resources. It carries out a multidisciplinary approach to the difficulties of the patient and the family.

Objectives

Both analyze clinical, psychopathological and epidemiological characteristics of Serius Mental Disorders and review causes, incidence, prevalence, diagnostic, therapeutic tools and the importance of maintaining the treatment and rehabilitation in Serius Mental Disorders, because the abandonment of the treatment is a predictor of relapses.

Methods

Review of the impact literature for the last five years concerning Serius Mental Disorder: prevalence, incidence, pathogenesis and its relationship with other psychiatric disorders encoded in DSM-V.

Results

The program is made up of a Psychiatrist, a Clinical Psychologist, a Mental Health Nurse and two Nursing Auxiliary Care, two Social Workers and two Occupational Therapists.The responsible professional presents the patient at the program meetings. The program’s multidisciplinary team proposes an individualized treatment plan for the patient and family in the patient’s environment.

Conclusions

The objective and areas of global intervention is to provide comprehensive psychiatric, psychological, social and rehabilitative support in patients with difficulty in linking to other resources, keeping the patient in a normalized community context, improving treatment compliance and making appropriate use of standardized mental health services.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Resilience in Family caregivers of Tunisian patients with psychiatric disorders
Authors: Safa K. , Charfi N. , Marwa M. , Gassara I. , Feki R. , Smaoui N. , Omri S. , Maalej M. , Zouari L. , Ben Thabet J. , Maalej M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Resilience has been described as an individual’s ability to adjust or adapt to significant adverse or traumatic circumstances.

Objectives

The aims of this study were to assess the resilience of caregivers of patients with mental disorders and to identify its associated factors.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study among caregivers of patients followed in the outpatient psychiatry department at the university hospital of Sfax(Tunisia), during septembre 2021. Resilience was assessed using Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale(CD‑RISC).The total scores range from zero to 100. The cut-off scores for this questionnaire is 50, with higher score indicating higher resilience.

Results

Our sample included 34 family caregivers. The mean age was 47.47 years (SD=12.4 years)and the sex ratio (M/F) was 1.42. They were the parents of patients in 35.3% of cases. The mean duration of providing care to patients was 8.62 years. The mean resilience score of caregivers was 42.85 and 26.5% of them were resilients. The Caregivers with low socioeconomic level (p=0.004), a history of chronic illness (p=0.0001), a long duration of providing care (p=0.001), a stressful events (0.002) and those victims of agressive behaviors committed by patients (p=0.0001) were more likely to have a low resilience score.

Conclusions

Our results stated that three out four cargivers have low level of resilience. Interventions targeting stress related to social events and burden of care, and violence committed by patients in their family environment should be integrated to increase the caregivers’resilience.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Positive education for students’ mental health support
Authors: Shilko R. , Egorov S. , Zinchenko Y. , Emelin V.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

There has been obvious in university education the importance of mental health and psychological well-being of students along with academic achievements (Lambert et al., 2019). M. Seligman, one of the founders of positive psychology, characterizes positive education as education aimed at acquiring happiness along with knowledge and skills (Seligman et al., 2009).

Objectives

The current study aims to overview the positive education impact on mental health and psychological well-being.

Methods

Systematic analysis of research publications concerning positive education and its role for maintenance of mental health and psychological well-being.

Results

While university administration collects student’s feedback on various aspects of the educational process, it almost never asks students for their opinion on what can be done for their psychological well-being. The promotion of psychological well-being among young people is becoming an increasingly popular topic, and positive education is increasingly emerging within education. Positive education can be seen as a general sphere of positive psychology and advanced practice in education that aims the development of students for both academic achievement and psychological well-being. Special attention in positive education is paid to the use of empirically proven methods and programs aimed at improving well-being, engagement in educational activities, optimism, positive emotions, life satisfaction and other positive experience.

Conclusions

A particularly promising direction for the development of positive education can be the use of information and communication technologies to improve mental health and psychological well-being. The reported study was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project number 18-29-22049.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Subjective frequency of seeking for support from different sources and mental health among juvenile convicts
Authors: Shaigerova L. , Dolgikh A. , Almazova O. , Ushkov F.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

As mental health and emotional wellbeing while serving a sentences contribute a lot to the successful resocialization of juvenile convicts, it is necessary to study the factors that influence them.

Objectives

To consider the relationship between the subjective frequency of social support from various sources and indicators of mental health and well-being of juvenile convicts.

Methods

The study used DASS (Lovibond, Lovibond, 1995), WEMWBS (Tennant et al., 2007), PANAS (Watson, Clark, Tellegen, 1988), SPANE (Diener et al., 2010), and a question to measure the subjective frequency of seeking for support from different sources (parents, close relatives, friends, mentors, psychologists, other convicts etc.), as measured on a 4-point scale from 1 (never) to 4 (constantly). 657 juvenile convicts aged 15 to 18 (M=17.0; SD=0.8) took part in the study.

Results

Regression models (R>0.5) were obtained by means of regression analysis (frequencies of seeking for support from different sources were taken as independent variables). The declared frequency of seeking for support from mentors served as a predictor of psychological well-being (Beta 0.148, t=2.271; p=0.024), the level of depression (Beta=-0.193, t=-2.917; p=0.004), anxiety (Beta=-0.157, t=-2.365; p=0.018) and stress (Beta=-0.142, t=-2.136; p=0.033), as well as of negative experience (Beta=-0.202, t=-3.025; p=0.003). The declared frequency of seeking suppotr from psychologists predicted the level of positive experience (Beta=0.128, t=2.052; p=0.041) and of positive affects (Beta=0.145, t=2.259; p=0.024).

Conclusions

Mental health, well-being and emotional state of juvenile convicts are directly related to the perception of the frequency of seeking support from the employees of the correctional camps (mentors and psychologists).

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Achieving Parity of Esteem of Mental Healthcare in the UK
Authors: Sheikh Y. , Gakhar D. , Asunramu M.-H. , Low H. , Yassin H. , Muthukumar K.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Mental illness is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, with one in four individuals suffering from a mental health problem. Despite this, only 13% of the NHS budget goes towards treatment of mental illness. It is thus unsurprising that addressing the parity of esteem of mental health has been highlighted as a major priority for the healthcare system, with the NHS Five Year Forward plan aiming to achieve this by 2020.

Objectives

To explore the barriers to achieving parity of esteem of mental healthcare in the UK and develop recommendations for implementation.

Methods

Narrative review of literature and synthesis of findings

Results

Three key barriers to achieving parity of esteem of mental health were identified: the current mental health investment standard (MHIS), medical sub-specialisation, and access to acute day units (ADU). The following recommendations were thus synthesised: to increase the time-period to measure MHIS increments, integrating mental health teaching into specialty training programmes, and increasing the availbility of ADUs to crisis referral teams.

Conclusions

Addressing the disparity between mental and physical health is a major priority for the NHS. This research provides an overview of current barriers and suggests recommendations for improvement. By prioritizing improvement in the MHIS, integrating mental health teaching into specialty training, and increasing access to ADUs, the NHS formulates an excellent founding to achieving the ultimate goal, parity of esteem of mental health.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Early childhood low parental income and the risk of mental disorder in adolescence and early adulthood. A register study of migrants and non-migrants
Authors: Hynek K. , Straiton M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Low parental income during childhood is associated with increased risk of mental disorders at later ages. However, despite a disproportionate share of migrant children growing up in persistent poverty, as compared to their majority counterparts, the research on whether the association varies by migrant background is limited.

Objectives

Is there an association between parental income during early childhood and the risk of mental disorder, defined by use of outpatient mental healthcare services (OPMH), in adolescence and early adulthood? Does the strength of the association vary by migrant background?

Methods

Information from five national registers were combined to study a population of 577,072 individuals. We applied discrete-time logistic regression, with an interaction term between parental income and migrant background to study differences in the association by migrant background.

Results

Low parental income during early childhood was associated with twice the odds of OPMH use in adolescence and early adulthood compared to individuals with higher parental income. Even after adjusting for a range of covariates the association remained significant, yet, weaker. The association was, however, in the opposite direction for migrants. Those in the higher income group had higher probability of OPMH use. The relative differences within groups were small, but significant for migrants from Middle East and North Africa, South Asia and Western countries.

Conclusions

Social inequalities in mental health may have an onset already in childhood, Therefore, future interventions should focus on reducing social inequalities in childhood in order to improve the mental health in young people.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Role of migration in the development of a first episode of psychosis
Authors: Vaz R. , Martins J. , Costa A. , Brás J. , Sousa R. , Almeida E. , Abreu J. , Teixeira D. , Marques A. , Gil N.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Currently, there is scientific evidence supporting the relationship between socio-environmental factors and the onset of a first episode of psychosis (FEP). In this context, the phenomenon of migration, seen as a negative life experience, may become an important risk factor in developing a psychotic disorder (PD). In Europe, the impact of this phenomenon is growing and, therefore, it’s necessary to provide a proper answer to these individual’s mental health problems.

Objectives

Identify which phases of this migration process are most important in the development of a FEP and what are the more significant socio-environmental factors in each phase.

Methods

Bibliographic research in Pubmed database using the terms “Migration” and “First Episode Psychosis”.

Results

Research confirms that migrants have a 2 to 3-fold increased risk of developing a PD. This risk will be even higher in the refugee population. Pre- and post-migration factors demonstrated to be more important than factors related with the migration process itself. In the pre-migration phase highlight factors like the lower parental social class and a previous trauma. In the post-migration phase highlight factors like discrimination, social disadvantage and a mismatch between expectations and reality.

Conclusions

Literature is unanimous in considering migrant status as an independent risk factor for the development of FEP, possibly due to the outsider’s role in society. Thus, despite the growing interest in Biological Psychiatry, this work demonstrates that socio-environmental factors are very preponderant in the development of these disorders and because of that further investigation is still necessary.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Equality in healthcare: transcultural psychiatry
Authors: Alvarez Garcia C. , Gomez Martín A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Migratory flows are increasing more and more, especially regarding the refugee crisis during the last years. There are around 86,7 million migrants in Europe. Migrants share similar experiences that may affect their physical and mental health, such as loss of a social network, lack of economical support or high levels of stress and discrimination.

Objectives

To analyze the obstacles that migrants must face to obtain a mental health assistance and the importance of an intercultural approach.

Methods

A narrative review of the existing literature on the subject.

Results

Although there exists evidence that shows that migrants tend to have more health needs, they usually seek less medical advice and receive a poor-quality attention, fulfilling the inverse-care law. This is due to several reasons. Many migrants are excluded of the health care system due to bureaucratic impediments. Also, the language has a determining role, since a higher quality of communication could lead to a better understanding of the symptoms, reducing the risk of erroneous evaluations. Besides, different background and culture between the patient and the doctor can result in lack of communication, mistrust, mistreatment, poor adherence, and worse prognosis.

Conclusions

Despite the exponential growth of migration in the last decade and the continue progression, migrants still face many barriers to receive healthcare. It is necessary to do more research on the mental health of migrants and ethnic minorities to ensure quality care to different cultures.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Cultural syndromes in the era of globalization
Authors: Molina Liétor M.D.C. , Cuevas Iñiguez I.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Cultural syndromes are pathologies that cannot be understood outside the cultural or subcultural context of the person who suffers from it, since both their etiology and symptoms are symbolized by the patient and by the environment in fields of significance inherent to their culture. The globalization process in which we are involved affects the presentation, understanding, diagnosis and treatment of cultural syndromes as they were traditionally understood.

Objectives

The objective of this work is to review the current state of cultural syndromes, the evolution of incidence and prevalence in recent years, as well as whether the globalization process has affected their understanding.

Methods

A bibliographic review has been carried out on cultural syndromes and case reports in both endemic and foreign populations. Likewise, a reflection is made on the possible evolution of these syndromes.

Results

Globalization has been understood as a natural process of integration of nations and their cultures, incorporating the diversity and specificity of the other without forgetting their own and traditional characteristics. Within the globalization process, positive advances in the health area are recognized, specifically in the fields of communication and biotechnology. However, the negative impact of globalization on the daily life and health of people worldwide is undeniable. Those that are economically most disadvantaged are particularly affected. The cases of cultural syndromes in distant countries, the misunderstanding of the symptoms as well as the difficulties of integration of migrant patients with mental suffering must be the object of debate and study.

Conclusions

Globalization affects the care and understanding of mental health

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Depressive symptoms are correlated with periaqueductal gray matter functional connectivity in migraine
Authors: Gecse K. , Dobos D. , Károlyi N. , Baksa D. , Aranyi C.S. , Emri M. , Kökönyei G. , Bagdy G. , Juhasz G.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Depression is the most common comorbidity of migraine. The brain of migraineurs with depression shows differences compared to migraine only or depression only patients. The comorbidity may affect specific regions such as the periaqueductal gray matter (PAG) which is important in negative emotion regulation and pain modulatory system.

Objectives

We hypothesized that the alterations in PAG functional connectivity (FC) may play a role in migraineurs vulnerability for depression.

Methods

A resting-state fMRI was conducted with 34 episodic migraine without aura patients and 41 control subjects. All participants were medication free and they did not have any psychiatric or chronic disorders. Depressive symptoms were measured with Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. To investigate the relationship between depressive symptoms and PAG functional connectivity, Zung scores were used as covariates in each groups’ PAG-FC analysis using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12) toolbox in MATLAB environment.

Results

There were no significant difference between migraine and control group in Zung scores (p=0.394). Negative correlation was found between Zung scores and PAG-FC with thalamus, fusiform gyrus, middle occipital gyrus and calcarine (pFWE<0.05) in migraine group. However, there was no significant correlation between Zung scores and PAG-FC in healthy control group.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that PAG-FC with emotion and pain processing areas is affected by depressive symptoms in migraine patients, but not in healthy controls. Migraine patients without comorbid depression might have vulnerable neuronal pathways for depressive symptoms. A follow-up of these patients could be interesting to determine whether these connectivity alterations predict the possible comorbid depression.

Disclosure

Hungarian Brain Research Program (2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, KTIA_13_NAPA-II/14, KTIA_NAP_13-1-2013- 0001, KTIA_NAP_13-2- 2015-0001); 2020-4.1.1.-TKP2020; ERA PerMed (2019-2.1.7-ERA-NET-2020-00005); ÚNKP-21-4-I-SE-15 (DB).
Frontal lobe tumor misdiagnose. A case report
Authors: Franco Soler A. , Torregrosa Martínez H. , Coucheiro Limeres P. , Cerame A. , Prada Bou P.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Space occupying lesions compromising frontal lobes usually may produce in the first place psychiatric symptoms such as progressive change of personality and/or symptoms suggestive of depressive episodes. Thus they can be misdiagnosed and mistreated.

Objectives

A case report is presented as well as an updated review of frontal lobe tumor diagnosis and treatment literature.

Methods

We present the case of a 45 years-old male patient with no relevant medical history who arrives at the mental health center due to behavioral disorders, depressive mood, workplace absenteeism and personal hygiene neglect in the last 3 months.

Results

Since the clinical picture was compatible with depressive disorder the patient was treated with psychotherapy and antidepressant drugs with no remission. Due to the treatment absence of response he attends emergency services where he is performed a craneal tomograpy (CT) where a right frontal lobe tumor (FLT) is observed.

Conclusions

In early stages FLT are sometimes presented as psychological mood or anxiety disorders without accompanying neurologic deficits. Thus, mental health professionals should be aware that psychological symptoms might be a presentation of organic disease of the brain and in some cases (e.g. middle-aged patients with affective symptoms with no previous mental health history) organic screening and hence brain imaging should be considered.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Beta-band network modularity in resting-state EEG negatively correlates with level of intelligence
Authors: Komarova A. , Shcherbakova E. , Kiselnikov A. , Mitiureva D. , Yurlova M. , Kabanova P. , Slovenko E. , Terlichenko E. , Tan I. , Zubko V.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Recent studies mostly focus on the links between measures of alpha-band EEG networks and intelligence. However, associations between wide frequency range EEG networks and general intelligence level remain underresearched.

Objectives

In this study in a student sample we aimed to correlate the intelligence level and graph metrics of the sensors/sources-level networks constructed in different frequency EEG bands.

Methods

We recorded eyes-closed resting-state EEG in 28 healthy participants (21.4±2.1 y.o., 18 females, 1 left-handed). The Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices Plus (‘SPM Plus’, 60 figures) was used as an intelligence measure. We constructed networks for all possible combinations of sensors/sources-level and 4-8, 8-13, 13-30, or 4-30 Hz frequency bands using Weighted Phase-Lag Index (wPLI), and calculated four graph metrics (Characteristic Path Length, Clustering Coefficient, Modularity, and Small World Index) for each network. Spearman correlation (with Holm-Sidak correction) was applied to characterize the relations between the SPM Plus scores and all the network metrics.

Results

SPM Plus scores varied from 35 to 57 (mean 45.3±4.2), and the intelligence level negatively correlated with Modularity in beta-band (r = -0.63, pcorr = 0.0253).

Conclusions

High modularity may reflect relatively high segregation, but not integration, of networks (Girn, Mills, Christoff, 2019). Accordingly, our findings may shed light on the neural mechanisms of the general inefficiency of global cognitive processing in the case of intellectual decline related to different mental disorders. Funding: This research has been supported by the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Lomonosov Moscow State University ‘Brain, Cognitive Systems, Artificial Intelligence’.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The brain in oral clefting: preliminary results of a systematic review with meta-analyses
Authors: Sándor-Bajusz K.A. , Saadi A. , Varga E. , Csábi G. , Antonoglou G. , Lohner S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Previous neuroimaging studies of individuals with nonsyndromic oral clefts have revealed subtle brain structural differences compared to matched controls. Additional studies strongly suggest that the higher incidence of neuropsychiatric issues observed in these individuals may be explained by these neuroanatomical differences. Currently there are no studies that have assessed the overall empirical evidence of the effect of oral clefts on the brain.

Objectives

Our aim was to summarize available evidence on potential brain structure differences in individuals with nonsyndromic oral clefts and their matched controls. In the current presentation, we discuss the results of regional brain structural differences.

Methods

Five databases were systematically searched in September 2020 for case-control studies that reported neuroimaging in healthy individuals and individuals with nonsyndromic oral clefts. Duplicate study selection, data extraction, random effects meta-analyses of mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals were performed in order to compare regional brain MRI volumes.

Results

We have identified 245 records following the database searches, from which 12 records met the inclusion criteria. Quantitative data on brain structure were available in three studies.The cerebellum, occipital and temporal lobes were significantly smaller in the cleft group compared to controls (MD: -12.46, 95% CI: -18.26, -6.67, n=3 studies; MD:-7.39, 95% CI: -12.80, -1.99, n=2 studies; MD: -10.53, 95% CI: -18.23, -2.82, n=2 studies, respectively).

Conclusions

There may be structural brain differences between individuals with nonsyndromic oral clefts and their controls based on the available evidence.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Image testing in psychiatrics: a bibliografic review
Authors: Molina Liétor M.D.C. , Cuevas Iñiguez I. , Sanz Giancola A. , Alvarez Garcia C.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Psychoradiology is a term that describes a growing interest in relating psychiatry and radiological images, proposing a radiological approach in the management of major psychiatric illnesses. This includes the diagnosis, the planning of the treatment and the study of the clinical course.

Objectives

The objective of this communication is to review the current status of the importance and indications of neuroimaging tests in psychiatry.

Methods

A literature review has been carried out to review this issue.

Results

In schizophrenia, longitudinal studies have been carried out that compare the anatomical structures between a first psychotic episode and in a chronic state, locating regional changes that progress as the disease does. Anatomical alterations have also been detected among patients with a predominance of positive symptoms or negative symptoms. Although more and more studies demonstrate a certain common genetic and radiological basis between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, imaging techniques can also show specific findings that differentiate one pathology from the other. The neuroimaging tests used in psychiatry are: • Brain CT, recommended when a first psychotic episode is suspected. • MRI: recommended in processes of cognitive deterioration, to evaluate white matter and for pregnant patients. It is also recommended to evaluate injuries that could have a poor prognosis with the application of electroconvulsive therapy. • Functional tests (PET and SPECT) are often used to screen some types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s or for research.

Conclusions

New advances and knowledge in psychiatry and radiology must be integrated for better clinical practice.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Use of aripiprazole in an obsessive compulsive disorder case with associated motor tics
Authors: Alvarado Dafonte A. , Valverde Barea M. , Solis M.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a pathology represented by thoughts, images, impulses or feelings that generate great anxiety and discomfort, as well as the development of compulsive acts and rituals that cause great dysfunction.

The comorbidity of different psychiatric disorders with OCD is known, such as impulse control disorder and tic disorder.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to describe the clinical characteristics, comorbidities and the treatment used in a patient with an OCD diagnosis and motor tics.

Methods

Description of a clinical case of motor tics associated with OCD in an adult patient.

Results

A 29-year-old man begins mental health follow-up for presenting, as a result of a choking episode, obsessive thoughts with significant emotional and behavioral repercussions, to the point of restricting his diet and losing several kilos of weight. He also manifested checks and rituals in order to avoid possible choking.Treatment with sertraline and clonazepam was started, without evidence of improvement in symptoms. Months later, bucolingual and guttural tics, difficult to control by the patient and which caused bite lesions in the mouth and tongue, were added to the described clinic. Oral aripiprazole was associated to the treatment and then prolonged- release intramuscular administration was used, achieving improvement in obsessive symptoms and motor tics.

Conclusions

The usefulness of adjuvant treatment with atypical antipsychotics has been demonstrated in adults with OCD who present an insufficient response to an SSRI. Injectable prolonged-release antipsychotics can help improve long-term prognosis by ensuring adherence.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Unhealthy fantasizing of a loved person who does not exist in reality
Authors: Nahar S.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a disorder in which recurring, intrusive, unwanted thoughts, ideas or sensations cause them to feel driven to do something repetitively. The repetitive behaviors can significantly interfere with a person’s daily activities and social interactions. Not performing the behaviors commonly causes great distress.

Objectives

Clinical trials are required for proper assessment and management of this group of patients.

Methods

Mrs. X, a 28 year old female coming for psychiatric consultation with the complaints of self talking, irritability and aggression, insomnia.She fantasizes a man publicly, whom she loves but he has no existence in reality. She tries to solve all kinds of problems by talking to that fantasy man. If anyone interrupts her, she becomes irritable, shouts and breaks things. But for the last 3 months she realized that its a problem. Because, she can’t eat, sleep and concentrate on her household chores for this fantasy. Even she can’t take care of her child and feeling low sexual affection for her husband. On personal history, she said that she had poor attachment with her parents.

Results

After thorough assessment, her consultant Psychiatrist told that she was sufering from unhealthy fantasy obsession or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Conclusions

It is very important and urgent to assess and manage this group of patients, because this has a devastating impact on relationships, specially on the conjugal life. Psychoeducation about the ilness and Psychotherapy along with pharmacotherapy should be the mode of treatment.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Therapeutic potential of serotoninergic psychedelic substances in the treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Rodrigues J. , Nombora O. , Ribeiro L.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder associated with suffering and disability. The serotoninergic system is implicated in the neurobiological processes of OCD and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) are the first-line treatment. However, clinical improvement after starting SRIs can take long and patients may not fully recover. Meanwhile, recent data suggests that activation of 5-HT receptors may exert a therapeutic action in obsessional symptoms. Some psychedelics are strong 5-HT2 receptor agonists and there is a growing research interest as they can be a promising therapeutic approach to OCD.

Objectives

We aim to provide an overview on the current evidence on the therapeutic potential of serotoninergic psychoactive substances in the treatment of OCD.

Methods

Non-systematic review. Literature search in the PubMed database using the terms psychedelics and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Results

Although research is currently limited to a few small studies, the ones conducted so far showed clinically meaningful acute reduction of OCD symptoms after treatment with serotoninergic psychoactive drugs, as well as possible longer-lasting benefits, particularly with psilocybin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Furthermore, substance-assisted psychotherapy with psychedelics has been showing promising results, being suitable for OCD treatment. It is important to add that, to date, studies have indicated relatively good tolerability to these drugs.

Conclusions

These promising early findings highlight the role of psychedelics in OCD treatment and the need for further research into efficacy, therapeutic mechanisms and safety, in order to determine whether these drugs may be worthy options for OCD treatment in the future.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Sexual difficulties in old age and Person-Centered Therapy: A qualitative study with older adults
Authors: Von Humboldt S. , Ribeiro-Gonçalves J.A. , Low G. , Leal I.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Sexual well-being (SWB) of the older population can be significantly influenced by age (1) and sexual difficulties (2).

Objectives

Through qualitative research, this study focused on sexual themes that affect the SWB addressed by the older people in person-centered therapy.

Methods

Twenty-five older adults, aged between 65 and 82 years and residents on the community participated in this study.

Results

The results revealed eight main themes for these participants: Absence of a partner, family interference, dissatisfaction with the body, cleanliness and body care, problems in sexual function, physical violence, problems in sexual communication and fear of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. The most discussed themes were the absence of a partner, problems with sexual function and dissatisfaction with the body.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of exploring the sexual difficulties that the older population feels in relation to their SWB. 1.von Humboldt S et al. Sexual expression in old age: How older adults from different cultures express sexually? Sex Res Social Policy. 2020;1-15. 2.von Humboldt S et al. Are older adults satisfied with their sexuality? Outcomes from a cross-cultural study. Educ Gerontol. 2020;46:284-293.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
BDNF and cognitive function in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Sidenkova A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative pathology that develops mainly in elderly and senile people. Disruption of BDNF transport or suppression of its production appears to be typical for people of old age. Objective: To investigate the influence of Alzheimer’s disease on the secretion of brain factors and correlate with neuropsychological profiles.

Objectives

12 men (2) and women (10) with Alzheimer’s disease were examined. The average age of the subjects was 76.25 + 4.89. Methods: MMSE, ADAS-COG, laboratory - BDNF was performed using the G7611 BDNF Emax (R) ImmunoAssaySystem 5 x 96 wells, BDNF Emax® Immunological test.

Methods

2 patients have mild dementia, 8 patients have moderate dementia, 2 patients have severe dementia. The average age of patients with mild dementia was 72.0 + 1.0. The average MMSE score is 16.7 + 3.4.

Results

Correlation analysis showed a close relationship between a pronounced decrease in memory in memory tests (ADAS-COG) and a pronounced decrease in blood BDNF content (r = 0.676). A close statistically significant relationship was found between a low result of the recognition test and a low blood BDNF content (r = 0.598).

Conclusions

We assume that blood BDNF is a marker of pathologically accelerated aging of the central nervous system, since low test results for mnestic function are an indicator of severe degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
The good compliance is an opportunity to avoid pathological brain aging
Authors: Sidenkova A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Preservation of health, increase in life expectancy determine the need to improve the effectiveness of medical recommendations, which, despite the success of pharmacology, are insufficient for reasons related to the low level of compliance with these recommendations by patients.

Objectives

Participants of the study-148 employees of medical institutions: 12 men, 136 women, their age ranged from 27 to 74 years.

Methods

Despite the absence of signs of decompensation of concomitant pathology, representatives of the subgroups took a different amount of concomitant therapy. Using the scale of assessment of drug compliance, it was found that compliance is most reduced in the subgroup of 41-50 years. In this subgroup, a comprehensive decrease in compliance across the “behavioral”, “emotional”, and “cognitive” domains was detected in 87.8% of cases, while in the younger subgroup partial non-compliance was 32.4%, in the older subgroup - 74.5%

Results

An analysis of the states of cognitive functions in 52 representatives of the middle age subgroup with low compliance rates showed that, unlike other representatives of the same subgroup, their indices for a number of neuropsychological tests are close to the results of more adult participants in the study.Individuals demonstrating low compliance with quite favorable CNS resources are at risk for the formation of pathological aging.

Conclusions

Compliance is considered as Compliance is considered as a control mechanism for preventing normal aging into pathological by regulating risk factors that are dangerous for the brain and associated with the formation of dementia

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
What we know about Auditory Charles Bonnet Syndrome?
Authors: Moreno Menguiano C. , Garcia Sánchez F. , Vazquez Vazquez J.J. , Gutiérrez Rodríguez M.M. , Corral Y Alonso M.D.L.A.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is defined like visual hallucinations found in individuals who are not necessarily mentally ill, who have visual impairment and no cognitive deficits. Although CBS make reference to visual hallucinations, in this case we are going to deal about Auditory Charles Bonnet Syndrome (aCBS), a very infrequent condition that consists in the presentation of musical hallucinations in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and which etiology is not clearly due to a psychiatric condition.

Objectives

Review the scientific literature available on aCBS to see how much we know about this syndrome.

Methods

Review of available literature sources were obtained through electronic search in PubMed database.

Results

Musical hallucination is a complex form of auditory hallucinations. The most common of these are idiopathic and they present in elderly patients with deafness or impaired audition, which suggests a deterioration of cerebral function. The pathophysiologic mechanism is not understood. These patients tend to have intact reality tests. The time course is variable. In those cases in which it is possible, treating the hearing loss can lead to a significant improvement of the symptom. However, when every this strategies are insufficient, pharmacological treatments can be considered.

Conclusions

- aCBS is an uncommon condition characterized by the presence of complex auditory hallucinations that mainly affect elderly patients with hearing loss. - In most cases there is no previous psychiatric history. - The etiology and pathophysioplogic are not well defined. - There is no etiological treatment. We can use pharmacological and no pharmacological methods of treatment.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
Women with Lived Experience in the Perinatal Period: What do they want from Their Doctors?
Authors: Dolman C. , Howard L. , Jones I.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Best practice requires the treating physician to understand the needs and hopes of his/her patient, particularly in relation to pregnancy and childbirth preferences. This is even more necessary for women with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) because of the complicated decisions they face balancing the need to continue medication in pregnancy to prevent relapse against any possible harm to the foetus. Objectives: To explore what women themselves view as most important when discussing pregnancy and childbirth with psychiatrists and what barriers there are to a) having a meaningful conversation and b) achieving optimum outcomes. Qualitative methods were used to analyse the data from in-depth interviews with 21 women, recruited from a South London NHS organisation (76%) and the UK’s national bipolar charity (24%). The views of 25 health professionals, including 19 psychiatrists, were also collected and analysed. Results: Many themes emerged but principally women wanted: information, continuity of care, better training for health professionals, to co-produce a detailed care plan, access to a Mother and Baby Unit, peer support and more research on medications in pregnancy. Conclusions: This study highlighted the importance of understanding women’s needs and fears and giving them the necessary information to make the difficult decisions that face them. Such understanding is likely to lead to more positive therapeutic relationships and better long-term outcomes.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
BREAST CANCER: the educational level of patients correlated with the level of procrastination
Authors: Tabugan C.D. , Bredicean A.-C. , Giurgi-Oncu C. , Cristina O. , Zsolt P. , Hogea L.
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Even if breast cancer is a severe pathology that can cause the death of a person, nowadays there are effective screening methods that could help us to discover in due time the tumor formation and thus be able to benefit from conservative breast surgery.

Objectives

Evaluating the feasible relationship between the noted levels of procrastination and the educational level of subjects

Methods

The analyzed group comprises a number of 152 female subjects (n=152). They were divided in three subgroups: subgroup I(26) composed of women with lower education, subgroup II(66), women with medium education level and subgroup III(60), women with higher education. A socio-demographic questionnaire and the Tuckman Procrastination Scale have been applied.

Results

Comparing the three subgroups, the levels of procrastination were similar. Low levels of procrastination were most common in all three subgroups: in the subgroup I 57,69%, in the subgroup II 56,06% and in the subgroup III 53,33%. Average procrastination levels were observed in 34,61% of women in subgroup I, 42,42% of women in subgroup II and 45% of women in subgroup III. Concerning high levels of procrastination we can affirm that they involve a small number of subjects. Measuring the degree of connection between the two variables, we obtained as a result r=0.13, which means a very weak, non-existent correlation.

Conclusions

The study revealed that there is no relationship between the level of education and the levels of procrastination that include postponing the presentation to the doctor.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.