bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Schizophrenia and Polycythemia Vera: A Case Report
Authors: El Moussaoui N. , Bahetta S. , Belabbes I. , Laboudi F. , Ouanass A. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionSchizophrenia is a severe mental disorder marked by abnormal interpretations of reality, often resulting in hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking that significantly impairs daily functioning and can be disabling. Lifelong treatment is necessary, and early intervention can help manage symptoms and improve long-term outcomes.Polycythemia Vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm causing an excess of red blood cells in the peripheral blood (polyglobulia). While the disease typically presents with symptoms, it can also be asymptomatic and discovered incidentally during routine laboratory tests, leading to a diagnosis of polycythemia when no secondary cause is apparent.While early 20th-century literature linked PV to intense neurological and psychiatric symptoms, contemporary studies rarely make such references.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to explore, through a clinical case of a patient undergoing treatment for treatment-resistant schizophrenia with clozapine, and concurrently diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera, the potential causes of this condition. We seek to discern whether it represents mere comorbidities or if Polycythemia Vera is an adverse effect of antipsychotic treatment, particularly with clozapine.MethodsA 41-year-old patient, with a history of cranial trauma at the age of 5 and 19 years of treatment for schizophrenia, also has a tobacco use disorder. While hospitalized for the management of symptomatic reactivation of schizophrenia, despite being on clozapine, the patient underwent various therapeutic combinations with no observed clinical improvement. A few months later, follow-up blood tests indicated an elevation in all blood cell lines.An internal medicine consultation was sought, resulting in the diagnosis of Polycythemia Vera.ResultsThe evaluations conducted led us to the conclusion that there are two distinct nosological entities, with the treatment of the psychiatric condition revealing true polycythemia. Even after reducing the doses of clozapine and changing the atypical antipsychotic, all subsequent evaluations showed no effectiveness in managing the psychiatric disorder or improvement in the hematological condition.ConclusionsIn summary, schizophrenia is a severe and lifelong mental disorder requiring early intervention for symptom management. Polycythemia Vera (PV), a myeloproliferative disorder, typically presents with symptoms but can also be asymptomatic.While early literature linked PV to intense neurological and psychiatric symptoms, contemporary studies seldom reference such associations. The coexistence of schizophrenia and PV in a patient underscores the need for comprehensive and interdisciplinary care to address the complex interplay between mental and physical health. Further research is needed to deepen our understanding of concurrent psychiatric and hematological conditions.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
SARS-CoV-2 infection and psychological distress : a prospective sero-survey in southern Switzerland
Authors: Bano B. , Sculco C. , Piumatti G. , Amati R. , Purgato M. , Albanese E. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of the population that, to some extent, may be due to the neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2. However, evidence is extremely sparse on the prospective association between serological evidence of COVID-19 infection and psychological distress.ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the prospective association between seropositivity and psychological distress – assessed by symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress – in the general adult population in southern Switzerland. Further, we investigated whether this association varied over time and between pandemic waves.MethodsWe used data from 305 adults who participated in the Corona Immunitas Ticino (CIT) prospective sero-survey cohort study. We tested the association between serologically confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection at baseline (June–December 2020) and depression, anxiety and stress scores as measured by the DASS-21 scale at three time points between December 2020 and March 2021, also taking into account for sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education level, presence of chronic diseases, smoking, obesity).ResultsIn our sample, 84.3% (mean age of 51.30, SD= ± .93) were never infected. Seropositive participants were significantly younger on average (M=46.90, SD= ±2.00, P= .04). At the first follow-up (see Table 1), seropositive participants had higher rates of mild conditions for depression (OR= .64; P= .014) and anxiety (OR= .50; P= .030), than seronegatives. Overall, after the 6-month follow-up, seropositive participants had significantly lower rates of mild conditions for DASS-21 subscales. In addition, prevalence of mild conditions for depression, anxiety and stress decreased more rapidly over time among infected vs. never infected (see Figure 1). Older age and the presence of chronic diseases were associated with mild anxiety (OR= .97; P= .013; OR=3.47; P= .001) and stress (OR= .96; P= .003; OR= 2.56; P= .010).Table 1.Associations (Odds Ratios) between seropositive immunological status and mental health between December 2020 and March 2021 in Ticino, southern Switzerland (N=305)DASS-21 defined mild conditionORP valueCI (95%)Depression0.6410.0140.449 – 0.914Anxiety0.5020.0300.270 – 0.936Stress0.7120.1130.468 – 1.083Note. Generalized estimating equation models results. Co-variates include time, age, gender, chronic diseases, obesity, smoking and education level.ConclusionsOur results provide new evidence on the association between COVID-19 seropositivity and poor mental health and underline the public health implications of the pandemic because the number of infected individuals largely exceed the 770 million of recorded COVID-19 (symptomatic) cases.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
University students’ perspectives towards digital mental health: a qualitative analysis of interviews from the cross-country ‘CAMPUS study’
Authors: Riboldi I. , Calabrese A. , Piacenti S. , Capogrosso C. A. , Lucini Paioni S. , Bartoli F. , Carrà G. , Armes J. , Taylor C. , Crocamo C. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionPoor mental health of university students is a growing concern for public health. Indeed, academic settings may exacerbate students’ vulnerability to mental health issues. Nonetheless, university students are often unable to seek mental health support due to barriers, at both individual and organisational level. Digital technologies are proved to be effective in collecting health-related information and in managing psychological distress, representing useful instruments to tackle mental health needs, especially considering their accessibility and cost-effectiveness.ObjectivesAlthough digital tools are recognised to be useful for mental health support, university students’ opinions and experiences related to such interventions are still to be explored. In this qualitative research, we aimed to address this gap in the scientific literature.MethodsData were drawn from “the CAMPUS study”, which longitudinally assesses students’ mental health at the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy) and the University of Surrey (United Kingdom). We performed detailed interviews and analysed the main themes of the transcripts. We also performed a cross-cultural comparison between Italy and the United Kingdom.ResultsAcross 33 interviews, five themes were identified, and an explanatory model was developed. From the students’ perspective, social media, podcasts, and apps could be sources of significant mental health content. On the one hand, students recognised wide availability and anonymity as advantages that make digital technologies suitable for primary to tertiary prevention, to reduce mental health stigma, and as an extension of face-to-face interventions. On the other hand, perceived disadvantages were lower efficacy compared to in-person approaches, lack of personalisation, and difficulties in engagement. Students’ opinions and perspectives could be widely influenced by cultural and individual background.ConclusionsDigital tools may be an effective option to address mental health needs of university students. Since face-to-face contact remains essential, digital interventions should be integrated with in-person ones, in order to offer a multi-modal approach to mental well-being.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
A bibliometric analysis of research in the field of forensic psychiatry
Authors: Kaggwa M. M. M. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionForensic psychiatry is a subspeciality that encompasses applying scientific and clinical expertise in legal contexts. As a field of psychiatry, forensic psychiatry has continued to evolve in various jurisdictions. Several journal publications continue to highlight the contributions and works of various psychiatry researchers in this area on scientific development and trends in practice. However, a quantitative assessment of these publications using a bibliometric analysis has yet to be done. Thus, the present study.ObjectivesProvide a qualitative assessment of the bibliometrics of peer-reviewed research in forensic psychiatry.MethodsIn this bibliometric analysis, we used Web of Science (the most frequently used database) to identify research articles in forensic psychiatry from inception to December 2023. Analysis was done using citespace and VOSviewer software.ResultsFive thousand six hundred ninety articles were identified with 115 countries, 4144 institutions and universities, and 1660 authors. The articles were published in 1022 journals (most are specific to the field), and 4707 unique keywords were used to identify relevant articles. Risk assessments, violence, recidivism, psychopathy, and schizophrenia are the main areas researched. Sixteen funding agencies have funded ten or more articles in the field. The studies were mainly from high-income countries and a relatively scant number from low-income countries, especially African countries. Publications with themes on risk assessment tools – such as the HCR-20- appeared predominant across the analyzed publications.ConclusionsResearch in forensic psychiatry has continued to grow over time. While many jurisdictions across the globe have embraced the field, more effort is needed to promote forensic psychiatry and research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The themes or keywords that emerged from the publications included in this analysis suggest that forensic psychiatry mainly deals with offenders with schizophrenia or psychopathy.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Impact of a daily supportive text message program (text4hope) on the stress, anxiety, and depression levels of elderly (60 years and above) subscribers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta.
Authors: Owusu E. , Shalaby R. , Agyapong B. , Vuong W. , Gusnowski A. , Surood S. , Greenshaw A. J. , Agyapong V. I. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionOne of the biggest global crises in our generation is the COVID-19 pandemic. It has had a severe and far-reaching negative impact on our health systems, economies, and societies. Older adults were particularly at higher risk of severe illness, isolation from social distancing measures, and concerns about their health.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the daily supportive text message program (Text4Hope) on the levels of stress, anxiety, and depression experienced by elderly subscribers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta six weeks after enrollment.MethodsAn online survey link was used to gather demographic and clinical information on several self-report scales, such as the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) ≥ 14 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7). Scale ≥ 10, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) ≥ 10. Descriptive and inferential statistics were run using SPSS version 25.Results172 subscribers out of 1136 completed baseline and six weeks using an online questionnaire, giving a response rate of 15.1%. There were significant reductions in mean scores on the PSS-10 and GAD-7 scales at six weeks compared to baseline (P>.05), but not on the PHQ-9 scale. There were also significant reductions in the prevalence of moderate or high stress (68.6% vs 60.5%, p=0.036) and likely GAD (14.9% vs 22.7%, p=0.029) from baseline to six weeks, with the highest reduction in stress (8.1%). A change (27.6% to 25.2%) in the prevalence of likely MDD from baseline to six weeks was insignificant. (P>.05)ConclusionsThis study’s findings show a decrease in the prevalence rates and the mean scores for stress and anxiety on standardized scales, indicating an improvement from baseline to six weeks. This outcome has potential implications for planning an intervention to meet the mental health needs of the elderly in similar situations like the pandemicDisclosure of InterestNone Declared
Stigmatizing attitude of psychiatrists in the Netherlands
Authors: Kakar S. , Birkenhäger T. , Baars L. , Őri D. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionEven in the current times people with mental health disorders face negative treatment due to negative stereotyping. This occurs not only within their private environment and in the public community, but also by healthcare professionals. Mental health related stigma results in various disadvantages, such as: worse treatment in healthcare and discrimination in job interviews, in work environment, in education and in housing.ObjectivesOur aim with this cross-sectional study, was to investigate the attitudes of adult and child psychiatrists in the Netherlands towards people with mental health problems.MethodsWe used the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) to measure the stigmatizing attitudes. Participants filled in this internet-based survey anonymously. The OMS-HC total scores as well as the subscales were used to determine the stigma.ResultsAltogether, N=170 practitioners (n=45 males, n=124 females) completed the survey. The bifactor ESEM model showed the best model fit (RMSEA=0.057, CFI=0.968, TLI=0.935); however, exploratory factor analysis results indicated the weakness of items 13 and 15. Participants who provide psychotherapy to their patients prefer less social distance towards them (9(7-10) vs 10(7.5-11), p=0.051)). Also those who have ever been treated medically for their own mental health problems, prefer less social distance (7,5(6-10) vs 9(8-11), p=0.009). Rural working psychiatrists are more willing to disclose and seek help for their mental health problems than those working in urban areas (9 (8-10) vs 8 (6.5-9.5), p = 0.024). Those who are open to (29(26-32.5) vs 32.5(31.25-35), p=0.009) or having an opportunity to regularly participate in case discussion groups (29(25.25-32) vs 32(28-35.25), p=0.012) have an overall favourable attitude towards people with mental health problems.ConclusionsThis is the first study on the stigmatizing attitude of practicing psychiatrists in the Netherlands from their own perspectives. It will contribute to the gaps of knowledge of the stigmatizing attitude of psychiatrists towards people with mental health problems. Moreover this study will provide new interventions towards less stigmatizing attitude of psychiatrists.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Study of mental health perceptions among Central African refugee populations and host communities in the East Cameroon region
Authors: Dozio E. , Jaccard A. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionCameroon’s eastern region faces numerous security challenges linked to successive crises in the Central African Republic, particularly with the massive influx of refugees especially since 2013. Official UNHCR figures speak of 349,409 Central African refugees present on Cameroonian soil. These are both refugees already well established in their host communities, and new arrivals. Since the post-electoral crisis in CAR at the end of 2020, the situation has gradually stabilized in the Kadey department, but remains volatile due to daily insecurity in the northern regions of the Central African Republic.ObjectivesWith a view to meeting the mental health and psychosocial support needs of the region’s population and better integrating refugees into their host communities, it was necessary to obtain a more exhaustive picture of the population’s perception of mental health, to understand the mechanisms of psychosocial support at community level and any differences between refugees and the indigenous population.MethodsA mixed methodology with quantitative and qualitative data was chosen for a more detailed analysis. The survey was carried out in two communes in the Kadey department: Kentzou and Kette. The sample was disaggregated to take account of the socio-demographic characteristics and to enable to make comparisons between the situations of host communities, living in refugee sites and outside sites. For quantitative data, 205 the individuals responded to a questionnaire. 12 individual interviews and 12 Focus Group Discussions (involving 60 participants ) guided by semi-structured questions were used to collect qualitative data from key members of the community.ResultsAnalysis of quantitative and qualitative data has confirmed the successful integration of Central African refugees into the host community. Nevertheless, there is a difference between these two groups in terms of their perception and understanding of the definition of mental health, mental health disorders and treatment options. Thus, there was a clear difference in training and awareness needs between the host and refugee communities.ConclusionsBased on the qualitative and quantitative results of our assessment, a number of recommendations have been drawn up. It would be interesting to find a balance in the definition, attribution of causes and treatment of mental disorders between the traditional, mystical and cultural vision and the psychological and psychiatric one. It would be important to encourage refugee communities to return to some of their traditional practices, and to allow several visions of the human being to coexist between a traditional and a more medical vision.To address the lack of resources for mental health care in the Kadey area, more training in mental health and psychosocial support is needed for health and social workers in the area.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Social Determinants and Mental Health in Newly Arrived Young Migrants in Spain
Authors: Franch-Roca M. , Gabarrell-Pascuet A. , Salomon-Mallat E. , Group M. , Haro J. M. , Cristóbal-Narváez P. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionResearch has shown that factors related with the migratory process (such as travelling alone, living away from family, and discrimination after arrival) considerably increase the risk of mental health problems in young migrants. Moreover, they are among the most vulnerable migration groups with a high risk of social exclusion.ObjectivesTo identify coping strategies and behavioural changes used to deal with perceived discrimination and its impact on the emotional well-being and mental health of newly arrived young migrants in Spain.MethodsA subsample of 15 audio-recorded in-depth qualitative interviews were analysed from the national action-research Migrasalud project (II IN 190517 EN 162 FA 01). The interviews were transcribed, translated from Arabic to Spanish, and analysed through content analysis.ResultsMost participants were males (93.3%; n=14), ranging from 18 to 20 years, and from Morocco (93.3%; n=14). All participants were from foster care placements in Barcelona and arrived to Spain as minors. Newly arrived young migrants reported that they perceived themselves as being healthy before the migratory process. Adverse experiences during the journey and discrimination after arrival impacted their well-being and mental health. Specifically, they reported perceived discrimination in their daily life due to culture, language, or origin. This negatively impacted their well-being and mental health, increasing their emotional distress response and ‘undervalued or inferior’ and ‘vulnerable’ feelings about themselves. Concerning coping with discrimination, they reported using internalised coping strategies such as ‘ignoring’ or ‘not responding’ for fear of having their legal documents revoked or not obtaining them. Their behavioural changes often occurred when they perceived unfair treatment or prejudice towards their migrant status or their socioeconomics, culture or religion. These changes were motivated by being more accepted by the local community by ‘westernisation or cultural assimilation’ and by ‘creating a good image’ of oneself and its culture.ConclusionsFindings establish that the cumulative experience of post-migration stressors (such as discrimination) negatively impacts their mental health and well-being in the long term. This suggests the need for specific policies and services to address this population’s effects of post-migration risk factors. Further research is needed to explore the causes and effects of perceived discrimination on mental health more closely and to develop more targeted and effective interventions.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Sexuality in patients treated for borderline personality disorder at the Arrazi psychiatric hospital in Salé
Authors: Ait Bensaid N. , Bensalah Y. , Sabir M. , El Omari F. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionBorderline personality disorder is a severe mental disorder characterized by generalized instability of emotional regulation of interpersonal relationships and self-image, and marked impulsivity. Several features of this disorder are likely to be associated with problematic sexual health, such as impulsivity (impulsive sexual behavior), identity disorders (unstable sexual identity) and unstable and intense interpersonal relationships. In addition, childhood sexual abuse and violence are common in people’s histories.ObjectivesAssessing sexuality in patients followed for borderline personality disorder at Arrazi Salé psychiatric hospital.MethodsThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study using a questionnaire including socio-demographic criteria with a questionnaire on sexual behavior in female patients followed for borderline personality disorder at the Arrazi Salé psychiatric hospital. Inclusion criteria: women over 18 years of age diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Exclusion criteria: psychosis, intellectual disability.ResultsWe collected 45 patients with borderline personality disorder. The average age was 22, 80% were single, 58% unemployed, 46% had dropped out of high school. The majority of participants were using psychoactive substances. 25% had attempted suicide. 83% were victims of childhood sexual abuse. The majority were significantly more likely to engage in sexual activity at a younger age than their peers. Over 60% had never used contraception 10% had their first pregnancy at a younger age, with termination. 15% have had genital infections. 53% were attracted to both sexes, and over 66% had more than one sexual partner. Over 73% did not experience sexual satisfaction (sexual satisfaction scale less than 10).ConclusionsThe results indicate that sexuality in patients with borderline personality disorder is present early in the course of the disorder, often at a young age, with significant physical, mental and social consequences. Primary care mental health, sexual health and sexual assault services need to be attentive to the clinical diagnosis of this personality disorder, as the nature of the disorder represents both a risk factor and a health threat.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared