bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The emergence of new obsessions and compulsions after COVID-19: a case report
Authors: Abdelkefi M. , Feki R. , Gassara I. , Smaoui N. , Omri S. , Charfi N. , Zouari L. , Ben Thabet J. , Maalej Bouali M. , Maalej M. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionThe coronavirus pandemic has affected mental health since its outbreak in 2019 and several studies have revealed that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients were adversely affected.ObjectivesThe aim of our present report is to study the impact of the coronavirus infection on OCD.MethodsWe illustrate a case of new emerging obsessions and compulsions after a COVID-19 infection in a patient consulting at the Psychiatry C department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital.ResultsMr. HB first presented in our outpatient unit of the Psychiatry C department at the age of 32. His medical history was unremarkable except for a COVID-19 infection in June 2022 that did not cause any organic complications. His family history was negative without neurological and psychiatric diseases. Further history revealed that OCD symptoms already started before his infection with COVID-19. At that time, he suffered from compulsions with the urge to constantly wash his hands and check rituals, but his symptoms were not severe enough to make him seek a psychiatric consult or treatment. However, since July 2022, soon after his infection with COVID-19, he suffered from new obsessions and compulsions, he would spend hours calculating all the numbers he sees and counting the number of letters in the words he came across. Non-surprisingly, OCD symptoms caused relevant problems in social life, and at work, he had difficulties concentrating and working. Due to his symptoms, he had neglected hobbies, avoided social contact, spent less time with his family, and even had suicidal thoughts. Therefore, pharmacotherapy with clomipramine was initiated with a maximal dose of 150 mg/d. Because of adverse events and lack of efficacy, he stopped medication and decided to consult our department to seek a different treatment. Therefore, sertraline was started at the dose of 50 mg/d along with psychotherapy.ConclusionsPeople with OCD are likely to be more susceptible to the mental health impact of COVID-19. Responses to the pandemic are not only associated with an increase in all Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms and their severity but also the emergence of new types of obsessions and compulsions. Consequently, therapists should consider the effects of the pandemic on all OC symptom dimensions and adjust their treatment plans accordingly.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The fundamental beliefs held by individuals living with HIV and university students during the challenges posed by the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
Authors: Titova V. V. , Rozhdestvenskiy V. I. , Gorkovaya I. A. , Ivanov D. O. , Aleksandrovich Y. S. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionBaseline beliefs, as conceptualized by R. Janoff-Bulman in her cognitive theory of mental trauma, represent an inherent internal framework that shapes how individuals perceive and assess traumatic events. It is widely acknowledged that the pandemic has had a profound impact on the global economy and the living conditions of individuals. Consequently, it is reasonable to assume that during a pandemic, one’s ability to adapt to these altered circumstances is influenced by their foundational beliefs. Consequently, exploring these fundamental beliefs in two at-risk groups, namely university students and individuals with confirmed HIV, becomes a subject of significant interest.ObjectivesThis study aims to examine the fundamental beliefs of patients with HIV and university students in the context of the second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic in Russia.MethodsData collection took place from January to July 2021 using a custom-developed Google form. The study involved 35 Russian university students majoring in humanities and 59 HIV-positive patients. We employed the WAS-37 methodology, adapted for use in Russia, to assess their baseline beliefs.ResultsWe found that on the scales “Fairness” (M = 21.00±3.73 - students, M = 20.53±4.63 - patients, p = 0.616), “Luck” (M = 31.74±5.06 vs M = 29.59±7.33, p = 0.129) and “Control beliefs” (M = 26.66±4.80 vs M = 27.12±4.42, p = 0.636) students did not differ from patients. Scores on the Environment Benevolence scale were higher in students (M = 35.46±7.33 vs M = 30.50±7.09, p = 0.002) and on the Self Image scale were higher in HIV patients (M = 26.63±6.97 vs M = 30.03±5.41, p = 0.010).ConclusionsDuring the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, individuals living with HIV, when compared to students, tended to perceive the world around them as being more perilous and unfriendly, while simultaneously viewing themselves as possessing greater integrity. From our perspective, this latter observation could be interpreted as a means of self-defence against the perceived hostility of the external world. In such pandemic circumstances, it may be advisable to consider the use of supportive psychotherapy for individuals living with HIV.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The connection between professional burnout of medical workers and the self-help methods during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Deshchenko E. V. , Koniukhovskaia J. E. , Stepanova O. B. , Shishkova I. M. , Pervichko E. I. , Mitina O. V. , Irgashev N. R. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionMany medical workers suffered from severe professional burnout while working in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, but few of them had the opportunity to find psychological help.ObjectivesThe aim of the research was to study the relationship between emotional burnout and self-help strategies in medical professionals during the pandemic.MethodsThe Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to measure the level of professional burnout. It was filled out by medical workers from January 2021 to November 2022.The sample consisted of 314 medical workers (57 men and 255 women), whose average age was 36.97±11.93. According to the level of education, the sample included specialists with secondary general education (4.14%), with secondary special education (19.4%), with incomplete higher education (11.46%), with higher education (59.87%) and PhD (5.1%). 35 people (11%) of the surveyed medical workers worked in the red zone.ResultsWhen medical workers experience severe Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, they often try to help themselves by drinking alcohol (r=0.156; p=0.005; r=0.184; p=0.001), eating (r=0.227; p=0.000; r=0.151; p=0.007), taking medications (r=0.204; p=0.000; r=0.212; p=0.005), solitude (r=0.204; p=0.000; r=0.133; p=0.019), watching TV series (r=0.173; p=0.002; r=0.146; p=0.01). With an increase in the Reduction of professional skills, medical workers also eat more (r=-0.148; p=0.009) and try to learn something new, engage in self-development (r=-0.137; p=0.015). It is important to note that the desire to seek psychological help is associated only with Emotional Exhaustion (r=0.121, p=0.032), that is, he/she may be aware at an early stage of professional burnout, when the symptoms of depersonalization and reduction of professional skills have not yet occurred.ConclusionsThus, all the considered self-help methods are already used with pronounced symptoms of professional burnout, but do not lead to its pronounced decrease. It is important to note that seeking psychological help is possible with awareness of emotional exhaustion, but not with depersonalization and reduction of professional skills.Disclosure: Research is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 21-18-00624.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Hematological impact of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in patients treated with Clozapine
Authors: Touiti A. , Yaich I. , Ben Said C. , Bram N. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionClozapine is an atypical antipsychotic that is primarily prescribed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Despite its proven efficacy, the prescription of clozapine is sometimes limited by its hematologic side effects, including agranulocytosis. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, schizophrenia is recognized as a risk factor for developing severe forms of the infection. Early and complete vaccination of patients has been recommended. However, there is limited data on the effect of the vaccine on the risk of hematologic abnormalities in patients treated with clozapine.ObjectivesTo study the hematologic effect of the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 in a population of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia treated with clozapine.MethodsTwenty-five patients hospitalized for schizophrenia at the forensic psychiatry department of Razi Hospital in Manouba, Tunisia, were included. Eighteen patients were treated with clozapine, and seven patients were treated with other antipsychotics. Consent from patients and/or their relatives was obtained before vaccination. The results of complete blood counts performed as part of the therapeutic protocol were compared between the two groups before and after administration of the vaccine.ResultsNo patient experienced agranulocytosis induced by clozapine after vaccination against COVID-19.Blood cells counts,red blood cells counts,and platelets were within the normal ranges.However,a decrease in the number of WBCs,neutrophils,and lymphocytes was observed in patients treated with clozapine without significant difference compared to the patients treated with other neuroleptics, but there was no severe neutropenia or need to stop treatment.ConclusionsThe prescription of clozapine, the introduction protocol, and treatment administration have been greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the hepatotoxic risk of the drug. Vaccination is essential to prevent severe forms of the infection, especially in at-risk populations such as patients treated for schizophrenia.The potentiation of hematologic side effects induced by clozapine by the vaccine is not documented.The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is safe even with clozapineDisclosure of InterestNone Declared
Atypical case of anterograde amnesia after cerebral infarction and anti-NMDA encephalitis post Covid 19 infection: A complex clinical case
Authors: Gebele M. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionOnly a few cases of primary anterograde amnesia with confabulation after severe complex brain damage have been described in the literature.ObjectivesTo describe a case of anterograde amnesia with confabulation in a patient with severe and extensive brain damage.Methodscase reportResultsCase presentation: A 48-year-old male patient with a medical history of diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, presented to a psychiatric clinic for the first time. He was admitted to the hospital due to the manifestation of disruptive aggressive behaviour, aimless wandering, and excessive, impulsive expenditure of financial resources. At the time of hospitalization and during the hospital stay, the patient exhibited a state of elevated mood and anterograde amnesia compounded by the presence of prominent confabulation, easily irritable mood with a tendency to conflict. No physical limitations.Background: The patient is an active long-distance driver for 15 years. A year before hospitalization in psychiatric clinic, he was travelling to Moscow, he had episode of headache and unconsciousness after which hospitalization. Diagnosed with multiple infarcts of embolic origin in the right frontal lobes, both cortical and subcortical, on the right side at the level of the uncus, in the medial anterior parts of the right occipital lobe, on the left side in the insula and at the level of the capsula externa, in the anterior basal part of the left temporal lobe. After hemodynamic stabilization, he was repatriated to Latvia. Stationary positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR, O2 support therapy required.
The patient develops auditory and visual hallucinations, which do not correct on antipsychotic therapy. Lumbar puncture was performed, which showed positive anti-NMDA antibodies, magnetic resonance - autoimmune limbic encephalitis with damage to the gyrus cinguli of the insula cortex of both temporal lobes and the right subfrontal part with spread throughout the right temporal lobe, bilaterally in the mediobasal structures of the temporal lobes and the right thalamus with progressive changes. The patient receives immunomodulatory therapy, plasma exchange and immune globulin. Hallucinations decrease on the background of therapy. At discharge - moderate ataxia in the legs, disorientation in time, severe short-term memory disorders.The patient in his mind lives like nothing has happened and the same life continues.Image:Image 2:ConclusionsThe long-term prognosis for the patient remains uncertain, given the multifaceted nature of the condition and the extent of brain damage. Continuous monitoring, rehabilitation, and ongoing support will be essential to assess cognitive recovery and improve the patient’s quality of life.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Mental well-being of Tunisian COVID-19 survivors: a cohort study
Authors: Turki M. , Bouattour N. , Ben Ayed H. , Ellouze S. , Jbir R. , Msaad S. , Kammoun S. , Halouani N. , Aloulou J. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionCOVID-19 affected humankind worldwide in different aspects of life. Survivors still report the effects of the pandemic on daily life, physical health, and mental health.ObjectivesTo assess effects of the pandemic on the mood and the quality of life of the survivors.MethodsWe conducted a prospective cohort study including 121 Tunisian COVID-19 inpatients who had been discharged alive from hospital. Each enrolled patient was asked about the period before the hospital stay, and the 6-9 month-period after hospital discharge, using several scales: the validated Arabic version of “Patient Health Questionnaire” (PHQ-9) to screen for depressive symptoms, and “EuroQol five-dimension three-level” (EQ-5D-3L) to assess the quality of life.ResultsThe median age of participants was 59 years, with extreme values ranging from 18 to 80. Among them, 51.2% were females. As compared with baseline statue of patients, the depressive dimension assessed through PHQ was significantly impaired (7.05 vs 1.12; p<0.001). The different dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L showed significant deterioration in mean scores (mobility:1.09 vs 1.31, p<0.001; selfcare:1 vs 1.11, p=0.001; daily activities:1.09 vs 1.49, p<0.001; pain and disturbance: 1.17 vs1.49, p<0.0005 and anxiety and depression: 1.07 vs 1.57, p<0.001). Depressive symptoms were 10 times more frequent in post-COVID (57.9% vs 5.7%). The post-COVID PHQ-9 score was correlated with the post-COVID EQ-5D-3L score (p=0.033).ConclusionsThis study points out the long-term impact of the COVID infection. Therefore, the clinician should screen for possible psychological distress even after resolution of the disease, in order to guarantee a better quality of life.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Somatic Representation of Emotional Problems among Native Kyrgyz Speakers
Authors: Molchanova E. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionThe somatization problem has been one of the most acute in mental health for half a century (Kirmayer, L., 2000). Patients with somatic complaints turn to specialists in various fields but rarely to psychologists and psychiatrists, although the connection between bodily suffering and psychological difficulties sometimes lies on the surface (Molchanova E., 2016). In the last twenty years, the mechanisms of somatization have been considered by several disciplines, one of which is cultural psychiatry, which has become relevant.Unfortunately, most of the research focuses on the cultural characteristics of migrants living in the United States (Groleau, D. and Kirmayer, L. 2004). There needs to be more research on the cultural features of somatization in Kyrgyz culture.ObjectivesThe goal of the study is to discover the distinctive features of the process of somatization in Kyrgyz cultureThe objectives are:To create a vocabulary of somatic phrases and idioms used to represent somatic problems to find the most commonly used somatic idioms for emotional complaints by native speakers of the Kyrgyz language.To describe the mechanism of transformation of the emotional symptom into a specifically located and presented somatic complaint.MethodsThe research used a mixed, qualitative, and quantitative design.The first stage is qualitative, including ten semi-structured interviews with linguists, culturologists, historians, and specialists in folk art.The second stage included four focus groups (12 people in each group) with a follow-up analysis. The recruitment of respondents was carried out through social networks, announcements, and the snowball method.The third stage was quantitative. With the help of the dictionary compiled at the first stage, 250 participants ranked the frequency of somatic idioms, which were used to express the emotional problemsResultsThere have been found more than 200 somatic idioms, which are used to present emotional problems. The most frequent ones describe the heart, liver, and joints. Heart metaphors are associated with despair and anxiety, joints - with depression, and liver metaphors - with some personality characteristics, such as conformity and kindness. The created map of somatic representation of emotional problems shows the most frequent localization of somatic symptoms in disorders featuring somatic symptoms in native Kyrgyz speakers.ConclusionsThere is a culturally shaped specifics of somatic representations of emotional problems among native Kyrgyz speakers. More research needs to be conducted to interpret the nature of people’s emotional problems represented by somatic symptoms.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Depression among patients with ankylosing spondylitis in southern Tunisia: Prevalence and associated factors
Authors: Feki A. , SELLAMI I. , Baklouti M. , Ketata N. , Gassara Z. , Ben jemaa S. , Ezzeddine M. , Kallel M. H. , Fourati H. , Akrout R. , Baklouti S. , Mejdoub Y. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionAnkylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of the most common inflammatory rheumatisms. It is a chronic, sometimes disabling and it could cause both physical and psychological problems among patients, including depression.ObjectivesWith this in mind, the objective of our work was to study the prevalence of depression among patients with AS and to determine its associated factors.MethodsThis was a retrospective descriptive and analytical study, carried out in 2021 over a period of 5 years in southern Tunisia on patients with a confirmed diagnosis of AS established in accordance with the ASAS diagnostic criteria (Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society) or the modified New York criteria for AS. Depression was assessed using the Hospital anxiety and Depression (HAD) score. A HAD score>10 means certain depression.ResultsA total of 62 patients were included in our study. The median age was 39 years with an interquartile range (IQR) = [32-50 years]. There were 35 men (56.5%). Inflammatory back pain was noted among 51 patients (82.3%). Extraarticular manifestations were noted among 14 cases (22.6%) and were mainly ocular (11 cases; 78.4%). The diagnosis was confirmed by ASAS criteria in 55 cases (88.7%). AS was treated symptomatically in 58 cases (93.5%), specifically by basic treatment among 17 patients (27.4%) and by additional physical rehabilitation among 15 patients (24.2%). Depression was certain among 30 patients, giving a global prevalence of 48.4%. The factors statistically associated with this disease among patients with AS were having a low level of education (illiterate or primary) (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.87; p = 0.044), being clinically suffering from severe fatigue (OR= 7.14; p<0.001), have a poor quality of life [Ankylosing spondylitis quality of life questionnaire (Asqol) Score ≥13] (OR=4.52; p=0.007) and have certain anxiety (HAD>10) (OR=19; p<0.001).ConclusionsIn addition to its clinical impact on patients, the psychological impact of AS was considerable in terms of depression. The factors associated with it were individual, clinical, and psychological. Thus, psychological support must be coupled with AS medical management in order to prevent psychological disorders among patients, particularly depression.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Alcohol Use Disorder and Depression: The Complexity of Comorbidity
Authors: Abu Shehab A. H. I. , Simona T. , Ciubară A. B. , Voinescu D. C. , Burlea L. , Ciubară A. 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and depression are among the most prevalent mental health concerns on a global scale. The co-occurrence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression has been well acknowledged, leading to intricate issues in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.ObjectivesThis study aims to analyse the complex correlation between AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder) and depression, with a specific emphasis on examining common underlying causes, reciprocal influences, and potential implications for clinical treatment.MethodsAn exhaustive review of literature was undertaken, emphasizing epidemiological studies, neurobiological research, and the efficacy of combined treatment modalities. The review also delved into the potential role of genetics, environmental factors, and psychosocial stressors in co-occurrence.ResultsThe available evidence indicates that there exists a reciprocal relationship between depression and alcohol use disorder (AUD), wherein each disease can serve as a triggering factor for the other. This interplay between depression and AUD forms a detrimental cycle that intensifies the severity of both conditions. The comorbidity of various disorders may be attributed to the presence of shared neurochemical pathways, with a particular emphasis on the serotonin system. Furthermore, the co-occurrence of both illnesses frequently leads to heightened symptom severity, reduced treatment efficacy, and a higher risk of suicide.ConclusionsThe complex relationship between alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression underscores the need for a comprehensive and integrated therapy strategy. The effective management of this comorbidity necessitates the implementation of multidisciplinary collaboration, patient education, and early intervention.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared