bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Criminological characteristics of sexual assault perpetrators: a Tunisian study
Authors: Chamseddine A. , Charfi N. , Bouattour O. , Feki R. , Gassara I. , Smaoui N. , Omri S. , Zouari L. , Ben Thabet J. , Maâlej Bouali M. , Maâlej M. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionIn Tunisia, Sexual assaults constitute a pervasive problem that concerns the health care system and the country’s judicial authorities alike.ObjectivesThe aims of our study were to estimate the incidence of sexual assault encountered in the context of forensic psychiatric assessment and to assess the criminological profile of sexual assault perpetrators.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of a series of sexual assault perpetrators examined in a forensic psychiatric assessment in the psychiatry C department at Hedi Chaker university Hospital in Sfax, from January 2010 to December 2021.ResultsOver the period of 11 years (2010 to 2021), we collected 374 forensic psychiatric assessment files. Among them, 49 were those of sexual assaults (13.10%). It was a rape assault in 54.4% of cases. Aggravating circumstances have been noted in 87% of cases. These were mainly assaults on minors (54.3%) and assaults associated with physical violence (38.4%).The victim gender was female in 63% of cases, with an average age of 21 years 9 months. and was among the relatives of the sexual assault perpetrator in 28.3% of cases.ConclusionsRape seems to represent a non-negligible proportion of the offenses motivating a forensic psychiatric assessment in Tunisia. Sexual assaults against minors are frequent, despite undeniable under-reporting.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
FORENSIC NEUROFEEDBACK AND PREFRONTAL WORKOUT, A SURVEY
Authors: Lancia I. S. , Festa G. M. , Candia M. E. , Colone L. M. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThe logic behind the neuropsychological rehabilitation of the impulsive criminal is to treat the behavioral manifestations of these individuals as the product of a real pre-frontal syndrome, capable of causing deficits in the planning of behavior, in self-regulation, in the inhibition of impulsiveness and more generally in social and interpersonal skills. With the term prefrontal workout, literally “prefrontal workout” Eagleman (2011) refers to a real form of rehabilitation intended for subjects characterized by strong impulsive tendencies. Neurofeedback is used in prefrontal training. This technique mainly uses electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as indicators of brain function.ObjectivesThe premise of prefrontal training is that through rehabilitation, and therefore repeated practice, the frontal areas of our brain can be trained in order to improve the “control” of subcortical circuits and limbic areas responsible for impulsive and potentially destructive behavioral forces. Although this rehabilitation proposal does not specifically concern deviant individuals, it is intended for subjects with impulsive tendencies and difficulty in repressing a stimulus-seeking behavior, skills that fall within the category of frontal functions.MethodsIt is possible that similar strategies can also be used effectively against deviant individuals, working to improve their ability to inhibit a behavioral tendency and reinforcing everything with real-time feedback. There is a very high incidence of attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder and related symptoms among people convicted of crimes, and a great many criminal acts involve impulsive behavior or loss of emotional control such as anger. Better control of behavior and emotions are among the most commonly reported outcomes of neurotherapeutic treatment.ResultsResearch and clinical experience also demonstrate the positive effects of neurofeedback with alcohol and drug abuse and depression, both common accompaniments of criminal behavior ( Fielenbach S. 2019; Margarita R. 2016; Konicar L. 2015).ConclusionsCertainly, research in this field is at a preliminary stage, and the limitations of these techniques are numerous. There are, for example, several doubts about which is the best strategy for the patient to use to control mental activity and inhibit, for example, the search for the substance to which one is addicted. Although promising, the literature highlights sometimes conflicting results: in this regard, see the meta-analysis by Cortese and colleagues (2016) and the document published by Youcha and colleagues (2008).Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
16p13.11 microduplication including NDE1 gene in autism spectrum disorder: A case report
Authors: Moustakil S. , Guillaume P. , Letessier-Selvon A. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the deficit in communication and social interaction as well as restricted and repetitive interests and behaviors. In addition to the involvement of the environmental component in ASD, it is currently established the significant contribution of genetic factors such us the 16p13.11 duplication. We report the case of a patient carrying this anomaly in whom an ASD was diagnosed, the genetic study of the parents objectified the same anomaly in a clinically healthy father.ObjectivesThis case report aims to expand the clinical findings associated to this genomic abnormality and provide further knowledge of the pathogenic involvement of this duplication.MethodsOur patient, aged 4 years and 10 months, presented developmental peculiarities from birth. The difficulties became more evident with the language delay, the deficit of social interactions and the appearance of motor stereotypies as well as sensory specificities. The diagnosis of ASD was confirmed by the passation of the ADI and the ADOS.Further genetic exploration with a CGH-Array request was performed due to a normal 46 XY karyotype. She objectified a 16p13.11 duplication comprising 25 genes including NDE1. The assessment was completed by the search for potentially associated malformations, particularly cardiac and skeletal. We continued the family investigation with genetic samples for the parents and the siblings finding the same anomaly in the father who does not present any particular phenotype.ResultsThe 16p13.11 duplication is associated with a variable clinical spectrum including behavioral disorders, attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, cardiac and skeletal malformation, epilepsy as well as ASD and language delay presented by our patient. Eight annotated genes are present in this region including NDE1, the candidate gene for the neurocognitive phenotype. This microduplication can be found in the normal population, but it is increasingly detected in patients with ASD, schizophrenia or presenting cognitive disorders due to incomplete penetrance that can explain the presence of the duplication despite the absence of any disorders in the patient’s father.ConclusionsThe link between the 16p13.11 duplication and ASD is increasingly recognized in the literature. The heterogeneity of its clinical expression and especially its incomplete penetrating make genetic counseling difficult. Collaboration between child psychiatrists and geneticists remains essential to detect, link their clinical evaluation and optimize care.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Factors influencing Family Medicine Residents attitudes toward mental illness
Authors: Jaoua A. , Salhi M. H. , Ben Haouala A. , Gaha L. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionStigmatization of mental illness by health care professionals is notuncommon, and it represents a source of suffering for patients inaddition to the primary illness.ObjectivesTo research factors influencing family medicine residents perceptions of psychiatric pathologies.MethodsThis is an analytical cross-sectional study among family medicineresidents enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine in Monastir (Tunisia),conducted over a period of 3 months (July 2022 to October 2022). TheCAMI (Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill) scale was usedto assess the attitude towards mental illness. Sociodemographic datawere collected through a pre-established questionnaire. The data wereanalyzed using SPSS software 26 th version. Percentage comparisonson independent series were performed using the Pearson chi-squaretest.ResultsOur population was made up of 95 family medicine residents, dividedinto 28 males and 67 females. Sex ratio was 2.39. The average of agewas 28 years with extremes 25 and 35 years. 47.4% of residents(n=45) had a positive attitude towards mental illness. The associationbetween this positive attitude and a previous management of apatient with a mental illness was significant (pless than0.05). On the otherhand, there was no significant association neither with the existenceof a personal or family psychiatric history nor with the passagethrough a psychiatric internship of the residents towards mentalillness.ConclusionsThe management of patients with mental illness canreduce the stigmatization of mental illness by health professionals.Measures to raise awareness and create empathetic attitudestowards the mentally ill during physician training are needed toimprove the quality of front-line care.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
The relationship between psychiatric symtoms and childhood trauma
Authors: Almeida M. G. , Virginio M. E. C. , Almeida J. R. A. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionRecent evidences suggest that situations of abandonment, neglect and abuse are risks factores for onset of psychopatology in adulthood. This association occus in that traumatic events in the early stages of development and may trigger severe and disabling psychiatric disorders in adults.ObjectivesThe presente study aimed to evaluate the associations between the occurence and severity of chidhood trauma and the development of psychiatric disorders in hospitalized teenagers of the Hospital Psychiatric Vida Londrina/Pr.MethodsThe sample was consisted of 14 psychiatric patients, evaluated for severity of psychiatric symtoms by the Back Scale for Suicid Ideation (BSI); Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI); Back Hopelessness Scale (HAD) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).ResultsIn the sample studie, 84% of the teenegers reports that they had some type of childhood trauma. The results indicate that traumas are associated mainly with the development of mood disorders and also with increasin severity of psychiatric symptoms, specially the depressive symptoms, hopelessness, suicidal ideation and impulsivity. Teenagers with emocional neglect, emocional abuse and physical neglect demonstrated having five times more risk of personality disorder. Individuals who suffered physical abuse; sexual abuse and physical neglect presentes at three times more risk of commiting suicid attemps.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate the relevance of trauma childhood as a trigger for psychiatric symptoms.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Increased violence and aggression levels during the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic; data from three London acute psychiatric inpatient facilities.
Authors: Bonaccorso S. , Ajnakina O. , Ricciardi A. , Ouabbou S. , Wilson J. , Theleritis C. , Badhan M. , Metastasio A. , Stewart N. , Barczyck M. , Johansson F. , Tharmaraja T. , Schifano F. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted mental health services, with the literature reporting an increase in the incidence of psychiatric admissions.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic on clinical presentations, characteristics of admission and incidents occurring in three acute inpatient mental health facilities in the UK.MethodsThis was a retrospective study comparing data from the first and third UK lockdown to the five years prior to the pandemic. Data was acquired from electronic clinical records and addressed two acute psychiatric inpatient wards and one psychiatric intensive care unit. Key outcomes of comparison were clinical presentations, number of admissions, length of hospital stay, number of incidents and characteristics of incidents.ResultsCompared to the previous 5 years, a higher number of incidents characterized by violence and aggression were reported during the first (56.8% vs 44.3%, x2=16.56, df=1, p<0.001) and third lockdown (100.0% vs 86.2%, x2=36.40, df=1, p<0.001). An increase in non-psychotic disorders was observed in the first lockdown (20.0% vs 13.1%, x2=4.76, df=1, p=0.029), whilst increased first episode psychosis (19.7% vs 11.3%, x2=8.1, df=1, p=0.004) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (74.4% vs 57.2%, x2= 7.6, df=1, p=0.006) were diagnosed during the third lockdown. There were no significant changes in the diagnosis of mood disorders in both lockdowns compared to previously. The median length of inpatient stay significantly reduced during the first lockdown (28 days vs 36 days, x2= 7.66, df=1, p=0.006).ConclusionsIncreased inpatient incidents may be explained by the impact of the pandemic on staffing levels and resources, combined with increased emotional distress amongst patients in the face of uncertainty. The pandemic may have increased substance misuse potentially linked with the increased incidence of first episode psychosis.Disclosure of InterestS. Bonaccorso: None Declared, O. Ajnakina: None Declared, A. Ricciardi: None Declared, S. Ouabbou: None Declared, J. Wilson: None Declared, C. Theleritis: None Declared, M. Badhan: None Declared, A. Metastasio: None Declared, N. Stewart: None Declared, M. Barczyck: None Declared, F. Johansson: None Declared, T. Tharmaraja: None Declared, F. Schifano Speakers bureau of: Prof. Fabrizio Schifano is a member of the European Medical Agency
Grapheme-Color Synesthesia and enhanced Working Memory for the materials that induce synesthetic experiences
Authors: Ayobi M. , Molchanova E. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThis study investigated the influence of synesthetic experiences on working memory and hypothesized that Grapheme-Colour Synaesthesia causes enhanced working memory for the materials in the congruent condition.ObjectivesThe current study uses the existing experiments conducted within the field of Synaesthesia as a basis in order to find out whether synaesthesia influences working memory for the letters, words, and days of the week that elicit synesthetic experiencesMethodsExperimental research design was used to identify the extent of the causal relationship between Synaesthetic and non-Synesthetic experiences and enhanced working memory in both Synesthetes and non-Synesthetes. A short screening questionnaire, Stroop task, and N-back task was used to measure the relationship between the two variables for quantitative measurement. (Radvansky, 2011), This study uses materials such as Stroop task and n-back task from Robinson’s (2015) work, Radvansky’s (2011), and Terhune et al. (2013) work. However, certain changes in the methodology of the current study makes it easier and efficient to conduct this study with a different population.ResultsGrapheme-Color synesthetes (Mean= 1276.682 milliseconds) appear to take less amount of time in responding correctly to the incongruent stimulus in the Stroop Task than non-Synesthetes (Mean= 1487.89 milliseconds). Secondly, Grapheme-Color Synesthetes (Mean=1170.929 milliseconds) have a significant difference in accuracy of responding in the congruent condition of the Stroop Task with the non-Synesthetes (Mean= 1491.159 milliseconds). Further evidence from the N-back Task also demonstrated a significant relationship between the variables in both incongruent and congruent conditions; Grapheme-Color Synesthetes (Mean= 2621.390 milliseconds) showed a significant difference in correctly responding to the nonmatching stimulus in N-back Task with Non-Synesthetes (Mean= 2854.351 milliseconds). Similarly, Grapheme-Color Synesthetes (Mean=1330.130 milliseconds) showed a large difference in responding correctly to the matching stimulus in the N-back Task with Non-Synesthetes (Mean= 2301.071 milliseconds). Grapheme-Color Synesthetes were faster in responding correctly than non-Synesthetes in all conditions.ConclusionsRegardless of what have been concluded as a result of the current study, it is difficult to reach at any conclusions taking into account the oppositions about working memory of Grapheme-Color Synesthetes in different studies. Therefore, the data suggest that future studies should further test the capacity of working memory in Grapheme-Color Synesthetes.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
VITAMIN D – A KEY FACTOR IN THE TREATMENT OF ASD PEOPLE?
Authors: Robea M. A. , Balmus M. I. , Nicoara M. , Ciobica A. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder with social, communication and behavioral disturbances that start from early childhood. There are many difficulties in diagnosing people with ASD. The diagnostic criteria are in terms of behavior descriptions, and as methods of intervention the most used is the applied behavior analysis (ABA). Although, the treatment of autism is not based on drugs, there are a number of reports that sustains the vitamin supplementation. For example, the deficiency of vitamin D (VD) was often outlined in the serum of the ASD people. Nowadays, zebrafish (Danio rerio) plays an important role in the modeling era; being one of the main organisms used in animal studies.ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to describe the influence of VD in autistic people, and the possibility of vitamin investigation through animal models studies.MethodsFor analyzing this subject specific scientific databases were screened using certain keywords as: ”autism spectrum disorder”, ”vitamin D”, ”treatment”, ”deficiency”,”animal models” and ”zebrafish”. Inclusion criteria were studies that (1) investigated a behavioral intervention, (2) used animal models for ASD modelling, (3) reported vitamin D results, and (4) were published within the last 20 years.ResultsThe majority of the studies supported the importance of an adequate level of VD in the body, mainly due to its implication during pregnancy and early brain development. The few existing data bring information about the positive impact of its administration in ASD children; in which a considerable improvement in typical symptoms was observed. For further knowledge about VD activity in ASD it was suggested the animal modelling, especially zebrafish organisms due to its numerous advantages (high similarity of its genome with the human one).ConclusionsVD deficiency during pregnancy and early brain development is a real risk factor besides genetic predisposition. Moreover, the use of animal models for investigating the effect of VD is required for a better understanding of the vitamin mechanism in ASD people.Acknowledgement: *R. M.-A. and B. M.-I. are supported by the Project POCU/993/6/13/153322 ”Suport educațional și formativ pentru doctoranzi și tineri cercetători în pregătirea inserției în piața muncii” of the European Social Fund through the Human Capital Operational Program.Disclosure of InterestM. Robea Grant / Research support from: Project POCU/993/6/13/153322 ”Suport educațional și formativ pentru doctoranzi și tineri cercetători în pregătirea inserției în piața muncii” of the European Social Fund through the Human Capital Operational Program., M. Balmus Grant / Research support from: Project POCU/993/6/13/153322 ”Suport educațional și formativ pentru doctoranzi și tineri cercetători în pregătirea inserției în piața muncii” of the European Social Fund through the Human Capital Operational Program, M. Nicoara: None Declared, A. Ciobica: None Declared
Evolution of some liver function markers after treatment in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
Authors: Sellami S. , Maalej M. , Ayadi M. , Naifar M. , Maalej M. , Ayadi F. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThe prevalence of alterations of liver function tests in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorders is not well known. These alterations are often considered as side effects of medicationObjectivesOur study aimed to evaluate and compare liver function before and after treatment in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ), schizo-affective disorder (SCA) and bipolar disorder (BD).MethodsThis was a prospective study among patients with SCZ, SCA and BD according to DSM-5 criteria. Patients, from the “C” psychiatry department of Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, were assessed during both acute and remission phases in their illness. The acute phase (T0) assessment was made in drug-free patients from june 2016 to july 2018. As for the remission phase (T1), it was made between november 2019 and march 2020. Blood tests were performed in the Laboratory of Biochemistry at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital in Sfax. Clinical and biological parameters of patients were compared with those of healthy controls. Biological assessment consisted mainly in Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Albumine.ResultsThirty patients were included in our study. Their mean age was 35.83 ± 12.24 years and they were all males. They suffered from SCZ in 33.33% of cases, from SCA in 26.66% of cases and from BD in 40% of cases. Psychoactive substance use was common among 80% of patients. In the remission phase, 90% were polymedicated with use of antipsychotics in 83% of cases and mood stabilisers in 53% of cases. Table 1 shows the evolution of the studied liver function markers in our patients.Table 1:evolution of some liver function markers in patientsMarkersT0T1pAST (UI/L)Patients33,22 ± 23,1819,34 ± 4,97<0,001Controls22,27±6,91<0,05e,bALT (UI/L)Patients19,59 ± 13,213,17 ± 11,390,003Controls20,63±11,08<0,05e,a,bAlbumine (g/l)Patients42,35±4,8647,79±3,18<0,001Controls46,19±3,95>0,05a: significant difference between patients with SCZ (T1) and controls; b: significant difference between patients with BD (T1) and controls; e: significant difference between patients (T1) and controlsConclusionsOur results showed an improvement of liver function in patients with SCZ and BD after treatment. This suggests that liver function alterations are due to these diseases rather than the medication.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared