bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electroconvulsive therapy vs Esketamine among patients with Major Depressive Episode
Authors: Basto M. D. R. D. R. F. D. A. , Nombora O. , Santa Marinha L. , Simães J. L. , Horta A. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionMajor depressive disorder is one of the most common and disabling mental disorders. More than 30% of individuals do not achieve remission after several trials of antidepressants and treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with premature mortality. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is considered the gold-standard for TRD treatment,unfortunately it´s underused due to health care barriers and association with adverse cognitive impairment. So, scientists have sought to identify alternative treatments that approach ECT-equivalent efficacy. Trials with Ketamine and more recently with its S-enantiomer (Esketamine) has been made, revealing a rapid and robust antidepressant effect, emerging as an option for TRD treatment.ObjectivesWe we aim to conduct a qualitative review, comparing clinical efficacy, tolerability and acceptability between the use of Esketamine and ECT as a TRD treatment.MethodsWe conduct a non-systematic review of recent evidence between the use of Esketamine and ECT as a TRD treatment, using PubMed/Medline database.ResultsTo compare clinical efficacy, tolerability and acceptability between the use of Esketamine and ECT as a TRD treatment we analyzed outcomes of interest. First,ECT was superior to Esketamine improving depressive symptoms. Comparing suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, most results were not statistically different. About cognition impairment, Esketamine performed better than ECT, particularizing attention, verbal memory, and executive functions; no differences were found for immediate memory or visual memory.About adverse effects Esketamine has less risk of headache and muscle pain, but higher reports of transient, dissociative or depersonalization symptoms, blurred vision, diplopia and nystagmus. An important consideration for clinicians is the comparative tolerability and safety of Esketamine vs ECT; as ECT involves a full dose of anesthesia,it is expected that Esketamine would be better tolerated and safer than ECT. But no study assessed the relative tolerability or acceptability of these different adverse effect profiles.The best strategy for relapse prevention appears to be continuing ECT, continuing pharmacotherapy, or using some combination of both; but Esketamine continuing treatment is effective too.ConclusionsECT may be superior to Esketamine for improving depression severity in the acute phase, but long-term outcomes of these treatments are important to be considered. There are just two studies with long-term follow-up after the trial completed:one found no difference in depression severity during the 3-month follow-up, and the other reported that the remission rates were not different between groups by the 12-month follow-up period.Therefore,future research is needed to further optimize long-term treatment outcomes for both Esketamine and ECT to prevent relapse. Until then,treatment options should be individualized and patient-centered.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Adjunctive Therapy of Text4Support for Treatment-Resistant Depression Patients Receiving Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial
Authors: Adu M. K. , da Luz Dias R. , Agyapong B. , Flynn M. , Hassan S. , Sridharan S. , White M. K. , Agyapong V. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionDespite several treatment strategies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) exist, including the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), new therapeutic options are being introduced. Text4Support is a form of cognitive behavior therapy that allows patients with depression to receive daily supportive text messages that seek to correct or alter negative thought patterns through positive reinforcement. Text4Support is deemed a useful augmentation treatment strategy for patients with TRD. It is however currently unknown if adding the Text4Support intervention will enhance patients with TRD’s response to rTMS treatmentsObjectivesThis study aims to assess the initial comparative clinical effectiveness of rTMS when used with and without the Text4Support program as an innovative patient-centered intervention for the management of participants diagnosed with TRD.MethodsThis study is a multicentered prospective, parallel-design, two-arm, rater-blinded randomized controlled pilot trial. In total, 200 participants diagnosed with TRD will be randomized to one of two treatment arms (rTMS alone and rTMS with Text4Support). Participants in each arm will be made to complete evaluation measures at baseline, 1,3, and 6 months. The primary outcome measure will be the mean change to scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Patient service utilization data and clinician-rated measures will also be used to gauge patient progress. Patient data will be analyzed with descriptive statistics, repeated measures, and correlational analyses.ResultsThe result of the study is expected to be available 18 months after the start of recruitment. We hypothesize that participants enrolled in the rTMS plus Text4Support intervention will achieve superior outcomes compared with participants enrolled in the rTMS treatment alone.ConclusionsThe concomitant application of the combination of these two treatment techniques has not been investigated previously. Therefore, we hope that this project will provide a concrete base of data to evaluate the practical application and efficacy of using a novel combination of these two treatment modalities.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Helping the forcely displaced persons - situation in Hungary
Authors: Szekeres G. T. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn recent years, the state-funded side of the Hungarian psychiatric system has been struggling with a serious lack of resources. During the pandemic the level of organization, which was also not perfect, continued to deteriorate. Immediately after the breakout of Ukrainian war the civilians started to make significant efforts to support refugees. From the beginning our Association joined activities of Solidarity Network organized by EPA. We made efforts among other things to find Ukrainian-speaking psychiatrists to tackle the language barriers, connect the needs with the offers psychologists. When a refugee is admitted to a psychiatric unit as a patient, they receive all mental health care as any Hungarian citizen would. Overall however, mental care is insufficiently organized and the patient pathways for refugees - as those of the population - are not well-defined. The coordination between government services and civil organizations helping refugees is unsatisfactory. There is no steady support system that could provide regular, professional mental health care for those in need, thus a mental triage process is also missing to uncover the perhaps less severe mental problems, that nevertheless might require professional attention. Consequently there also seems to be a lack of assistance in trauma processing. There are some official civil organizations (e.g. Maltese Charity Service, Hungarian Red Cross) that are doing all they can for the refugees, but most of their staff is not professionally equipped to provide mental health care or to reliably identify when it is needed. When refugees show symptoms of a severe nature (psychosis, mania, severe depression, suicidal thoughts) they reach out to the professional mental health care system, but refugees struggling with less obvious mental health problems generally stay out of sight of professional psychiatric or psychological care.Keywordscivilian efforts, unmet needs, lack of human resourceDisclosure of InterestNone Declared
Intranasal esketamine + Intensive CBT: a 12 months follow-up of two complicated cases of Treatment Resistant Depression at high suicidal risk
Authors: Martiadis V. , Raffone F. , Cerlino R. , Testa S. , Russo M. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionTreatment Resistant Depression (TRD) is a complex, heterogeneous and multifactorial clinical condition that affects patients’ quality of life, their psychosocial functioning as well as suicidal risk. Intranasal esketamine is a new add-on treatment specifically approved for TRD.ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intranasal esketamine treatment combined with intensive Cognitive Behavioral psychotherapy (CBT), together with treatment satisfaction, in two complex clinical cases of TRD with high suicidal risk in a 12 months follow-up.MethodsTwo male patients, 67 and 63 years old, with TRD, defined by at least two therapeutic failures with SSRI/SNRI and positive screening for high suicidal risk at the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, were selected for treatment with intranasal esketamine + CBT as an add-on to SSRI/SNRI antidepressant therapy. Psychopathological assessment were made by means of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Short Form Health Questionnaire (SF-36 items) at T0, every 7 days for the first 3 months, then every month. Treatment satisfaction was evaluated by means of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8), administered by trained nursing staff at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. CBT specifically focused on depression was administered by a certified psychotherapist, weekly for the first 4 months, fortnightly for the next 3 months, monthly for the remaining 3 months.Results
After 2 administrations of esketamine the total HAM-D score was reduced by an average of 10 units and the suicidal risk was progressively reduced to zero according to C-SSRS. After 12 months one of the two patients reached and actually maintains clinical remission; the other one maintains a condition of mild depression; both without suicidal ideation and with a significant increase in perceived quality of life. Treatment was well tolerated, with mild and temporary adverse effects, self-limited to the administration sessions. CBT has contributed to increasing insight, cognitive resources, social interaction and self-esteem, and has made it possible to structure and carry on new life projects. The variation of the mean scores for CSQ-8 shows that esketamine + CBT treatment was considered as very satisfactory throughout the observation period.Conclusions
Intranasal esketamine associated with intensive CBT sessions showed to be effective, safe and satisfactory in the real world clinical management of two complex cases of TRD with high suicidal risk, improving quality of life, social functioning and eliminating suicidal ideation within 12 months follow-up. Satisfaction with the treatment contributed to strengthening adherence and improving the operator-patient therapeutic relationship.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
You are not alone…Polish Psychiatric Association supporting Ukraine
Authors: Samochowiec J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractImmediately after Russia commenced aggression against Ukraine, the Polish Psychiatric Association publicly called for humanitarian support for Ukraine and initiated meetings with representatives of Psychiatric Societies operating in Ukraine in order to identify current needs in the war-stricken areas and coordinate
aid.The PPA allocated its financial resources to humanitarian aid and, through the EPA, appealed for condemnation of military operations as well as support for Ukraine by individual NPAs.According to the UHNR data over 4 million displaced people, refugees, came to Poland so far and some of them benefited from such help.The Polish Psychiatric Association supports the initiatives of non-governmental organizations supporting refugees and monitors and responds to the needs reported by the Ukrainian side on an ongoing basis. At present, the PPA activities focus on the following priorities:1. Need-adapted-help: Provision of customized aid - not only medications but also power generators, technical equipment. And so, the PPA shipped to Ukraine some basic equipment, sleeping mats, bedding, mattresses, backpacks, cleaning products, personal hygiene products, as well as tools for renovation and construction.2. Awareness - highlighting the consequences of Russia’s aggression on people with mental disorders in Ukraine and its impact on the entire population (PTSD, grief
). Inviting and lobbying for dissemination of personal reports of Ukrainian health care workers and patients at international conventions, forums, events3. Empowerment of personnel - strengthening competences required in provision of assistance in war-related disorders, training, projects of activities both across Poland and Ukraine4. Supporting and responding to the needs reported by local psychiatric assistance centers facilitating and strengthening the competence of personnel in helping refugeesDisclosure of InterestNone Declared
Mental health information-seeking behaviors and e-health literacy in Tunisian community adults
Authors: Chaibi L. S. , Fekih-Romdhane F. , Ben Said Saffar C. , Cherif W. , Cheour M. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionDue to the convenient and easy access to the Internet, there is an increasing tendency to seek online health information instead of formal help-seeking. To date, there is a very little amount of research on online help-seeking behaviors for mental health problems, with no studies having been performed in Tunisia.ObjectivesWe aimed to explore mental health information-seeking behaviors and e-health literacy in a sample of Tunisian community adults.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional descriptive study among adults from the general population. All participants were administered the Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale (BACE-30), the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (SIS-5), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the eHealth Competency Scale (eHEALS).ResultsA total of 44.2% participants reported having searched the Internet for mental health-related information during the last 12 months. Google was the most used tool by participants when searching for mental health related information. The main topics searched were symptoms and management (n=49%), followed by finding a diagnosis (n=47%), researching for medications and physicians (n=41%). We conducted a multivariate analysis to identify factors related to participants’ e-health literacy. A higher depression score (p=0.037), lower levels of education (p=0.011), and perceived barriers to access to care (p=0.004) were substantially linked to worse e-health literacy.ConclusionsWhile a high proportion of participants reported mental health information-seeking behaviors, those with higher depression and who perceived more barriers to care access exhibited lower e-health literacy. These findings may have practical clinical implications.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Cyberbullying: Study of a series of 96 Moroccan adolescents and young adults
Authors: El Hilali Y. , Manoudi F. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionCyberbullying is a form of virtual harassment through the Internet, cell phones and social networks. Its psychopathological consequences are serious, including the risk of suicide.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of cyberbullying in a sample of Moroccan adolescents, as well as the associated comorbidities.MethodsThis is a descriptive cross-sectional study of cyberbullying among Moroccan adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 20 years old. The data collection was done by a survey on Google Form sent on social networksResultsA number of 120 forms were completed by high school students, followed by secondary school and university students, of which 96 were valid. The average age was 16 years with a sex ratio of 0.25. Fifty-nine percent of the youth spent more than two hours daily on the Internet and 73% admitted having been bullied online at least once while 19% said it happened often. The profile of harassers included strangers, followed by acquaintances and schoolmates. The platforms where harassment was most present were Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The most frequent types of cyberbullying were private hate messages, humiliating comments about physical appearance and messages with sexual connotations. After the harassment, 65% of victims did not tell anyone; 68% of victims felt angry, and one in five felt suicidal. Among the most common comorbidities were adjustment disorder, anxiety and depressive symptoms, aggressive behavior, and suicidal ideation. Half of the youth felt that cyberbullying had impacted their school or family life.ConclusionsParents, educators, and health professionals need to be aware of the risks of virtual communication, and the link between cyberbullying and mental health disorders, and to develop national intervention and prevention programs.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Quantifying computational mechanisms in psychotherapy
Authors: Huys Q. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDespite extensive research, the cognitive processes mediating the impact of psychotherapeutic interventions remain poorly understood, and as a result difficult to quantify. Identifying such mechanisms is likely to be extremely helpful: it could help target interventions better, could support dosing therapy through monitoring, and could heighten the speed at which new interventions can be developed. Mechanisms research in psychotherapy has described a number of key difficulties to achieving this. In this and the next talk, we ask whether advances in cognitive computational neuroscience might provide some support. Specifically, the question is whether precise cognitive probes might identify specific mechanisms of interventions. In support of this, I will first describe a pilot study in participants undergoing an adapted behavioural activation therapy. I will then move to present results from two strands of experiments examining whether interventions derived from components of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) are able to shift computationally-derived measures of their proposed psychological substrates. Findings from both strands will be discussed with respect to challenges in developing brief, reliable, engaging, and user-acceptable measures of cognition. Overall, this outlines some early new results in using computational methods to understand therapeutic processes in the psychotherapy for depression.Disclosure of InterestQ. Huys Grant / Research support from: Koa Health, Consultant of: Aya Technologies and Alto Neuroscience
Socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile among suicide attempters
Authors: Ouali R. , Masmoudi R. , Guermazi F. , cherif F. , Feki I. , Chakroun O. , Derbel E. , sellami R. , Masmoudi J. , Rekik N. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionSuicide is a real public health problem. Like many other countries, Tunisia seems to be experiencing an amplification of the phenomenon. Suicide attempts are much more frequent and are estimated to be around 20 times the number of suicidesObjectivesThe objective was to describe the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical profile of suicide attempters in patients hospitalized in the emergency room.MethodsThis study was carried out with patients admitted to vital emergencies for attempted suicide over a period of 6 months.A pre-made questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and clinical data. We used the SIS “suicide intention scale” to assess the intent of the suicide attempt and the PHQ9 “PATIENT HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE” to assess the presence and severity of depressive symptoms.We excluded Patients with major cognitive impairment, which prevents understanding of the questionnaire.Results
Our sample consisted of 101 patients. Of the participants, 69.3% were female. Their age varied between 18 and 65 years with an average age of 30.93 years. The socioeconomic level was low in 23.8% of cases. The level of education did not exceed secondary school for 91% of suicides. Almost half of suicide attempters (45%) have been professionally inactive. Participants included in our study were single in 51.5% of cases. Participants had a family history of attempted suicide in 15% of cases. Prior psychiatric follow-up was found in 34% of suicides attempts. More than a third (36.6%) of participants had moderate to severe depression according to the results of the PHQ-9. Recurrences concerned 44% of suicides attempt in our survey and the average number of previous suicides attempts was 3.9. Suicidal intent was rated strong in 47% of suicides attempts .ConclusionsSuicidal behavior is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. In our study, more than 1 in 3 suicide attempters had depression. Further research is needed to identify suicide risk factors and to examine the relationship between the presence of mental illness and suicidal attemptDisclosure of InterestNone Declared
Post-war Azerbaijan: Burnout in mental health professionals working with war-affected populations
Authors: Aliyeva R. , Guliyeva G. , İsmayilov F. 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionBurnout is a result of emotional exhaustion and lack of motivation after prolonged exposure to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors at work. (Black et al. SAGE 2020, 609-611)For the past decade, it has been one of the actual areas of research globally. (Ahola et al. Journal of affective disorders, 88, 2005; 55–62; Ahola et al. Journal of affective disorders,104,2007; 103–110, Shirom, A. Work Stress, 19, 2005; 263–270, Toker et al. The Journal of Applied Psychology, 97, 2012; 699–710.) However, a small number of studies exploring burnout have been conducted in Azerbaijan.The requirement for supportive interventions for workers with an aim to improve the quality of care and prevention of burnout related to health and sociocultural problems such as difficulties in their personal life, job-shifts has led us to conduct this study.Above all, the Second Karabakh war that took place in 2020 increased the population of patients that are in urgent need of psychiatric and psychological support.ObjectivesThe purpose of this study is to examine the level of burnout among all mental health workers who have been closely working with veterans and families of deceased soldiers. Similarly, the study is intended to evaluate the impact of various factors, such as secondary traumatic stress, effort-reward imbalance, and socio-demographic variables leading to burnout.MethodsThe study design is cross-sectional. 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) is used to measure the level of burnout. Intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms triggered by indirect exposure to traumatic events are evaluated by the 17-item Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). 22-item Measurement of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) is used to define the level of effort, reward, and over-commitment. Demographic questionnaires consist of age, sex, marital status, professional background, years of employment, workload in hours.ResultsThe sample size has been estimated as 200 participants. Associations between occupational exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment assessment, intrusion, avoidance, arousal, effort, esteem, job promotion, job security, overcommitment and professional background, workload in hours will be explored in the current study.ConclusionsThe findings upraised will promote elaborating personalized approaches toward burnout prevention treatment.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared