bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Working Memory Deficit and Attentional Distractibility in Schizophrenia
Authors: Becske M. , Marosi C. , Molnár H. , Fodor Z. , Tombor L. , Csukly G. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionMeta-analyses suggest that patients with schizophrenia show deficit in working memory – both verbal and visual – and are more distractible. Working memory disturbances are even regarded as the central deficit in schizophrenia by some researchers. Theta synchronization (especially over fronto-central areas) is related to cognitive control and executive functioning during working memory encoding and retention.ObjectivesThe main goal of the study was to gain more understanding of the nature of working memory deficit and attentional distractibility in schizophrenia.Methods35 patients with schizophrenia and 39 matched controls were enrolled in our study. Participants performed a modified Sternberg working memory task that contained salient and non-salient distractor items in the retention period. A high-density 128 channel EEG was recorded during the task. Event-related theta (4-7 Hz) synchronization was analyzed during working memory encoding (learning) and retention (distractor filtering) in a later time window (350-550 ms).ResultsPatients with schizophrenia showed weaker working memory performance and increased attentional distractibility compared to the control group: patients had significantly lower hit rates (p < 0.0001) and higher distractor-related commission error rates (p < 0.0001). Theta synchronization was modulated by condition (learning < distractor) in both groups but it was modulated by salience only in controls (salient distractor > non-salient distractor, p[patients] = 0.95, p[controls] < 0.001).ConclusionsOur results suggest that patients with schizophrenia show diminished cognitive control compared to controls in response to salient distractors. Difficulties in cognitive control allocation may contribute to the behavioral results observed in this study.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Fineberg N. 
Published: September 2022

Background Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has shown promise as a treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in a small number of trials. We performed a feasibility study to inform the development of a definitive trial, focussing on acceptability, safety, feasibility of recruitment, adherence and tolerability of tDCS and the size of any treatment-effect. Methods FEATSOCS was a randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over multicentre study. Twenty adults with OCD received three courses of tDCS targeting the two most favourable stimulation targets; supplementary motor area (SMA), orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and sham-stimulation, randomly allocated and delivered in counterbalanced order. Each course comprised four 20 minute-stimulations, over two consecutive days, separated by a four weeks washout period. Clinical outcomes were assessed by ‘blinded’ raters before, during and four weeks after stimulation. Results: tDCS was acceptable, well tolerated and safe; adherence was good, with few dropouts, there were no serious adverse events, and adverse effects were mostly mild. Recruitment to target was feasible. Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale scores numerically improved from baseline to 24 hours after final stimulation (primary outcome) across all interventional groups. The greatest effect was seen in the OFC arm. Additional significant within-group improvements in secondary outcomes occurred in the OFC, and to a lesser extent in the sham arms, but not with SMA. Discussion tDCS appears a promising potential treatment for OCD. The OFC represents the optimal target. A full-scale trial to determine optimal stimulation protocols (current, frequency, duration), longer-term effectiveness and feasibility of home delivery is indicated.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
When mental health care is stigmatizing: experience of users and families and associated factors
Authors: Valery K.-M. , Prouteau A. , Guionnet S. , Violeau L. , Fournier T. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionMental health care is considered to be one of the main sources of mental illness stigmatization. Detailed information about these stigmatization experiences is needed to reduce stigma in mental health practices.ObjectivesThe study aimed i) to identify the most relevant stigmatizing situations in mental health care encountered by users and families, ii) to characterize the relative importance of these situations in terms of frequency, experienced stigmatization and suffering, and iii) to identify individual and contextual factors associated with these experiences.MethodsIn a focus group, users were asked to select the 15 most relevant stigmatization situations among those they elicited and those that were taken from the literature. An online survey was then conducted among users and family members to characterize these situations and identify predictors.ResultsA total of 235 participants were included: 59 participants with schizophrenia diagnosis, 96 with other psychiatric diagnoses and 80 family members. The results revealed 15 situations with different levels of frequency, stigmatization and suffering. Participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia experienced more situations of stigmatization and with a higher frequency. Moreover, factors such as recovery-oriented practices and measures without consent were the best predictors of experienced stigmatization.ConclusionsThese original stigmatization situations could be targeted to reduce stigmatization and associated suffering in mental health practices. Results strongly suggest that recovery-oriented practice should be fostered to fight stigma in mental health care.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Clinical characteristics of lurasidone-treated patients in Spain using Natural Language Processing – A real-world data study with Electronic Health Records
Authors: De La Pinta C. , Gabarda I. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionSchizophrenia is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder which affects over 20 million people worldwide. Atypical antipsychotics are the first-line choice for the treatment of schizophrenia due to improved tolerability and diminished risk of extrapyramidal symptoms. Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic approved in Spain for the treatment of schizophrenia in September 2019. An RWD-based picture of lurasidone use is necessary to better understand its impact in routine clinical practice.ObjectivesTo set up a methodology based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning for the analysis of the free-text information contained in the EHRs of patients treated with lurasidone in Spain.MethodsA multicenter, retrospective study based on RWD collected in EHRs of lurasidone users will be conducted in hospitals from the Spanish National Healthcare System. Information extracted from the free text in EHRs using NLP will be treated and analyzed as big data.ResultsA study database for lurasidone-treated patients in Spain has been instituted using the EHRead® technology (
Figure 1), which applies machine learning and deep learning to extract, analyze, and interpret the free-text information written in their de-identified EHRs. Sociodemographic and clinical variables in EHRs from September 2019 until the most recent data available are being collected to describe the target patient population and address treatment-related outcomes.ConclusionsNLP of free text in EHRs of lurasidone-treated patients renders a real-world picture of lurasidone usage in Spain. Studies using artificial intelligence techniques represent a novel source of information regarding psychiatric disorders and their clinical management.DisclosureI. Gabarda is employee at Angelini Pharma España, S.L.U. and C. de la Pinta is employee at Medsavana.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health during pregnancy: The CONCEPTION study – Phase I
Authors: Berard A. , Lacasse A. , Gomez Y.-H. , Gorgui J. , Côté S. , King S. , Tchuente V. , Muanda F. , Lumu Y. , Boucoiran I. , Nuyt A.-M. , Quach C. , Ferreira E. , Kaul P. , Winquist B. , O’Donnell K. , Eltonsy S. , Château D. , Zhao J.-P. , Hanley G. , Oberlander T. , Kassai B. , Mainbourg S. , Bernatsky S. , Vinet É. , Brodeur-Doucet A. , Demers J. , Richebé P. , Zaphiratos V. , Wang C. , Wang X. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionMental health regional differences during pregnancy through the COVID-19 pandemic is understudied.ObjectivesWe aimed to quantify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health during pregnancy.MethodsA cohort study with a web-based recruitment strategy and electronic data collection was initiated in 06/2020. Although Canadian women, >18 years were primarily targeted, pregnant women worldwide were eligible. The current analysis includes data on women enrolled 06/2020-11/2020. Self-reported data included mental health measures (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7)), stress. We compared maternal mental health stratifying on country/continents of residence, and identified determinants of mental health using multivariable regression models.ResultsOf 2,109 pregnant women recruited, 1,932 were from Canada, 48 the United States (US), 73 Europe, 35 Africa, and 21 Asia/Oceania. Mean depressive symptom scores were lower in Canada (EPDS 8.2, SD 5.2) compared to the US (EPDS 10.5, SD 4.8) and Europe (EPDS 10.4, SD 6.5) (p<0.05), regardless of being infected or not. Maternal anxiety, stress, decreased income and access to health care due to the pandemic were increasing maternal depression. The prevalence of severe anxiety was similar across country/continents. Maternal depression, stress, and earlier recruitment during the pandemic (June/July) were associated with increased maternal anxiety.ConclusionsIn this first international study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, CONCEPTION has shown significant country/continent-specific variations in depressive symptoms during pregnancy, whereas severe anxiety was similar regardless of place of residence. Strategies are needed to reduce COVID-19’s mental health burden in pregnancy.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
CLINICAL CASE “I finally woke up, it seems like a miracle”
Authors: Min H.J. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionClinical case about a 62 year old patient, diagnosed with mixed anxiety-depressive disorder. In current treatment with Paroxetine, Clorazepate and Trazodone. She presents low spirits secondary to a neurological process (stroke + amyloid angiopathy+ epilepsy+ cognitive impairment) and difficulties in performing daily activities. Her daughter reports that she is totally dependent, she spends the whole day in bed. On examination we observe a dull mood, without emotional reactivity. Lack of motivation. Psychomotor slowness.Significant cognitive impairment with difficulties in performing daily activities. Mnesic faults.ObjectivesClinical case shows radiological and cognitive improvement with vortioxetineMethodsLast diagnoses: August 2020: HSA OF THE FRONTAL AND PARIETAL GROOVES RIGHTS September 2020:SYMPTOMATIC FOCAL EPILEPSY SECONDARY TO LEFT FRONTOPARIETAL INTRAPARENCHIMATOSUS HEMATOMA December 2020:MYELOID ANGIOPATIA February 2021:SUBARACHNOID HEMORRHAGE March 2021:DEPRESSIVE DISORDER SECONDARY TO MEDICAL ILLNESS - MODERATE COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTResultsSpectacular improvement in mood and cognitive deficit. The family reports that after 5 days they noticed the change. They find her more lively, she has returned to doing housework and is autonomous for day-to-day life. She has regained her memory and performed calculation exercises on a daily. The patient says that she has returned to being her usual self, “before I felt like a mummy and now I have finally woken up, it seems like a miracle”.ConclusionsIt has improved much with change of antidepressant, from paroxetine to vortioxetine in patient who show in cranial MRI: New-onset lesion in the right frontal lobe attributable and subarachnoid hemorrhage located in convex furrows ,radiological findings in favor of amyloid angiopathyDisclosureNo significant relationships.
Depression among Endometrial Cancer hospitalizations - Preliminary results of a nationwide retrospective study
Authors: Vieito P. , Ferreira A.R. , Gonçalves-Pinho M. , Costa F. , Coelho M. , Freitas A. , Fernandes L. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionUterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignant neoplasm in developed countries. While depression is up to 3-5 times more common in patients with cancer than in the general population, literature is still limited regarding the relation between Endometrial Cancer and depression.ObjectivesTo analyze Depression among Endometrial Cancer hospitalizations in mainland Portuguese public hospitals (2008-2015).MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted using administrative data from all hospitalizations in Portuguese mainland public hospitals between 2008-2015. All women’s hospitalizations(≥18 years) with a primary diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer (ICD-9-CM 182.x) were selected. Secondary diagnosis of depression was identified with ICD-9-CM 296.2x, 296.3x and 311x codes. Surgical procedures codes 68.4x, 65.6x, 40.3x, 40.5x, 68.6x, 68.9x and 68.8x were used to divide the hospitalizations into surgical vs non-surgical. Groups were compared with Pearson Chi-square test and crude odds ratio(OR) was used to estimate the association between surgery and depression.ResultsFrom 10227 hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer, 533 had a registry of depression(5.2%). Annual depression frequency rose from 2.0% (2008) to 8.3% (2015). Among patients with a record of depression, 73.2% had surgery. Women who had surgery were significantly more likely to have registered depression (p<0.001). The OR for depression in surgical vs non-surgical patients was 1.73 (95%IC:1.42-2.10).ConclusionsPatients hospitalized due to Endometrial Cancer and submitted to surgery had almost two-fold more risk of having a registry of depression. This trend reinforces the importance of early depression screening of these patients, enabling the implementation of timely therapeutic strategies before and after surgery.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Manic episode secondary to single right cerebellar metastasis in context of ovarian tumor: report of clinical case
Authors: Téllez Gómez A. , Rubio Granero M.T. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionThe cerebellum is often overlooked when evaluating neuropsychiatric disorders. Lately, evidence has increased for the existence of cerebellar connections -generally in relation to vermis and posterior lobe- with cortical areas related to pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. The cerebellar affective cognitive syndrome, also known as Schmahmann syndrome, has even been described with an evaluation scale.ObjectivesCase report of a patient suffering a manic episode in context of single right cerebellar metastasis derived from ovarian tumor.MethodsA non-systematic literature review was conducted on PubMed database on cerebellum pathology related to psychiatrics disorders. The clinical case report was prepared through the review of the patient´s clinical record.ResultsThe authors introduce the case of a 50-year-old woman, diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian tumor, with single right cerebellar metastasis of 42mm, who was admitted to oncology due to behavioral alteration, with no prior psychiatric history. The patient showed hyperthymic mood, with speech scanned but fluid, manifesting intense well-being and ideation of mystical-religious and megalomaniac content. Haloperidol up to 7.5mg/8 hours and clonazepam 2 mg/8 hours were prescribed, switching haloperidol to olanzapine up to 25mg/day after several days, since the symptoms did not improve. Valproic acid 500 mg/24 hours was also added. Progressive improvement was seen, without worsening of motor symptoms or instability. The CCAS scale (Cerebellar Cognitive Affective/Schmahmann syndrome) was performed, with a positive result (10/10) being> 3 definitive CCAS.ConclusionsThe relationship between cerebellum and neuropsychiatric disorders is still partly unknown, requiring more research to be able to carry out specific diagnoses and treatments for patients.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Lost in Translation – What is Alexithymia
Authors: Morais A.S. , Gomes R. , Descalço N. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionAlexithymia is considered a personality trait characterized by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions, impoverished fantasy life and tendency toward action-oriented or ‘operational’ Thinking. There are alterations in cognitive processing and regulation of emotions, and tendency to somatization.ObjectivesThe authors examine literature regarding the concept of alexithymia, exploring the current definition and role in the clinic, research findings and proposed management.MethodsA brief non-systematized review is presented, using the literature available on PubMed and Google Scholar.ResultsAlexithymia is not a discrete psychiatric diagnosis. It has been reported in 9-10% of the general population. It is related to numerous psychiatric disorders (substance use disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders), but also to somatic illnesses (essential hypertension, functional gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, fibromyalgia and cancer pain). Neuroimaging and neurobiological studies found evidence for morphological and functional brain alterations that integrate the classification introduced by Bermond. Affective type I is characterized by the absence of emotional experience and, consequently, by the absence of cognition accompanying the emotion (associated to right unilateral cortical lesions). Cognitive Type II is characterized by a selective deficit of emotional cognition with sparing of emotional experience (associated to a right-to-left unidirectional deficit in interhemispheric transfer).ConclusionsThere is little consensus on the subject. Clarification of the mechanisms underlying alexithymia can improve our management of these individuals. Identification of effective strategies could improve the patients’ capacities for adaptive emotional processing and enhance other aspects of functioning.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Is Praecox Feeling at risk of extinction?
Authors: Duarte A. , Laginhas C. , Lourenço A. , Simões I. , Martins P. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionPraecox feeling (PF) is a characteristic feeling of bizarreness or unease that a psychiatrist experiences when facing a patient with schizophrenia. This term, proposed by Rumke in 1941, was considered an important feature of a schizophrenia diagnosis. However, since the movement toward operational diagnostic methods in the late 1970s, it has fallen out of use.ObjectivesThis work aims to discuss the role of Praecox Feeling in the clinical approach to schizophrenia diagnosis.MethodsPubMed database was searched using combinations of the terms “praecox”, combined with “feeling” and “schizophrenia”.ResultsPF is sometimes experienced silently before the patient participates verbally. An experienced and attentive clinician can intuitively feels changes in the body posture, facial expression, the tone of the voice, motor behavior, and attitude that could look insignificant, but as a whole they present the patient as “definitely un-understandable.” Although there is lacking evidence to sustain the rehabilitation of the PF as a reliable and valid clinical criterion consistent with the operational approach, a broader scientific approach is called for. PF should not be trivialized, as is sometimes the case, into a quick diagnosis but could be a real determinant of medical decision.ConclusionsEven though there may not be sufficient evidence to consider it valid clinical diagnostic criteria, it still appears to play an important role in the clinical decision-making process and should not be underestimated or stigmatized. This concept is not completely subjective and does rely on objective information, such as the patient’s behaviour and body language.DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Evaluation of Brain Functions in Conversion Disorder with PET/MRI
Authors: Tatlı S.Z. , Özkan E. , Araz M. , Erden M.İ. , Şentürk Cankorur V. 
Published: September 2022

IntroductionSince there is no objective criteria, unique clinical symptom or laboratory test to make the diagnosis of conversion disorder; its diagnosis and treatment is challenging which leads to a poor prognosis.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the brain metabolic activity of patients with conversion disorder with PET/MRI.Methods12 conversion disorder patients were included. Somatosensory Amplification Scale, Somatoform Dissociation Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, Toronto Alexithymia Scale were filled in by the participants. Neurological, mental status examinations, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Form (WAIS-R) and brain F18-FDG-PET/MRI were performed. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5, Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales were administered.Results83% of the patients were female, the mean age was 33 years and average education period was 10,2 years. WAIS-R total scores were consistent with low avarage intelligence level.Cerebral hypermetabolism was detected in the primary visual cortex. Average regional brain metabolic activity had a tendency to increase in bilateral prefrontal, right sensorimotor (SM),cingulate,right inferior parietal,occipital lateral,right temporal lateral cortices and cerebellum. Each region was metabolically correlated with the homologous contralateral regions. Significant correlations in the same direction was found between frontal and occipital lateral & primary visual cortices; cerebellum and left sensorimotor cortex; anterior cingulate cortex(ACC) and superior parietal cortex & cerebellum. No correlations were found between ACC and left SM cortex.ConclusionsFindings of our study indicate that there are moderate changes in regional brain metabolic activities and inter-regional correlations in patients with conversion disorder. In order to confirm these findings, furter functional neuroimaging studies are needed.DisclosureNo significant relationships.