Chronic and transient loneliness are two clinically distinct conditions that have different impacts on mental health. However, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of chronic and transient loneliness, and their associated risk factors.

This study aims to (1) assess the prevalence of chronic and transient loneliness among Spanish adults, (2) identify and compare the risk factors associated with both forms of loneliness, (3) examine how perceptions of loneliness contribute to its persistence, and (4) evaluate the effects of chronic versus transient loneliness on depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders.

A total of 1,503 Spanish adults were interviewed by phone from May to June 2024. Loneliness was measured with a direct question, and the three-item loneliness scale from the University of California, Los Angeles, was used for the sensitivity analyses. Chronic loneliness was defined as reported loneliness both two years ago and currently, while transient loneliness was defined as reported loneliness only two years ago. The CAGE Adapted to Include Drugs (CAGE-AID) questionnaire was used to assess substance use disorder within the previous month, anxiety symptoms were measured using the GAD-2, and depressive symptoms were assessed using the PHQ-2. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine sociodemographic and behavioral risk factors for chronic and transient loneliness, as well as the impact of loneliness perceptions on the likelihood of chronicity and the association of both types of loneliness with mental disorders.

11.4% of the sample reported chronic loneliness, while 9.5% reported transient loneliness. Risk factors associated with chronic loneliness included being a younger adult, female, living alone or with roommates, having low education level, and poor health status. In contrast, the risk factors for transient loneliness included being single or separated and frequent use of social media. Poor social support was a risk factor for both types of loneliness, though it had a significantly stronger impact on chronic loneliness (OR = 10.1, 95% CI: 5.5–18.4) compared to transient loneliness (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2–3.8). Feelings of emptiness (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.4–5.4) and perceiving loneliness as insurmountable (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4–4.6) were risk factors for chronicity among individuals feeling loneliness. Sensitivity analyses showed similar results to the main findings. Only chronic loneliness was longitudinally associated with higher odds of depression (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 3.4–7.4), anxiety (OR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3–4.1), and substance use disorder (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.9–6.6).

Chronic loneliness can be identified through its risk factors and the perceptions of those experiencing it, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues to improve mental health outcomes.

None Declared

Affective disorders, including but not limited to major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and persistent depressive disorder, comprise a group of disorders characterized by clinically significant mood disturbances. Depression, which makes the most important contribution to the DALY index among all mental disorders, was the primary focus of this study. Physical activity, regardless of changes in body weight, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and the likelihood of a new episode of the disease.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders.

This study comprised a qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis. Following ethical approval, a convenience sample of 10 participants with affective disorders was drawn: all of the sample were female, aged 18 years or older, with 69% falling into the 27–35 years age bracket. Diagnostic and clinical information were collected, and barriers to engagement in physical activity were explored. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Ten face-to-face qualitative interviews were completed and lasted between 30 and 60 min. The findings were summarized under the key thematic areas of Anhedonia, Fatigue, Lack of time, Fear of condemnation, and Embarrassment, illustrated by texts. The key thematic areas were further grouped under the overarching themes of 1. Personal characteristics and the influence of low mood: anhedonia and fatigue; 2. External factors: need more time; 3. Social factors: embarrassment and fear of condemnation. Then, the following barriers were identified: “Lack of Strength” barrier, “Lack of Time” barrier, and “Rejection of physical characteristics” (or self-stigma) barrier.

While small and exploratory, the study provides significant insights into the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders. Although these findings are not generalizable to other populations or males with affective disorders, they offer valuable considerations for future research and interventions in this field. This study’s findings have profound implications for future psychosocial interventions for patients with affective disorders. By identifying and understanding the barriers to motivation for physical activity, it paves the way for more effective, individualized interventions, including those aimed at reducing self-stigma.

None Declared

The DiSCoVeR trial (The DiSCoVeR Project: Examining the synergistic effects of a cognitive control videogame and a self-administered non-invasive brain stimulation on alleviating depression) is a double-blind, sham controlled, randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the feasibility and efficacy of an innovative, self-applied treatment approach for patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). The multi-site trial is conducted at three clinical trial sites (Hadassah, Israel; Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia; Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Germany). During the first study visit of this trial data on different patient baseline parameters were gathered including assesment of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and rumination.

The aim of this abstract is to examine the relationship between depression, rumination and anxiety in this patient sample. Rumination, often characterized by repetitive, negative thinking, can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression by maintaining and intensifying negative emotional states. This cycle creates a challenging clinical problem making it difficult to break free without targeted interventions.

This analysis includes baseline data from 106 MDD patients enrolled in the DiSCoVeR trial as of April 2024. Depression severity was assessed using the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), and rumination was evaluated with the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS). Data were analyzed using the Jamovi statistical platform, applying linear regression model to explore the relationship between depression, rumination, and anxiety. All assumptions for linear regression were met prior to analysis.

The mean age of the participants in this study sample ranged from 18 to 63 years old (mean age 33.4 years). 65.7% of the participants were female. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between anxiety (GAD-7) and rumination (RRS), suggesting that increased anxiety symptoms are associated with higher levels of rumination (p < .001). However, age and gender were not significant predictors of rumination. While depression (MADRS) was moderately associated with rumination, this effect was not statistically significant. Educational level showed a marginal effect, with university-educated individuals showing higher rumination levels compared to those with professional education.

In this patient sample overall, anxiety (GAD-7 score) was the strongest predictor of rumination, while other factors such as depression, age, and gender did not show significant effects. Education level might have a marginal impact, especially for individuals with university education.

None Declared

This presentation explores the intersection of psychotherapy interventions and AI, focusing on how AI can be leveraged to augment traditional therapeutic methods. AI-powered tools such as chatbots, virtual therapists, and predictive analytics will be covered. Additionally, the talk will address the ethical implications, challenges, and opportunities posed by the use of AI in mental health care, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the human element in therapy. Drawing on current research and case studies, possible opportunities of AI assisted therapists in identifying patterns in patient behavior, improving treatment efficacy, and reducing barriers to mental health care, especially in underserved populations will be explored. The presentation will conclude with a forward-looking perspective on how AI and psychotherapy can collaboratively evolve to shape the future of mental health care.

Artificial Intelligence, Psychotherapy, Mental Health, Chatbots, Virtual Therapy, Ethical Considerations, Personalized Treatment.

None Declared

Alexithymia, the limited ability to recognize and describe emotions, reflects impairments in emotional awareness and is a prevalent dysfunctional trait in individuals with addiction. Pain is an interoceptive feeling processed through interoceptive pathways and serves as a homeostatic emotion that can motivate behavior. Pain sensitivity may play a role in the development and progression of alcohol use disorder (AUD). Interoceptive awareness (IA) refers to the ability to perceive the internal state of the body. Both interoceptive accuracy (IAc) and interoceptive sensibility (IS), the objective and subjective dimensions of IA, have been shown to be implicated in individuals with AUD.

Our objective was to compare alexithymia, pain sensitivity, IAc, and IS levels between abstinent patients with AUD and healthy controls. Additionally, we aimed to investigate the potential associations between the dimensions of IA and both alexithymia and pain sensitivity.

The study comprised 52 abstinent patients with AUD and 52 healthy control subjects. 92.3% (n=48) of the participants in each group were male, and 7.7% (n=4) were female. Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Pain sensitivity was measured with the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ). IAc was assessed using the heart rate tracking task, which measured participants’ awareness of their own heartbeat by comparing the number of heartbeats they perceived with an objective heart rate measurement. IS was evaluated using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 (MAIA-2). The study included patients who had completed detoxification and been abstinent for at least three weeks while participating in or undergoing a 28-day abstinence-based inpatient treatment program.

Individuals with AUD scored significantly higher on self-reported measures of alexithymia (AUD group: 53.35 ± 11.83; control group: 44.63 ± 6.43; p < 0.001, F = 21.768) and significantly lower on the heart rate tracking task (IAc) (AUD group: 0.65 ± 0.15; control group: 0.84 ± 0.13; p < 0.001, F = 43.615). No significant difference was found in self-reported IS scores (AUD group: 114.06 ± 21.38; control group: 113.37 ± 13.52; p = 0.844, F = 0.039) or pain sensitivity scores (AUD group: 5.22 ± 1.67; control group: 5.18 ± 1.06; p = 0.892, F = 0.018). Alexithymia scores showed significant negative correlations with IAc scores (r = -0.256, p = 0.009) and IS scores (r = -0.361, p < 0.001). However, pain sensitivity scores did not significantly correlate with alexithymia (r = 0.083, p = 0.402), IAc (r = -0.103, p = 0.299), or IS scores (r = 0.136, p = 0.169).

Our findings support the hypothesis that alexithymia, which is linked to the development and progression of AUD, is associated with the dimensions of IA.

None Declared

Psychosis is characterized by hallucinatory and delusional experiences. Although, it was mostly considered to be present among clinical populations, there is strong evidence it can also be found in the general population. Limited reviews currently exist on the quality of the assessment methods designed to evaluate psychotic-like experiences in the general population. None of them assessed whether the existing instruments measure the same construct and, consequently, neglected problems associated with the “jingle-jangle fallacy” (Weidman et al., 2017; Flake and Fried, 2020). This fallacy might account for contradictions in the literature, as well as, issues with generalizability of the results.

The goal of our study is to better understand the agreement between various instruments used to assess hallucinations and paranoia-like experiences.

We conducted a systematic search of the scales assessing hallucinations and paranoia-like experiences among the general population. Labels for the content analysis were created based on their definition in literature by the first authors and revised by another researcher. Three researchers coded each item independently of each other. We then estimated to which extent any item overlaps with any item from the other scale included in the analysis. We used Jaccard index to assess similarities between sets (from 0 with no overlap among scales) to 1 (complete overlap). The analysis was done in R and Excel.

For 263 items from 11 hallucination scales, we estimated 38 labels with a mean overlap of 0.19 (very weak). CAPS demonstrated the highest mean overlap of 0.26. The highest overlaps were observed between MUSEQ and CAPS (0.5), MUSEQ and SPQ (0.4), and between LSHS-R and RHS (0.4). For the paranoia scales, the analysis of 183 items drawn from 12 scales resulted in 18 labels. The mean overlap across these labels was 0.30 - a weak association. The PIQ exhibited the highest mean overlap at 0.42, whereas the PSQ displayed the weakest overlap with a value of 0.17.

The overlap between hallucination scales was very weak. This disparity may be due to different instruments adopt varying interpretations of the hallucination continuum (Laroi, 2012). The weak overlap in paranoia scales may be less problematic, as theoretical models and empirical data suggest a more clear continuum of suspiciousness within the general population (Freeman et al., 2005) that maps our results. It is necessary to establish certain common grounds regarding what experiences represent which sides of the continuum, both in their variability, and severity in the field.

None Declared

Mental healthcare systems in Europe differ greatly in terms of access and care settings. Whereas comparisons of the structures partly exist (e.g. REFINEMENT project), not much is known neither about the patient journeys for specific disease entities nor about outcomes of these differently organized systems.

The first objective is to review the existing literature on structural differences in mental healthcare sytsems in Europe. The second objective is to discuss options for studies that gather differences in patient journeys and outcomes for specific disease entities.

Narrative review about structural differences in mental healthcare in Europe and discussion of a study protocol for assessing patient journeys for 6 important disease entities (Severe Major Depressive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Behavioural disorders in Dementia, Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD, Alcohol Addiction).

European mental healthcare systems differ greatly in terms of structures of mental healthcare provision. E.g. Belgium had 141 hospital beds per 100,000 inhabitants, Germany 131, the Netherlands 112, Switzerland 95, Austria 75, and Denmark 5 (eurostat, 2024a). However, what these numbers mean for the patient journeys and for the systems outcomes is unclear. We discuss an approach for examining prototypical patient journeys for the above-mentioned disorders and for comparing their outcomes in terms of quality of life and global psychosocial functioning.

We are looking for European partner institutions for establishing a mental health systems research network. The goal is to set up studies that allow to compare patient journeys and outcomes within the differing European Mental Healthcare Systems as a basis for mutual learning from best practice examples.

None Declared

Dual diagnosis, involving both a mental disorder and an addiction disorder, significantly impacts patients’ functionality and quality of life. In Colombia, from 2009 to 2017, an average of 20,590 individuals with dual diagnosis were treated annually, representing 7.2 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (Ministerio de Salud, Boletín de Salud Mental No. 7, 2018). This study investigates effective therapeutic strategies for this complex condition by examining six patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders and comorbid addiction who were treated with depot antipsychotics. We assessed their personal and social functioning, symptom severity using various surveys.

Describe outcomes of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in patients with dual diagnosis beyond the clinic

To promote research involving a larger number of subjects with dual diagnosis and co-occurring mental disorders, like schizophrenia

Continue the pursuit of tools aimed at improving the quality of life in patients with dual diagnosis.

This case series involved six patients, all men, aged 20-40 years, all of them using depot antipsychotics (paliperidone quarterly = 2, paliperidone monthly = 3, and risperidone biweekly = 1), followed over 12 months in an addiction program with quarterly evaluations (T0=initial contact, T1=three months, T2=six months, T3=nine months, T4=twelve months) from July 2022 to August 2024 on an outpatient basis. All participants had an addictive disorder and schizophrenic and schizoaffective disorder diagnosed. We administered four periodic surveys (ASSIST, CGI-I, PSP) to evaluate personal and social functioning and symptom severity. Results were collected in a database through in-person visits or telephone contact, with surveys conducted by a multidisciplinary team including psychology, social work, occupational therapy, and psychiatry.

the ASSIST scores improved from [T0=1.333 (44.43%) to T4=2 (44.67%)], CGI-I scores decreased from [T0=4.33 (61.9%) to T4=3 (42.8%)], and the PSP scale showed improvement from [T0=1.666 (55.53%) to T4=2.166 (72.20%)]. These results reflect enhanced cognitive and social functions, particularly in social functioning. Similar results were observed in patients with schizophrenia in a study by Shi et al. (Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016;12:2095-2104), supporting the potential benefits of depot antipsychotics for dual diagnosis patients.

Depot antipsychotics can be a valuable tool for managing dual diagnosis, enhancing treatment adherence, general functionality and reducing symptom severity. However, this observational study did not account for substance types or socioeconomic factors.

None Declared

Many definitions have been proposed for polypharmacy, but the most common is the concurrent use of five or more medications. It is a growing concern among older adults and is associated with numerous adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. Beyond its impact on physical health, research suggests that polypharmacy may also affect mental health, which could potentially be linked to poor sleep quality.

The current study objective is to investigate the sleep quality of polypharmacy older adults and its association with depression and anxiety in this population.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Iraq from June to August 2024. A total of 245 participants were selected from internal medicine wards in hospitals and private clinics. All participants were aged 50 years or older and had been taking five or more medications for at least 90 days. The study questionnaire comprised three main sections: demographic data, the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A PSQI score greater than 5 was used to identify poor sleepers. The association between poor sleep and other factors was assessed by using chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression.

The sample consisted of 245 polypharmacy patients, with a mean age of 61.5 ± 12.4 years. Of the participants, 150 (61%) were female and 95 (39%) were male. Anxiety was observed in 95 (38.8%) participants, depression in 96 (39.2%), and poor sleep quality in 189 (77.1%). The study found significant associations between both anxiety (OR = 3.4 [95% CI: 1.55-7.57], p = 0.002)and depressive symptoms (OR = 2.43 [95% CI: 1.15-5.15], p = 0.020) with poor sleep quality.

Our study suggests that Iraqi polypharmacy older adults suffer from poor sleep quality, with depression and anxiety potentially exacerbating this issue. The findings suggest that mental health support is necessary for older adults with polypharmacy.

None Declared

The study aims to analyze the mental health conditions of Ukrainian university students during and after the war and to examine the impact of these conditions on their academic productivity.

The research combines methods of cross-sectional surveys and regression analysis. The survey includes a demographic section, a mental health screening, and the “Work Productivity and Activity Impairment: Specific Health Problem” (WPAI: SHP) section, adapted for the study’s purposes. The sample consists of 1,398 respondents.

Among all respondents, 85.8% exhibited symptoms of depression, 66.1% of anxiety disorder, 56.9% of sleep disorders, and 48.1% of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Econometric modeling results confirm the devastating impact of mental health issues on students’ academic productivity during the war: moderate to severe symptoms of mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorder, and sleep disorders, are associated with a decline in students’ productivity by 17.4%, 12.2%, and 11.0%, respectively.

The prevalence of mental health issues among university students during and after the war highlights an urgent need for interventions to support their well-being and academic performance. These efforts are critical for fostering a resilient and capable generation essential for Ukraine’s postwar recovery and future development.

Mental health, mental conditions, war, academic productivity, students.

None Declared

Empathy, a key component of an effective physician-patient relationship, is understood as a multifaceted socio-cognitive ability influenced by various cognitive, emotional, social factors. While it has been extensively studied in medical students and healthcare professionals overall, there is limited research on empathy skills among psychiatrists, whose profession especially demands a strong capacity for empathy in their practice.

This study aimed to explore the different facets of empathy among Tunisian psychiatry trainees and assess their connections with demographic, occupational, emotional, and social variables.

Across-sectional study was conducted. An online survey was proposed to 120 Tunisian psychiatry trainees. In addition to sociodemographic and work-related variables, it comprised the Davis’s Interpersonal Reactivity Index, a 28-item tool used for a multidimensional assessment of empathy with four distinct subscales: Perspective taking(PT), Empathic concern(EC), Personal distress(PD) and Fantasy scale(FS). The survey also included the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale(DERS), the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS), the Social Support Questionnaire(SSQ) and the General Self-Efficacy Scale(SE). Factors associated with empathy were evaluated using t test/ANOVA for categorical variables and correlation for continuous predictors.

The total participation rate was 71% and the mean empathy subscores were as follows: 19.04 ± 3.95 for PT, 20.41 ± 3.71 for EC, 12.67 ± 4.41 for PD and 16.40 ± 4.91 for FS. Empathy dimensions’ scores were significantly associated with the rank in the siblings, mother’s level of education, satisfactory relationship with the mother, extra-professional activities and personal psychiatric history. They also were associated with work-related factors such as the year of residency, the desired choice of specialty, the training in a general hospital with a consultation-liaison psychiatry and the perceived verbal aggression from colleagues.

Empathy dimensions’ scores, mainly those of PT and PD, were correlated with emotion regulation difficulties. In fact, PT scores were negatively correlated with five of the six emotion regulation difficulties and PD scores were positively correlated with all the six emotion regulation difficulties of the DERS. EC scores were positively correlated with PSS total score and the number of social supports. PT scores were positively correlated with SE total score and PD scores were negatively correlated with SE total score.

Our findings underscore empathy’s complexity, revealing that in psychiatry trainees, it is shaped by contextual, emotional, and social factors. Without assessing these dimensions and mediators, empathy remains a theoretical concept rather than a teachable and improvable skill.

None Declared

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is marked by dramatic mood and energy shifts, often mirrored in speech. Traditional diagnosis and monitoring largely rely on subjective clinical assessments. However, advancements in natural language processing (NLP) present an opportunity for more objective speech pattern analysis.

Aims: This study aims to (i) identify correlations between speech features and BD symptom severity, (ii) create predictive models for diagnostic and treatment outcomes, and (iii) pinpoint significant speech features and optimal tasks for analysis.

The CALIBER study is a longitudinal, observational project collecting audio from BD patients during euthymia, acute manic or depressive episodes, and recovery phases. Patients engaged in clinical interviews, cognitive assessments, standard readings, and storytelling (Figure 1). Automatic diarization and transcription enabled the extraction of speech features, including acoustic properties, linguistic content, formality, and emotionality. Analyses include (i) correlation of speech features with clinical scales, (ii) predictive modeling using lasso logistic regression, and (iii) feature importance identification.

Preliminary data from 76 patients (24 manic, 21 depressed, 31 euthymic) were analyzed. The cohort had a mean age of 46.0 ± 14.4 years, 63.2% female. Mean YMRS scores dropped from 22.9 ± 7.1 to 5.3 ± 5.3 post-mania, and HDRS-17 scores in depressed patients fell from 17.1 ± 4.4 to 3.3 ± 2.8 post-recovery. Euthymic patients showed lower baseline scores.

Automated speech analysis in BD can provide objective biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring, highlighting subtle pre-relapse changes and informing treatment strategies. Establishing standardized protocols is vital for developing a global speech database to support collaborative research and enhance BD management.

G. Anmella Grant / Research support from: GA has received CME-related honoraria, or consulting fees from Adamed, Angelini, Casen Recordati, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Lundbeck/Otsuka, Rovi, and Viatris, with no financial or other relationship relevant to the subject of this article., Consultant of: GA has received CME-related honoraria, or consulting fees from Adamed, Angelini, Casen Recordati, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Lundbeck/Otsuka, Rovi, and Viatris, with no financial or other relationship relevant to the subject of this article., M. De Prisco: None Declared, J. Joyce: None Declared, C. Valenzuela-Pascual: None Declared, G. Chatzisofroniou: None Declared, D. Hidalgo-Mazzei: None Declared, E. Vieta: None Declared

Despite several efforts and public awareness campaigns, suicide rates are still rising in some countries, being third leading cause of death among 15-29-years-old. Some populations are at higher risk for suicidal behavior, such as LGBTIQ+ people and physicians. We found no literature regarding a possible association between physicians emotional response to suicidal patients (countertransference), sociodemographic factors and physicians mental health.

Identify a possible association between sociodemographic factors, countertransference and Burnout Syndrome.

An anonymous web-based survey was implemented through the software REDCap, collected by snowball sampling. Participants were volunteers and could withdraw at any time. The study was approved by the University Ethics Committee. The survey consisted of the Informed Consent Form (ICF), Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Rating Scale for Countertransference (RSCT), which evaluate the main emotional responses (approximation, indifference or rejection). Scales also included Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index of Davis. Other scales were included, but are being developed in other studies.

From the 210 respondents, 179 (85.2%) completed the query: 108 (60.3%) were female; 166 (92.7%) were self-declared white-colored skin; 139 (77.7%) had a sexual partner. The mean age was 37.22 (SD=12.33), 65(36.3%) were medical residents; 112 (62.6%) were already specialists, 54 (48.2%) of those, declared to be psychiatrists. Indifference varies according to sexual orientation (p = 0,002), even when controlling for burnout (p < 0,001). Bissexual physicians had lower indifference rates than the other groups (Heterosexual: N=104, M 1,52, SD 1,52, CV 0,998; Homosexual: N=15, M 2,60, CV 0,870; Bisexual: N=17, M 0,64, SD 0,20, CV 1,332). Females had higher approximation rates when compared to male (Male: N = 53; M 15,71; SD 5,77; Female: N = 90; M 17,94; SD 3,70; p = 0,006). There’s no difference between gender when evaluating indifference and rejection. Homosexual and bisexual physicians experience more burnout (Heterosexual: N = 118, M 49,94, SD 14,5. Homosexual: N = 16; M 60,0; SD 15,2. Bisexual: N = 18; M 59,6; SD 4,6). F (2) = 5,51; p = 0,05.

We find preliminary evidence that sexual orientation could influence emotional response when evaluating suicidal patients. Women have higher approximation. Both results remain the same when controlling for Burnout syndrome.

None Declared

Mobile phone addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by the inability to function in daily life without a smartphone, most often with unlimited access to the internet. “Phone addicts” perceive their mobile phone as the most important tool for daily contact with others.

The aim of our study was to examine internet and mobile phone addiction in individuals aged 15-50 years.

The study involved 107 participants who regularly use mobile phones and access the internet. The participants completed an online survey as part of the study. The Kimberly Young test was used to assess internet addiction. The test consisted of 7 questions with “yes” or “no” responses. A score of ≥4 points was considered indicative of addiction. To assess mobile phone addiction, a test consisting of 10 questions was used. The questions concerned attitudes towards SMS messages, phone calls, mobile network operator promotions, and mobile phone use. Each question had 3 possible answers. Providing answers marked with point “c” to 5 or more questions was considered indicative of mobile phone addiction. The only inclusion criteria were: being over 14 years old and owning a mobile phone with internet access.

The study involved 71 women, accounting for 66.4% of the respondents, and 36 men, accounting for 33.6% of the respondents. The age of the participants ranged from 16 to 50 years, with the average age being approximately 22.8 years. Among the study participants, 35.5% had higher education, 43.9% had secondary education, and 20.6% had primary education. 54.2% of the respondents lived in urban areas, while 45.8% lived in rural areas.

The questionnaire included a question regarding the amount of time spent online each day. According to the respondents’ answers, the average time spent online was approximately 358 minutes. The next question concerned the time spent on phone calls or text messages. The average time spent on this was approximately 75 minutes.

The results of the study indicated that 20 individuals, or 18.7% of the respondents, were addicted to the internet. Six individuals, or 5.6%, were addicted to their phones. Two respondents, or 1.9%, were addicted to both the internet and their phones. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistica software.

A statistically significant correlation was found between the degree of mobile phone addiction and the amount of time spent using the phone. The longer the time spent on the phone, the greater the degree of mobile phone addiction.

Age significantly affects the degree of internet addiction. Among older individuals, the level of internet addiction is lower. The amount of time spent using the internet does not affect the degree of addiction. As the duration of mobile phone use increases, the intensity of mobile phone addiction also increases. Age does not affect the degree of mobile phone addiction.

None Declared

Apathy is a common non-motor symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD), and its presence constitutes a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment in this population (Burchill et al. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2024; 39:100870). β-amyloidopathy has been associated to shorter interval to dementia in PD and may also be a determinant of apathy.

We aimed to investigate β-amyloid burden in non-demented PD patients based on the presence or absence of apathy, and how both factors influence the rate of progression to mild cognitive impairment or dementia over a 3-year period.

Forty-eight PD patients underwent clinical and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation, as well as [18F]-flutemetamol positron emission tomography. They were classified as apathetic (n=22) or non-apathetic (n=26) based on their score on the Starkstein Apathy Scale. Brain imaging analysis was conducted using the SPM software package.

We found statistically significant differences in disease duration when comparing clinical and demographic variables. Upon neuropsychological evaluation, apathetic patients performed significantly worse in attention domain (Digit Span and Trail Making Test A), executive function (Stroop Word-Colour Test and Trail Making Test B) and verbal memory (CERAD Total Word Recall). At follow up, 47.4% of apathetic patients progressed to dementia or MCI, compared to 12% of non-apathetic patients (χ² = 6.81, p <0.05). Brain imaging analysis revealed higher β-amyloid deposition in several cortical areas in apathetic PD patients (adjusted for disease duration and global composite cognitive z-scores).

The presence of apathy in PD patients is associated with greater cortical β-amyloidopathy and indicates a higher conversion rate to a worse cognitive diagnosis within a 3-year period.

None Declared

Marriage is widely regarded as an important part of social life, providing emotional support and stability. However, public perceptions of marriages involving individuals with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are not well understood. Stigma likely plays a crucial role in shaping these perceptions and affects societal attitudes toward such unions.

This study aimed to explore and compare public perceptions of marriage in individuals with schizophrenia and in individuals with bipolar disorder, and to examine how these views affect their marital prospects.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online form to gather data from the general population. It covered socio-demographic and clinical variables, as well as detailed descriptions of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder symptoms and outcomes. The survey also included questions on public attitudes toward marriage involving individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Participants answered 13 questions about the right of individuals with these conditions to marry, their capacity to maintain a stable relationship, and whether they would personally consider or recommend marrying someone with these disorders. This study was inspired by the article of Kumar et al., 2019).

The study involved 304 participants, mostly young adults, with 246 being women. Around 35.6% had a family history of psychiatric illness, and 23.35% lived with someone with a psychiatric disorder. The findings revealed significant differences in public perceptions of marriage for individuals with schizophrenia versus bipolar disorder. Participants were more strongly opposed to marriage as a cure, especially for schizophrenia (p<10^-3), and more had never considered finding a partner for someone with schizophrenia compared to bipolar disorder (p<10^-3). Reluctance to marry someone with schizophrenia was also significantly higher, even if compatibility was present (p<10^-3).

Regarding bipolar disorder, concerns about marriage exacerbating symptoms were more prevalent compared to schizophrenia (p=0.001). Despite these concerns, the stigma around marriage with individuals affected by bipolar disorder appeared less severe, as indicated by participants’ greater openness toward the possibility of such a union in individuals with schizophrenia (p<10^-3).

Results emphasize the need for targeted awareness and educational initiatives to address misunderstandings and support the marriage goals of individuals with mental health conditions. Future studies should examine the factors shaping these perceptions and develop approaches to promote a more inclusive perspective on marriage and mental health, tackling stigma and challenging widespread stereotypes.

None Declared

The high prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients with cancer has an impact on a decrease in quality of life. there are practically no studies among people with lymphoproliferative diseases, which determines the relevance of our study.

Purpose: to assess the prevalence of anxiety-affective spectrum disorders and their impact on the quality of life and adaptability in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and a group, including malignant neoplasm of the body of the stomach and T- and B- cellular lymphoma.

95 patients (women - 52, men - 44) diagnosed with NHL, HL, others were examined using a continuous sampling method.

Clinical interviews; the author’s questionnaire; HADS, EQ-5D, EQ-VAS, PSM-25. STATTECH were used to process the data.

The average age was 52.8±8.3 years (18 to 86). 3 groups: 1-non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 2-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 3- malignant neoplasm of the stomach body and T- and B-cell lymphoma. In gr-s 1 and 2 (90% and 85%), no symptoms of anxiety were detected. In gr 3, clinically pronounced anxiety levels were uniformly detected in 50%. Depressive symptoms a predominantly absence in all groups (1 - 95%; 2 - 86% and 3 - 75%) p>0.05. The assessment of quality of life: in gr 1 and 2, most of the patients noted that they experience some difficulties in the final indicator (55% and 61%), pronounced problems prevail in gr 3 (50%). The mobility of the majority in all groups does not suffer or suffers to a minor extent, 80% of all noted the absence of difficulties in self-care. “daily activity” were a statistically significant - 64% maintained it at a high level (p=0.006); Pain/discomfort is experienced by more than half of the respondents to a moderate degree 55% (p=0.003). In gr 1 and 3, the average of EQ-VAS determined at a level of more than 70 (the arithmetic mean 78 and 73), which indicates a more favorable sense of self. In gr 2 the average was determined at 68, also characterizes a high level of assessment of their general condition, in all patients with CLL, according to PSM 25, the stress level was determined to be low, indicates a state of psychological adaptation to workloads in 100%. In the gr 1, 12 people (17%) were identified with an average level of stress and reduced adaptation and need the rest for this contingent.

our pilot study showed that patients with lymphoproliferative diseases are characterized by a slight decrease in their quality of life, a high level of life satisfaction, good stress resistance to workloads. The main symptoms (reliably expressed in 55%), are moderate severity of pain and discomfort. The obtained data make it possible to emphasize the heterogeneity of the prevalence and severity of anxiety-affective symptoms in patients with various types of oncological diseases.

None Declared

The treatment landscape for mental health has transformed significantly with the emergence of digital platforms, which offer a promising public health solution by expanding access to mental health services. Despite their potential, further research is needed to evaluate both the usability and clinical effectiveness of these online interventions.

To investigate the usage patterns of an online mental health app and the effectiveness of chat-based emotional support (ES) in reducing psychological distress and achieving therapeutic goals.

The analysis included data from 3,751 users of ifeel app onboarded in 2023, 58% of whom were female and 42% male. Two main modalities were studied: chat-based therapy,( N= 3,170) and video therapy,( N=1,942), with some overlap as users could engage in both modalities. Key metrics for analysis included session frequency, session timing, session duration, and user demographics. The study also explored chat-based ES therapy by evaluating 113 individuals at two points in time: after one week of therapy, and after three weeks. Psychological distress levels were measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), and goal attainment was measured through self-reports over the two time points.

Usage data showed a strong preference for chat-based therapy, with 85% of users engaging in chat therapy compared to 52% who used video therapy. Younger users, particularly those aged 25-34, were the most active in engaging with chat-based therapy. On average, chat therapy users send between 14 to 17 messages per month, whereas video therapy users take 2 sessions per month. These results underscore the higher frequency of engagement in chat therapy, particularly among younger demographics. In terms of clinical effectiveness, psychological distress was reduced significantly at both one week and three weeks of therapy. After one week of treatment, participants showed a significant reduction in distress symptoms (F(1) = 5.10, p = .03*) this was evident also after three weeks (F(1) = 24.25, p = .000***). Goal attainment showed substantial progress over time, with significant improvements in both groups (F(1) = 5.03, p = .03*; F(1) = 31.61, p = .000*), indicating that users were making meaningful strides toward their therapeutic goals.

This study underscores the usage pattern and clear preference for chat-based therapy, particularly among younger users. Chat-based emotional support therapy was found effective in reducing psychological distress, suggesting that online platforms, especially those offering chat-based therapy, are both accessible and clinically effective. Further research should focus on refining these services to maximize clinical outcomes, adapt to diverse user demographics, and ensure long-term engagement.

None Declared

Depressive disorders among healthcare workers (HCWs) exhibit a range of clinical manifestations, from mild to severe forms, leading to significant consequences such as hospitalization, extended sick leave, and suicide attempts. Understanding these clinical features is essential for the implementation of effective mental health interventions and support services.

This study aims to analyze the clinical features of depressive disorders among HCWs, and to assess the relationships between these factors.

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted over an 11-year period on HCWs in Sousse, Tunisia, who took long-term sick leave for depressive disorders. Data were collected from medical records, and completed with a telephone questionnaire.

Out of 650 cases examined, 48% were classified as having severe depression, while 50% experienced moderate depression, and 2% had mild forms. Anxiety was the predominant clinical feature, occurring in 71.4% of cases and showing a significant correlation with depression severity (p = 0.001). Melancholic features were identified in 33% of the cohort and were also significantly linked to severe depression (p = 0.005). Hospitalization due to depression was necessary for 11.2% of cases, with 4.2% requiring multiple hospitalizations; notably, all hospitalized patients exhibited severe depression (p = 0.001). Additionally, 1.2% of the study population reported a history of suicide attempts, all of whom presented severe depression, although this finding did not attain statistical significance.

This study highlights the importance of understanding the clinical specifications of depressive disorders in HCWs, as severe forms are often associated with hospitalizations and a higher risk of suicide attempts. The results emphasize the need for early intervention and targeted support strategies to address these severe outcomes.

None Declared

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is an underdiagnosed and poorly treated condition that is highly prevalent among women. Characterised by a persistent or recurrent deficiency of sexual desire, HSDD leads to significant personal distress and interpersonal difficulties, and can adversely affect emotional well-being and intimate relationships.

The aim of this review is to discuss the aetiology, diagnosis, and treatment of HSDD.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the electronic database PubMed. The keywords used for the search included “Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder”, “treatment”, and “aetiology and diagnosis”.

The search yielded a total of five systematic reviews. These studies concluded that the aetiology of HSDD involves a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. The diagnosis of this disorder should include a comprehensive sexual and medical history to rule out other causes. Treatment options for HSDD are multifaceted, incorporating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.

HSDD may be caused by biological factors such as a reduction in sexual excitation signals, an increase in sexual inhibition signals, or a combination of both. Testosterone plays a crucial role in initiating sexual activity, desire, and behaviour, through its influence on vaginal lubrication, sensation, and clitoral engorgement. Low oestrogen levels are associated with dyspareunia and changes in the vulvovaginal mucosa. Progesterone, serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline also play a role in the physiology of sexual desire. Psychological factors, particularly a lack of emotional intimacy, communication difficulties, negative body image perceptions and low self-esteem, can also reduce sexual desire. Depressive and anxiety disorders can significantly affect sexual desire. Sociocultural factors, such as religious beliefs and traditional values, can have a negative impact on sexuality. The diagnosis is made through a detailed clinical history, which may be supported by a screening tool, the Decreased Sexual Desire Screener (DSDS), as well as laboratory and imaging investigations. Identified modifiable factors, such as illicit substance abuse, sleep problems, medication use, and various medical and psychological factors, should be addressed first. For women without remaining modifiable factors who need psychological support, sex therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, and couples therapy are recommended. In premenopausal women, pharmacological treatment with flibanserin or bremelanotide may be considered. In postmenopausal women, hormonal therapy with testosterone may be considered off-label. The combination of psychological and pharmacological interventions is the most effective approach for HSDD. However, further studies are needed to better understand the pathological mechanisms of HSDD and to develop new therapeutic options.

None Declared