Domiciliary hospitalization emerged in the late 20th century as a new mental health intervention, designed to providing care of patients with mental disorders at home. This approach offers benefits to hospitals, patients and their surroinding support systems (Megías, F. et al. EVES 2004; 16: 11-107). Although numerous international studies have evaluated the quality and advantages of domiciliary hospitalization, there is a paucity of research in Spain.

To describe and compare the sociodemographic characteristics of psychiatric patients admitted to the Short-term Hospitalization Unit (UHB) at HGUCR with those of patients admitted to DH Unit from January 1 to December 31, 2019; and to compare this results with the statistics found in other similar studies.

This study is a descriptive observational analysis of 281 patient admissions to psychiatric hospitalization units (UHB or DH) in 2019 at HGUCR. The variables analyzed include the type of hospitalization, age, sex, marital status, type of cohabitation and employment status. SPSS was used as a statistical analysis tool. A literature review was carried out, using PubMed to identify comparable national and international studies.

The mean age of patients was 44±15 years, with no significant differences between patients admitted to UHB and those admitted to DH unit, consistent with findings from other studies. The percentage of men and women is similar, with a majority of singles (40%) or married/in partnership (38%) compared to those who were separated or widowed. Regarding types of cohabitation, 37% of patients lived with their own family, 35% with their family of origin and 18% lived alone, with no significant differences between the two types of hospitalization. As regards employment status, the largest group (27%) was inactive, followed by 18% who were incapacitated and 17% of active workers. Significant differences were found in employment status: there were more active people in DH and more incapacitated individuals in UHB. However, we found that in other studies from Germany, there were significantly more unemployed people in DH (Bechdolf et al. FDNP 2011; 79 (1): 26-31). This can be explained by the exlusion criteria for DH at HGUCR, which include patients with severe social problems and multiple or decompensated organic comorbidity. Therefore, it is consistent that most of DH patients were in relatively good health and capable of working actively before admission.

No significant differences between DH and UHB were observed in most variables. Where differences were observed, they could be explained by the differing exclusion criteria between the two types of hospitalization. Our results are similar to those reported in other studies.

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Perinatal disorders occur in 25% of childbearing women. Postnatal depressive symptoms (PDS) have been widely studied, whilst PDS usually overshadows bonding disorder (BD) in clinical practice and research. BD includes mild disorders, such as delay, ambivalence or loss of maternal emotional response, and severe disorders, such as pathological anger or rejection of the child (Brockington et al., Arch Womens Ment Health 2006; 9(5) 243-251).

To estimate the prevalences of PDS and BD in mothers during the six months after birth.

Women and their male partners aged ≥ 18, without delivery and neonatal complications, were recruited at the Maternity Ward in a public hospital in Madrid, during 2021-2022. Data was collected at immediate puerperium (T0), sixth week (T1), fourth month (T2), and sixth month (T3). The last observation carried forward (LOCF) was used. An Ad hoc Socio-Demographic questionnaire was used. To determine the presence of PDS and BD, respectively, there were used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), cut off ≥ 11 (Ascaso-Terrén et al., Med Clin (Barc) 2003; 120(9) 326-329) and Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), cut off ≥ 13 for BD, and ≥ 18 for severe BD (Torres-Giménez et al., Span J Psychol. 2021; 24, e47, 1-9).

1502 couples were recruited at T0. The main characteristics of female participants were: mean age 34.1 years, 53.9% married, 54.1% primiparous, 27.8% migrants, 67.3% university degree or higher, 83.2% employed, 14.8% financial difficulties, 4.9% smoking during pregnancy and, 21.7% c-section. At T0, the prevalences of PDS were 13.0% of mothers, 10.5% of fathers, and 3.5% of both parents. Applying LOCF, 874 women responded to the questionnaires at some timing during the follow-up. The results were divided into two groups (see Table 1 and Table 2) depending on whether they presented PDS at T0. In mothers with PDS at T0, PDS and BD rates eventually decrease at T3. In the other group, while BD rates decrease at T3, a slight increase in PDS presentation at T3 is observed.Table 1.

LOCF of mothers with PDS at T0

Depressive symptoms and impaired bonding could have different severity and timing during the postnatal period. More research on bonding disorder is needed to clarify more accurately the psychopathological features that distinguish it from postnatal depression to provide more targeted treatment that will also reduce the associated stigma of childbearing difficulties.

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High-stress levels can be problematic for teachers and indirectly affect students. Knowledge about the prevalence and predictors of high-stress and low resilience will provide information about the extent of the problem among teachers in Canada.

To examine the prevalence and correlates of perceived stress and low resilience among Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador teachers.

This is a cross-sectional study. Participants self-subscribed to the Wellness4Teachers text-messaging program and completed the online survey on enrollment. Data collection occurred from September 2022 to August 2023. Resilience and stress were respectively assessed using the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Data was analyzed with SPSS version 28.

A total of 1912 teachers subscribed to the Wellness4Teachers program, and 810 completed the baseline survey, yielding a response rate of 42.40%. The prevalence of high stress and low resilience were respectively 26.3%, and 40.1%. Participants with low resilience were 3.10 times more likely to experience high-stress symptoms than those with normal to high resilience (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 2.18–4.41). Conversely, participants who reported high stress were 3.13 times more likely to have low resilience than those with low to moderate stress (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: 2.20–4.44).

Our study findings infer there’s an incidence of high levels of stress and low resilience among teachers in the three Canadian provinces. Governments and policymakers in the education field should integrate stress management and resilient building strategies into teachers’ ongoing professional development programs to help prevent and address high stress.

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The global burden of common mental disorders is high, particularly for migrants and people living in low-resource settings. Although psychosocial interventions delivered by locally available lay or community health workers are effective, the mechanisms of intervention response are poorly understood. One of the major barriers is that psychosocial interventions are delivered as complex, multi-component ‘packages of care’.

The aim of the project is to systematically review all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have tested the efficacy of task-sharing psychosocial interventions for the treatment of people suffering from common mental disorders (depression, anxiety, and related somatic complaints), to dismantle the intervention protocols, to create a taxonomy of active intervention components, and to re-evaluate their efficacy.

This project uses a mixed methods approach. In the first phase (qualitative), intervention manuals are reviewed and components are extracted to create a component taxonomy. The components and manual files were transferred to Dedoose, a qualitative data analysis computer software package. An initial two manuals were reviewed by two coders who piloted the entire codebook and assessed inter-rater reliability; any code discrepancies were discussed with a senior author. The two coders independently coded the same manual and repeated until an 80% IRR was achieved. The two coders then divided 12 manuals and coded them separately. In the second phase (quantitative analysis), we will use component network meta-analysis (cNMA) methodology. The main advantage of cNMA is the ability to disentangle intervention components and examine their effectiveness separately or in different combinations. According to the additive cNMA model which we will implement, adding a component “c” to a composite intervention “X” will lead to an increase (or decrease) of the effect size by an amount only dependent on “c”, and not on “X”. We will denote the corresponding component specific incremental standard mean difference (iSMD) so that iSMDc = SMD(X+c) v. (X). Combining these component-specific iSMDs will allow the estimation of SMD between any two composite interventions.

The component taxonomy will be presented at the conference, along with a network of comparisons and a hierarchy of all intervention components expressed as iSMD, indicating the added benefit of adding a component to an intervention.

By selecting the most effective components, it will be possible to outline a novel task-shifting psychosocial intervention to be tested in future RCTs for the benefit of people with common mental disorders living in low-resource settings. These findings will form the basis for further investigations in the field of precision medicine.

Funded by HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 under grant agreement N101061648.

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Rates of mental health disorders in resettled refugees surpass those of the host population (Hameed et al, KJM 2018;11 20-23). However, most studies suggest heterogenicity between populations, suggesting a need for a non-generalized approach to resettled-refugee mental health (Silove et al, World Psychiatry 2017;16 130-139). Since the Taliban assumed control in August 2021, the United States has taken in about 90,000 Afghan refugees (Green, Wilson Center 2023), 15,000 have settled in Houston, Texas (Schneider, Texas Standard 2023).

This study investigates factors that may predict higher rates of distress and symptoms of PTSD and depression within an Afghan refugee community resettled in Houston, Texas.

Seventy-four Afghan refugees located in Houston, Texas were surveyed for demographic information and physical or emotional symptoms as directed by the Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15). An average score of ≥ 12 on the RHS-15 or a self-reported distress score ≥5 indicated a positive result on the screening tool. Mann-Whitney and Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare differences in patient baseline characteristics and responses stratified by a positive RHS-15 or distress screen. Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient was used to assess the correlation between selected response variables and outcomes as well as between the RHS-15 and distress scores.

40% of subjects scored ≥12 on the RHS-15 and 35% indicated a distress score ≥ 5. Income differed significantly between the RHS <12 group and the RHS ≥12 group (p=.02). The RHS <12 group had a higher proportion of individuals in the lowest income bracket, < $10,000, and a greater proportion in the $20,000-$30,000 bracket. Meanwhile, the RHS ≥12 group had a higher proportion in the $10,000-20,000 income bracket. There was a negative correlation between self-reported health scores with both RHS-15 score (ρ=-.508, p<.001) and distress score (ρ=-.423, p=.001) as well as between neighborhood support levels and distress scores(ρ=-.314, p=.018).

This Afghan refugee cohort shows theoretical rates of PTSD and MDD higher than the average American (40.3% RHS-15 score vs. 3.6% PTSD and 8.3% MDD) (NIH 2023). The increased risk of mental disorder may be attributed to lower perceived community support, poor physical health, and low socioeconomic status. If income growth is a function of increased time spent in the United States, the unique pattern in income between the two RHS groups may reflect a “honeymoon period” that has previously been demonstrated in studies on migrants and culture shock (Maillet et al, APMH 2023; 50 563–575). Following this honeymoon period, however, lower income may predict worsened mental health in resettled refugees. These results support multi-factorial initiatives to support resettled refugees especially in areas of community interconnectedness, health and economic support.

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Although there is recent growing attention on mental health and mental well-being across the globe, supports in this area of healthcare can be a challenge for immigrant and racialized groups with frequent experiences of hardship.

This study aimed to gather perspectives of immigrants and racialized community members on strategies central to support their mental health and well-being, with the aim of addressing research-to-practice gaps.

The study was co-designed in collaboration with a Community Action Table in Markham, Ontario, a setting with 93% of residents self-identifying as Canadian visible minorities (i.e., non-Caucasian descent). A mixed method Concept Mapping methodology was used to engage residents, service providers, and policymakers (n = 68) through three phases of data collection and interpretation.

Participants first brainstormed ways to support their mental health and well-being, generating 283 statements in three group sessions. A consolidated list of 68 statements was then prepared by removing duplicates and merging similar ideas. This list was shared with participants in three group sessions for the sorting and rating actvities: each participant made groups of statements based on a shared meaning and labelled the groups; and rated each statement on a scale of 1-5 for its importance and feasibility to act in next six-months to support the mental health and well-being of their community. The sorted and rated data was then analyzed statistically through techniques of similarity index and hierarchical cluster analysis to produce visual maps, which were shared with participants in the interpretation session for review and naming of clusters followed by open discussion. This led to a 9-cluster concept map comprising of Family Wellness, Awareness & Education, Cultural Sensitivity, Social Service Access, Community Building, Socioeconomic, Food Security, Healthcare Access, and Housing Stability. The rating data showed the clusters of Family Wellness, Housing Stability, Healthcare Access, and Awareness & Education were ranked high for the dimension of importance. In terms of feasibility to act in next six-months, the clusters of Awareness & Education and Family Wellness remained among the top three while the clusters of Housing Stability and Healthcare Access scored low – which was discussed by participants as requiring a multi-year action plan with short- and long-term goals.

Overall, participants viewed mental health and well-being as being closely tied to their living and working conditions while also focusing on family wellness and intergenerational dynamics. The gained insights emphasize a need for multi-sectoral response to support the mental health and well-being supports of immigrant and racialized communities.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in Western societies the incidence of psychiatric disorders is up to seven times higher in the prison population. Drug dependence is also a major destabilizing factor in this population. Our study is the first one in Greece with a focus group of incarcerated males which have comorbidity of emotional psychosis and Substance Use Disorder.

Hypothesis testing: “Aripiprazole LAI antipsychotic treatment is associated with improved quality of life and functionality in incarcerated patients with comorbidity of Bipolar disease - I (BD-I) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD)”.

30 patients with BD I were prisoners at the Penitentiary of Neapolis of Lasithi of Crete (Greece). Median age was 36 years (all men). 76.67 % had comorbidity of bipolar disorder type I (BD-I) and alcohol use disorders. 80% had comorbidity of BD-I and cocaine use disorders. 93.3% had comorbidity of BD – I and Cannabis Use Disorder. All were medicated in prison by aripiprazole LAI 400mg/month. For the evaluation of our hypotheses the instruments WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire and the CGI-S scale were used. The quality of life and the functionality were compared in each patient, before the initiation of the LAI medication and during the active treatment period. The minimum of follow-up period was 6 months. Five cases of patients, who remained compliant with LAIs treatment after release from prison for a period of at least 6 months maintained a very good quality of life without ever getting into trouble with the law again.

In all 30 patients (imprisoned) of our sample, the CGI-S score with depot aripiprazole therapy administrated at least for 6 months decreased statistically significantly from 5.72 ±0.88 to 2.94±1.33 (Paired Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test p-value<0.001). Additional, the quality-of-life scale score of these patients increased statistically significantly from 0.7 ±0.53 to 3.6±0.67 (Paired Samples Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test p-value<0.001) with depot aripiprazole therapy administrated at least for 6 months too.

Aripiprazole LAI significantly improves the quality of life and functionality of patients with dual diagnosis of emotional psychosis and SUD in prison. Our study highlights that ensuring medication compliance, during the incarceration and after the release from prison, delays the time to reincarceration for this specific population or diminishes importantly the probability of the reincarceration.

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Child sexual offending is a significant societal concern with profound consequences. While some individuals with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) may reenact their traumatic experiences later in life, the link between CSA and subsequent offending patterns among individuals convicted of child sexual offending (ICSOs) remains complex and under-researched.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of self-reported physical and sexual violence among ICSOs and explore the link between self-experienced CSA and offending behavior, particularly focusing on the age and relationship with their victims. We hypothesized that ICSOs would replicate their own victimization experiences when perpetrating CSA.

A cohort of 78 male ICSOs referred to the Danish Sexual Offender Treatment and Research Program (DASOP) between October 1, 1997, and October 1, 2001, for court-ordered pre/post-trial evaluations was analyzed. Data on self-reported experiences of CSA, physical violence, and characteristics of their victims were collected and examined for patterns.

Of the 31% of ICSOs who reported CSA exposure, 82% of those abused before age 11 targeted victims under 11, while 71% of those abused at 11 or older offended against victims in the same age group, indicating a significant association (p=0.004) between offenders’ age at the time of abuse and the age of their victims. Additionally, 86% of those who reported CSA by family members, predominantly targeted children within their households, suggesting a link between family-based CSA and intra-familial offending (86% vs. 48%, p-value= 0.059). Furthermore, among the 55% exposed to physical violence, more used physical force on their victims than those who did not report such adverse experiences (75% vs. 25%, p-value 0.401).

The findings indicate a potential link between offenders’ own CSA experiences and their subsequent victim selection, supporting the hypothesis that reenactment of trauma may play a role in offending behavior (Garbutt et al., 2023). These results emphasize the importance of understanding the influence of early trauma to inform prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing CSA perpetrated by both children and adults with prior victimization histories. However, most victims of such trauma do not reenact their trauma.

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Community safety is about everyone having the right to be and feel safe in their community. People from marginalised communities (including people with mental illness, intellectual disability, migrants, and homeless) are over-represented in policing contacts. Yet, little is known about the real world perspectives of these marginalised groups in respect of perceived safety and interventions that work to improve this.

To systematically review the published literature concerning the experiences of people from marginalised communities on policing and community safety.

Research database SCOPUS (inception to 1 January 2024) was searched for English-language publications using key words. The electronic search was augmented by manual searching through reference lists and websites of governmental and non-governmental organisations. Published studies with information about the experiences of persons from marginalised communities on policing and community safety were included. Opinion articles or reviews that did not contain qualitative data were excluded, as were studies that focused on law enforcement professionals views.

Of the 857 papers identified, 17 studies met eligibility criteria with a total of 1254 participants from 5 countries. A recurring theme from different marginalised communities was “greater fear” and “less trust” of police and a reluctance to report crime. Those with physical disabilities were less likely to use public transport. Latin migrants feared speaking Spanish in America. African refugees in Australia felt targeted by the police because of their ethnicity. Muslims in England reported they were under increased police surveillance. Homeless youths in Canada with early negative experiences with law enforcement personnel were less likely to seek police involvement if needed in future. Conversely both Mexican-origin residents and Chinese immigrants living in America identified police as having a critical role in making them feel safe.

This study scoped the experiences of people from marginalised communities in respect of policing and community safety. To the author’s knowledge, this is the largest scoping study of this type, to date. It is evident from this review that there are voices, sometimes “hidden voices”, from marginalised communities that perceive policing approaches differently. This guides not only their future interactions with police but also their social outlook. Working closely and proactively with individuals within these marginalised communities will help find the balance between “over policing” and “under policing” to help contribute to the overall community safety. A key recommendation from this review would be for authorities to meaningfully incorporate these voices when developing or reviewing policies relating to community safety.

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Since 2017, the reform of mental health services implemented in Portugal has included the establishment of a national network of long-term mental health care (MH-LTC) to promote the psychosocial rehabilitation of people with mental illness. Different facilities are available according to the degree of psychosocial disability, functionality and family and social support network. Thus, residential structures, home support teams, and socio-occupational units are available to reintegrate these users into society and their families.

To assess discharge destinations according to the MH-LTC typology (home care teams, residential structures and socio-occupational units).

We conducted a national retrospective observational study to analyse the MH-LTC discharge destinations using secondary data publicly available. The following discharge destination categories were considered in the analysis: home (with or without support), social facilities, nursing home, other typologies from the long-term care network (LTC), and others. The analysis included the discharge destinations between May 2018 and March 2024.

A total of 119 discharges were recorded, with 50 patients (42.0 %) going home, four (3.3%) to social facilities, 46 (38.7%) to other LTC typologies and 19 (16.0%) to unspecified destinations. Regarding discharge to home, 27 (54.0%) came from home care teams, 14 (28.0%) from socio-occupational units and 9 (18.0%) from residential facilities. The remaining discharge destinations included 34 (49.3%) from home care teams, 13 (18.8%) from socio-occupational units and 22 (31.9%) from residential facilities.

Although these results do not allow us to gauge the level of disability before and after joining the MH-LTC, they raise some questions. Firstly, the number of discharges is small considering the span of more than five years. In addition, non-residential facilities have the highest number of discharges compared to residential facilities. On the other hand, less than half of the discharge destinations are to the patient’s homes, which may lead us to question whether the MH-LTC fulfils its purpose of psychosocial rehabilitation or whether it is a transitional structure aimed at responding to social issues.

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The mental health of the population at the level of the psychiatric service has a number of main indicators: the levels of general morbidity (prevalence) and primary morbidity (incidence) of mental disorders. Population models allow you to demonstrate the scale of problems and assess the resources to solve them.

Building population-based epidemiological models of mental health of the Russian population to analyze the relationship between indicators of mental disorders and the human resource of psychiatric care, as well as demographic, socio-economic factors in the period 1992-2022.

The work uses data from Russian socio-economic statistics, materials from medical and research institutions and results published in scientific periodicals (see, [1] and references). In the formation of population models, the methods of systematic data analysis presented in the work [1] and statistical analysis in the framework of MS Excel were used.

At the first stage, correlation analysis was used to select demographic, socio-economic factors and the factor of the personnel resource of psychiatric care, which significantly affect the indicators of general and primary morbidity of mental disorders. It turned out that the most significant factors are: population size, life expectancy at birth, unemployment rate, number of psychiatrists and psychotherapists. The correlation coefficients between these factors and the indicators of general and primary morbidity of mental disorders are (in absolute value) in the range of 0.65-0.93 with a reliability level of 95%. At the second stage, linear regression (one-factor, two-factor) and nonlinear (logistic) models were obtained, linking the incidence of mental disorders with the selected factors. The obtained regression models are characterized by high reliability with a coefficient of determination R2 in the range 0.81-0.92 for single-factor and, respectively, 0.90-0.98 for two-factor models. The obtained nonlinear logistic model for the indicator of general morbidity allowed us to obtain a maximum morbidity value for the Russian population equal to 34.4% of the population. This result practically coincides with the result obtained in the well-known work [2]. In this epidemiological study on the European continent, it was found that 38.2% of European residents suffer from mental disorders.

The obtained models make it possible to quickly monitor the impact of medical, demographic, socio-economic factors and changes in the personnel resource of psychiatric care on the morbidity rates of the Russian population. 1. Mitikhin V., Yastrebov V. et al. Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology. 2019; 49(2): 233-239. doi: 10.1007/s11055-019-00720-4. 2. Wittchen, H. U., Jacobi, F., Rehm, J., et al. European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011; 21: 655-679. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2011.07.018

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Psychiatric hospitalization of adolescents can have biological, psychological and social impacts on these patients with psychiatric illness if not managed correctly. To achieve this, the aim is to keep the hospitalization time as short as possible and to have a clear goal of the intervention (i.e., to diagnose, monitor risks, and stabilize comorbidities). This care is important because the effectiveness of the hospitalization process and its articulations after discharge are related to the chances of these patients being readmitted.

To describe the general aspects related to the hospitalization of adolescents with psychiatric illnesses who require hospitalization in a general hospital in northeastern Brazil.

This is a longitudinal study carried out in a general hospital in the state of Pernambuco, in the northeastern region of Brazil Medical records of hospitalizations that occurred between January 2018 and January 2023 were analyzed. The medical records of patients aged 12 to 17 years and 11 months were included in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from the medical records to be submitted to statistical analysis. This study was approved by the local ethics committee (number 6.880.316).

Five hundred and nineteen adolescents were admitted to the general hospital under study for mental reasons throughout that time. After evaluating the data for consistency, 484 medical records were included in this study. It was observed that approximately 53.7% of hospitalized patients were male. The median age was 16 years (IQR 14-17 years). Regarding the clinical profile of hospitalizations, 39 different diagnoses of psychiatric illnesses were listed throughout the period. Following the ICD-10 classification, the three main reasons for hospitalization are: F23 - acute and transient psychotic disorders (13%); F19 - mental and behavioral disorders due to multiple drug use and use of other psychoactive substances (12.4%), and F32 - depressive episodes (11.4%). Notably, during the study period, 63 individuals were hospitalized more than one time.

The primary mental health diagnoses of teenagers who were hospitalized to a northern Brazilian general hospital were described. From the standpoint of public health, the existence of patient readmissions highlights the deficiency of proper care provided to the adolescents after being discharged from the facility. Nevertheless, the examination of the variables associated with the hospitalization of adolescents was made difficult by the lack of uniformity and precision in medical records.

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Representative surveys have shown a decline in alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents over the last years. The rapid spread of adolescents’ activities in digital space may have contributed to these changes. However, there is still considerable scope for examining the relationship between activities in digital space and substance use behaviour of adolescents.

The study aims to assess the association between adolescents’ alcohol use, cigarette smoking and their activities in digital space. The respective associations are controlled for adolescents’ subjective well-being as a putative confounder related to both substance use and digital activities.

Data from the 2022 Czech part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study were used. Only 15-year-old respondents were analysed (N=4263, 50.7% boys). To measure substance use, data on the frequency of alcohol use and cigarette smoking in the past 30 days were used. Digital activities were measured by data on typical daily free time spent on social media and computer gaming. To control for subjective well-being the WHO-5 scale was used. Pairwise associations between substance use, social media use, and computer gaming were examined using Spearman rank correlation coefficients (rho). Ordinal logistic regression models were used to adjust the respective associations for gender and psychological well-being.

Significant pairwise associations were found between time spent on social media and both frequency of alcohol use (rho = 0.181, P<0.05) and cigarette smoking (rho = 0.191, P<0.05). In contrast, computer gaming was not significantly correlated with either alcohol use or cigarette smoking (rho = -0.015 and rho = -0.014, respectively; P>0.30). Poor subjective well-being was a significant risk factor for substance use and time spent on social media. Controlling for adolescents’ well-being did not significantly attenuate the former relationship between the substance use and social media use.

The results suggest that among adolescents, different forms of digital activity have markedly different associations with substance use. While increased time spent on social media was significantly associated with higher frequency of substance use, no such association was found for computer gaming. Future research will focus on whether the relationship between specific digital activities and substance use can be explained by other factors related to mental health.

The study was supported by the OP Johannes Amos Comenius (CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583).

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Digital interventions are increasingly popular in addressing various issues, including mental health problems, executive functions, and social cognitive skills in clinical and non-clinical populations. Previous studies have revealed that neurotypical individuals with elevated autistic traits may be more susceptible to other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, internet addiction, substance abuse, and suicidal risk. While there is no definitive explanation for this susceptibility, social and cognitive impairments may be contributing factors, including problems with executive functions and social cognitive skills.

The main goal of this research is to develop an online social cognitive training program and conduct a pilot study to assess its feasibility within the current sample.

36 participants (randomly assigned to 16 for the experimental group and 20 for the control group) were recruited for the pilot study and the experimental group completed 6 weeks of an online intervention program, while the control group was assigned to the waiting list. Autism Quotient, Depression Anxiety Stress -21, Patient Health Questionnaire -9, and Generalized Anxiety Questionnaire– 7 were used to assess mental health symptoms. Executive functions were evaluated using the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, N-back Task, and Go/No-Go task. At the same time, social cognition was assessed through the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, The Eyes test, and the Self-Assessment Manikin.

2 x 2 mixed repeated measure ANOVA was conducted. The main effect of time and group was significant for mental health symptoms and working memory (p < 0.5). However, the interaction of time and group was not significant (p > .05). Communication and attention switching (two components of autistic traits) have significant impacts on the scores (p < 0.5).

This pilot study demonstrated significant improvements in mental health scores, laying a solid foundation for further development and efficacy testing of the digital intervention program. This suggests that the intervention holds promise, particularly in targeting mental health improvements. Attention switching and communication contribute to the overall main effects highlighting the program’s potential in addressing key aspects of mental health.

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In Moldova, telemedicine has emerged as a pivotal intervention in addressing the persistent disparities in mental health care. Geographic isolation, coupled with socio-economic constraints, severely limits access to essential mental health services. The prevalence of mental health disorders is alarming, with approximately 17.34% of the population affected, particularly by anxiety and depression among vulnerable populations. This underscores the urgent need for innovative, scalable solutions. Telemedicine harnesses advanced technology to enhance the availability and continuity of mental health support, particularly in rural areas where traditional services are often inaccessible.

This study investigates the transformative potential of telemedicine in tackling the unique mental health challenges faced by the Moldovan population. It specifically examines how high rates of anxiety and depression, exacerbated by socio-political factors and historical trauma, can be addressed through telemedicine strategies tailored to the local context.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted utilizing PubMed, focusing on studies and systematic reviews published since 2020. This analysis aimed to identify global best practices in telemedicine and evaluate their applicability within Moldova’s socio-cultural and economic landscape. The synthesis of these findings will inform future telemedicine initiatives aimed at improving mental health outcomes.

The findings indicate that telemedicine has significantly enhanced access to mental health services, facilitating timely interventions while reducing the stigma often associated with seeking help. The implementation of remote consultations during the COVID-19 pandemic has been particularly illuminating, demonstrating the effectiveness of telemedicine in maintaining continuity of care for individuals in remote areas who struggle to access traditional mental health services. Furthermore, telemedicine has led to significant reductions in treatment costs, thereby making mental health support more accessible to at-risk populations.

As telemedicine solidifies its role within Moldova’s mental health framework, it promises to enhance public health outcomes and promote a more equitable healthcare environment. Future policy initiatives must prioritize the integration of telemedicine into routine mental health practices. This includes fostering partnerships between healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations to ensure that telemedicine solutions are both sustainable and tailored to meet the diverse needs of all patients, particularly those in underserved regions.

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Social media is now known as a vital aspect of the younger generation’s existence, significantly impacting their emotional and psychological growth. In contrast to prior generations, Generation Z has been raised in an environment of continuous digital connectivity, which poses distinct issues with body image, emotional health, and sleep quality. Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have been increasingly associated with mental health conditions, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Considering the ubiquity of these platforms, it is imperative for psychiatrists, public health practitioners, and educators to comprehend the mental health ramifications associated with social media participation.

This study attempts to examine the relationship between social media exposure and mental health disorders in Generation Z, specifically emphasizing eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

Relevant studies and existing research on social media usage patterns and their effects on mental health in Gen Z were reviewed. Attention was given to how different platforms contribute to the development of body dissatisfaction, social comparison, and sleep difficulties. The analysis included an exploration of platform-specific features and user behavior, focusing on Instagram’s image-centric nature, TikTok’s short-form, high-stimulation content, and Snapchat’s emphasis on transient communication.

The analysis indicated that Instagram, being predominantly a visual medium, exacerbates body dissatisfaction and increases the likelihood of eating disorders by consistently advocating unattainable beauty ideals and trends such as “thinspiration” and “fitspiration.” TikTok, although promoting mental health awareness, may also induce anxiety and attention deficits because to its intensely stimulating, rapid content. Snapchat’s design, that encourages continuous monitoring of temporary content, seems to exacerbate anxiety stemming from the fear of missing out (FOMO). Cyberbullying has surfaced as a substantial factor exacerbating mental health conditions across all platforms, particularly with anxiety and desperation, along with severe instances associated with suicidal ideation.

Social media has a complex influence on the mental health of Generation Z, with each platform uniquely affecting conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Instagram’s emphasis on aesthetics, TikTok’s rapid content consumption, and Snapchat’s addictive interaction present unique mental health issues. These findings underscore the necessity for medical professionals to integrate social media practices into their evaluations and therapies for Generation Z, while public health professionals and educators are encouraged to work together to promote better online habits.

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Depression affects 57 million people in India and is often linked to neurodegeneration (10-90% of cases). However, there’s insufficient evidence comparing the effectiveness of SSRIs and SNRIs in managing neurodegeneration symptoms.

This prospective observational study aims to compare the effects of SSRI and SNRI monotherapy on neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity, and social cognition.

This prospective observational study aims to compare the effects of SSRI and SNRI monotherapy on neurodegeneration, neuroplasticity, and social cognition.

Treatment-naïve patients with unipolar depression were evaluated for treatment response using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and neurodegeneration parameters at enrollment and after six weeks of antidepressant treatment. Neurodegenerative serum biomarkers [indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), neurofilament light chain protein (NLCP), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)] were assessed using ELISA. Social cognition was assessed using Social Cognition Rating tools in Indian setting (SOCRATIS). Neuroplasticity was assessed by resting state MRI.

A total of 150 patients of unipolar depression were enrolled, out of these n=126 patients were prescribed SSRI and 24 patients were prescribed SNRI. Both SSRI and SNRI group have significant reduction in HDRS score at 6-week compared to baseline (both p<0.001), but no intergroup difference. Overall treatment responder rate (HDRS score reduction >50%) was 11.33%, but SSRI group has more responder (12.69%) compared to SNRI (4.16%). After 6 weeks of follow-up, serum IDO in SSRI group and NLCP levels in both groups were significantly decreased when compared to baseline (p<0.001) and BDNF levels were significantly increased in SSRI group when compared to baseline (p<0.01). As per SOCRATIS, after 6 weeks treatment, SSRI and SNRI didn’t show any significant difference. fMRI assessment of depression patients showed significant decrease in cortical thickness of inferiortemporal, parsopercularis and precuneus regions of brain (p<0.05) in comparison with healthy controls. But there was no significant difference/increase in cortical thickness after 6 weeks of follow-up when compared to baseline.

After six weeks of antidepressant treatment, the treatment responder rate among all depression patients was 11.33%, with better outcomes observed in the SSRI group compared to the SNRI group. Likewise, in the assessment of social cognition and neurodegeneration-related biomarkers, the SSRI group showed superior performance over the SNRI group.

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Depression is commonly treated with psychotherapy or antidepressants, but predicting which intervention will work best for a given patient remains a challenge. This pilot trial compared the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of psychotherapy based on behavioral activation (Healthy Activity Program, HAP) and antidepressant medication (fluoxetine) in a primary care setting in India.

The trial had three key objectives: (1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of a randomized pilot trial comparing HAP and fluoxetine; (2) collect outcome data to refine study instruments and the baseline assessment; and (3) evaluate the preliminary comparative effectiveness of psychotherapy versus medication.

The pilot trial was conducted at eight primary health care centres in Madhya Pradesh (India) from August 2023 to February 2024. Eligible participants (aged 18+, PHQ-9 score ≥10) with moderate to severe depression were randomized to receive either HAP or fluoxetine. Feasibility was assessed by recruitment, retention, and adherence to study procedures. Acceptability was measured by adherence to interventions. Preliminary efficacy, as a secondary outcome, was assessed through changes in depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) from baseline to the 3-month follow-up.

76 participants were randomized, with primary endpoint data available for 63 (83%). Retention rates and study assessment completion were acceptable across both arms. Intervention adherence was high, with 79% (30/38 in HAP and ADM groups) completing the treatment per protocol (≥6 HAP sessions or 70% medication adherence). PHQ-9 scores improved significantly, with an average reduction from 15.02 at baseline to 6.73 at the 3-month follow-up, with no statistically significant differences between treatments. Full remission (PHQ-9 < 5) was achieved by 45.16% (28/62) of participants. Additionally, the pilot study identified logistical challenges and facilitators that will help refine the protocol for the larger trial.

This pilot trial successfully demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of the study design, procedures, and interventions. The preliminary data suggest that both HAP and Fluoxetine are viable treatments for moderate to severe depression in primary care settings in India. The findings will be instrumental in informing the design and implementation of a larger precision trial.

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Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is emerging as a promising option for the treatment of psychiatric diseases, including major depressive disorder (MDD). In this context intermittent white light at a specified frequency holds high promise. We have previously shown that 60Hz stimulation in mice induces selective brain entrainment associated with microglia-mediated remodeling of the perineuronal nets (Venturino et al., Cell Reports 2021).

Here, we extend our previous findings with 60Hz stimulation to assess behavioral effects in mice and EEG response in healthy volunteers.

For the preclinical data, we exposed C57Bl6/J mice to a battery of behavioral tests to assess anxiety level, learning capability, and response to various stress paradigms after 60Hz light (2h per day/5 days) compared to constant light. Weight change, water and food intake were recorded. For human studies, a cohort of 12 healthy volunteers (6M, 6F) was recruited; their EEG response was investigated with an 8-channel EEG setup following acute (same day), short (5 days), and intermediate (3 weeks) stimulation with 60Hz entrainment (n=6) or sham light (n=6).

Preliminary data from the preclinical behavior studies indicate that 60Hz treatment improves the social interaction of socially defeated mice compared to sham light stimulation. Furthermore, the animals showed less anxiety-related behavior when exposed to the elevated plus maze. No differences were noticed in weight change, water and food intake following 60Hz stimulation.

In healthy volunteers, we observed robust and widespread entrainment at 60Hz after acute 60Hz stimulation; the entrainment spread beyond the visual cortex and reached the frontal cortex. The normalized power of the 60Hz component slightly declined over time but remained significant as compared to sham stimulation at three weeks, indicating sustained EEG response. The stimulation was very well tolerated overall, without major side effects.

60Hz intermittent light induces strong and sustained neuronal response in mice and humans, is well tolerated, and ameliorates depressive-like symptoms in the social defeat model in mice. 60Hz might represent a novel NIBS for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, including MMD.

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The variety and efficacy of biomarkers available that may be used objectively to diagnose Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults are unclear. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate the variety of objective markers used to diagnose MDD in adults.

This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate the variety of objective markers used to diagnose MDD in adults.

The search strategy was applied via PubMed and PsycINFO over the past 10 years (2013-2023) to capture the latest available evidence supporting the use of biomarkers to diagnose MDD. Papers were excluded if they were published in a non-peer-reviewed journal and/or not published in English; featured non-primary study designs (e.g. systematic review, meta-analysis, literature review); included children or adolescents in the study population; featured participants without a clinical diagnosis of MDD; featured participants with a diagnosis of other forms of MDD such as treatment resistant depression, vascular depression, remitted depression. Data was reported through narrative synthesis.

42 studies were included in the review. Findings were synthesised based on the following measures: blood, neuroimaging/neurophysiology, urine, dermatological, auditory, vocal, cerebrospinal fluid and combinatory – and evaluated based on its sensitivity/specificity and area under the curve (AUC) values. The best predictors of blood (MYT1 gene), neuroimaging/neurophysiological (5-HT1A auto-receptor binding in the dorsal and median raphe), urinary (combined albumin, AMBP, HSPB, APOA1), cerebrospinal fluid-based (neuron specific enolase, microRNA) biomarkers were found to be closely linked to the pathophysiology of MDD.

A large variety of biomarkers were available to diagnose MDD, with the best performing biomarkers intrinsically related to the pathophysiology of MDD. Potential for future research lies in investigating the joint sensitivity of the best performing biomarkers identified via machine learning methods and establishing the causal effect between these biomarkers and MDD.

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