The harmful use of alcohol causes a large disease, social and economic burden in societies. Metacognition is a complex concept referring to the cognitive control and regulation of many types of cognitive processes.

Metacognitions are considered to be an important factor in the development and continuance of psychological disorders.

The purpose of this study is to examine the probable relations between alcohol abuse and Metacognitions with the Metacognitions Questionaire – 30 (MCQ-30).

Twenty-three men and 16 women, aged between 22 and 64 years, inpatients in Eginition Hospital, due to alcohol dependence, completed the Greek-Version of the MCQ-30.

The mean total scores of alcoholics were higher than the ones of the healthy subjects. Namely, the group of the alcohol abused patients presented a higher score in comparison with the normal group in three of the five metacognitive dimensions. Additionally, alcoholic men outscored alcoholic women in two of the five factors. Specifically, alcoholic men appeared to be less confident about their memory and attention than alcoholic women. Furthermore, alcoholic men, compared to alcoholic women claimed in a significant greater level that worrying helped them to function.

The above findings suggest that metacognitions could play a role in the orientation and maintenance of alcoholic abuse behavior. Moreover, these results may pose the question of whether these metacognitive beliefs could be seen as an indicator of differentiating alcoholic men from women. Overall, further research could provide additional information concerning the relation between Metacognitions and alcoholic dependence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The changes in metabolic parameters in olanzapine-treated adolescents were examined.

Data from 454 adolescents (13–18, mean=15.9 years) with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder were pooled from 4 olanzapine (2.5–20.0mg/day) studies (4–32 weeks). Changes in metabolic parameters in adolescents were compared with those of olanzapine-treated adults (pooled from 84 clinical trials); changes in weight and BMI were compared with US age- and sex-adjusted standardized growth curves.

Olanzapine-treated adolescents had significant increases from baseline-to-endpoint in fasting glucose (p=.021); total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides (p<.001); and significant decreases in HDL (p<.001). Significantly more adolescents gained >=7% of their baseline weight versus adults (65.1% vs. 35.6%, p<.001); mean change from baseline-to-endpoint in weight was significantly greater in adolescents (7.0 vs. 3.3kg, p<.001). Adolescents had significantly lower mean changes from baseline-to-endpoint in fasting glucose (0.3 vs. 0.1mmol/L, p=.002) and triglycerides (0.3 vs. 0.2mmol/L, p=.007) versus adults. Significantly more adults experienced treatment-emergent normal-to-high changes at anytime in fasting glucose (4.8% vs. 1.2%, p=.033), total cholesterol (6.9% vs. 1.1%, p=.001), LDL (5.8% vs. 1.5%, p=.014), and triglycerides (25.7% vs. 17.4%, p=.030). Compared with standardized growth curves, olanzapine-treated adolescents had greater increases from baseline-to-endpoint in weight (1.0 vs. 7.1kg, p<.001), height (0.5 vs. 0.7cm, p<.001), and BMI (0.2 vs. 2.2kg/m2, p<.001).

Olanzapine-treated adolescents may gain significantly more weight compared with adults, but may have smaller changes in other metabolic parameters. Clinicians may want to consider both efficacy and changes in metabolic parameters when selecting treatment options for individual adolescent patients.

Professional stress is a misfit between a person's skills and demands of the job. It has been found to be common among psychiatrists and affects their personal and professional life.

To rank order the factors and manifestations of professional stress among Indian psychiatrists.

To determine the factors and manifestations associated with professional stress among Indian psychiatrists.

A qualitative ranking type Delphi study was conducted at National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences, Bangalore. The Delphi team comprised of 43 randomly selected Indian psychiatrists with at least 10 years of clinical experience in psychiatry. Questionnaires were mailed & the replies were analyzed and a consolidated list was sent back to rank order them. Agreeability was assessed & the final list of factors and manifestations was shared with the experts.

Forty-eight percent of the experts completed all 3 stages of the study, 53% opined that age & gender were not a factor; however 58% & 44% opined that personality attributes & relationship status were significant factors contributing to professional stress (Table 1).

Professional stress in Indian psychiatrists is largely secondary to increased workload and inadequate support system. System level changes, like increase in manpower and handling stigma regarding psychiatry, is required.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Parental attitudes, taken in the three orthogonal dimensions of pleasure-displeasure, arousal-non arousal, dominance-submissive, contribute in creating the emotional climate in wich children's cognition and affectivity develop.

Parental attitudes can be measured via the Parental Attitudes Scales (PAD), a 46-item self-administered instrument counting three subscales.

To explore the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the PAD.

The PAD was administered to a sample of 163 Italian parents (77 males, 86 females) having children aged between three months and eight years and living in three different towns of Tuscany (Italy). Principal Component Analyses (PCA) were conducted and alpha coefficients were explored. The concurrent validity of the questionnaire was examinated by correlating the PAD scores with data from the Family Assessment Device (FAD) and the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

Results from initial and PCA analyses suggested that several items of the questionnaire perform poorly and should be removed. Results supported a three-factor solution consisting of 36 items and accounting for 28,3% of the variance. Internal consistency for the short version of the PAD was high (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.81). The PAD scores showed statistically significant correlations with the PANAS and the FAD dimensions.

Findings suggest that a reduced version of the scale could better represent the construct measured by the PAD. Overall, the short versionof the questionnaire proved to be a valid and reliable measure of parental attitudes.

Was remarqued the insufficient representation of psychiatrists in the physician workforce throughout the world (Rao, 2003) and the increasing number of unoccupied vacancies in psychiatry (Brokington, 2002). Most developing countries need to increase and improve training of mental health professionals. Once trained, these professionals should be encouraged to remain in their country in positions that make the best use of their skills.

Recruitment in psychiatry remain a problem, strongly related with definition of identity of psychiatrists and with community view regarding this need of taking care for this category of patients.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive, technique for brain stimulation. Anodal stimulation causes neuronal depolarisation and long-term potentiation, while cathodal stimulation causes hyperpolarisation and long-term depression. Stressors are associated with an increase in sympathetic cardiac control, a decrease in parasympathetic control, or both. Associated with these reactions is a frequently reported increase in Low Frequency (LF) Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a decrease in High Frequency (HF) power, and/or an increase in the LF/HF ratio.

The present work aims to explore the tDCS potential in the modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), through indirect stimulation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC).

Two subjects, a 39 year old female and a 49 year old male, gave informed consent. Saline soaked synthetic sponges involving two, thick, metalic (stainless steel) rectangles, with an area of 25 cm2 each have been used as electrodes, connected to Iomed Phoresor II Auto device. It has been delivered a 2 mA current, for 20 minutes, over the left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) (Anode). Spectrum analysis (cStress software) of HRV has been performed before and after tDCS administration.

The female/male suject results of LF power, HF power and LF/HF ratio, before tDCS administration, were, respectively: 50,1 nu/60 nu, 46,1 nu/21,7 nu and 1,087/2,771; and, after tDCS administration, respectively: 33,5 nu/52,7 nu, 47,6 nu/22,8 nu and 0,704/2,312.

tDCS over the left DLPFC (left ACC) increased parasympathetic activity and decreased sympatethic activity, sugesting the importance of tDCS in the management of stress-related disorders.

This study explored the effectiveness of family psycho education in reducing patients’ symptoms as well as on family caregiver burden, and investigated the relationship between patients’ symptoms and caregiver burden.

Seventy Iranian outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia disorder and their caregivers were randomly allocated to the experimental (n = 35) or control groups (n = 35). Patients in the experimental group received antipsychotic drug treatment and a psycho-educational program was arranged for their caregivers. At baseline, immediately post-intervention and one month later, validated tools were used to assess patients’ clinical status and caregiver burden.

Compared with the control group, the case group showed significantly reduced symptom severity and caregiver burden, immediately post-intervention and one month later.

These results suggest that even short-term Psycho-educational Intervention for family members of patients with schizophrenic disorder can improve the outcomes of patients and their families.

Lipid rafts are specialized membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids and are important in the organization of receptor-protein complexes and the regulation of signaling.

Given the emerging significance of lipids with respect to receptor structure and activation, we investigated the role of lipid rafts and membrane cholesterol on D2 dopamine receptor (DAR) signaling. As the D2 DAR is the molecular target for all antipsychotic drugs, more information about its signaling may help refine therapeutics for schizophrenia.

D2 DAR constructs were expressed in HEK293T cells. Sucrose density fractionation resolved lipid rafts from other membrane components. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MCD) was used to deplete membrane cholesterol and to disrupt lipid rafts.

Detergent solubilization followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation resolved lipid rafts from heavier membrane fractions. The D2 DAR was equally distributed amongst both the lipid raft and heavier membrane fractions. Pretreatment with MCD, however, eliminated both lipid raft markers and the D2 DAR from lipid raft fractions, although the receptor was still found in heavier membrane fractions. We also found that MCD treatment abolished D2 DAR-mediated inhibition of cAMP accumulation. In contrast D1 DAR-stimulated cAMP accumulation was unaffected by MCD treatment.

Our current results show that the D2 DAR is distributed in multiple membrane microdomains, including cholesterol-rich lipid rafts. We found that extraction of cholesterol disrupted lipid rafts and also an eliminated D2 DAR-mediated signaling. Thus, we hypothesize that lipid rafts are critical for D2 DAR signaling to occur.

It has been reported that vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1) and 2 (VGLUT2) are implicated in cognitive deficit in schizophrenia rat model. However, vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3) has not been investigated yet. Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) has been popularly known as a cognitive enhancer in elderly and patients with Alzheimer's disease. It consists mainly of bacoside A and B, which may increase cognitive function in schizophrenia by changing VGLUT3 density in the brain.

To study effects of bacoside A and B (bacoside A+B) on attenuation at cognitive deficit and cerebral VGLUT3 density in sub-chronic phencyclidine (PCP) rat model of schizophrenia.

Rats were administered PCP or vehicle. Half of the PCP-group was treated with bacoside A+B. Discrimination ratio (DR) representing cognitive ability was obtained from novel object recognition test. VGLUT3 immunodensity was measured in prefrontal cortex, striatum and CA1-3 of hippocampus using immunohistochemistry.

DR in PCP-group was significantly decreased compared with control. This occurred alongside VGLUT3 up-regulation in CA1-3, but not in prefrontal cortex and striatum. PCP with bacoside A+B showed a significant increase in DR score compared with PCP alone. This occurred alongside significant decrease in VGLUT3 immunodensity in CA1-3. No significant difference in cerebral VGLUT3 immunodensity was observed between PCP with bacoside A+B and control.

VGLUT3 up-regulation in CA1-3 could produce glutamate excitotoxicity, which then induce cognitive deficit in schizophrenia rat model. Interestingly, bacoside A+B can recover this cognitive deficit by reducing excessive VGLUT3 in CA1-3 to normal level.

Prolonged exposure (PE) is recognized in many guidelines as an effective, evidence based treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with the active ingredients being in vivo and imaginal exposure. Despite this, patients and clinicians are often reluctant to engage in this form of treatment. Imaginal exposure can be perceived as too anxiety proving, leading to discomfort among both patient and clinician. In vivo exposure alone, however, has also been established as an effective treatment for anxiety disorders that can provide significant results in a rapid manner.

A 31-year-old female with no prior psychiatric history presented to treatment in an acute depressive episode following a motor vehicle accident two years prior. She also met criteria for PTSD. Her Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL–5) scores were 42 (severe depression) and 64, respectively. Due to constraints, a modified form of PE was initiated, with five in vivo exposure sessions conducted.

After five sessions of in vivo exposure, the patient's PCL–5 score decreased from 64 to 36 and her BDI score decreased from 42 to 13 (minimal depression).

This case report underscores the effectiveness of a modified form of PE, using in vivo exposure alone as a treatment for PTSD. This has significant implications in particular for patients or clinicians who are unable to initiate imaginal exposure (e.g., patient finding it too difficult to tolerate/refusing to engage, language barriers, etc.). In such situations, in vivo exposure appears to be an alternate, effective, short-term treatment option.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The research aimed to investigate role of personality traits and Emotional Intelligence in tendency to addiction.

In sampling process a total of 73 addicted people and 73 non-addicted people that were randomly selected and completed Schutte's Self- Report E / I Test (SSREIT) (33 items) and Mc Care and Costa's NEO PI-R Inventory. In order to analyzing the data independent T test was used to compare means of two groups.

Findings indicated significant differences between two groups in components of Emotional Intelligent. Addicted people had less scores in agreeableness, extroversion, conscientiousness, appraisal of emotion, utilization of emotion and general score of emotional intelligence, and more scores in neuroticism than and openness to experience than nonaddicted people.

Considering the current study are congruent with the other research in this field, it is recommended to apply the plans for EI education related to personality traits for enhancing emotional intelligent components in order to increasing abilities and competencies in confronting with crisis and bad events and reducing risk of abnormal behaviors, specially addiction.

Existence of integration, mutual relations of nervous and immune systems, which cellular elements are characterized by expressed phenotype and functional similarity, means the possibility of immune cells participation in the regulation of higher nervous activity.

Previously, we demonstrated the possibility of targeted regulation of animal's behavior by the transplantation of immune cells with definite functional characteristics. Based on the our previous research results in the present study, we investigated the modulating effect of the immune cells, treated in vitro with chlorpromazine on the nervous and immune systems functional activity in aggressive mice.

(CBA × C57Bl/6) F1 aggressive mice, exposed to 10-days chronic social stress, were undergoing the transplantation of immune cells in vitro treated with chlorpromazine. Animal's behavioral parameters, cytokines synthesis in the brain and immune cells before and after transplantation were estimated.

It was shown that aggression is associated with the increased production of spleen T-helper 1 cell-derived cytokines IL-2 and IFNγ, as well as decreased TNFα production by the spleen mononuclear phagocyte cells. These alterations were more pronounced following mitogen stimulation. Spleen cells, obtaining from aggressive mice, were treated in vitro with chlorpromazine and then injected intravenously into syngeneic aggressive recipients. The cell's transplantation led to the reduction of the recipient's motor activity in the “open field” and Porsolt swimming tests and normalized cytokines synthesis in the brain and immune cells.

Research results demonstrated the neuroleptic effect in aggressive mice, obtained by the transplantation of immune cells treated in vitro with chlorpromazine.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

There is no empirical research on the occurrence of postnatal psychiatric morbidity in Spanish population. To determine the prevalence rate of DSM-IV psychiatric disorders in postpartum Spanish mothers.

A two-phase cross-sectional epidemiological study. Women consecutively attending in the routine postnatal check-up (at six weeks after delivery) in the Department of Obstetric and Gynaecology of the Clinic Hospital during one year were included. In the first phase, 1453 women were screened with the EPDS. In the second phase, based upon EPDS outcomes, participants were stratified and randomly selected within each stratum for clinical evaluation with the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for DSM-IV to determine psychiatric status. Weighted prevalence and its 95% Confidence Intervals (95%CI) were obtained for DSM-IV diagnostic groups.

The overall 6-weeks prevalence rate for postpartum psychiatric disorders was 18.1% (95% CI 15.0-21.8). The most prevalent DSM-IV diagnostic group was mood disorders (9.8%; 95% CI 7.9-12.1), follow-up by adjustment disorders group (4.3%; 95% CI 3.0-6.3), anxiety diagnostic group (3.9%; 95% CI 2.5-5.8) and “other” disorders group (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.3-3.8%).

This results shows the heterogeneity of postnatal psychiatric morbidity. We found that DSM-IV diagnosis of mood disorders in postpartum women were more prevalent than anxiety disorders, in contrast with recent studies in postnatal community women. Clinical and research evaluation of mental health in postpartum women should include a full range of mental disorders.

This study has been supported in part by grant 13/00 from Ministery of Work and Social Affairs, Institute of Women, Spain.

The association between parental severe mental illness (SMI) and depression in offspring may be due to genetic liability or adverse environments. We investigated the effect of parental SMI, SES, and adversity on depression in a sample of youth enriched for familial risk of mental illness.

We assessed 217 youth (mean age 11.95, SD 4.14, range 6–24), including 167 (77%) offspring of parents with SMI. We measured exposure to childhood maltreatment and bullying with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) and Childhood Experiences of Care and Abuse (CECA) interview.

In total, 13.36% participants reported significant bullying and 40.76% had a history of childhood maltreatment. Rates of bullying and maltreatment were similar in offspring of parents with and without SMI. Maltreatment likelihood increased with decreasing socioeconomic status. Exposure to bullying (OR = 3.11, 95%CI 1.08–8.88, P = 0.03) predicted depression in offspring more strongly than family history of SMI in parents.

Adversity, such as maltreatment and bullying, has a stronger impact on the risk of developing depression than family history of mental illness in parents. These adverse experiences are associated with socioeconomic status rather than parental mental illness.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.