Erotic and sexual feelings within therapy are complex phenomena which provide important information on aspects of both the client’s and the therapist’s relational self and hence bear great significance for the outcome of the therapy. The present correlational study examined Greek therapists’ responses to sexual and erotic feelings during psychotherapy.

The following hypotheses arising from the relevant literature were formulated so as to explore the above aims of the study empirically.

Hypothesis 1: Women therapists experience more negative feelings than males.

Hypothesis 2: There will be a statistically significant difference between males and females in experiencing gratification feelings.

Hypothesis 3: Therapists with psychodynamic training will experience lower levels of dysphoric feelings compared to therapists of other orientations.

Hypothesis 4: The proportion of psychodynamic therapists that disclose sexual and erotic feelings towards a client in supervision will be significantly higher than that of therapists of other orientations.

Since the present is the first conducted in the cultural environment of Greece and the first one correlating quantitative data from a psychometric test with handling of erotic and sexual feelings questions, the study will investigate in addition further questions correlating years of experience, sexual orientation, therapist age, with measures of emotional reactions.

Over two months, 139 adult psychotherapists completed an anonymous online survey. The demographics and attitudes of psychotherapy participants toward sexual and erotic feelings were collected. The Therapists’ Attitude toward Sexual and Erotic Feelings Scale measured emotions.

Results showed that male therapists felt more enjoyment than females, who were more afraid of the erotic or sexual. When controlling for therapist age, gendered difference in terror disappears. CBT and integrative therapists, who scored high on Aversion, also experienced higher threat levels. The present investigation showed no correlation between psychotherapeutic orientation and therapist erotic or sexual disclosure to supervised clients. Additional secondary analysis was done.

The findings of the study imply that therapists’ emotional reactions to sexual and erotic sensations in psychotherapy are multifaceted and relate to their professional and personal identities. Psychotherapeutic training, licensure, supervision, and therapist implications are examined.

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by attention problems, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that can persist into adulthood. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is also a neurodevelopmental disorder with deficits in communication and social interaction, as well as restricted interests and stereotyped behaviors. High comorbidity between ASD and ADHD suggests an overlap of the two disorders, which can exacerbate the severity of both conditions.

Adapt and analyze the inter-rater reliability of a protocol for observing symptoms of ADHD and evaluate the presence of these symptoms in a sample of adults diagnosed with ASD.

The study was conducted at a residential center dedicated to the care of adults with ASD in Granada - Spain. The experimental procedure was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Granada. The adapted version of the protocol for observing symptoms of ADHD in adults with ASD, consisting of 19 items that evaluate three areas: inattention; hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The response options were: Never=1, Rarely=2, Sometimes=3, Often=4, Very Often=5. The questionnaire was translated into Spanish by experts. Items were adapted to better reflect the daily activities in the residential setting. Behavior of the participants was recorded by 2 observers, the Caregiver and Technical Staff (Psychologists or Occupational Therapists), who had known the participant for at least 6 months. Each professional received training on how to fill it out. Analyses consisted of a reliability test to evaluate the agreement and consistency of the observers’ responses using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) through a two-factor Mixed Fixed-Effects Model. The presence of ADHD symptoms in the sample of 20 participants (14 men) diagnosed with ASD was tested descriptively.

The results for agreement on ICC were: 9 items were below .5 (poor); 3 items between .5 and .75 (moderate); 7 items between .75 and .9 (good). For consistency, the results were: 7 items below .5; 5 items between .5 and .75; 7 items between .75. The ICC result for absolute agreement (ICC = 0.943; 95% CI = [0.900, 0.973]; p < 0.001) was .94, indicating reliability above 0.9 (excellent). The ICC result for consistency (ICC = 0.949; 95% CI = [0.911, 0.976]; p < 0.001) was .94, with reliability above 0.9. The mean scores for the presence of ADHD symptoms indicate that both Caregivers and Technicians most frequently rated the items as 2 (Rarely) and 3 (Sometimes).

In the overall instrument analysis, the results of interobserver agreement and response consistency reinforce that the adapted instrument is useful to identify ADHD behaviors in individuals with ASD. The need to continue developing and adapting instruments to identify comorbidities between profiles remains important.

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Evidence for efficacy of various modalities of psychotherapies is growing and such therapies are increasingly recommended in international guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Psychiatrists with strong psychotherapy skills are better positioned to provide individualized and multidisciplinary care. Training in psychotherapy also fosters the development of reflective practice, empathy, and cultural competence, all of which are vital in addressing the diverse needs of patients. Accessibility of psychotherapeutic treatment for the patients can be improved through integrating psychotherapy training in psychiatric training, together with continuous medial education activities. European and other international organisations have published guidelines requiring programs to promote psychotherapeutic competences among psychiatry trainees. However, psychotherapy education and supervision can often become a luxury rather than being a mandatory component of training; and resources are heterogenous. In this presentation, psychotherapy training availabilities and limitations in Turkey will be discussed, with a focus on the psychotherapy courses of Psychiatric Association of Turkey among other initiatives.

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Pet companionship plays a pivotal role in the lives of older couples, significantly influencing their intimate relationships, by fostering deeper connections and enhancing mental well-being.

This study has two aims: (1) to explore the impact of pet companionship on the intimacy of older couples; and (2) to examine its influence on their mental health.

This study included 223 older couples aged between 65 and 94 years. To explore the multifaceted role of pets in their relationship, content analysis was conducted on all interviews.

Their experiences shed light on the significance of this bond for promoting healthy and fulfilling intimate relationships, with the following themes: (1) contributing to emotional well-being (87.3%), (2) improving mental health in later life (83.1%), (3) fostering a deep relationship between couples (78.7%), (4) facilitating the formation of new emotional connections with others (72.1%), and (5) boosting physical and sensory functions (67.2%).

The findings emphasize the diverse advantages of pet companionship among older adults. These include enhancing emotional well-being, bolstering mental health, fostering interpersonal bonds, and improving physical capacities. These insights underscore the potential for integrating pet interventions into comprehensive strategies aimed at promoting the overall quality of life for older individuals.

Keywords: Pet companionship; intimate relationships; mental health; older couples; well-being.

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The transition from institutional to community-based mental health care has been a key policy goal for decades. Despite progress, challenges such as inadequate funding, political prioritization, and a lack of clear frameworks persist. The European Community Mental Health Services Provider (EUCOMS) Network created a shared vision.

EUCOMS aims to outline the principles and key elements for implementing effective community-based mental health care systems. The primary goal is to bridge the gap between evidence, policy, and practice while promoting recovery-oriented, inclusive, and effective care models.

The development process involved a collaborative, multi-phase approach. Starting with expert workshops and literature reviews, the framework was refined through input from 100 stakeholders, including mental health professionals, researchers, and peer experts across Europe. Structured feedback rounds and consultation workshops further shaped the consensus.

EUCOMS identifies six principles for high-quality community-based mental health care: Human Rights: Ensuring dignity, liberty, and equality for all individuals, with a focus on reducing stigma and discrimination. Public Health: Adopting a population-based approach to promote mental health and prevent illness. Recovery: Supporting personal, functional, and clinical recovery through individualized care. Effectiveness: Implementing evidence-based interventions and practices tailored to local contexts. Community Networks: Strengthening formal and informal support systems to enhance resilience. Peer Expertise: Integrating the lived experiences of service users into service design, delivery, and evaluation. In my presentation I will focus on how these principles are turned into practice in 3 countries in 3 different regions: The Netherlands, Portugal and Ukraine. The Netherlands: the nationwide implementation of the Flexible Assertive Community Treatment model, professionalization of peer expertise and the ecosystem approach on mental health. In Portugal, a nationwide guide for establishing and evaluating community mental health teams in Portugal, promoting integrated, accessible care. In Ukraine, the a nationwide All Ukraine mental Health program was launched during the war, implemented supported by all ministries supported by WHO.

The EUCOMS Network presents a comprehensive framework for regional implementation of community-based mental health services. These principles advocate for systems that are inclusive, recovery-oriented, evidence-based, and integrated within the community. The model requires adaptable implementation, considering cultural, economic, and systemic contexts. Future efforts should focus on stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and sustained advocacy to align policy and practice with these principles.

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If untreated, mental health disorders are a leading cause of premature death due to physical illness and suicide. Typical onset is around the age of 15, and about 75% emerge by the age of 25. Thus early diagnostics and treatment to prevent chronic outcomes by early interventions is indispensable. We set up an intervention project in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, focusing on this vulnerable group aged 18 to 29.

The project aims to assess if a low-threshold, early-on psychosocial consultation model significantly reduces early symptoms of mental disorders among young adults and to evaluate whether community-based consultations reduce stigma and increase early service utilisation. We intend to measure changes in mental health literacy. Alongside consultations, we identify cooperation partners and give workshops to raise awareness and reduce stigma.

A team of university psychologists and psychiatrists developed the project with community organisations and local foundations. Consultations take place in a non-stigmatizing, informal setting: the space is not within a clinic, centrally located and easily accessible. Services may be utilised anonymously and without registration of health insurance. We offer qualified diagnostics, brief solution-focused counselling, psychoeducation, early pharmacological treatment, group therapy and referral pathways to specialised care when needed. Using questionnaires, we will refine the program for potential up-scaling. Since September 5th, 2024, 12 patients aged between 17 and 34 years have already made use of the offer. Pre-intervention symptoms at baseline were initially assessed while post-intervention symptom assessments will take place 3 months later. Qualitative data will be analysed via thematic coding. Quantitative data for symptom alteration will be collected via Likert scales and analysed using paired t-tests and regressions. Qualitative feedback will be collected via surveys. We hypothesise that psychological well-being will improve post-intervention. Additionally, we expect an increased mental health literacy, alongside increased utilisation and acceptance of mental health services.

Yet to follow.

Community-based mental health consultations represent a feasible early intervention strategy for young adults. Results are expected to support expanding such models to other community structures and refining protocols for scalability. We aim to optimise service delivery, assess long-term outcomes, and examine cost-effectiveness for potential implementation on a broader scale.

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For decades, the standards of gender-related healthcare provided to trans and gender-diverse people have been prepared by international professional associations. These standards are often expected to rely on research evidence, but when the research evidence is not conclusive, an expert consensus is sought. In addition to the standards and guidelines updated with intervals, such as the Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8, and the Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline of the Endocrine Society, there are several national guidelines developed by the professionals in some European countries. There are significant similarities among these care principles concerning practical recommendations. However, the practice may vary depending on the differences in healthcare delivery systems and, more importantly, legal regulations. In general, international guidelines provide room for flexibility in practical applications. Yet, in recent years, there has been a significant change in many European countries with respect to the public appreciation of gender diversity and gender-related healthcare, mainly resulting from a politicized debate triggered by more conservative arguments rather than evidence. This backlash, which has also had a profound impact on the medical professional sphere, is a cause for concern. In this climate, it is becoming more challenging to develop and implement the standards of care for trans and gender-diverse individuals in many countries. Similarities of challenges in the implementation of standards also exist in the means of handling these challenges.

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Nearly 40% of individuals with schizophrenia are resistant to medication. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia leads to increased health-risk behaviors and reduced quality of life. Avatar therapy via virtual reality seems to be a very promising solution for individuals with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. This therapy targets refractory auditory verbal hallucinations, one of the core positive symptoms of schizophrenia. This symptom is thought to reflect a direct experience of the aberrant salience of internal representations according to the aberrant salience hypothesis of psychosis. Strong evidence suggests that the striatum plays an important role in the development of positive symptoms, as individuals with schizophrenia show an increased activation of this brain region at rest. One of the mechanisms underlying Avatar therapy may involve a reduction in aberrant salience. However, the neural processes involved in this therapeutic approach remain largely unexplored.

This study aims to investigate the brain mechanisms underlying Avatar therapy in treatment-resistant schizophrenia by examining spontaneous brain activity at rest using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Fourteen participants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia participated in nine sessions of Avatar therapy. They underwent resting-state fMRI scans before and after the therapy. Voxel-wise analyses of fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) were performed to examine differences between post- and pre-therapy in regional patterns of spontaneous brain activity.

Importantly, after the therapy compared to before the therapy, we found that participants with treatment-resistant schizophrenia had reduced fALFF in the right putamen. We also observed increased fALFF in the bilateral occipital, right inferior temporal, right angular gyrus, left medial temporal and left supramarginal gyri after the therapy.

The putamen is a part of the striatum which is known to play a significant role in the emergence of psychosis. Mainly, our results suggest that Avatar therapy regulates putamen activity at rest, suggesting that the neural mechanisms underlying the therapy involve the alleviation of aberrant salience.

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The capacity of self-compassion may contribute to the development or protection of psychiatric disorders.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between self-compassion and psychopathologies in anxiety disorders and to identify the impact of comorbid depression on self-compassion.

Patients diagnosed with anxiety disorders were recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Catholic University of Korea. Psychiatric diagnoses were established through interviews based on DSM-5 criteria, conducted by an experienced psychiatrist. Demographic data were collected, and clinical status was evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale. The severity of anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, hypochondriasis, and self-compassion were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), Illness Attitude Scale (IAS), Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS), respectively.

The study included 121 participants with a mean age of 48.65 years (SD = 10.10), ranging from 20 to 70 years. The majority of the participants were female, comprising 91 (75.2%) of the sample, while 30 (24.8%) were male. A significant inverse relationship was observed between self-compassion (SCS total) and measures of general psychopathologies and hypochondriasis: PHQ-9 (r = -0.366, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (r = -0.348, p < 0.001), PHQ-15 (r = -0.349, p < 0.001), IAS (r = -0.293, p < 0.005), and CSS-12 (r = -0.208, p < 0.05). Also, strong negative correlations were found with all psychopathology measures, showing that higher negative self-compassion is significantly related to greater psychopathology: PHQ-9 (r = -0.479, p < 0.001), GAD-7 (r = -0.423, p < 0.001), PHQ-15 (r = -0.364, p < 0.001), IAS (r = -0.374, p < 0.001) and CSS-12 (r = -0.362, p < 0.001). An ANCOVA was conducted to assess group differences in self-compassion subscales among patients with anxiety disorders (N = 71), comorbid depressive and adjustment disorders (N = 22), and comorbid somatic symptom and related disorders (N = 25). The results showed a significant difference in the isolation subscale across the groups (F = 4.636, p = .012).

The findings underscore the role of self-compassion in moderating psychopathology severity in anxiety disorders, suggesting that interventions targeting negative self-compassion may help mitigate emotional and physical symptoms in these patients

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Bipolar disorder is a complex psychiatric condition marked by severe mood swings, including prolonged depressive episodes that constitute approximately 50% of the illness duration. While there is substantial evidence supporting interventions for manic and hypomanic episodes, therapeutic options for bipolar depression remain insufficient and often ineffective. Accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (arTMS) has emerged as a promising treatment modality with the potential to address these gaps. arTMS offers rapid antidepressant effects comparable to traditional repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocols while maintaining a favorable safety and tolerability profile.

This prospective, open-label, multicenter study investigates the efficacy and safety of arTMS in treating bipolar II disorder during depressive phases.

The study enrolled 20 patients who underwent a five-day, four-times-daily arTMS protocol targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The primary outcome measure was the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), assessed at baseline, immediately post-treatment, and at one- and three-month follow-ups. Secondary outcomes included safety and tolerability, with a focus on the risk of manic or hypomanic switches as measured by the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS).

Results indicated a significant reduction in MADRS scores from baseline to immediately post-treatment, with a mean difference of -9.80 (Cohen’s d=1.065, p<0.001). Continued improvements were observed at one month (-15.60, d=1.695, p<0.001) and three months (-19.70, d=2.140, p<0.001), with response rates increasing from 15% immediately after treatment to 60% at three months, and remission rates rising from 5% to 55% over the same period. Importantly, arTMS did not result in any significant increase in YMRS scores, indicating no emergence of manic symptoms, and no hypomanic switches were reported.

The findings underscore the rapid onset and sustained effectiveness of arTMS for bipolar depression, with improvements observed immediately after treatment and continuing over the subsequent months. The progressive rise in response and remission rates suggests that therapeutic benefits may become more pronounced over time, highlighting the importance of considering delayed treatment responses. Moreover, the lack of adverse effects on mood polarity supports arTMS as a safer alternative compared to traditional pharmacological treatments, which are often associated with a risk of manic episodes. Future research should include larger, randomized, sham-controlled trials to validate these findings and further explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying arTMS’s rapid antidepressant effects.

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Strength training has long been linked to several physical and mental health advantages, ranging from increased muscle strength and endurance to higher mood and self-esteem. However, the potential link between strength training intensity and sexual satisfaction is a relatively unexplored area of research.

This study’s objective is to evaluate the potential relationship between the intensity of strength training and an individual’s degree of sexual satisfaction among people who exercise at the gym in Tunisia.

This is a cross-sectional study, conducted from February to March 2024. Participants were recruited online through social media platforms (Tunisian facebook groups and fitness forums) using a posted survey link. We’ve included respondents who are 18 years of age or older who have been active in strength training with a gym membership for 1 month or more. The respondents were required to answer a questionnaire that included socio-demographic data and to provide strength training intensity related details (sessions frequency, duration, perceived overall intensity using likert scale)

Sexual satisfaction was measured using the Sexual Satisfaction Index (SSI), validated psychometric tool developed by Leth-Nissen et al. in 2021. The sum score of the SSI can range from 0 to 36. A higher sum score indicates a higher level of sexual satisfaction.

The total number of participants was 72, with 86% being male. The majority of responders (n=65, 90.2%) indicated that they performed strength training exercises at least three times per week, with an average session length of 45 minutes. In terms of strength training intensity, 38.8% (n= 28) of participants reported high-intensity sessions, 48.6% (n=35) moderate-intensity sessions, and the remaining participants reported low-intensity sessions.

Analysis of the Sexual Satisfaction Index scores revealed a mean score of 23.6 (SD = 6.2), indicating that individuals had moderate to high sexual satisfaction. A significant association was found between strength training intensity and sexual satisfaction scores (r = 0.42, p < 0.01), indicating that higher intensity exercises are associated with higher sexual satisfaction.

Our findings aim to shed light on the link between fitness habits and sexual well-being, emphasising the potential value of including exercise interventions in talks about sexual health and satisfaction. The findings could indicate that the benefits of strength training go beyond physical fitness, potentially contributing to improved overall well-being. More research is needed to delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms causing this link and to investigate its broader implications for overall health and quality of life.

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Response to treatment in pediatric social anxiety disorder (SAD) is highly variable. Atypical face processing has been suggested as a maintaining factor. A previous study reported that youth with SAD scan a more restricted area of faces than healthy controls during emotion recognition, potentially interfering with social cognition.

The current study examined whether visual scanning and arousal (pupil dilation) also predicts treatment response and changes as a function of successful treatment.

Youth with SAD (n = 55) were assessed prior to treatment with internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) or supportive therapy (ISUPPORT) and three and twelve months after treatment.

Restricted scanning of faces predicted worse treatment outcome, most consistently for youth receiving ICBT. No evidence for a change in social attention after treatment was found. Instead, visual social attention measures showed moderate to high stability. Children whose arousal decreased from baseline to three months follow up were most likely to benefit from ICBT rather than ISUPPORT, pointing to a role of arousal in treatment response.

Restricted scanning of faces may interfere with social interaction, thereby interfering with treatment. These results have implications for our understanding of social information processing in SAD.

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Older people’s complex healthcare needs require the development of integrated mental and physical health services. The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland’s Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age (POA) is in the process of drafting a position statement on the integration of POA with other services for older people such as the Integrated Care Program for Older People (ICPOP). ICPOP provides geriatric multi-disciplinary treatment in the community. In January 2024, the Clare Psychiatry of Later Life (POLL) team set up a novel consult liaison (CL) service with our local colleagues ICPOP colleagues.

The authors aim to describe a novel model of care for our newly developed ICPOP CL service. It may be of interest to other POLL teams who wish to expand their CL service to include their local ICPOP services or other community services. We also evaluated: referral patterns to the Clare POLL CL service, the number of referrals from the ICPOP CL service in its first six months, and key patient characteristics of ICPOP CL referrals compared to inpatient CL referrals.

The model of care for our novel ICPOP CL clinic is described in detail. Patients were discussed at integrated multidisciplinary meetings. Cases brought by ICPOP for discussion with POLL could result in advice, a consult in a designated ICPOP CL clinic, or a referral for joint care. Joint teaching sessions were also arranged.

71.25 % (n=57, n=80) of referrals from Ennis General were for POLL CL. Conversely, CL referrals made up 21.43 % (n=81, n=378) of referrals to the Clare POLL service overall. ICPOP CL referrals made up 31.58% (n=18, n=57) of the POLL CL referrals over six months and made up 10% (n=18, n=180) of overall referrals to the Clare POLL service for the same period. Of these 18 ICPOP CL referrals, only four (22.22%) required joint care. Seven patients were referred by POLL to ICPOP for joint care over the same period. Patient characteristics were summarized by table 1.

Image 1:

The authors present a service integration initiative between a local POLL and ICPOP service, which they believe was mutually beneficial to both services and the patients they serve. The characteristics of patients referred to POLL from the new integration with ICPOP resemble other community referrals, as opposed to inpatient CL referrals.

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Worldwide, social media and touch screen device use has rapidly increased over the past decade and are particularly popular among young people. To obtain more insight in the potential negative associations with compulsive social media use and touch screen devices in Dutch children, we assessed its relation with self-reported well-being and cognitive function in primary school children. We found social media to be negatively associated with life satisfaction and increasing touch screen device use with increased reaction time. This suggests that the compulsive social media use and touch screen device use have negative consequences on mental well being and cognitive performance already at a young age. Therefore the use of social media in children under the age of 15 years should be restricted or forbidden.

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Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty in verbally expressing emotions, a trait commonly observed in patients with psychosomatic symptoms, such as those with asthma. These individuals struggle to identify their emotions and are more prone to developing somatic health issues.

• - To study the prevalence of alexithymia, anxiety and depression in asthma patients

• - To identify the relationship between these aspects.

It was a cross-sectional, case-control, descriptive and analytical study, conducted in the pulmonology department at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax. The study involved 50 asthma patients and a control group consisting of 50 healthy nurses. Data collection was based on a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, as well as two psychometric scales: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The mean age of the patients was 44.08 ± 12.78 years and the male-to-female ratio (M/F) was 0.92.

More than half of the patients (62%) had experienced an acute severe asthma requiring hospitalization. The disease was controlled in 70% of the cases.

The prevalence of alexithymia was 40% in the asthma patients and 36% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.68).

The prevalence of anxiety was 38% in patients and 34% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.012).

The prevalence of depression was 38% in patients and 28% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.002).

Alexithymic patients were significantly more anxious (p = 0.01) and more depressed (p = 0.01) than non-alexithymic patients.

Patients with ashtma present high rates of anxiety, depression and alexithymia. This latter does not appear to be a determining factor in asthma. However, it seems to be associated with the emotional distress caused by anxiety and depression. Timely screening for emotional distress and its early management is essential in this population.

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Previous studies have shown that unwanted pregnancy and abortion, particularly in adolescents, are associated with a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Moreover, women with a history of abortion faced a significantly higher risk of various mental health problems, including suicidal behaviors, compared to those who did not undergo abortion. This is often due to a combination of psychological and social pressures. Factors such as the feeling of shame, social isolation, and a sense of being a burden can exacerbate the mental distress that pregnant women or adolescents experience, especially when the pregnancy is unplanned. Additionally, women who attempted suicide often report high levels of stress related to social expectations, family conflict, and lack of support during pregnancy. In some cases, individuals who were born from unwanted pregnancies or whose mother attempted abortions have also shown a higher risk of suicidal behavior later in life. However, our understanding of the risk and protective factors is uncomplete.

In our study the connection between unwanted pregnancy, abortion and suicide attempts were analysed and identify their role as potential suicide risk factors.

: Structural clinical interview was used to explore trauma history of induced abortion and unwanted pregnancy. 324 subjects were involved in the analysis. 134 of them with history of suicide, 135 clinical sample without suicide history 55 non-clinical sample. We assessed the moderator effect of the attachment style and childhood trauma using the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

We found no significant effects regarding whether the individual was born from unwanted pregnancies (β = -1.509, p = 0.110, OR = 0.221), and whether they lost their child (β = 0.247, p = 0.892, OR = 0.981). However, whether their mother attempted abortion when pregnant with them have shown a higher risk of suicidal behavior later in life (β = 6.939, p = 0.007, OR = 1031.427). The participants who undergone abortion were also more likely to attempt suicide (β = 2.397, p = 0.011, OR = 10.988). In both cases, childhood trauma was a mediator variable on a significant level (in case of mother’s abortion: β = -0.130, p = 0.005, OR = -2.804) or as a trend (in case of participant’s abortion: β = -0.034, p = 0.050, OR = 0.966).

The perinatal period, particularly for those experiencing unwanted pregnancies, is a critical time for mental health interventions to prevent suicide attempts.

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The majority of antipsychotic users at some point want to stop their antipsychotic medication and many do so without consulting their attending physician. So-called non-adherence to antipsychotics has been estimated to be as high as 60% and it has been identified as the most important predictor for relapse, resulting in a four times higher risk of relapse. When asking antipsychotic users, different reasons for wanting to stop are mentioned. These reasons include severe side effects, reduced functioning, experiencing no benefits and long-term physical health concerns. From the perspective of patients, wanting to stop can be considered an understandable and rational reaction given the burdens that antipsychotic use often imposes. Given the current uncertainties surrounding stopping antipsychotics, and given the patients’ wish to be involved in treatment decisions and a move away from a paternalistic mental health care model, several shared decision initiatives have been formed to involve patients more in the decisions about stopping or reducing the dose of their antipsychotic. In order to support shared decision-making, insight is needed in which questions antipsychotic users have.

The current study aims to gain insight in which questions antipsychotic users and their relatives have, and which factors influence stopping or reducing the dose of antipsychotics, by qualitatively analysing questions posted on an online expert Q&A.

Data were used from a Dutch existing publicly available anonymous expert Q&A. Questions about stopping or reducing the dose of antipsychotics were analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Questions antipsychotic users and their relatives had about this topic and factors that influences the process were identified.

In total 194 out of 3000 screened questions were about stopping or reducing antipsychotic dose. The most common question was whether it was sensible to stop or reduce the dose. Questions focused on how fast to reduce the dose, what their minimum dose should be and where they could find support. Those that were phasing out their antipsychotic asked when withdrawal symptoms or side effects would subside. Motivations to stop were side effects, difficulties in assuming a normal life and social roles and experiencing no benefits. Barriers were lack of support and return of symptoms. Facilitators were support from others and experiencing a relief from side effects and/or symptoms. Finally, questions were asked about activities that might support discontinuation.

Antipsychotic users continue to be left with many questions about stopping or reducing the dose of antipsychotics. These questions reveal attitudes, preferences and concerns regarding antipsychotic treatment that are important to address when discussing antipsychotic treatment.

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Psychoactive substance use among pregnant women has reached alarmingly high rates and is considered a public health problem. Pregnancy is a period in which women become more sensitive and concerned about their well-being, in view of how that will affect their baby. Therefore, pregnancy becomes a favorable period for therapeutic intervention, especially with regard to drug use. Despite this, there is still a small number of studies that address the issue of female drug users in Brazil, especially due to stigma and prejudice.

Our main aim was to characterize the clinical and psychiatric profile of pregnant crack users in Brazil, with a focus on comorbidities, the severity of crack use, and the use of other substances.

This was a cross-sectional study of 24 pregnant crack users admitted to a referral hospital for psychiatric disorders in pregnant women, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, over three years. Most women tend to remain hospitalized for a long time, often months, until giving birth. This scenario directly influenced the sample size of this study. The following instruments were applied: a clinical-obstetric questionnaire; the condensed version of the Addiction Severity Index; a diagnostic interview for psychoactive substance use based on DSM-5; the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-IV; and the Semi-Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II).

Most patients had severe crack dependence and used other substances, such as tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol. The median duration of crack use was three years, ranging between three and 12 years. Most women subsisted from illegal or informal activities; a fifth had previously been arrested and often had relationship problems. Twenty percent had HIV (n = 5), and 37.5% (n = 9) had syphilis. Borderline personality disorder was the most prevalent mental condition (62.5%), followed by suicidal tendencies (45.8%), hypomanic episodes due to substance use (37.5%), and past major depressive episodes (33.3%).

This is one of the few studies exploring and characterizing social, economic and health aspects of pregnant crack users in Brazil. An alarmingly high prevalence of consumption of other drugs, psychiatric disorders, and difficult-to-treat personality disorders was observed in our study. Investigating the psychiatric profile of women who use substances is essential to minimize the impacts on the mother and child, optimize therapeutic approaches to comorbidities, and enable more effective relapse prevention.

None Declared

The MAPS-B is part of a project focused on the construction of instruments for cognitive assessment in the Brazilian population. Comprising eight subtests, MAPS-B aims to enhance understanding of cognitive functioning in individuals over 50 years old. The subtests assess autopsychic and allopsychic orientation, perception, naming, memory, praxis, visual and auditory focused attention, working memory, automatic language, inhibition, and semantic memory. Validity evidence is essential to ensure the safe use of new instruments in psychological assessments. Content-based validity evidence reflects the degree to which the instrument aligns with and adequately measures the construct of interest. Such evidence can be derived from expert judgment.

To investigate the content-based validity evidence of the MAPS-B.

The analysis involved four judges with expertise in neuropsychological assessment, who completed a questionnaire on MAPS-B’s subtests. The judges assessed the adequacy and clarity of the instructions and the relevance of each subtest for measuring the proposed construct, using a Likert scale (0 to 4). Space was also provided for comments and suggestions. Responses were analyzed using the Content Validity Index (CVI), calculated individually (CVI-I) and globally (CVI-T) for the instrument. A CVI score above 1 was considered acceptable (Yusoff, Education in Medicine Journal Int 2019; 51). Additionally, items with suggestions from the judges were qualitatively reviewed.

Expert analysis indicated total agreement across all subtests, with individual and total CVI scores of 1, demonstrating adequacy in terms of relevance, clarity, and overall suitability. However, qualitative adjustments were suggested for two subtests assessing orientation and perception. Following analysis and consensus among the authors, modifications were made as shown in Table 1.

Table 1

This study provides content validity evidence for the MAPS-B, showing that its subtests adequately represent the constructs being assessed. All items achieved satisfactory CVI scores in line with literature recommendations (CVI > 1), indicating agreement on item relevance and suitability. The qualitative suggestions from experts contributed to refining the MAPS-B. Although the current results are satisfactory for the instrument’s proposed use, future studies are needed to gather further validity evidence and investigate the instrument’s reliability.

None Declared

Violence against women is a significant public health issue with devastating consequences for victims. It’s a complex and often hidden phenomenon rooted in deep-seated gender inequalities. Faced with distress and trauma, some victims may develop self-medication behaviors, such as substance use.

This descriptive study aims to characterize the experiences of violence among 53 women who sought help from the ATL, MST SIDA, and ATIOST associations.

Data was collected through individual interviews with each of the 53 participants. An interview guide was developed to cover different types of violence (physical, psychological, sexual, economic), their frequency, intensity, and their consequences on substance use, using the DUDIT questionnaire.

The sample consisted of women with an average age of 36.04 ± 10.31 years, ranging from 18 to 58. The results show that all participants experienced multiple and recurrent forms of violence, primarily psychological (insults, denigration, control, isolation) and physical (hits, slaps, threats). Sexual violence, although less frequently reported, was also identified in 32%. The most common type of violence was physical (77%), mainly occurring within the couple (49%). 72% of women presented a substance use disorder. The most commonly used substances were cannabis (53%), followed by benzodiazepines (41%), and pregabalin in third position (36%).

This descriptive study highlights the complexity of the experiences of violence faced by women seeking help from harm reduction associations. The results underscore the urgent need to address this issue and develop tailored responses to the specific needs of these women. Future research could explore in greater detail the risk and protective factors associated with violence against women, as well as the long-term effects of this violence on mental and physical health.

None Declared