Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may experience impairments in memory functions and visuospatial skills. Despite this, research exploring the relationship between ADHD subtypes, psychiatric comorbidities, and these neurocognitive functions is limited. This study focused on cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) and anxiety as comorbid conditions, both of which independently impact neurocognitive functions. However, the combined effects of these conditions with ADHD remain poorly understood. Moreover, investigating how CDS influences neurocognitive domains is essential for a comprehensive understanding of the syndrome’s cognitive aspects. Therefore, identifying the factors that impact memory functions and visuospatial skills in children with ADHD is expected to facilitate the recognition of cases at risk.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ADHD subtypes, psychiatric comorbidities, and memory functions and visual spatial skills in children with ADHD.

The study recruited 120 children with ADHD aged 6-12 years. ADHD subtypes, anxiety, and CDS symptoms were assessed using standardized scales and DSM-5-based psychiatric evaluations. The participants were then administered the Visual Reproduction Subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale, Oktem Verbal Memory Processes Test, Block Design Subtest of the WISC-IV, Judgment of Line Orientation Test and Benton Visual Recognition Test to measure visuospatial skills and working memory functions.

The results showed that 28% of the sample group was diagnosed with inattentive type ADHD (ADHD-IN), while 72% were diagnosed with combined type ADHD. Additionally, 33.33% of participants had CDS+ADHD. When comparing children with CDS + ADHD to those with ADHD alone in terms of visual-spatial and organizational processing abilities, it was found that those with CDS + ADHD were impaired. Children with ADHD-IN also scored lower on a verbal memory test compared to those with combined-type ADHD. On the other hand, anxiety scores were found to be positively correlated with memory functions.

The study found that ADHD subtypes, the presence of CDS symptoms, and anxiety impact the neurocognitive profile of children with ADHD. Further research is needed to understand the various areas of cognitive function that may be affected. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

None Declared

It is well-established that medical students often experience health-related anxiety, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “medical student syndrome” in the literature. This condition is believed to arise from exposure to life-threatening diseases during medical training.

Health anxiety is characterized by excessive worry about having a serious illness, often leading to heightened distress and maladaptive health-related behaviors.

The aim of this study was to explore and compare health anxiety levels between preclinical and clinical medical students.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted at the Sfax Medical School from March to June 2024. Medical students were invited to voluntarily complete a self-administered questionnaire, which collected socio-demographic data, lifestyle-related factors (such as substance use, physical activity, and medical history), and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18). The HAI-18 assesses the frequency and intensity of health-related worries and behaviors experienced over the past six months. The total score ranges from 0 to 54 and includes two subscales: the Health Anxiety subscale (items 1–14, range 0–42) and the Negative Consequences of Illness subscale (items 15–18, range 0–12). A score of 18 or higher on the Health Anxiety subscale indicates significant health anxiety.

A total of 285 students participated in the study, with a predominance of females (73.7%).

The mean age was 21.96 ± 2.05 years. Preclinical students constituted 31.9% of the sample, while clinical students comprised 68.1%. Most participants (91.9%) resided in urban areas, and 82.1% reported a moderate socioeconomic status. Additionally, 69.5% of participants were living with their families. A medical history was reported by 21.8% of the participants, while 17.2% had a history of psychiatric difficulties. Among these students, 5% had been hospitalized for a serious illness, for a prolonged duration or on multiple occasions.

Health-related anxiety was observed in 24.6% of participants. It was significantly associated with female gender (p = 0.045), a history of psychiatric difficulties (p = 0.004), and being a clinical medical student (p = 0.04). These factors were identified as key predictors of increased health-related anxiety levels.

Female gender, a history of psychiatric difficulties, and clinical medical training were identified as significant risk factors for health-related anxiety among medical students. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions to address and alleviate anxiety in these high-risk groups, potentially improving both mental health and academic performance within medical training environments.

None Declared

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disorder that can profoundly affect patients’ quality of life due to its diverse symptoms and disease progression. MRI findings are critical in assessing the extent of neurological damage and may correlate with various aspects of patients’ health and well-being.

identify the relationship between MRI findings and quality of life in individuals with MS.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the neurology department of Razi University Hospital (Tunisia) between October 2023 and June 2024. Patients with a diagnosis of MS based on the 2017 McDonald criteria were recruited, excluding those with active disease relapses. Participants completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic data, medical history, disability status, clinical and radiological characteristics. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 and the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQoL-54) scales.

A total of 83 patients with MS were recruited, with ages ranging from 19 to 66 years. The study population had a predominantly female sex ratio of 3.4. The majority of participants (75.9%) were from urban areas, and 74.7% had a university-level education. Moreover, 49.1% were married, and 60.2% were employed. Regarding medical history, 40.3% had a comorbid condition, and 30.1% had a psychiatric history. The mean age at disease onset was 26 ± 10 years.First-line treatments were prescribed to 27.7% of patients. Second-line treatments were prescribed to 69.9% of patients.

The mean overall score on the SF-36 scale was 53.56. According to MSQ ol54, the most affected domains were sexual function, physical health limitations, and sleep. The least affected domains were pain, social function, and sexual satisfaction.The SF-36 mean score decreased from 50.59 in patients with more than 10 lesions to 21.37 in those with fewer than 10 lesions, with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.012). We found a significant relationship between a higher number of lesions (>10) and the dimensions of physical health (p = 0.007), emotional well-being (p = 0.027), perception of health (p = 0.025), social function (p = 0.017), distress (p = 0.049), cognitive function (p = 0.038), and overall quality of life (p = 0.029). Thalamic lesions were associated with the dimension of distress (p = 0.048). The presence of new lesions in the most recent follow-up MRI was associated with emotional well-being (p=0.018).

The study highlights a significant correlation between MRI findings and quality of life inpatients with MS. Understanding this relationship is crucial for developing targeted treatment strategies that address both the physical and psychological aspects of the disease. By integrating MRI assessments into routine care, healthcare providers can better support the well-being of individuals living with MS and tailor interventions to their specific needs.

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Families of patients with mental illness in Japan face the stigma and the significant burden of caregiving. The average hospital stay for psychiatric patients in Japan was 276.3 days in 2022. Strengthening community support for patients with mental illness and their families requires targeted support that promotes recovery for both patients and their families.

To clarify the attitudes and perceptions of psychiatric home-visiting nurses toward family support in the community, aiming to empower families of patients with mental illness and identify key support issues for family recovery.

1. 1) A 30-item, web-based, anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted involving psychiatric home-visiting nurses who care for patients with mental illness The survey measured respondents’ background information and perceptions regarding the frequency and importance of family care practices.

2. 2) Simple tabulations of the questionnaire items were performed, and the frequency of implementation was examined and related. 3) Items perceived as important but infrequently implemented were identified.

Sixty-six home-visiting nurses participated in the survey. The findings showed that 97% of respondents expressed interest in family support, 74% had family support experience, and 52% had attended family support training programs.

A significant correlation was observed between the perceived importance of family support and its perceived frequency of implementation across all items. The four items identified as important but less frequently implemented were:

Q08. Referring to other professional organizations for unresolved issues (22.7%).

Q11. Encouraging active participation from each patient and family member (20.6%).

Q12. Informing family members about the patient’s situation, so that they can work together to ensure the patient’s well-being (40.6%).

Q13. Encouraging patients to express appreciation to the family when needed (36.7%).

The survey results indicate that family care items requiring patient engagement or collaborative decision-making, such as referrals to other agencies, were implemented less frequently. Home-visiting nurses face challenges in enhancing their skills and knowledge in areas such as family engagement, interagency collaboration, and discerning the appropriate scope and timing of interventions.

Strengthening these competencies will support more effective connections between patients with mental illness, their families, and community resources.

None Declared

Patients suffering from severe mental disorders have a reduced life expectancy of approximately 10-25 years compared to the general population. This mortality gap is mainly due to physical comorbidities among which metabolic disorders play a significant role.

In our study we used the Body Mass Index (BMI), an indicator of general health that can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice, to investigate how weight and the different psychopathological and psychosocial dimensions mutually influence each other in patients with mental disorders.

This naturalistic observational multicenter study was carried-out in 7 Italian university centers (Universities of Campania “L. Vanvitelli,” Catania, Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Cattolica del Sacro Cuore of Rome, Padova, Sapienza University of Rome, and Tor Vergata of Rome). Patients were recruited if they: 1) had diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) or major depressive disorder (MDD) according to DSM-5 criteria; 2) had an age between 18 and 65 years; 4) were in a stable phase of the disease (total score < 9 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and a score of ≤11 on the Young Mania Rating Scale). Affective temperaments were assessed with the Munster Temperament Evaluation of the Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego, impulsivity with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and suicidal ideation with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale.

A total of 598 patients were recruited, of which 60.9% affected by DB and 39.1% by MDD. Univariate analyzes revealed an association between higher BMI and male gender (p<0.001), BD diagnosis (p<0.001), high levels of impulsivity (p<0.05), presence of psychotic symptoms during the acute phases of illness (p<0.05), greater number of hospitalizations (p<0.01), cigarette smoking (p<0.05) and depressive temperament (p<0.001). Furthermore, patients treated with lithium (p<0.05), antiepileptics (p<0.05) and first-generation antipsychotics (p<0.001) had a significantly higher BMI compared to those not taking the aforementioned pharmacological treatments.

The results of our study highlight a strong link between BMI and some clinical outcomes in patients with affective disorders. The routinary assessment of these outcomes would be useful for the early identification of potential metabolic comorbidities as well as to identify patients at higher risk to develop a worse outcome.

None Declared

Chronic medical conditions like hypertension may increase the risk of mental disorders such as anxiety and depression.

This study aimed to investigate if hypertension is associated with a higher incidence of major mental disorders, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, psychotic disorders, sleep disorders, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s dementia, compared to controls.

I analyzed standardized data from patients with hypertension (n = 48,466) and those without hypertension (n = 442,660) at a university hospital. Clinical data was standardized into a common data model. Using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:5 ratio, I compared the incidence of mental disorders between the hypertension and control groups over a 5-year period. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of mental disorders, with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

After PSM, the hypertension group had a higher prevalence of being elderly (over 60 years old) and having conditions like diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular disease, and heart disease compared to controls. The hypertension group also had significantly increased use of antithrombotic agents, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, acid-related disorder drugs, diabetes medications, lipid-modifying agents, and opioids. The incidence rates per 1,000 patient-years for mental disorders were as follows: anxiety disorders (7.22 vs. 4.49), depressive disorders (8.51 vs. 5.47), bipolar disorders (1.13 vs. 0.91), psychotic disorders (0.18 vs. 0.22), sleep disorders (16.32 vs. 8.60), vascular dementia (0.77 vs. 0.14), and Alzheimer’s dementia (9.29 vs. 2.53). Compared to controls, the hypertension group had a higher risk of developing vascular dementia (HR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.34–8.44; p<0.01), Alzheimer’s dementia (HR, 3.89; 95% CI, 3.56–4.24; p<0.01), sleep disorders (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.85–2.07; p<0.01), anxiety disorders (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.56–1.83; p<0.01), and depressive disorders (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.52–1.76; p<0.01). There were no significant differences for bipolar disorders (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.95–1.43; p=0.12) or psychotic disorders (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.51–1.34; p=0.50).

Hypertensive patients have an increased risk of major mental disorders, particularly vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s dementia, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders. Older age, age-related diseases, and various medication uses contribute to this increased risk.

None Declared

Conflicts concerning land ownership and inheritance disputes among older adults are prevalent and often lead to extreme and criminal behaviors. Even seemingly insignificant differences, such as disputes over a few square meters of land or a single tree, can escalate into violence or homicide.

This study aims to examine these phenomena through the lens of the fragmentation of the “good object,” as well as the accompanying sense of urgency experienced by older adults. This fragmentation refers to the loss of emotional and psychological foundations that provide a sense of security and identity. The study explores how these seemingly minor disputes, when they threaten the “good objects” of older adults, combined with their intense urgency to resolve these issues before it is too late, can turn into serious identity crises, potentially leading to extreme behaviors.

Through the analysis of case studies and a psychoanalytic approach, the psychosocial factors influencing older adults’ decisions regarding the management of their property and their emotional connections to these assets are examined.

The findings reveal several key factors contributing to these conflicts, including: a) Emotional attachment to property stemming from years of hard work, b) Inheritance tensions and a sense of injustice, c) Financial insecurity, which makes property the most valuable asset for survival, d) Psychological pressure and isolation, which may lead to unpredictable behaviors, e) Lack of emotional control and traditional perceptions of honor and dignity, f) A sense of loss of control as they age and the need to defend what they deem important.

The psychoanalytic interpretation of these phenomena reveals that the fragmentation of the good object, which may be land or other property, is closely tied to the identity and mental well-being of older adults. These individuals experience an intense sense of urgency, as delays in resolving their legal issues can mean the loss of their identity. This urgent need to protect their “good objects” often leads to reactions, frequently violent, stemming from despair and the perception that their social fabric is abandoning them. For older adults, legal and property disputes are not merely material concerns but represent their last struggle to maintain their identity. It is essential to recognize the importance of these issues and provide them with the value they deserve.

None Declared

Clozapine is indicated for resistant schizophrenia as monotherapy. However, the response is inadequate in 40-70% of patients. In this context, the combination of clozapine with a second antipsychotic or a mood stabilizer is a strategy frequently used to potentiate its effects (Barlatier, A. (2014) Human Medicine and Pathology. [Doctoral thesis, University]). However, the level of evidence for these practices remains low, and data on the prevalence of such combinations in France are limited. Against this backdrop, collaboration between a national multi-professional network operating in various public and private mental health establishments (the PIC network) and a regional psychiatric research federation (FERREPSY Occitanie) enabled the study of the prevalence and modalities of these associations in a large panel of French psychiatric establishments.

Estimate the prevalence of co-prescriptions of antipsychotics and mood stabilizer with clozapine for patients hospitalized in full-time psychiatry.

Observational cross-sectional study conducted on a given day in December 2023 in 30 participating centers that are members of the PIC network and/or FERREPSY.

The computerized records of 795 patients were analyzed by the referring pharmacists at the participating centers. 78.4% of patients had at least one antipsychotic in association with clozapine. 64.5% of antipsychotics associated with clozapine were conventional antipsychotics. Among atypical antipsychotics, aripiprazole was combined with clozapine in 9.9% of patients, amisulpride in 10.7%, risperidone in 8.2%, olanzapine in 4.3% and quetiapine in 3%. For mood stabilizer, the combination of clozapine with valproate was the most commonly used combination (23.64% of patients), ahead of lithium salts (15.6% of patients) and lamotrigine (10.1% of patients).

The combination of psychotropic drugs with clozapine remains a majority practice, which seems to have little connection with existing literature data.

None Declared

Health-related anxiety, characterized by excessive worry about one’s health, often leads to significant distress and impairment. Thought suppression, the conscious attempt to control or avoid unwanted thoughts, is frequently associated with various psychological conditions, including anxiety disorders. Research suggests that individuals with anxiety may attempt to suppress thoughts related to their fears, potentially exacerbating symptoms.

The present study investigates the relationship between thought suppression and health-related anxiety, exploring how the tendency to suppress intrusive thoughts may influence health anxiety levels.

A cross-sectional survey design was employed, with participants drawn from a sample of medical students. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) was used to assess the extent to which participants tend to suppress intrusive thoughts, while the Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI-18) was used to measure health-related anxiety. The HAI-18 evaluates the frequency and intensity of health-related worries and behaviors over the past six months.

The study recruited 213 medical students, of which 74.2% were female. The mean age of participants was 22.11 ± 2 years. Among the sample, 22.1% had a personal medical history, and 20.2% had a documented history of psychiatric disorders. Regarding family medical history, 59.6% of participants reported a familial history of medical conditions, and 21.6% reported a familial history of psychiatric disorders. Additionally, 39% of participants had family members who had been hospitalized for serious illness.

Health-related anxiety was observed in 26.3% of participants. A significant positive correlation was found between WBSI scores (thought suppression) and HAI scores (health-related anxiety) (r = 0.301, p < 0.001), suggesting that participants who reported higher levels of thought suppression were more likely to experience health-related intrusive thoughts and heightened anxiety about their health. Furthermore, individuals with higher health anxiety tended to have a stronger inclination to suppress thoughts, compared to those with lower levels of health anxiety.

The findings indicate a positive relationship between thought suppression and health-related anxiety among medical students. Specifically, students who engage in higher levels of thought suppression tend to report more frequent intrusive thoughts related to health and greater anxiety about their well-being. Future research could explore interventions aimed at reducing thought suppression as a potential strategy for alleviating health anxiety.

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Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a significant comorbidity in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Both ADHD and SLD are neurodevelopmental conditions that share common characteristics, such as deficits in executive functions. Identifying SLD in patients with ADHD is crucial because targeted educational interventions are the primary treatment for SLD.

This study aimed to evaluate the utility of the Stroop Test (ST) in differentiating SLD from ADHD.

79 patients (42 with ADHD and 37 with both ADHD and SLD) participated in the study. Sociodemographic information and ST performance metrics (completion time, omission errors, and commission errors) were collected by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Additionally, parents completed the Turgay DSM-IV ADHD Rating Scale to assess the severity of ADHD symptoms.

There were no significant differences between the ADHD and ADHD+SLD groups regarding age, gender, or ADHD symptom severity. The ADHD+SLD group exhibited longer completion times across all sections of the ST. Omission errors in the fourth and fifth sections were significantly higher in the ADHD+SLD group. After adjusting for age, gender, and ADHD symptom severity, the completion time in the fifth section and omission errors in the fourth and fifth sections remained significant. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis identified cut-off scores for the fifth section’s completion time (42 seconds; Sensitivity: 0.62, Specificity: 0.66) and omission errors (1 error; Sensitivity: 0.64, Specificity: 0.61). Moreover, omission errors in the fifth section predicted being in the ADHD+SLD group (p= .006, Odds Ratio [OR]= 1.527, 95% CI= 1.127–2.068).

The findings suggest that the ST may be a valuable tool for diagnosing SLD in patients with ADHD. In particular, the completion time and omission errors in the fifth section of the ST may serve as practical diagnostic indicators. Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to confirm these results.

None Declared

Given the high rates of disengagement of psychological and/or psychopharmacological treatment in individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), building a strong therapeutic alliance (TA) in treatment is crucial. Despite the awareness of a favorable role of the TA in mental health care for people with SMI, there is a paucity of research that contributes to the formulation of concrete guidelines for establishing a strong TA.

This review aims to systematically synthesize existing literature of associated factors of the TA across six domains: client, mental health professionals (MHPs), clinical, social, care, and other. These include the views of clients with SMI, MHP, and independent raters of the TA.

Parallel literature searches in PsycInfo, Medline, and PubMed between 2000-2022 identified 2699 possible articles, of which n=53 met inclusion criteria.

Associated factors of better client-rated TA were: high insight, secure attachment, higher outcome expectancy at baseline, specific personality traits, less internalized stigma, more therapists’ empathy and frequent use of supportive techniques by MHP. MHP-rated and/or independent observer-rated TA was significantly related to: more insight, sex of client (female), MHP without anxious attachment, and less severe symptomatology of client.

Clinical symptom severity only affected TA when rated by MHP, but not when rated by clients. Attachment style affects the TA bidirectionally: clients’ secure attachment to the MHPs may help modify maladaptive attachment patterns, and anxious/insecure attachment style from either client or MHP affects the TA negatively. Furthermore, having an early positive click with the client builds the foundation for a later stable and supportive relationship, making the client more likely to continue perceiving the alliance as positively as treatment progresses. It is therefore crucial to provide a warm and supporting environment from the start of treatment, where clients have the opportunity to overcome perceived (self-)stigma and develop a positive mindset towards outcome expectations. Focusing on supportive techniques like providing feedback or shared agenda setting instead on the clients clinical symptomatology solely might result in a more favorable perception of the TA. Notably, current TA measurements assume a one-on-one relationship between clients and MHP, while nowadays multiple MHPs are involved. We recommend re-evaluating the assessment of TA within SMI care.

None Declared

Suicide has a growing importance as a mental health problem, being now the first cause of not-natural death at Spain. Developing suicide prevention strategies is a prioritary goal at mental health care. In our community, ARSUIC protocol was developed as a way to provide specialized preferent care to people with suicide attempts.

• - Measure results of ARSUIC protocol at suicide attempts prevention.

• - Study level of satisfaction of patients assisted at ARSUIC protocol.

A qualitative ad-hoc phone interview has been made to patients atended at ARSUIC protocol of our community mental health center, in order to measure their level of satisfaction. Descriptive cuantification of new suicide attempts, visits to Emergency Service and incomings at Psychiatry Hospitalization in the last 6 months has been performed, using clinical history data.

Global level of satisfaction is high at the most of the sample, mainly because of the preferent attendance and the improvement it implies in the therapeutic bond. Indicators of relapse reflect global good evolution at the most of the sample.

Preferent attendance reveals as a proper way to improve clinical care and prevention at people with suicide attempts. Strategies to maintain that kind of frequent attendance along the main risk period of relapse are in develope (group therapy, etc.).

None Declared

Functional neurological disorders (FND), also referred to as conversion disorder or psychogenic neurological disorders, are one of the most common and disabling conditions in the neurology practice field, with very limited treatment options. FNDs present with sensory and/or motor symptoms that can mimic other neurological conditions, but appear to be related to recognizable psychological factors and are thought to occur via mechanisms other than those related to identifiable structural neuropathology. This condition has very limited treatment options, but there is preliminary evidence that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) might be effective in a growing number of psychiatric disorders, including FNDs.

We aim to review the current literature regarding the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of functional neurological disorders.

We search PubMed with the following keywords: psychedelics, functional neurological disorder and conversion disorder.

Only nine studies were published, between 1954 and 1967, reporting the use of psychedelics in the treatment of FNDs, with a total of 22 patients, of which 69% (n = 18) were found to have made at least some recovery, though the included studies were of low quality, often lacking control groups and valid outcome measures.

There is a lack of evidence for the efficacy of PTA on the treatment of FNDs. Nevertheless, the discussion remains, as several abnormalities of the default mode network activity (DMN) have been reported in patients with FND and many of the proposed therapeutic benefits of psychedelics have been theorized to relate to their action on the DMN.

None Declared

Breast cancer (BC), one of the most common cancer types among women, affects one in four women according to global cancer statistics (Ferlay et al., 2021; Yusof et al., 2021; Sung et al. 2021; Li et al. 2023). Despite the increase in the life expectancy of cancer patients with advances in treatments and developing technology, its diagnosis as a disease with a high risk of death causes anxiety and stress in individuals (Solomon et al., 2000; WHO, 2018; Miller et al., 2019; Abdollahi et al., 2019).

In addition to physical and emotional changes, the diagnosis of cancer brings about changes in social relationships and roles. In coping with these processes, it has been reported that social support and social support management will have positive effects on coping with the problems brought by the disease, improvement in prognosis and self-management levels of patients (Xiang, 2010).

Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy (IRPT), which has been recommended as monotherapy for mild to moderate depression in treatment protocols in recent years (Spinelli, 1997; Spinelli and Endicott., 2003; APA, 2010; Brandom et al. 2012) Interpersonal psychotherapy has been found to be effective in the short and long-term treatment of cancer patients with major depressive disorder (Blanco, Hershman et al., 2014). Grief, interpersonal conflicts, role changes and social isolation (lack of interpersonal skills), which are the focus of IPT, are frequently experienced problems in cancer-related processes. IPT works by associating the social support and interpersonal problems that patients receive with disease symptoms (Sayar & Omay, 2019).

This study will examine the effect of Interpersonal Relationship Psychotherapy (IRPT), which is recommended as monotherapy for mild to moderate depression in treatment protocols, in breast cancer patients.

Studies conducted in the last 10 years and in Turkish-English are included.

95 publications were reached. 73 publications were reached after removing duplicate publications.

We included randomized controlled trials of interpersonal relationship psychotherapy in breast cancer patients, comparing it with combination therapy, and applying it by telephone. The study included 4 studies.

Having examined a total of 73 abstracts, we retrieved 10 full-text papers for further study. Of these, we excluded 6 papers that did not meet inclusion criteria. A total of 4 studies met all inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review.

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When the results of four studies examining the effectiveness of interpersonal relationship psychotherapy were examined, it was found to have a positive effect for breast cancer patients. This study, which examines the effects of interpersonal relationship psychotherapy, a therapy with proven positive effects on depression in different samples, on breast cancer patients, is important because it provides evidence to the literature.

None Declared

Depressive symptoms that do not respond to 2 lines of antidepressant treatment in adequate doses for 6-8 weeks are known as resistant depression. As therapeutic alternatives we currently have, among other options, intranasal esketamine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

To present two cases of resistant depression in combined treatment with esketamine and ECT as an effective tratment

2 cases report

The first one is a 60-year-old male with a diagnosis of recurrent depression who was admitted after an autolytic attempt by drug overdose. Our second patient is a 59-year-old male with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, current major depressive episode with psychotic symptoms. He had a history of previous depressive episodes, requiring treatment with ECT on 2 occasions due to resistance to psychopharmacological treatment.

Both patients had major depressive symptoms resistant to conventional pharmacological treatment, with a predominance of sadness, apathy, anhedonia, hopelessness, psychomotor inhibition and self-induced suicidal ideation. One of them also presented psychotic symptoms congruent with mood.

The first patient received treatment with intranasal esketamine with partial response, so a combination with ECT was started once the 8 biweekly sessions of the induction phase were completed. The second patient was initially ambivalent to a new cycle of ECT. For this reason, treatment with esketamine was proposed and after 6 biweekly sessions he agreed to overlap treatment with ECT. In both patients there was a clear improvement in clinical symptoms and adequate tolerability, allowing discharge home.

There are few data in the literature on combined treatment with intranasal esketamine and ECT. Our experience in the 2 cases described points to an adequate response and tolerability. Specific studies would be necessary in this regard.

None Declared

A lack of participation from representative populations, limited long-term engagement, and potentially inaccurate self-reported responses have compromised the validity of health research findings in adolescents. Despite positive trends in some areas of adolescent health, others—such as mental health—have alarmingly deteriorated, highlighting the continuous need for adolescent health research. Therefore, it is vital to explore barriers to meaningful participation of adolescents and the factors that contribute to decreased data quality.

This study aimed to examine adolescents’ preferences and concerns about participating in health research to inform strategies for improving their likelihood of participation, meaningful engagement, and the provision of accurate responses.

Nine focus groups were conducted at three secondary schools and two sixth form colleges in England to explore the perspectives of 46 adolescents aged 16 to 18 years. The constructivist grounded theory methodology was employed to develop a framework that offers insights into the mechanisms influencing young people’s participation, engagement, and provision of accurate responses in health research.

“Five categories emerged as underlying factors that contribute to adolescents’ participation, meaningful engagement, and provision of accurate responses. Participants suggested that a (1) Positive Relationship with Researchers cultivates an atmosphere of (2) Emotional Security, which in turn minimises the potential influence of (3) Others’ Judgments. If adolescents are given some (4) Choice and Control over research processes and the data they provide, they are more likely to feel secure, which encourages continued engagement and accurate responses. The combination of a Positive Relationship with Researchers and young people’s Choice and Control over research processes allows them to perceive their participation as an (5) Impactful Collaboration in Research Processes, empowering them to participate and provide accurate answers, especially to questions about their personal life experiences.”

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This study suggests that adolescent health research would improve by investing more in building positive relationships with young people. This can be achieved by offering them choice and control over study processes as much as feasible, as well as by highlighting the expected impacts of their participation. Given the concerns surrounding judgment and potential legal or safeguarding issues related to research participation, open and reassuring discussions about these aspects would support adolescents’ emotional security throughout the research process. The current study recommends balancing attention between research processes and the emotional and relational aspects of adolescents’ experiences of health research.

None Declared

Previous studies show contradictory results about the relationship between the age of menarche and the intensity of anxiety symptoms. Some studies found that anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in patients with earlier age of onset of menarche. Recent studies show that early puberty and menarche are associated with greater rates of morbidity of anxiety and other psychiatric illnesses than relatively late menarche. It is presumed that girls who achieve menarche earlier are less prepared for puberty and tend to have more negative emotions associated with menstruation.

The purpose of this research was to determine the correlation between onset of menarche and intensity symptoms of anxiety in female patient with affective and anxiety disorders.

The research is prospective and includes female patients with established diagnoses of depressive disorder, anxiety-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder (depressive episode) aged 18-65. The patients had their laboratory parameters determined, including sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, LH and prolactin), filled out a demographic questionnaire and questionnaires: The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Matthey Generic Mood Question. Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) i Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD).

The preliminary data of the prospective study showed that there was a statistically significant proportion of patients in whom a correlation was found between the age of onset of menarche and the intensity of anxiety.

Age of menarche could be an influence on intensity of anxiety symptoms in female patients.

None Declared

The field of psychiatry is going through a rapid transformation as a result of the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which are providing novel opportunities for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders. AI can deliver more precise and personalized mental health care by utilizing machine learning algorithms, natural language processing (NLP), and neuroimaging analysis. This paper investigates the current applications of AI in psychiatry, its prospective benefits, and the challenges that must be overcome in order to effectively integrate AI into clinical practice.

To investigate contemporary advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) applications in psychiatry, emphasizing enhancements in diagnostic precision, therapeutic personalization, and ethical considerations for integration into clinical practice.

A thorough examination of AI applications in psychiatry was performed, encompassing AI utilization for psychiatric diagnosis, digital mental health therapies, neuroimaging analysis, and suicide risk assessment.

Artificial intelligence demonstrated considerable potential in enhancing diagnostic precision, especially via technologies such as natural language processing for evaluating speech and text, and machine learning algorithms for assessing brain imaging. AI-driven chatbots and virtual therapists shown effectiveness in administering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and facilitating continuous mental health care. Predictive algorithms for suicide risk and digital phenotyping instruments present opportunities for early intervention. Nonetheless, obstacles including algorithmic bias, data security issues, and the necessity for human oversight were identified as barriers to full implementation.

Artificial intelligence possesses revolutionary potential in psychiatry, facilitating earlier diagnoses, more individualized treatment strategies, and continuous monitoring of mental health disorders. For AI to be included into standard psychiatric care, continuous efforts are required to guarantee ethical implementation, mitigate algorithmic bias, and preserve the vital human connection in psychiatric therapy. Collaboration among AI engineers, physicians, and ethicists will be essential to fully leverage AI’s potential while ensuring the safety of patients.

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Understanding resilience becomes important given that adversity is an unavoidable fact of human life. Over 70% of respondents in a sample of 68,894 people reported at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. The neurotoxic effects of these experiences range from compromised neurocompetence, psychopathology including PTSD and depression, to adverse physical effects.

To determine if we could reliably agree on ratings of resilience on a five point scale to aid future studies of the role of resilience in recovery and relapse.

To assess resilience we developed a five point scale with 1 being the least and 5 behind the most resilient pattern. We found a water metaphor useful to conceptualize these five levels of resilience. Resilience in an ever-changing world can be likened to navigating in a body of water. Adversity tosses us into the water. Here are our levels:

We used kappa statistics to assess our level of agreement among ourselves (three raters) after studying and discussing prototypical stories for each rating level.

Practicing with training videos, we found we could achieve 84% agreement on the five ratings with 3 raters.

Percent overall agreement = 84.00% Free-marginal kappa = 0.80

95% CI for free-marginal kappa [0.66, 0.94]; Fixed-marginal kappa = 0.78; 95% CI for fixed-marginal kappa [0.62, 0.93]

When we added AI, we got Percent overall agreement = 71.33% Free-marginal kappa = 0.64; 95% CI for free-marginal kappa [0.50, 0.79]

Fixed-marginal kappa = 0.61; 95% CI for fixed-marginal kappa [0.51, 0.71]

The individuals who fit into the pattern of low resilience tended to have a high amount of childhood adverse experiences as shown through the ACE survey. The accumulation of these events in combination with external variables shape resilience. Factors including intelligence/education level, drug/alcohol use, positive role models, exposures to nature/art/spirituality, and community/family norms steer a person down a set of patterned thinking and actions which ultimately depict their overall life story.

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Emergency departments (ED) and intensive care units (ICU) are high-stress environments where healthcare professionals are continuously exposed to critical situations. This results in substantial mental health burdens, leading to increased levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout. These issues negatively affect both the well-being of professionals and patient care.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout among ED and ICU professionals. The goal is to understand mental health issues and identify contributing factors to improve prevention and support systems.

A total of 242 healthcare professionals from Bezmialem Vakif University Hospital were included: 120 ICU staff (80 females, 40 males), 66 ED personnel (42 females, 24 males), and 56 office personnel (38 females, 18 males) serving as a control group. The study employed validated instruments: the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, and Maslach Burnout Inventory. Non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis H and Chi-Square) were used due to non-normal data distribution, with pairwise comparisons adjusted using Bonferroni correction. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

The results showed significant differences in age, depression scores, stress levels, and burnout indicators between the ICU, ED, and control groups. ICU and ED staff reported significantly higher depression scores compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Stress levels were also significantly elevated in ICU workers compared to office personnel (p = 0.001). Burnout indicators were notably higher in ICU professionals (p = 0.011). Conversely, no significant differences were observed in anxiety scores, emotional exhaustion, and hours of sleep.Table 1:

Summary of Key Results

The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions to reduce psychological distress among ED and ICU professionals. Implementing support systems, promoting work-life balance, and improving mental health resources can significantly alleviate the mental burden on these professionals, thereby enhancing both their well-being and patient care quality.

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