The psychogeriatric wards are managed by a specialized multidisciplinary team and are designed to provide a safe, comfortable, and therapeutically appropriate environment for patients with psychiatric issues, where, due to advanced age, pre-existing medical conditions, polypharmacy, cognitive impairments, and fragile physical conditions often coexist.

The elderly population, which is admitted in psychiatric ward in the absence of psychogeriatric wards, appears to be rather heterogeneous and in continuous grow. There are few studies in the literature that investigate the outcomes of hospitalization for these often fragile and vulnerable individuals in environments specific for the intensive management of acute psychopathological conditions.

This retrospective observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical interventions in patients aged over 65 who are hospitalized in acute phases in the psychiatric ward at the Bufalini Hospital in Cesena.

At the beginning and end of hospitalization, psychopathological symptoms were measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Social and relational functioning was evaluated with the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS), while global cognitive performance was assessed through the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT).

The sample included 166 patients (91 F), with an average age of 71.2 years (SD 5.7). Among these, 128 (77.1%) completed tests. Patients were hospitalized for Bipolar Disorder (46), Psychotic symptoms (16), Major Depression (58), and Dementia (8).

From the general linear model for repeated measures, it emerged that the treatment administered during hospitalization led to a significant improvement in outcomes regardless of the admission diagnosis, for psychopathological symptoms, for socio-relational functioning, and for general cognitive functionality (MMSE and marginally p<0,05 CDT). There were no statistically significant differences related to diagnostic category, age, or gender.

The present study provided important insights regarding the effectiveness of clinical interventions applied to patients over 65. The relevance of these results is particularly pronounced considering the increasing heterogeneity of the elderly population with psychiatric issues and the complexity of the treatments needed to address coexisting conditions and polypharmacy.

Further studies are needed to monitor clinical outcomes in the field of psychogeriatrics to further improve the quality of care, while also exploring the challenges related to the early differential diagnosis between psychiatric and dementia-related disorders, in order to ensure increasingly effective and personalized care.

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

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

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

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

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

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In Japan, the Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities Act, which unifies the three disabilities of physical, intellectual, and mental health, came into effect in 2006, and labor transition support offices were institutionalized. The labor transition support business office is a business in the welfare sector that places persons with disabilities in general companies for a period of two years.

• • In addition, Japan has the Law for Employment Promotion of Persons with Disabilities in the labor field, which imposes an employment rate for persons with disabilities on companies.

• • As of April 2024, the employment rate of persons with disabilities in companies is 2.5%.

In order to achieve employment for as many people with disabilities as possible, we analyzed two groups of people with and without workplace retention made by disability at labor transition support offices. This is a secondary data analysis of a national survey conducted in 2022.

The survey instrument included basic attributes of respondents and establishments, as well as the number of people who found employment in general companies in FY 2019 and their workplace retention status, whether or not employment assistance was provided to people with employment difficulties, and the state of practice of approaches to employment assistance. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS. Ethical review was conducted with the approval of the Ethical Review Committee of Nagano University (2021-006).

The types of disabilities of the establishments (n=1321) indicated 19 establishments with physical disabilities, 286 establishments with intellectual disabilities, 250 establishments with mental disabilities, 52 establishments with developmental disabilities, 495 establishments with no specific disability, and others.

In this analysis, from the above-mentioned establishments with intellectual disabilities (n286) and establishments with mental disabilities (n250), we divided them into two groups: those with intellectual disabilities (n181) and those with mental disabilities (n181) that discharged employed persons in FY2019.

It was found that the labor transition support offices that were placing people in employment with mental disabilities as their primary disability were accepting those with fewer weeks of use of the offices and with more difficulties in employment.

It became clear that even though the legal system unifies the three disabilities, the approach differs depending on the characteristics of the disability. Furthermore, it was also found that there are some offices that are able to place users in employment even if they have difficulties in finding employment. This suggests that there is a possibility that labor transition support offices, which are unable to produce job seekers, will be able to produce job seekers in the future.

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Forensic psychiatry transcends legal and cultural boundaries across Europe, but specialization and training remain inconsistent. With freedom of movement in most European countries, psychiatrists accredited in one country can practice in others if they meet language requirements. Therefore, harmonizing psychiatric education and practice is crucial and aligns with the European Federation of Psychiatry Trainees (EFPT)’s goals.

This study aims to map the current state of forensic psychiatry education across Europe, focusing on its recognition as a specialty on its own or subspecialty, training structure, and financial implications. It also assesses whether general adult psychiatry (GAP) and child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) trainees receive adequate forensic psychiatry education, identifying gaps and variations across countries.

Data was collected via an online survey distributed to European National Trainee Association (NTA) representatives in the EFPT through Google Forms in August 2024. Responses from non-European countries and incomplete entries were excluded. The final dataset was analyzed using SPSS 24.

A total of 29 participants, including 24 GAP trainees (82.8%), 2 CAP trainees (6.9%), and 3 specialists (10.3%), from 20 European countries responded to the survey. Forensic psychiatry was recognized either as a specialty or subspecialty in 13 counctries (65%) with 20 (69%) of participants confirming its recognition. 38% reported forensic training lasts less than 1 year or lacks a formal program. Financial support varied as well, with some countries offering full subsidies, while others required trainees to cover costs. Forensic psychiatry was included in the training of 66.7% of GAP trainee and 50% of CAP trainees, though the depth of exposure differed. Notable gaps were found particularly in risk assessment, expert witness training, and competency evaluations.

This study reveals significant variation in the recognition, structure, and delivery of forensic psychiatry training across Europe. While some countries offer well-defined programs, discrepancies in accessibility and comprehensiveness persist. These findings highlight the need for standardized curricula to ensure consistent training. Enhancing forensic psychiatry education is crucial for preparing future psychiatrists and ensuring high-quality psychiatric contributions in legal contexts and harmonization of forensic training across Europe.

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Climate change is a pressing issue with significant impacts on both physical and mental health. Beyond threats to basic needs (e.g., water, clean air, food, and stable housing) and trauma from extreme weather events, its broader psychological effects, such as eco-anxiety, are gaining recognition. The American Psychological Association defines eco-anxiety as “a chronic fear of environmental doom,” which can lead to cognitive, emotional, and functional decline, along with somatic symptoms. Despite its growing recognition, climate change-related anxiety is still an emerging concept. In Italy, studies on eco-anxiety are limited but necessary, as the country is identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as particularly sensitive to climate change.

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of eco-anxiety in a population of Italian blood donors, with a particular focus on its distribution across different generational cohorts.

An online questionnaire, structured on the Qualtrics platform, was administered via QR code among blood donors affiliated with AVIS (Associazione Volontari Italiani Sangue) in Bologna, Italy, in May 2024. Demographic and social data were collected, and the HEAS questionnaire was used to assess eco-anxiety.

The study included 1,795 participants (1,060 males, 727 females, 8 non-binary) with an average age of 46.6 years (range 18-70). The results revealed variation in the detection of eco-anxiety among participants (mean HEAS score: 5.09; SD: 5.84). Analyzing differences in the presence of eco-anxiety across various age groups, the mean HEAS score was found to be higher in the GenZ group, defined as those aged 18-28 years (mean: 8.65; SD: 7.50), compared to other groups. Kruskal-Wallis analyses confirmed statistically significant differences in the presence of eco-anxiety across generations (p-value < 0.001). The data indicate that, in the GenZ sample considered, the prevalence of eco-anxiety is 48.4%, representing nearly five out of ten young individuals (chi-square value: 81.3; p < 0.001). Spearman’s correlation and univariate logistic regression confirm the statistical validity of the association between generation and anxiety experiences related to climate change.

The data highlight the alarming spread of eco-anxiety in contemporary society, particularly among younger generations. Given the significant consequences, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of this condition and its psychosocial determinants.

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Workaholism, or work addiction, is a compulsive drive to work excessively, often at the detriment of personal and professional well-being. This behavior is associated with increased risk of burnout and psychosocial disorders. While understudied in healthcare workers, the constant connectivity and demands of the healthcare profession can exacerbate workaholism. Occupational health teams must prioritize addressing this issue to mitigate its negative consequences.

To study the factors associated with workaholism among healthcare workers and to assess its impact on mental and physical well-being.

A cross-sectional descriptive study examined the determinants of workaholism and its impact on quality of life among healthcare workers at the Farhat Hached University Hospital in Sousse, from March 2022 to June 2022. The Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) was used to assess workaholism and The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) to measure mental health symptoms.

A total of 117 questionnaires were completed by healthcare workers, representing a response rate of 68.8%.The average age of participants was 35.45 years, with a female-dominated population (81.2%). Nurses comprised the largest group (73.5%), and most participants had less than 10 years of experience in their current department. Shift work was common, with 74.4% of participants working shifts. The Work Addiction Risk Test (WART) revealed that 18.2% of healthcare workers were at risk of work addiction, including 13.7% at moderate risk and 5.1% at high risk. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) indicated that 54.7% of participants suffered from anxiety and 35% from depression. A significant association was found between anxiety scores and a high risk of work addiction (p=0.003).

This study highlights the potential for workaholism among healthcare workers, particularly those facing challenging work conditions such as shift work, heavy patient loads, staff shortages, and high levels of stress. Further studies with larger and more diverse samples are necessary to better understand the prevalence and impact of workaholism among healthcare professionals mental heath.

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Abnormal motor and behavioral phenomena during sleep are part of a broader category of sleep behaviour disorder, which may manifest during different stages—either during sleep, wakefulness, or the transitions between these states. Such occurrences are particularly prevalent during early childhood, affecting approximately 15-20% of pediatric populations, while about 4% of adults experience similar events. These sleep disturbances are generally categorized into simple behaviors or more complex behaviors.

This case report describes a clinical presentation involving defenestration in the context of parasomnia, with initial concerns about a possible suicide attempt. The objective is to highlight the diagnostic challenges in such cases and emphasize the importance of distinguishing between parasomnia-related behavior and intentional self-harm.

The patient is a 24-year-old male, born in the US, and currently living in Barcelona as part of a study exchange program. He has been consuming 1SCU of cannabis daily since adolescence. He denies any personal or family psychiatric history but reports experiencing episodes of sleepwalking during his childhood and teenage years.

On presentation, the patient sustained multiple traumatic injuries following an accidental fall from a second-floor window. The event was witnessed by neighbors, who alerted emergency services. The patient has no memories of the event and denies suicidal intent. In the hours preceding the incident, the patient consumed approximately 2SDE of alcohol, but he denies the use of any other substances at the time. Additional testing, including CT of the brain and EEG, revealed no significant abnormalities.

This case presents a diagnostic dilemma, as initial suspicions pointed toward a possible suicide attempt. However, the patient’s history of sleepwalking, especially during childhood, suggests a parasomnia-related etiology. It is crucial to differentiate between childhood-onset sleepwalking, which is often linked to genetic and developmental factors, and sleepwalking that persists or re-emerges in adulthood, which is more strongly associated with psychopathological factors. The persistence of parasomnias in adults may indicate an underlying psychiatric condition.

This case underscores the complexities in diagnosing parasomnias, particularly when severe and potentially dangerous behaviors are involved. While the patient’s history of sleepwalking and lack of psychiatry history suggest a parasomnia-related etiology, the persistence of such behaviors into adulthood warrants careful evaluation for underlying psychopathological factors. Early recognition and accurate diagnosis are paramount to providing effective care and preventing recurrence of such episodes. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, integrating neurology and psychiatry to offer tailored interventions.

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According to epidemiological data, about a third of elderly and senile people suffer from mental disorders. The most common are depression and dementia. An urgent problem of modern research is the search for neurobiological correlates of the course and outcomes of late-life depression.

To study the outcomes of depression at a late age during a 3-year prospective follow-up in patients with various immunophenotypes.

A cohort of patients with depressive disorders who were treated in hospital and re-examined in 1 and 3 years. The work carried out a comparative analysis of the course of the disease in patients with different immunophenotypes. The follow-up observation group with immunophenotype A (group 1) included 20 people, 6 men (30.0%) and 14 women (70.0%), median age was 68 years old [62.5; 76.5]. 13 patients (65.0%) were diagnosed with a depressive episode of DE in the framework of recurrent depressive disorder (DDR-F33), 7 patients (35.0%) - in the framework of bipolar affective disorder (BAR-F31). The group with immunophenotype B (group 2) included 31 people, 10 men (32.3%) and 21 women (67.7%), median age was 68 years old [64.0; 72.0]. In 20 patients (64.5%) DDR was diagnosed, in 9 patients (29.0%) - BAR, and in 2 patients (6.5%) – single DE. The patients were examined using clinical, psychometric, immunological and follow-up assessment in 1 year and 3 years.

A comparative study of the course and outcomes of late-age depression in groups of patients with different immunophenotypes, both immediate (1 year) and distant (3 years of follow-up) showed a statistically significant predominance of a favorable course of the disease in patients of group 1 compared with patients of group 2.

In patients of group 1 (in 95% of cases), a favorable course of the disease was noted with the formation of qualitative remissions after 1 year and persisted after 3 years of follow-up. In most patients of the 2nd group, the unfavorable course of the disease prevailed, which was noted both with short-term (1 year - 83.9% of cases) and long-term (3 years - 87.1% of cases) observation. The unfavorable course of the disease in group 2 patients was characterized by a statistically significantly more frequent (p<0.05) formation of incomplete remissions with the preservation of residual depressive disorders, the development of repeated depressive phases on their background according to the type of “double depressions”, as well as cases of chronic depression by 3rd year of observation.

Cases of dementia formation and deaths were noted in this group.

The results of the follow-up observation of patients with late depression indicate that the variants of the further course of the disease are closely related to immunological features. The depressions of the apathetic-adynamic structure, in complete remissions in the anamnesis is a marker of a prognostically less favorable course of the disease.

None Declared

The Atlas study, conducted in 2023, shows that the global prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) is expected to increase significantly by 2035, both in adults (from 42% to over 54%) and in young people aged 5-19 years (from 22% to 39%). Also in 2023, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a statement warning about the risk of suicidal thoughts and self-harm with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide. The psychiatric safety of recently developed anti-obesity drugs has not been adequately studied.

The objective of this study was to collate and evaluate the existing evidence regarding the psychiatric safety of GLP-1 RAs in individuals without major psychopathology.

A narrative literature review was carried out in the PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases, selecting only the articles published in the last 4 years, using the following keywords: depression suicidal ideation, GLP-1 receptor agonists, semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide.

There is a complex relationship between body weight and depressive and anxiety disorders. Obesity can be understood as chronic low-grade inflammation of adipose tissue, and the activation of inflammatory pathways could lead to the development of depression and anxiety. Also, due to cultural norms, obesity contributes to increased body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem, both of which are associated with depression and anxiety. All of these factors can contribute to the maintenance and worsening of anxiety and depression. In most trials, there was no evidence of an association between treatment with GLP-1 RAs and an increased risk of developing depression or suicidal thoughts/behaviour. Psychiatric adverse events were rare, occurring in only 1.2-1% of patients. Depression was the most common adverse event reported, followed by anxiety and suicidal ideation. Fatal outcomes occurred mainly in men and in people treated with liraglutide, which is associated with a higher risk of suicide than semaglutide. Tagliapietra et al suggest that the patient population receiving GLP-1RAs compared with other diabetes pharmacotherapies is a group with a higher basal risk of developing depression, rather than a causal effect of the drugs. Recent but limited real-world evidence suggests that the use of semaglutide is associated with reduced suicidal ideation and major depression.

The results of our analysis suggest that GLP-1 RAs did not increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts. However, the severity and fatal outcomes of some of these reports warrant further investigation. People with obesity should be monitored for mental health problems so that they can receive appropriate support and care.

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A multi-site randomized controlled study demonstrated that the community mental health intervention GBV, when combined with standard care in the German healthcare system, led to greater improvements in empowerment, quality of life, and needs-orientation for people living with severe mental illness. However, to gain a comprehensive understanding, it is essential to include service users’ perspectives alongside effectiveness data.

This study aimed to assess the implementation of GBV from the service users’ viewpoint, providing a holistic evaluation of the intervention beyond randomized trial results.

A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the service users’ experiences with GBV. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analysed using thematic content analysis. Additionally, fidelity ratings were collected after 12 months of intervention, based on a scale developed from GBV quality standards, focusing on needs orientation, relationship building, and service availability.

The process evaluation revealed a greater increase in empowerment, subjective quality of life and treatment satisfaction as well as a greater reduction in unmet needs with a subjectively higher perceived manual fidelity. Qualitative interviews supported these findings, emphasizing the critical role of strong relationships with GBV staff, personalized care tailored to individual needs, and adherence to GBV’s quality criteria.

While the effectiveness of GBV has been established, ensuring fidelity to the intervention’s manual is crucial for large-scale implementation. Key factors for success include a focus on relationship building and needs-orientation, ensuring that service delivery aligns with the predefined GBV quality standards.

None Declared

The critical importance of preventing, recognizing early, and effective treatment of complicated form of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (cAWS) lies in its high mortality rate. cAWS include alcohol-related seizures (ARS), and delirium tremens (DT). The Prediction of Alcohol Withdrawal Severity Scale (PAWSS) was developed to identify patients at risk of developing cAWS. Recently, history of ARS and/or DT (“kindling mechanism”-related predictors) have been suggested as the strongest risk factor for developing cAWS.

The present study aimed to validate the Hungarian version of the PAWSS as suitable for evaluating the risk of developing cAWS and determining the significance of past ARS and/or DT occurrences.

A total of 70 inpatients were enrolled from at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, Hungary in 2023 with a principal diagnosis of AWS. PAWSS, Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were used. Demographic variables (age, sex) and clinical outcomes (development of cAWS) were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, binary logistic regression analyses and chi-square test.

The ROC analysis showed that ≥ 6 is the optimal cutoff point in our sample. The sensitivity (73.91%), specificity (82.98) and positive- (68.00%) and negative- (86.67%) predictive values were highest for the threshold value of 6. In the first binary logistic regression model our results indicate that the PAWSS score of 6 or more was identified as a significant predictive factor for the current cAWS (OR = 12.332; 95% CI = 3.468–43.85; p < 0.001). The results of the second binary logistic regression showed that the history of the cAWS (OR = 6.811; 95% CI = 2.084–22.25; p = 0.001) and the SADQ total score (OR = 1.048; 95% CI = 1.001–1.10; p = 0.043) were significant predictive factors for the current cAWS. The chi-square test results showed significant difference between the rate of the history of cAWS and the current cAWS (χ2 (1) = 13.0; p < 0.001) and 21.4% (n = 15) of the patients had both current and previous cAWS. The Phi-coefficient was 0.431, which indicates that the history of complicated AWS has a relatively strong effect on the current cAWS.

Our results revealed that the Hungarian version of PAWSS is a valid tool for predicting cAWS with a different cutoff score compared to the original version. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the risk of developing cAWS is independent of the severity of alcohol use disorder. Our results also demonstrated that a history of cAWS is a significant predictor in the development of future episodes of cAWS.

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Increased sick leave among educators can detrimentally impact students’ productivity, and academic achievement. It remains unknown whether the number of sick days taken by educators in the preceding school year correlates with the prevalence or severity of psychological problems among educators in the subsequent school year.

This study aimed to examine the number of self-reported sick days taken by educators in three Canadian provinces during the 2021/2022 academic year and its association with measures of stress, burnout, low resilience, depression, and anxiety during the 2022/2023 school year.

Data was collected from educators in three Canadian provinces, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, from September 1, 2022, to August 30, 2023. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator Survey (MBI-ES), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), and the Perceived Stress Scale were used to assess burnout, resilience, and stress, respectively. Likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and likely Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scales, respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 28.

763 subscribers completed all the demographic, professional questions, and clinical scales, giving a response rate of 39.91%. Of these, there were 94 (12.3%) males and 669 (87.7%) females. Educators who reported taking 11 or more sick days in the previous academic year were at least three times more likely to exhibit high stress, emotional exhaustion, likely GAD, low resilience, and likely MDD than educators with no sick days during the preceding year. Similarly, educators with 11 or more sick days had significantly higher mean scores on the GAD-7 scale, the PHQ-9 scale, the PSS-10, the MBI Emotional Exhaustion subscale, and the MBI Depersonalization subscale than those with zero sick days.

This study demonstrates a significant association between sick days and the prevalence and severity of high stress, low resilience, burnout, anxiety, and depression among educators. Short-term sick leave can escalate into long-term absences without adequate support for teachers. Governments and policymakers in the education sector must foster a supportive environment that enables teachers to thrive and effectively perform their professional role without taking prolonged sick days, which can undermine student learning and achievement.

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Mental health is indispensable to quality of life and social well-being, influencing economic stability, human rights and sustainable development. Despite growing awareness, the public often conflates mental health with mental illness, which means that stigma remains prevalent. Nursing professionals, who interact closely with patients, are uniquely positioned to provide psychological support. Therefore, understanding public perceptions of mental health and the role of nurses is crucial for developing effective care strategies and improving health outcomes.

With our research we aimed to examine public attitudes towards mental health and assess how the general population perceives nurses’ roles in psychological support. The study also sought to identify demographic influences on these attitudes and highlight potential improvements in nursing education.

The study utilized a cross-sectional survey design to collect quantitative data on public perceptions of mental health and the roles of nursing professionals. An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed, reaching a diverse sample of 270 participants from various demographic backgrounds. The survey included items assessing demographic information (gender, age, educational level, and residential location), as well as specific questions on mental health perceptions, experiences with psychological challenges, and also attitudes toward nursing empathy and support. Descriptive and inferential statistics - including Mann-Whitney U tests and chi-square tests - were used to analyze responses. Significance was set at p<0.05.

Of the respondents, 73% were female, 63.3% resided in urban areas, and 54% had completed secondary education. The majority (65%) were over 35 years old. Regarding self-assessed mental health, 48.9% rated it as “good,” and 48.5% reported occasional mental health challenges. Significant gender differences were observed in perceptions of empathy among nursing professionals, with female respondents reporting more positive views compared to male respondents (U=83.37, p=0.01). The study also revealed that 53% of participants believed nurses “sometimes” showed empathy toward patients’ mental health needs. A significant association was found between educational level and the perception that nurses need additional training to support mental health challenges (U=147.00, p=0.01).

This study highlights the vital role of nurses in mental health support and suggests that additional training on psychological support could enhance care quality, especially in the eyes of well-educated patients. While many respondents see nursing professionals as empathetic, there is room to further improve nurses’ mental health literacy and communication skills to reduce stigma and improve patient outcomes.

None Declared

Extreme mood swings are a hallmark of bipolar disorder (BD). Consistent treatment adherence, including medication and regular attendance at outpatient care, is usually necessary for the effective management of BD. However, many individuals with BD struggle with treatment engagement, which is often influenced by several factors, including insight.

This study aims to explore the relationship between patients’ level of insight into their condition and their attendance at scheduled treatments

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted on bipolar disorder patients from the Psychiatry “A” Department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital. Clinical and sociodemographic data were collected from March to September 2023 using a questionnaire along with Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) for assessing treatment adherence and the Birchwood Insight Scale (BIS) to evaluate insight

A total of 37 patients with BD completed the questionnaire. The mean age was 45.4 ± 13.9 years, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.46.

In our study, 73% of patients were with BD type I and 27% were with BD type II.

The mean MARS score was 7.14 ± 2.13, and 37.8% of our population were non-adherent to medication.

The mean BIS score was 8.58 ± 2.35, and 56.8% of patients had good insight.

Mean scores of awareness of illness, re-labeling of symptoms, and need for treatment subscales of BIS were respectively 2.86, 2.73, and 2.86.

The MARS score was positively correlated with the BIS score (p = 0.002, r = 0.40).

The MARS score was also positively correlated with both the awareness of illness subscale of the BIS (p = 0.035, r = 0.34) and the re-labeling of symptoms subscale of the BIS (p = 0.41, r = 0.33).

This study demonstrates that certain aspects of insight are significantly associated with treatment adherence in bipolar disorder. Specifically, awareness of illness and re-labeling of symptoms suggest that the ability to reinterpret and understand symptoms may enhance engagement with care. In contrast, the Need for Treatment subscale did not show a significant correlation with attendance, indicating that simply recognizing the need for treatment alone may not be sufficient to ensure consistent participation in care.

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Recent post-marketing data reports an increased incidence of depression and suicidal ideation in patients using glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) for diabetes and obesity management compared to metformin. Despite ongoing FDA evaluations finding no causal link, various studies present mixed findings and propose several biologically plausible mechanisms for GLP-1 RA-induced depression. Increased depression rates observed post-bariatric surgery suggest similar outcomes following significant weight loss with GLP-1 RAs. This review explores these mechanisms to provide a comprehensive understanding and guide clinical practice.

To evaluate theoretical mechanisms underlying GLP-1 RA-induced depression in patients undergoing obesity treatment and to offer insight for later clinical decision making.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and MEDLINE, alongside current FDA updates. The review focused on GLP-1 RA side effects related to depression and included case reports of depression in patients on GLP-1 RA therapy. Data on incidence and clinical management were synthesized to develop a cohesive understanding of associated risks and recommended practices.

The review identified several theoretical mechanisms through which GLP-1 RAs may induce depression. Firstly, GLP-1 RAs may reduce food cravings by altering hedonic tone, potentially diminishing pleasure from various activities. Secondly, rapid changes in gut microbiota may lead to gut-brain axis dysregulation, contributing to depressive symptoms. Thirdly, GLP-1 RAs have been linked to reduced absorption of vitamin B-12 and other essential nutrients, impacting brain function and mood. Social media data and individual case reports reveal mixed mental health outcomes, with some users reporting improved mood and others experiencing mood deterioration.

The evidence on GLP-1 RAs and depression is mixed. While some studies suggest negative mood effects, others, including the FDA’s large-scale evaluations, have not established a causal link. Notably, semaglutide may be associated with a lower risk of suicidal thoughts. These findings emphasize the complexity of this issue and the necessity for ongoing monitoring and personalized patient care. Regular mental health screenings for patients on GLP-1 RAs, especially those with a history of depression, are recommended. Addressing potential nutrient deficiencies through dietary adjustments or supplements is crucial. Patients should be informed about potential mood changes and encouraged to report any adverse effects. Further research, particularly more longitudinal and large-scale studies, is needed to clarify the relationship between GLP-1 RAs and mental health outcomes.

None Declared

Medical studies place significant academic pressure and high stress levels on students resulting in changes in their sleep patterns.and their academic performance, which are two keys of professional success. A hypothesis regarding a potential link between these two entitities could be proposed.

The objective of our study was to assess sleep quality and academic performance in a sample of students from the Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, Tunisia, as well as the link between these two entities.

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted using GOOGLE FORMS during February and March 2024, involving a sample of students from the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax, Tunisia. We used a questionnaire including an information sheet and two psychometric tests : the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) aiming to assess sleep quality over the past month and the Study Management and Academic Results Test (SMART) allowing the assessment of students’ attitudes towards their studies and academic performance based on four dimensions : “Academic Competence”, “Test Competence”, “Time Management” and “Strategic Studying”.

Our study involved 154 participants with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.54 and a median age of 22 years (IQR = [20 – 23 years]).

The median PSQI score was 6 (IQR = [3 – 9]). Using a threshold value of 5, we found that 86 students had poor sleep, resulting in a prevalence of 55.8%.

Median scores of the four dimensions were 3.4 (IQR = [3 – 3.8]) for the “Academic Competence”, 2.8 (IQR = [2.2 – 3.2]) for the “Test Competence”, 2.4 (IQR = [2 – 3]) for the “Time Management” and 3.2 (IQR = [2 .8 – 3.6]) for the “Strategic Studying”.

By conducting a bivariate analysis, we found that “Academic Competence” and “Time Management” dimensions were significantly better among students with good sleep quality. In contrast, the dimensions “Test Competence” and “Strategic Studying” were not statistically associated with sleep quality (Table 1).

Table 1: Associations between the sleep quality and the Study Management and Academic Results Test dimensions

Our study revealed that more than half of the medical students suffer from poor sleep quality. The analysis of academic performance revealed that the most affected dimensions were the test competence and the time managemement. The lack of sleep among these students had detrimental consequences on their academic performance. Therefore, it is important to encourage good sleep hygiene to enhance both well-being and academic performance in medical students. Additionally, providing balanced study resources, offering therapy and counseling services, and promoting stress management strategies are key to optimizing academic success.

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A linguistic feature is a common characteristic associated with various mental disorders. In particular, bipolar disorder is one of the disorders in which verbal abnormalities as symptoms can be prominent. As technology advances and big data processing becomes easier, studies on the linguistic characteristics of bipolar disorder are increasing. However, the results of previous generations, who studied the linguistic features of bipolar disorder without computer-based methods are not considered, and have not been integrated with current research findings. It is necessary to review what methodologies can be used and what limitations should be considered to explore the linguistic characteristics of bipolar disorder.

This scoping review aims to explore how we can analyze linguistic features of bipolar disorder by using textual language. It reviewes the approaches and results of the studies can explain bipolar disorder appropriately.

The study protocol follows the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Research papers for this review were collected by 3 electronic databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science Using inclusion and exclusion criteria, all investigators screened the abstracts and full texts of the articles and extracted the data independently.

We identified 315 potential studies from 3 databases. After screening the abstracts and full texts of articles, 17 (5.3%) articles met our inclusion criteria. We extracted elements such as results, and methodology from the above articles. The purpose of investigating linguistic features is mostly to predict and classify bipolar disorder, and to characterize the linguistic feautres of patients with bipolar disorder and other disorders. The most commonly used methodology is computer-based language analysis, such as natural language processing and learning models. Non-computer based articles, some of them adopted qualitative analysis. We confirmed the following results regarding the linguistic characteristics of bipolar disorder: a reduction in lexical variety, a higher rate of coordinate phrases, words related to power and achievement, and themes of humor and anger. In the narrative description of this, we include discussions on ethical issues.

This scoping study synthesizes a study analyzing the linguistic characteristics of patients with bipolar disorder for the purpose of classification and discrimination. Past and present study uses various collection targets such as letters and web-based data, and adopts various methodologies including computer-based methods and qualitative analysis. In this study, we review the points to consider in order to interpret and apply the results of these studies from a clinical point of view. Additionally, the focus is presented to researchers who analyze the linguistic characteristics of bipolar disorder.

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Depression is a prevalent disease and 30% of affected patients are resistant to pharmacological treatment. Home-Based transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HB-tDCS) has been proposed as a treatment option due to its low cost, minimal invasiveness, and scalability.

We present preliminary results on safety, feasibility and efficacy of a remotely supervised HB-tDCS intervention in patients with treatment-resistant depression.

7 patients (5 women, age =55.67 ± 6.93) underwent a psychiatric evaluation, pre and post stimulation, that included the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS). HB-tDCS intervention consisted of 42 daily sessions administered through the Sooma tDCS™ device by a patients’ companion, trained by the research team. The anode was placed on the left prefrontal cortex, the cathode on the right prefrontal cortex, and 2mA current was delivered for 30 minutes.

After each session participants fulfilled an on-line survey for monitoring safety and feasibility.

86.73% of the sessions were completed. Due to impedance 7.84% of the sessions could not start on the first attempt, while 7.45% of the session were temporarily interrupted. Adverse effects included headaches (9.67%), sensations under electrodes (24.89%), and scalp dryness (7.88%).

We observed a significant reduction in depressive symptomatology as measured by the MADRS (-33.56%; t=-7.99, p<0.001). All patients showed partial response (>25%), and two a relevant response (>50%).

Self-reported scales indicated a reduction in symptomatology (QIDS:-21.66; t=-3.139, p=0.010; BDI:-13.92%; t=-1.780, p=0.063).

In line with previous studies, these results indicate that HB-tDCS is a feasible, safe, and potentially effective intervention for treatment of resistant depression.

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Esketamine has been linked to dissociation, which was claimed to predict or not to predict antidepressant response. Speculations regarding predictivity were based on results obtained with the CADSS, a scale investigating dissociative symptoms, with higher scores indicating more symptoms.

To investigate the effect of intranasal esketamine on dissociation and its subsequent influence on clinical response, we administered the CADSS 40 minutes after inhalation at the first esketamine administration and 40 minutes after the ninth inhalation and measured clinical response through the Clinical Global Impressions-Severity (CGI-S), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS).

We included 61 adults (33 women and 28 men; age, mean, 52.69±11.80, range 20-73 years) with Thase & Rush (J Clin Psychiatry 1997;58 [Suppl 13]:23-29) treatment-resistant depression. All patients received intranasal esketamine spray and were assessed at the first and ninth administrations (one month after the first administration, i.e., the end of the induction period and the beginning of maintenance), at the day of the spray after 40 min with the CADSS and 1 month later with the CGI-S, the BPRS, the MADRS, and the YMRS.

CADSS scores dropped from 6.59±7.42 40 min after the first administration to 3.12±4.41 40 minutes 1 month later (dropped by 3.48 points, 47.27% of baseline); t=3.15; p=0.0021. CGI-S scores dropped from 5.12±0.61 at baseline to 3.95±0.76 1 month later (t=9.32; p<0.00001). BPRS scores dropped from 51.85±11.55 at baseline to 41.21±10.64 after 1 month (t=5.29; p<0.00001). MADRS scores dropped from 34.29±7.89 at baseline to 22.61±9.07 after 1 month (t=7.59; p<0.00001). Responders (≥50% drop of MADRS from baseline) were 12 patients (19.67%), while remitters (MADRS score≤10) were 2 (3.28%). YMRS scores moved from 2.18±2.59 at baseline to 1.72±2.37 1 month later (t=1.02; p=0.309, n.s.), always in the normal range. Blood pressure 40 minutes after spray at the first administration was unchanged in 35 patients, increased in 16 (maximum by 20 mmHg), and decreased in 10 (maximum drop 20 mmHg). Contrary to previous claims, CADSS scores did not correlate at any time with scores on clinical scales or therapeutic response (Pearson’s r from 0.232 with p=0.072 to 0.013 with p=0.918). As for side effects, 15 patients reported dissociation, 15 sedation, 8 vertigo, 8 dizziness, 6 confusion, 5 headache, 4 nausea/vomiting, and 0 hypertension.

Patients in our sample scored very low on the CADSS. At the end of the induction period, esketamine was associated with significant decreases in the severity of psychopathology.

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Tobacco and alcohol use are two of the main risk factors for most of the non-communicable diseases and causes of death worldwide. Healthcare professionals can play an important role in helping patients to quit smoking and alcohol consumption, but this role is undermined if they themselves have the same addictions.

The aim of this study was to study the effect of smoking and alcohol use on healthcare professionals’ quality of life. In addition we aimed to identify any demographic and occupational factors that affect quality of life.

The research sample of the present cross-sectional study consisted of 200 health professionals. The Demographic Questionnaire, the Smoking Addiction Inventory (Fagerstrom), the Alcohol Addiction Inventory, and the Quality of Life Inventory (EQ-5D) were used. The statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package IBM Spss v.27

Among the sample, the 46.5% stated that were smokers. The mean score of alcohol dependence was found to be 3.61 (±3.29), while the corresponding mean value of Fagerstrom was calculated to be 3.96 (±2.27). The EQ-5D quality of life score was found to be 0.93. Finally, the EQ-Vas score was found to be 7.95 (± 1.57).

A particularly high prevalence of smoking was found among the healthcare professionals in the study, while alcohol consumption was moderate. The results showed that tobacco and alcohol consumption negatively affects the quality of life of healthcare professionals.

None Declared