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The high symptom burden of lung cancer, coupled with the emotional strain of diagnosis and treatment, often leads to disrupted sleep patterns and heightened levels of anxiety and depression.
Objectives
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of insomnia in patients with primary bronchopulmonary cancers, and to explore its relationship with anxiety and depression.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted among patients followed up for bronchopulmonary cancer at the palliative care unit in the pneumology and allergology department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax. The questionnaire used included patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and treatment data. Sleep disturbance was assessed using the insomnia severity index (ISI) and psychological distress using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).
Results
A total of 49 patients participated, with a mean age of 61,8 years, the majority being male (85,7%). The disease duration was less than one year in 61,2% of cases, and 59,2% of patients had stage IV lung cancer, with tumor progression observed in 32,7%.
Mild to moderate insomnia affected 49% of the patients.
The mean anxiety score was 7,08 (SD = 3,6), with a prevalence of anxiety observed in 4,1% of patients. The mean depression score was 6,92 (SD = 3,4), and 34,7% of patients exhibited signs of depression.
A significant association was found between insomnia and depression (p=0,005), but no significant relationship was observed between insomnia and anxiety (p=0,14).
Conclusions
The relationship between sleep disturbance and psychological distress highlights the need for comprehensive management that addresses both physical symptoms and mental health in this population. Early identification and intervention for insomnia and depression in lung cancer patients may enhance their overall well-being and quality of life.
Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite being a crucial treatment, chemotherapy often brings a range of side effects that can significantly impact the overall quality of life of the patients.
Objectives
To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods
The sample consisted of 49 lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Pneumology and Allergology Department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax. The questionnaire used included patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, cancer and treatment data, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire 30-item version (EORTC QLQ-C30).
Results
The mean age of the patients surveyed was 61,8 years, with a male predominance (85,7%). The most frequently reported functional signs of lung cancer were dyspnea (36,7%), cough (34,7%) and chest pain (20,4%). Disease duration was less than 1 year in 61,2% of the cases, and 59,2% were classified as stage IV. Tumor progression occurred in 32,7% of cases. Of the patients, 20,4% were on a single chemotherapy agent, while 79.6% were on a combination regimen.
According to QLQ-C30, the mean global QoL score was 61,24 ± 24,5 for the entire sample. Physical functioning and role functioning were the most affected on the functional scale, while fatigue and appetite loss were the most frequent symptoms.
Conclusions
The findings indicate that lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy experience significant challenges to their quality of life, particularly in physical functioning and symptom management. These results highlight the critical need for integrating routine QoL assessments into clinical practice to better address patients’ needs and improve supportive care.
Ketamine is widely recognized for its dissociative anesthetic properties, particularly in procedural sedation and severe pain management among children, adolescents, and young adults. Despite its noted applications, research investigating ketamine’s impact on mood and suicidality within this specific demographic remains limited. This retrospective review seeks to address this gap by characterizing ketamine usage and psychiatric comorbidities in Treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
Objectives
This review aims to provide an initial assessment of the safety and efficacy of esketamine in adolescents suffering from TRD with concurrent comorbidities such as GAD and SUD, and infer common drug-drug interactions that may arise from utilizing esketamine in adolescents. This preliminary overview will contribute valuable insights toward optimizing treatment strategies for this vulnerable population.
Methods
This systematic review evaluates the evidence for ketamine use in children with treatment-resistant mood disorders. Two to four authors independently screened studies and extracted data on safety, tolerability, and efficacy. We searched two electronic databases for English-language studies on the therapeutic effects and side effect profiles of ketamine in youth aged 14-23 with treatment-resistant mood disorders, including those with treatment-resistant depression (with and without psychotic features) and bipolar disorder.
Results
Recent studies, including a randomized, midazolam-controlled trial, indicate that IV ketamine can effectively reduce depressive symptoms in adolescents with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), with mild and manageable side effects like dissociation. No serious adverse events or instances of misuse were reported.
Conclusions
In conclusion, esketamine has demonstrated effectiveness in treating treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, when combined with SSRIs, esketamine improves depressive symptoms in TRD patients, irrespective of their anxiety status. These findings highlight the potential of esketamine as a valuable treatment option for this challenging patient population. Future research will focus on optimizing dosing, exploring complementary therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and identifying biomarkers for response, while considering the unique risks to the developing adolescent brain.
Adversity in adolescence, including peer victimisation, is associated with substance misuse in young adults, particularly in vulnerable individuals like sexual minorities. However, the potential developmental mechanisms underlying this association are yet to be fully understood.
Objectives
This study will empirically investigate the relationship between childhood adversity and addictive behaviours in young adulthood (i.e., drug use). In particular, we will examine the possible moderating role of sexual identity and orientation on drug use problems.
Methods
A total of 329 adults (aged 18 to 35 years old) were recruited into the study and included in the final analysis. Of the 329 participants, 93 identified as being a sexual minority (26.16%). A large majority of participants were women (N = 278 / 78.1%) with a mean age of 20.3 years old (SD = 3.5) and a diverse distribution of ethnicities reflective of metropolitan Australia. All participants completed an online battery of demographic, self-report, and behavioural measures. A multiple regression using Hayes’ PROCESS macro for SPSS was conducted.
Results
Overall, both identifying as being a sexual minority (b = .51, p <. 05) and reporting greater peer victimisation during childhood (b = .17, p <. 01) predicted greater levels of drug use in adulthood. Over and above the independent effects of sexual orientation and peer victimisation, being a sexual minority who also experienced a high level of peer victimisation were together predictive of more pronounced drug use in adulthood (b = .25, p <. 05).
Conclusions
Identifying as being a sexual minority as well as reporting greater peer victimisation in childhood were independently predictive of potential risky drug use in adulthood. This is in keeping with theories of the role of chronic stress in the development of potentially harmful behavioural, coping mechanisms. Consistent with our hypothesis, these effects were magnified when they occurred in combination, such that sexual minorities were more susceptible to the effects of peer victimisation on later drug use. Findings from the current study contribute to the identification of a possible modifiable adolescent risk factors – that is, peer victimisation - in driving increased substance misuse in sexual minority groups, which have significant implications for targeted public health strategies for these vulnerable individuals.
People with psychotic-like experiences (PLE) have slow movements and uncontrolled movements, which are indicative of transition to psychotic disorders afterwards. Earlier research has reported that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) is a promising therapeutic technique for movement abnormalities in people in the psychosis continuum. However, the small sample size was a major limitation in earlier research and restricted result generalizability.
Objectives
This study was to increase the sample size and examine if faster RAS induced faster movements and less uncontrolled movements at both hands in people with PLE.
Methods
A total of 55 right-handed people with PLE (age: 20.51±2.50 years; 28 females) and 55 age- and gender-matched right-handed healthy controls (age: 20.53±3.10 years; 24 females) were recruited. Participants used the index finger to perform the alternate touching task for each hand when the motion capture system recorded the movement procedure. They were required to follow each beat of RAS with the normal tempo (100% of the fastest movement tempo without RAS) and the fast tempo (110% of the fastest movement tempo), the order of which was counterbalanced, when performing the alternate touching task. Kinematic variables were calculated to reflect severity of slow movements and uncontrolled movements in participants.
Results
Two-way analysis of variance showed no interaction between groups and RAS in right-hand and left-hand kinematic values. People with PLE had slow movements at both hands and uncontrolled movements at the right hand. Faster RAS induced faster movements and less uncontrolled movements at both hands in people with PLE.
Conclusions
The major contribution of this study was to use a relatively large sample size to demonstrate effectiveness of faster RAS on inducing faster movements and less uncontrolled movements at both hands in people with PLE and thus increase result generalizability. Given that movement abnormalities are initial signs in the psychosis continuum and risk factors of transition to psychotic disorders, when healthcare practitioners design early intervention for movement problems in people with PLE, incorporating RAS in therapy is suggested.
Involuntary hospitalization of a patient with a mental disorder is defined as admission to an inpatient unit without consent. Literature suggests that severe involuntarily admitted patients often present in crisis situations, receive less pharmacologic intervention and therapy, and exhibit poorer prognostic outcomes, such as an increased risk of readmission. Despite being a lifesaving treatment, involuntary admissions can also be stigmatizing, undermine the long-term therapeutic relationship and reduce adherence to care. In this context, little research has been conducted to evaluate how switching a patient’s hospitalization from involuntary to voluntary may impact health outcomes, such as psychiatric decompensation.
Objectives
To compare the risk of hospital readmission of patients who switched to voluntary hospitalization with those who remain under involuntary hospitalization, and to analyze their sociodemographic characteristics and prognostic outcomes.
Methods
An observational retrospective study will be conducted using administrative and clinical data of patients who were involuntary admitted to inpatient psychiatry of Unidade Local de Saúde São João. All involuntary hospitalizations spanning from January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, will be categorized into two groups: patients who switch to voluntary hospitalization or patients that maintained involuntary hospitalization. Data registered in medical records within one year after the index hospitalization will be assessed (whether structured data or free-text). Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses will be performed.
Results
For both groups, sociodemographic and clinical variables will be described and compared, as well as the number of previous admissions, their legal status and the presence of previous ambulatory involuntary treatment. Administrative data on patient’s hospitalization, such as the length of stay, medical treatment and procedures performed, and the orientation received after discharge will also be compared. Additionally, prognosis outcomes, including readmissions, length of stay of readmissions and legal status of readmission will be analyzed.
Conclusions
We expect to elucidate the impact of switching involuntary hospitalized patients to voluntary status on prognosis outcomes. Through this comparative analysis, we hope to provide evidence supporting the prioritization of voluntary treatment whenever feasible.
This paper presents a descriptive analysis of common data collected across 11 independent studies in the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) from 2019 to 2024, focusing on participant demographics and participation in training programs prior to NRMN.
Methods:
Analyses focused on data from 6,197 survey responses collected primarily at baseline. Descriptive analyses examined participants’ demographic characteristics (gender, combined race/ethnicity, disability, parent/guardian education, and career stage) and participation in training programs prior to NRMN.
Results:
The majority of respondents were female (70%). Most respondents identified as White (46%), Black (23%), Asian (18%), and Hispanic (17%). Most respondents (91%) did not report a disability. In terms of career stage, 55% were undergraduates. Sixty-three percent reported that their parent or guardian had completed a bachelor’s degree. Regarding participation in training programs prior to NRMN, 60% had participated in mentor training, and 62% reported involvement in research training activities such as workshops, field experiences, and conferences. Patterns of participation in prior mentorship or research program varied across demographic characteristics.
Conclusions:
The NRMN common data reveal the backgrounds of over 6,000 participants engaged in mentorship intervention studies across the biomedical workforce. The dataset includes participants from diverse demographics and career stages with varying levels of participation in prior mentor training and exposure to research training programs. This extensive dataset provides a valuable opportunity to explore the long-term impact of mentorship on the biomedical workforce in future research.
Psychiatric emergencies represent a significant challenge for healthcare systems due to their impact on patients, families and also healthcare professionals. These emergencies often arise in crisis situations, requiring immediate and appropriate intervention. Effective management not only involves stabilizing the patient but attending to psychosocial factors and continuity of treatment. In recent years, there has been an increase in the demand for psychiatric emergency services attributed to various factors; this underscores the need to analyze the patterns of these emergencies in order to optimize available resources and improve patient care.
Objectives
The present study provides information regarding demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients treated. The main goal is to identify trends, risk factors, and opportunities for improving critical situations management as well as and the effectiveness of procedures implemented in primary and specialized care.
Methods
Currently there is no standardized method for collecting data on urgent psychiatric care, thus depending on the specific methodology of each center. In our hospital, a written request from the General Emergency department (where patients are initially received and attended) is mandatory; without it, patients are not assessed. Therefore, there is a reliable computerized record of daily attendances, data that has been collected retrospectively on a weekly basis until the study period is completed (June, July, and August 2024).
The following items have been studied: time of request, age, sex, patient origin, reason for the request, prior follow-up, management in emergencies, and discharge referral. Telephone calls for specific consultations have not been included in the record or considered psychiatric care as such.
Results
There is a wealth of cross-referenced data that can be obtained form the collected information. In our opinion, the most interesting ones are those regarding referral reasons and discharging plans according to sex as well as age groups.
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Conclusions
The main conclusions are:
(1) More than 55% of patients present voluntarily, which could be interpreted as a positive indicator of mental health awareness, although it may also indicate a lack of prior support to prevent these crises.
(2) Of the patients assessed, 64.3% are discharged and 22.1% are admitted, with a low rate of service abandonment (1.8%). 64.3% of the total number had prior follow-up, suggesting effective ongoing care.
(3) More than 56% of the attendances received are women. It is essential to investigate whether this gender difference is due to a greater predisposition to seek help or differences in the incidence of psychiatric disorders.
(4) Regarding the reason of consultation, there is a high prevalence of suicidal ideation without prior intoxication (22.1%), reflecting the importance of preventive strategies in mental health and early crisis intervention.
In psychopathology, a dualistic approach often refers to the conceptual separation of the mind and body as distinct entities, which can influence how mental disorders are classified and diagnosed. This separation may lead to biased judgments and contribute to the stigmatization of mental health conditions. It can also encourage alternative conceptualizations of mental health disorders and promote new methods of classifying mental health issues beyond traditional biomedical or behavioral frameworks.
Objectives
The goal of our research was to examine the impact of psychiatrists’ and psychologists’ dualistic perspectives on the biological model of depression using the PLS-SEM model.
Methods
This cross-sectional study carried out in the Republic of Croatia in 2018, involved 238 participants, comprising 122 psychiatrists and 116 psychologists. We applied the Maudsley Attitude Questionnaire to examine the preferences of psychiatrists and psychologists in choosing the biological model of depression. Their dualistic perspectives were assessed using the Stanovich Mind-Body Dualism Scale. In the PLS-SEM modeling, dualism and monism were observed as exogenous latent variables in the model, and their impact on the biological model, which represents the endogenous latent variable, was analyzed. All model indicators are reflective.
Results
Psychiatrists (M = 14.71, SD = 2.27) and psychologists (M = 13.77, SD = 2.69) predominantly support the biological model out of Harlands’ 8 models of mental disorders in defining depression. The PLS-SEM initial reflective model is significant (p = 0.002) even though the fit indices provided mixed results. The GFI (0.963) and SRMR (0.059) suggested a good or acceptable fit, but the CFI (0.862) and RMSEA (0.095) indicated that the model requires further refinement. The R² value revealed that the model explained 61.3% of the variance in the endogenous variables.
Conclusions
Mental health professionals prefer the biological approach in explaining the etiology, classification, research, and treatment of depression. Supporting a dualistic perspective had a significant negative total effect (p < 0.05) on the choice of the biological model of depression.
Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) is a key outcome in the treatment of patients with psychosis. It is considered Patients should assess their HRQOL through PROMs. This subjective assessment could be combined with other sources of information
Objectives
The aims of the present study are to evaluate HRQOL and other related variables in a sample of Spanish schizophrenia spectrum patients, who start treatment in a Rehabilitation Unit and to evaluate if there are improvements in HRQOL and in these variables after receiving a rehabilitation treatment
Methods
A sample of 127 of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders patients were included in the study (Table 1). These patients started a multi-professional treatment in a Rehabilitation Service. Patients have been evaluated twice – at the beginning and treatment end. Patients have assessed their general and specific HRQOL with the EUROQOL-5D-5L and SQLS-R4 scales. Professionals have evaluated main symptoms of psychosis SSPI, general functioning (objective QOL) PSP and basic and instrumental Daily activities VAVDI. Frequencies in the demographic, clinical and questionnaire scores were calculated. Changes in the questionnaires between the two assessments (Wilcoxon and Chi Square tests) (Table 1).
Results
HRQOL scores were moderate in the EQ-5D-5L health and SQLS-R4 factors and total score (M=37.9; ST=20.9) in the first assessment, and high in the EQ-5D-5L value. The PSP score (objective QOL) at the first assessment shows notable difficulties. Significant changes HRQOL improvement were found in the EQ5D5L health, in the SQLS-R4 factors and total score (effect size range between .35-.39 small effect). General functioning (PSP) scores improved (effect size .68, middle effect) and Daily activities (0.34 small effect). A significant reduction in symptoms was observed in the total SSPI score, especially in negative symptoms, and anxiety/depression, with the effect size being particularly large (Table 2).
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Conclusions
These results of the present study outcomes have shown an improvement in both the perceived subjective and objective quality of life of patients. It seems patients and professional may have different criteria to evaluate HRQOL. The relevance of integrating patients’ HRQOL assessment into intervention strategies for the treatment of serious mental disorders is highlighted.
Pro-inflammatory mediators inhibit drug metabolism and transport. Detailed knowledge is lacking on the mechanism and extent of alterations in olanzapine pharmacokinetics during acute inflammatory states accompanying infections.
Objectives
To quantify the extent of systemic and brain exposure to olanzapine in a murine model of endotoxemia compared to a non-endotoxemia model.
Methods
Acute endotoxemia model was established in C57BL/6N mice intraperitonealy injected with 5 mg/kg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). On Day 2 following LPS administration, LPS-injected mice and saline-treated controls were given single doses of olanzapine orally (p.o.) or intravenously (i.v.) or desmethylolanzapine (DMO) i.v. Concentrations and unbound fractions of olanzapine and DMO were measured in plasma samples and brain homogenates. Moreover, plasma biochemistry parameters and mRNA expression patterns were evaluated of pro-inflammatory cytokines, selected phase I and II drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in the liver, ileum and brain.
Results
Following p.o. olanzapine, the areas under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for olanzapine and DMO in the plasma were increased 3.8-fold and 2.6-fold (P<0.05) in LPS-injected mice vs. controls. The AUC for olanzapine in the brain homogenate was 5.2-fold higher (P<0.05). Brain DMO was hardly detectable in both groups. The penetration ratios (Kp,brain) of 8.5 and 6.3 confirmed that LPS increased the passage of olanzapine into the brain. Expression of mRNAs was decreased in the liver of CYP1A2 and UGT1a1/1a5 enzymes and Abcb1a, Bsep and Ntcp transporters and of ileal Abcb1a, whereas Abcb1a and Abcb1b in the brain and inflammatory cytokines and chemokines mRNAs in the liver were upregulated.
Conclusions
Investigation of olanzapine pharmacokinetics in endotoxemia mice clearly indicates a considerable increase in systemic and brain concentrations of the drug after oral administration. Further studies should clarify whether or not the inflammation-induced inhibition of metabolism and efflux transport results in brain overexposure to the drug and adverse effects in accutely infected patients treated with oral olanzapine.
The corpus callosum (CC) is essential for interhemispheric communication, and its abnormal integration is central to the neurobiology of schizophrenia (SCZ). SCZ patients have a 10-fold higher risk of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and about 20-35% show a lack or poor response to antipsychotics and are defined as treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) Until now, no study has analyzed the morphology of the CC in TRS compared to healthy controls (HC) and non-TRS patients with and without CUD.
Objectives
The aim of the study is to assess whether the diagnosis of psychosis, the response to antipsychotic treatment, and CUD can influence the volume of the CC. To achieve this, we used an innovative artificial intelligence program applied to MRI, which provides structural information on a single subject.
Methods
We included 20 HC and 48 SCZ patients, of whom 14 were affected by TRS and 34 were non-TRS. Among the non-TRS group, 20 had CUD comorbidity (non-TRS-CUD+) and 14 did not have CUD (non-TRS-CUD-). All were assessed cross-sectionally through the Neurological Evaluation Scale, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, the Positive And Negative Syndrome Scale. We assessed them cross-sectionally using psychometric tools, cognitive tests. All patients underwent a brain MRI 1.5 T, for white matter volume group analysis, and MRI applied to Artificial Intelligence (MRI-AI-Pixyl.Neuro) for single-subjects analysis.
Results
TRS was associated with higher PANSS total score (fig. 1) and neurological soft signs (fig. 2) and lower negative symptoms (trend) than non-TRS groups. The TRS group performs worse in the Tower of London task compared to non-TRS and HC groups. Only the condition of TRS is associated with a significantly smaller CC volume (64.28%) compared to HCs and non-TRS patients (Fig. 3). Only one patient from the non-TRS-CUD- group showed a reduction in the volume of the CC like TRS patients.
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Conclusions
TRS is associated with more severe general and negative symptoms, NSS, and cognitive dysfunctions and with a significantly smaller CC volume, demonstrating the role of this structure in the pathogenesis of TRS and probably in executive function impairment. Is conceivable that TRS has unique evolution and course characteristics, and that continuous cannabis use for 6.95 years is probably not sufficient to cause the structural alterations typical of TRS.
The MRI-AI applied to a single subject has shown reliable results, confirmed by classical group analysis, and represents a revolutionary tool for identifying potential neuroradiological biomarkers of disease, enabling quick TRS diagnosis in clinical practice, faster clozapine treatment following TRIPP guidelines, and easy application using only a standard volumetric sequence without post-scan analysis.
Older people’s complex healthcare needs require the development of integrated mental and physical health services. The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland’s Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age (POA) is in the process of drafting a position statement on the integration of POA with other services for older people such as the Integrated Care Program for Older People (ICPOP). ICPOP provides geriatric multi-disciplinary treatment in the community. In January 2024, the Clare Psychiatry of Later Life (POLL) team set up a novel consult liaison (CL) service with our local colleagues ICPOP colleagues.
Objectives
The authors aim to describe a novel model of care for our newly developed ICPOP CL service. It may be of interest to other POLL teams who wish to expand their CL service to include their local ICPOP services or other community services. We also evaluated: referral patterns to the Clare POLL CL service, the number of referrals from the ICPOP CL service in its first six months, and key patient characteristics of ICPOP CL referrals compared to inpatient CL referrals.
Methods
The model of care for our novel ICPOP CL clinic is described in detail. Patients were discussed at integrated multidisciplinary meetings. Cases brought by ICPOP for discussion with POLL could result in advice, a consult in a designated ICPOP CL clinic, or a referral for joint care. Joint teaching sessions were also arranged.
Results
71.25 % (n=57, n=80) of referrals from Ennis General were for POLL CL. Conversely, CL referrals made up 21.43 % (n=81, n=378) of referrals to the Clare POLL service overall. ICPOP CL referrals made up 31.58% (n=18, n=57) of the POLL CL referrals over six months and made up 10% (n=18, n=180) of overall referrals to the Clare POLL service for the same period. Of these 18 ICPOP CL referrals, only four (22.22%) required joint care. Seven patients were referred by POLL to ICPOP for joint care over the same period. Patient characteristics were summarized by table 1.
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Conclusions
The authors present a service integration initiative between a local POLL and ICPOP service, which they believe was mutually beneficial to both services and the patients they serve. The characteristics of patients referred to POLL from the new integration with ICPOP resemble other community referrals, as opposed to inpatient CL referrals.
Medical improvisation, or HPTI (Health Professional Training Improv), enhances critical skills in healthcare professionals. These skills include communication, empathy, time pressure management, and creative problem-solving. Our presentation aims to showcase a practical application of HPTI, demonstrating its relevance and effectiveness in mental health training.
Objectives
In this presentation, we will demonstrate our training method, including a short session with exercises adapted to healthcare professions. The session is divided into four parts. Each part is designed to maximize engagement and learning, with debriefing sessions to clarify teaching objectives and foster reflective practice.
Methods
Warm-Up Exercises: Physical and vocal exercises to optimize communication and awareness. Improvisation Techniques: Exercises focused on mastering emotions and various forms of communication, allowing participants to explore their strengths and limitations. Medical Scenario Applications: Short clinical scenarios to emphasize the cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy. Review of Existing Workshops and Research: Presentation of current workshops and research to encourage further exploration and application in training. Each part includes a debriefing session to clarify teaching objectives, develop a reflective approach, and identify areas for improvement.
For our ongoing comparative study we have implemented the following questionnaires for our training participants: IUS (uncertainty intolerance scale) and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQII). A total of 50 students participated in our research in both countries.
Results
Hungarian training participants included medical school students in Hungary and fourth-year speech therapy students in France and included professional scenarios based on stress and emotion management, interdisciplinary collaboration and collaboration with the patient, and communication, with debriefing on their performance. The data is currently being collected.
Conclusions
Applied improvisation through HPTI offers a valuable approach to improving mental health training. By enhancing communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills, healthcare professionals can provide better patient care and navigate their roles more effectively. Our presentation demonstrates these techniques and encourages their integration into regular training programs.
While climate change affects millions of people in South and Southeast Asia, women and girls are disproportionately impacted, largely due to pre-existing vulnerabilities given their traditional gender roles and intensified adaptive capacity and sensitivity to climate change. They have often less representation and decision-making power in governance processes and structures involved in the development and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. Moreover, they face mental health and psychosocial problems due to various climate-related stressors.
Objectives
The study aimed at exploring the perceptions of people living in contexts affected by climate change in order to better understand the impact on the psychosocial conditions of women and girls.
Methods
In 2023, online and in situ interviews were conducted with 30 individuals (15 women, 15 men) from the government, international and national organisations as well as academic and research institutions in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Moreover, eight focus group discussions were conducted in Bangladesh (Kurigram and Sathkira districts) and Nepal (Rasuwa and Udayapur districts) with 71 community members, including 40 women and girls (aged 14 to 54 years old) and 31 men and boys (aged 15 to 70 years old).
Results
In Bangladesh, both districts face extreme weather like drought and floods, which leads to the migration of men. An increased involvement of women in farming, alongside their household responsibilities. This has transformed the family dynamic and women, as household head, have become the primary decision-makers. In Nepal, there has been a lack of awareness among women and men on the impact of climate change on their living conditions. The significant shift in the traditional gender divisions of labour has not brought an equitable transfer of assets and resources that could help women to cope after a climate-related event. Ultimately, women suffer from mental health issues.
Conclusions
This study shows some causal links between climate change and the psychosocial conditions of women and girls which confirm the necessity to develop gender-responsive climate change strategies, to improve access to mental health services and to prevent long-term changes within communities.
The impact of migration on cardiovascular risk factors have been reported to be gender-specific. Obesity and cardiovascular disease are increased in those who migrate to Western countries.
Objectives
Our aim is to investigate changes in the dietary habits of women after migration, especially in schizophrenia women.
Methods
A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Scopus and PsycINFO databases from inception to October 2024 according to the PRISMA statement. Search terms: (diet OR food OR “dietary acculturation”) AND migration AND women. Studies were included if they were focused on dietary changes after migration in women. In a second step, we conducted electronic searches to find additional papers on schizophrenia.
Results
A total of 2046 records were screened, of which 36 studies were included.
(1) Socio-clinical scenarios of migration: a)Latin-American (n=5), b)African (n=7), c)Asian (n=17), Europe (n=2). Results: Weight gain after migration to developed countries, reduced dietary diversity and limited access to culturally appropriate foods are common (poor traditional-food trajectories). Early stages of migration are critical. Model of dietary transition during pregnancy (3 stages) and risk of gestational diabetes.
(2) Transnational migration (rural-urban, n=5). Indian women had higher intakes of both fruit and vegetables and fat. Migration from rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban areas was associated with obesity risk. Exception: rural migrants to Mongolia’s capital maintaining traditional lifestyles. Few studies focus on women with schizophrenia.
Conclusions
The dietary habits of migrant women may have implications for future chronic disease risk, particularly for those with schizophrenia. Early culturally sensitive weight-loss interventions for migrant women are recommended.
Clinically derived approaches take the different psycho-social and biological conditions into regard and thus render more homogeneous groups, than the current diagnostic criteria, like ICD-11 or DSM 5. Precision medicine, moreover, shows that the amount of drinking, the reason for drinking and thereby also gender seems to be relevant for testing different anticraving drugs. Precision medicine indicates the necessity for more homogeneous subgroups, in order to find differences in the effects of anticraving substances. Many typologies in AUD render more homogeneous subgroups (Lesch et al, 2020). They could increasingly be used for testing anticraving drugs. After presenting these basics in anticraving research, the results of two trials will be presented. First, some genetic results could only be defined in Lesch type 3 female patients (Procopio et al, 2013). Second, in a treatment trial of ondansetron the genetic conditions lead to better sobriety rates only in the not very high drinking group (less than 10 drinks per day) but not in the very high drinking group (Addolorato et al, 2024). Summarizing these research results we see that for anticraving trials we need even more carefully defined subgroups of AUD patients. References: Lesch OM, Walter H, Wetschka Ch, Hesselbrock MN, Hesselbrock V, Pombo S: Alcohol and Tobacco. Medical and Sociological Aspects of Use, Abuse and Addiction. Springer Verlag, 2nd Edition, 2020. Addolorato G, Alho H, Bresciani M, DeAndrade P, Lesch OM, Liu L, Johnson B.: Safety and compliance of long-term low-dose ondansetron in alcohol use disorder treatment. Eur.J.Intern Med, Sept. 127: 43-49; 2024. Procopio DO, Saba LM, Walter H, Lesch O, Skala K, Schlaff G, Vanderlinden L, Clapp P, Hoffman PL, Tabakoff B. Genetic markers of comorbid depression and alcoholism in women. Alc Clin Exp Res. Jun. 37 (6): 896-904, 2013.
Mental health stigma remains a significant challenge in Moldova despite ongoing progress in mental health services. The negative perception and stereotypes about mental disorders have been socially ingrained, resulting in negative attitudes, fear, or even humor directed towards affected individuals. Addressing this stigma is essential to improve mental health outcomes and integrate services effectively.
Objectives
The study aimed to evaluate public perceptions and attitudes towards mental health stigma in Moldova, identify common stereotypes, and suggest actions to reduce stigma.
Methods
The research employed a comparative study design using a structured questionnaire across two different time points: 2018 and 2022. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews utilizing the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) method, ensuring data accuracy and consistency. The study covered eight districts, with a total sample of 2973 participants stratified by geographic region and demographic characteristics.
Results
The findings highlighted that the level of acceptance towards individuals with mental health issues was moderate, with participants showing more acceptance at a distance, indicating persistent stigma. Notable differences between urban and rural areas were observed, with urban areas showing a higher level of openness. Furthermore, stigma was significantly influenced by the level of education and age of the respondents.
Conclusions
Mental health services are currently available across all districts of Moldova, but there remains a need for ongoing improvements to ensure equal access to high-quality care and to minimize both geographical and stigma-related barriers. Ongoing training programs for healthcare professionals are vital for effectively reducing stigma and improving the quality of care for those facing mental health challenges, with a specific focus on non-discriminatory practices and empathetic approaches. To achieve successful mental health care, a collaborative approach that involves healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community stakeholders is essential. This multidisciplinary coordination is key to establishing a supportive and comprehensive care environment. Additionally, public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives targeting both the general population and healthcare providers are critical in reducing stigma and changing attitudes towards mental health, thereby encouraging more people to seek care. Finally, integrating mental health services into primary healthcare should be prioritized to enhance accessibility and continuity of care. This integration will also facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention, leading to improved outcomes for patients.
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major clinical challenge, necessitating novel and more effective therapeutic approaches. The BRIGhTMIND study is the largest transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) clinical trial conducted in the UK. This multicentre, randomised controlled trial compares the efficacy of connectivity-guided intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) with standard repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients with TRD. This talk will present key findings from the study, including response and remission rates, reported side effects, and key differences between the novel iTBS protocol tested and the conventional rTMS protocol used as the control condition. Additionally, we will explore the clinical implications of using functional connectivity to optimise stimulation targets. The results contribute to the growing evidence supporting TMS as an effective intervention for TRD and offer insights into the future of precision psychiatry in brain stimulation.
Discriminatory and abusive behaviors may strongly affect older LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) adults, and poorer health is linked to discriminating practices. Shame is associated with ageism and sexual orientation-based discrimination and may be a significant impediment to aging well by undermining older adults’ sense of agency, health, and well-being. However, little is still known about older LGBTQIA+ adults who encounter double stigmatization.
Objectives
This study aims to explore the dimensions of shame and double stigmatization of older LGBTQIA+ adults.
Methods
The significant psychological challenges and relevant themes experienced by older LGBTQIA+ adults, as related to shame and double stigmatization, were illustrated by semi-structured interviews with 329 older adults in a qualitative study through content analysis.
Results
The results highlight four themes of shame and double stigmatization among older LGBTQIA+ adults, encompassing (1) ageism (86.5%), (2) sexual orientation-based discrimination (81.1%), (3) stereotyping (76.8%), and (4) social exclusion (72.3%).
Conclusions
The study reveals the profound negative effects of shame and double stigmatization on older LGBTQIA+ adults, emphasizing the need for inclusive policies and interventions to address multiple forms of discrimination and promote equitable treatment in aging populations.