The negative impact of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) on the quality of life of affected individuals is one of the serious consequences of this pathology. Consideration of this quality of life as one of the therapeutic objectives is essential.

to evaluate the impact of the severity of OSA on quality of life in affected patients

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 40 patients diagnosed with OSA by polysomnography in the Sleep unit, department of Neurophysilogy at Sahloul university hospital in Sousse, Tunisia. This study was based on a generic questionnaire (SF-12) to assess the quality of life.

The mean age was 49.7 ± 7.87 years with a sex ratio of 1.10. The mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 29.72. OSA was mild, moderate and severe in 40%, 22.5% and 37.5% of cases respectively. The majority of our patients had an impaired quality of life with an ave[1]rage score of 42.78. There was a positive linear relationship between physical and mental components of the SF-12 and AHI (p= 0.026 and p=0.019 respectively). Mental component of the SF-12 was significantly associated with treatment with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) (p=0.014).

Our study has shown that the severity of OSA has an impact on different domains of quality of life. The management of this disease should not be limited to controlling the disease but should aim for overall patient satisfaction.

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The literature has emphasized the importance of implementing evidence-based occupational therapy teleinterventions to enhance work participation in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an innovative metacognitive self-tailored teleintervention for adults with ADHD performance at work enhancement (Work-MAP). The outcome measures were efficacy of and satisfaction with the performance of self-selected work goals (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure), executive functions (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult), and quality of life (Adult ADHD Quality of Life Questionnaire).

In this randomized controlled trial, participants were 46 adults with ADHD. Group A (n = 31) received the synchronous, hybrid-telehealth intervention in 11 weekly 1-hour individual sessions, while Group B (n = 15) completed the same intervention after a waiting phase.

Following the intervention, participants demonstrated and maintained significant improvements in all outcome measures (strong-to-moderate significant effects) to the 3-month follow-up.

Work-MAP seems to be effective intervention for enhancing work participation (i.e., performance at work), executive functions, and quality of life of adults with ADHD. Future studies with larger samples and additional objective measures are needed to further validate these findings.

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Fahr’s Disease, also known as Fahr’s Syndrome, is a rare genetically dominant disease, characterized by the abnormal accumulation of calcium deposits, or calcifications, in various areas of the brain, particularly the basal ganglia. These calcifications, which are typically bilateral and symmetrical, can lead to a wide range of neurological and psychiatric symptoms, making diagnosis and management challenging. It usually manifests between the ages of 40 and 60, primarily after the age of 30.

To contribute to the medical literature by sharing this rare case, thereby increasing awareness and knowledge about Fahr’s Disease among healthcare professionals.

Non systematic review of the literature and access to the medical history of the patient.

We present a case of a 42 year old woman, who came to our hospital with behavior changes, with increasing confusion and new mystical beliefs, insomnia and agitation.

According to the patient’s husband, the patient sounded confused and inappropriate in her speech. The patient was admitted for evaluation of altered mental status. The patient was alert and oriented to person, place, time, and situation in the emergency department, with shudder while neurologically intact. The patient was unpolite, agitated.

Psychiatry was consulted for evaluation. We decided to admit the patient and did a posterior study with a CT scan and MRI. The MRI, as well as CT scan revealed “dense calcification of the dentate nuclei and the basal ganglia”, highly suggestive of Fahr’s syndrome. The patient’s phosphorus level was 3.5 mg/dl (normal level: 2.5-4.5 mg/dl). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) intact was 53 pg/ml (normal level: 15-65 pg/ml), and calcium level was 10,3 mg/dl (normal level: 8.4-10.5 mg/dl). The vitamin D 25-hydroxy concentration was 43,5 ng/ml (normal level: 30-60 ng/ml).

In conclusion, Fahr’s Disease is a rare and complex neurological disorder characterized by idiopathic calcification of the bilateral basal ganglia, resulting in a diverse range of neurological and psychiatric symptoms. Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation and neuroimaging, while treatment is primarily symptomatic. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying genetic and biochemical mechanisms driving calcification in the brain and to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for this challenging condition.

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Cannabis use is very common worldwide. Its consumption could be explained by recreational purposes as it can be motivated by some psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety or low self-esteem.

This study aims to explore the relationship between cannabis use, depression, anxiety and self-esteem among a population of Tunisian adults living abroad.

A cross-sectional online survey was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire on young Tunisians people who have completed their secondary studies at the pilot high school of Sfax and currently residing abroad. The survey questionnaire was designed on Google Forms. It included a data collection sheet and psychometric scales “Cannabis Abuse Screening Test” (CAST), “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS) and”Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale”.

The sample consisted of 35 Tunisian young adults. 17 participants (48.6%) reported a cannabis use behavior. It was done with friends in a festive setting in 88% of cases (N=15). According to the CAST, 17,6% (N=3) of cannabis users were at high risk of cannabis dependence. Anxiety was present in 17,6% (N=3) and depression in 17,6% (N=3) of participants. Self-esteem was low in 23,53% (N=4) of participants.

Cannabis use was not associated with the presence of current emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression (p=0.894 and p=0.933 respectively). It was also not associated with lower self-esteem (p=0.585).

Cannabis use is relatively common among young Tunisian emigrants without evolving towards dependence inseveral cases. This behavior seems to be more influenced by social factors and misrepresentations about cannabis than by psychological disturbance.

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Pregnancy is a high-risk period for major affective disorders and can lead to a destabilizing period for our patients. Standard pharmacological strategies must be carefully evaluated due to potential teratogenic or side effects. We present a case of bipolar disorder type I with challenging-to-control maniac episodes during pregnancy, which has required Electroconvulsive Therapy for its management.

Presenting maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a safe and effective therapeutic strategy during pregnancy, with the presentation of a case in which it has been administered every 3 weeks from the second trimester until the baby’s birth at 37 weeks

This concerns a 28-year-old immigrant woman, married, with a 10-year-old child. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I at the age of 16 when she experienced her first manic episode in her country of origin. Subsequently, during her first pregnancy, she required hospitalization for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatment, with a positive response after a single session. She remained stable for several years without maintenance pharmacological treatment or follow-up until the ninth week of her second pregnancy when she experienced a manic episode requiring hospitalization.

She was initially treated with Olanzapine and Lorazepam with a positive response, but three weeks later, she was readmitted with a similar episode. These decompensations occurred almost monthly, leading to the consideration of introducing mood stabilizers after the first trimester. However, due to the patient’s severe hyperemesis gravidarum, this stabilizing treatment was ruled out due to the difficulty in controlling its blood levels and the associated risk of intoxication. During the fifth admission at the 20th week of gestation, the decision was made to initiate ECT treatment, which yielded an excellent response and subsequent maintenance.

The indications for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) during pregnancy are the same as in the rest of adult patients. In individuals with a psychiatric history, it is possible for a relapse of mental illness to occur during pregnancy, although the risk is considerably higher during the postpartum period. ECT is considered an effective and safe treatment option in all three trimesters of pregnancy and the postpartum period. During the informed consent process, patients should be informed about the potential impact of ECT as well as alternative treatment options.

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The Palestine-Israel War has reverberated across borders, transcending boundaries to affect individuals far beyond the conflict zone.

While much attention has been rightfully directed toward the immediate physical and psychological consequences within the war-torn regions, there is a growing need to explore the broader impact on the mental health of populations in neighboring countries including the sleep disorders among the Tunisian population during this war.

To study the sleep disorders in Tunisian people related to the extensive war news broadcasting and to identify the factors associated to it.

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted among Tunisians. Data were collected during October and November 2023, through an anonymous online questionnaire, spread throughout social media (Facebook/Instagram), using the Google Forms® platform. We used a socio-demographic and clinical data sheet and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) to measures the severity of insomnia.

A total of 1091 participants completed the questionnaire.The participants’ mean age was 32.7 ± 9.8 years, with a sex ratio (F/M) = 3.5.

The study revealed that 100% of the respondents followed the war, predominantly relying on social media (98.6%) with 55% closely monitoring the war via the media during more than 3 hours per day.

74.1% of the participants were Religious practitioners

According to the (ISI): a significant insomnia was found in 75.2% of participants.

The breakdown of insomnia severity indicated that 47.3% experienced subthreshold insomnia, 25.7% clinical insomnia of moderate severity, and 2.2% clinical insomnia of severe intensity.

The factors significantly associated with severe insomnia were: a male population (p=0.018) and an increase in religious practices (p=0.031).

The impact of the Palestine-Israel war on Tunisian individuals’ sleep patterns, predominantly mediated through increased exposure via social media with using increase in religious practices as a possible coping mechanism.

The study highlights support initiatives to address the psychological repercussions of international conflicts on mental health. This suggests the importance of applying sleep hygiene rules and screening for sleep disorders.

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After the introduction of all the speakers, the main aim of this workshop will be mentioned, which consists of identifying and highlighting those clinical, sociodemographic, environmental and other factors than might predict an increased risk of overall, depressive, manic or mixed relapses in bipolar disorder, which is crucial for the identification of high-risk individuals. Dr. Pacchiarotti will present main results from a systematic review performed recently by the work group aimed at collecting the available evidence regarding different factors that increase rates of mood recurrences or relapses for different polarities in bipolar disorder.

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Cameroon’s eastern region faces numerous security challenges linked to successive crises in the Central African Republic, particularly with the massive influx of refugees especially since 2013. Official UNHCR figures speak of 349,409 Central African refugees present on Cameroonian soil. These are both refugees already well established in their host communities, and new arrivals. Since the post-electoral crisis in CAR at the end of 2020, the situation has gradually stabilized in the Kadey department, but remains volatile due to daily insecurity in the northern regions of the Central African Republic.

With a view to meeting the mental health and psychosocial support needs of the region’s population and better integrating refugees into their host communities, it was necessary to obtain a more exhaustive picture of the population’s perception of mental health, to understand the mechanisms of psychosocial support at community level and any differences between refugees and the indigenous population.

A mixed methodology with quantitative and qualitative data was chosen for a more detailed analysis. The survey was carried out in two communes in the Kadey department: Kentzou and Kette. The sample was disaggregated to take account of the socio-demographic characteristics and to enable to make comparisons between the situations of host communities, living in refugee sites and outside sites. For quantitative data, 205 the individuals responded to a questionnaire. 12 individual interviews and 12 Focus Group Discussions (involving 60 participants ) guided by semi-structured questions were used to collect qualitative data from key members of the community.

Analysis of quantitative and qualitative data has confirmed the successful integration of Central African refugees into the host community. Nevertheless, there is a difference between these two groups in terms of their perception and understanding of the definition of mental health, mental health disorders and treatment options. Thus, there was a clear difference in training and awareness needs between the host and refugee communities.

Based on the qualitative and quantitative results of our assessment, a number of recommendations have been drawn up. It would be interesting to find a balance in the definition, attribution of causes and treatment of mental disorders between the traditional, mystical and cultural vision and the psychological and psychiatric one. It would be important to encourage refugee communities to return to some of their traditional practices, and to allow several visions of the human being to coexist between a traditional and a more medical vision.

To address the lack of resources for mental health care in the Kadey area, more training in mental health and psychosocial support is needed for health and social workers in the area.

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Competency and skill-based education and assessment have become increasingly significant in mental health professional training. The conventional approach of acquiring knowledge is now being supplemented by emphasizing practical skills and implementing best practices that prove effective in the field. This emphasis on competencies is particularly apparent in the instruction regarding suicide risk evaluation and management. Cramer and colleagues have identified ten core competencies essential for working with patients at risk of suicide and developed a training material (Cramer et al. 2013, Train. Educ. Prof. Psychol; 1 1-11).

We aim to tailor Cramer et al.’s training program to the Hungarian setting and assess its efficacy among mental health experts, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and social workers. Additionally, we aim to validate the Suicide Prevention and Assessment - Competency Assessment Form (SCAF-R), which comprises a ten-item survey to measure the ten core competencies’ levels with Likert scales and textual ratings by observers. Through this training program, we aim to offer mental health professionals an educational framework to enhance their skills in evaluating and managing suicide risk. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to suicide risk assessment and better equip professionals to handle this emotionally difficult clinical task.

We have created a Hungarian version of the core competencies training material tailored to the culture. We are assessing changes in attitudes towards suicide behavior and prevention by administering pre- and post-training psychometric measures, such as Willingness to Intervene against Suicide (WISE), Suicide Behavior Attitude Questionnaire (SBAQ), Attitudes Toward Suicide Prevention Scale (ASP), and Suicide Competency Assessment Form - Revised (SCAF-R). A quantitative analysis will be performed on the responses. The research was approved by Péterfy Hospital’s Institutional Review Board (IRB): approval number 07-2023.

The questionnaires’ results will be summarized with standard statistical methods.

Improving mental health education in healthcare with up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based best practices is a top priority. Enhancing skills and knowledge can lower clinicians’ anxiety in this emotionally challenging and burdensome task. There is a high demand for mental health workshop training among healthcare workers in both undergraduate and post-graduate education. We expect positive changes in attitude and self-perceived competencies in participants.

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is of primary clinical interest because of its harmful impact on the general health and quality of life of patients with psychotic disorders. Paradoxically, MetS is associated with impaired cognitive functions in patients receiving antipsychotics primarily shown to improve cognition (e.g., clozapine and olanzapine).

In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between MetS, cognitive functions, and peripheral inflammation.

The participants were 154 patients with schizophrenia. Fifty-seven patients met the criteria of MetS. We evaluated cognitive functions with the Repeated Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) quantified the clinical symptoms. We also measured the plasma levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). In addition to conventional statistics, we also calculated Cohen’s effect size (d) and Bayes Factors (BF10).

Results revealed that patients with MetS exhibited worse cognitive function relative to patients without Mets in attention (d = 0.19, BF10 = 2.3) and delayed memory (d = 0.25, BF10 = 5.7). No significant between-group differences existed in immediate memory, visuospatial functions, and language. The MetS and non-MetS groups did not differ in positive, negative, or general symptoms. Higher IL-6 levels were associated with worse delayed memory (r=-0.56, BF10=34.6).

Our results suggest that MetS-associated cognitive dysfunctions are less severe than reported in the literature: it was confined to two cognitive domains, the effect size was small, and the Bayesian evidence level was weak. Peripheral inflammation may mediate the association between MetS and long-term memory dysfunctions.

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Self-compassion is defined as the ability to be open to and touched by one’s suffering and to relate to it with kindness and non-judgmental awareness. Although identifying factors related to treatment adherence remains an important challenge in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, self-compassion has rarely been investigated in this population. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-compassion training can improve treatment adherence in this population.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between self-compassion and treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

thirty stabilized adult outpatients with schizophrenia (n=18), schizoaffective disorder (n=11), brief psychotic disorder (n=1) per DSM-5 criteria were included. Self- compassion was assessed using the 26-item Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). Treatment adherence was assessed using the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). Socio- demographic characteristics, including age, gender, academic level, and mean daily antipsychotic dosages were collected.

There was no significant difference in SCS scores and MARS scores as a function of gender, age, or academic level. The results of the present preliminary study suggest a positive correlation between the SCS total scores and the MARS scores. It was found that higher levels of self-compassion are related with higher levels of treatment adherence in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and lower levels of self- compassion are associated with discontinuation of medications without a psychiatrist’s recommendation. This connection was present in all diagnostic groups.

The results of the present preliminary study suggest that self-compassion and treatment adherence are closely related. Improving self-compassion in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders may improve their level of treatment adherence. Further studies are needed to investigate whether self-compassion training programs could be useful as an extension of standard psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve treatment adherence in this population.

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A growing body of literature has investigated diet and mental health, however, it is often viewed through a “weight-centric” lens, where weight loss is considered a primary outcome and motivator. This review aims to shed new insights into the connections between mental health and wellbeing, and eating behaviours that focus on internal cues and regulators and do not centralise around weight. Such “weight-neutral approaches” have been associated with improved psychological health and wellbeing, however, consolidated evidence is lacking.

To explore eating styles that do not centralise around weight, and their relationship with mental health and wellbeing and other health outcomes.

A systematic search was performed including observational studies of adult populations, with ≥1 mental health and wellbeing or physical health outcome, and ≥1 validated measure of eating behaviour reflective of a weight-neutral approach. Outcomes were characterised into four domains (mental health and wellbeing, physical health, health promoting behaviours and other eating behaviours). Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

In total 8281 records were identified with 86 studies including 75 unique datasets and 78 unique exposures included. Eating behaviours included intuitive eating (n=48), mindful eating (n=19), and eating competence (n=11). All eating behaviours incorporated biological, physiological, and social factors, with 297 outcomes categorised for mental health and wellbeing (n=122), physical health (n=116), health promoting behaviours (n=51) and other eating behaviour (n=8). Greater intuitive and mindful eating were significantly related to lower levels of disordered eating, and depressive symptoms, as well as greater body image, self-compassion, and mindfulness. Greater intuitive eating, mindful eating and eating competence were significantly related to a lower BMI, and greater diet quality and physical activity. Eating competence and intuitive eating were significantly related to higher fruit and vegetable intake, and eating competence alone was significantly related to higher fibre intake, and greater sleep quality.

This review provides evidence that intuitive eating, mindful eating and eating competence are positively related to a range of mental and physical health outcomes. Considered within the biopsychosocial model, these findings enhance understanding around the impact of approaches to healthy eating patterns that are not focused on weight loss, and contributes a case towards promoting health-centric eating behaviour in mental health care. Future research should focus on experimental studies and broader population groups.

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The evaluation of child and adolescent offspring of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder seeks to understand changes taking place in the brain in individuals at heightened risk for disease during a key developmental period. In this session I will present findings from the BASYS (Bipolar And Schizophrenia Young offspring Study) cohort, which has recruited young offspring of patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder ages 6 to 17 years, using clinical, cognitive and brain imaging measures for over 15 years in Spain. I will begin by reviewing our baseline and 2 year findings using structural magnetic resonance imging (MRI) measures, where we found whole brain and regional cortical grey matter volume and surface area reductions, specifically in offspring of patients with schizophrenia relative to controls, but not in offspring of patients with bipolar disorder, which I will compare with results from the ENIGMA relatives working group analyses. Within our cohort I will expain the relevance of baseline brain structural findings to clinical and cognitive outcome over time. I will then present longitudinal analyses of structural anf functional MRI measures at up to 8 year follow-up, examining the influence of development of psychotic spectrum symptoms over time and cognitive and functional outcomes, on longitudinal brain imaging measures. I will finish the talk explaining avenues for future research in the field, which include incorporating other imaging modalities and validating our findings in other cohorts, while I will also present avenues for increasing understanding of the neurobiological changes underpinning our MRI findings.

This project has received funding from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI151500467; PI1700741; PI1800696; PI1800976, PI2100330), Fundació Marato TV3 (091630, 202232-30-31), the Catalonia Government (2021SGR01319), PERIS (SLT006/17/00346), Fundació Clínic Recerca Biomèdica (Ajut a la Recerca Pons Bartran), co-financed by ERDF Funds from the European Commission and CIBERSAM.

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Hyponatriemia can be potentially fatal if it is not corrected immediately. The rapid correction of chronic hyponatriemia can cause demyelinating brain lesions.

A fifty-six year old female was brought to the emergency department of the psychiatric clinic by her daughter, with incomprehensible speech and psycomotor agitation. She was diagnosed several years ago with bipolar disorder, with valproic acid and quetiapine being her current medication. She has been living alone, in a small suburban city. Approximately twenty four hours before her admission to the hospital she visited her daughter, which aligns with the onset of symptoms.

After both the brain CT scan and the lab results came back normal, the patient was admitted to the psychiatric clinic of the General Hospital of Corfu. On the fourth day of the patient’s hospitalization - when both her speech and the psycomotor agitation showed signs of improvement- we were informed that three days before her admission to the clinic she visited the emergency department of another hospital where she was treated for hyponatriemia. The patient’s hyponatriemia was corrected over the span of twelve hours by 35 mEq.

After receiving this information, we ordered a brain MRI scan which revealed a central pontine myelinolysis. The result can explain the clinical symptoms that our patient showcased before her admission and could have been caused by the rapid correction of hyponatriemia.

The patient’s speech was fully restored after four weeks and there were no symptoms consistent with any psycho emotional disorder.

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Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic that is primarily prescribed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Despite its proven efficacy, the prescription of clozapine is sometimes limited by its hematologic side effects, including agranulocytosis. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, schizophrenia is recognized as a risk factor for developing severe forms of the infection. Early and complete vaccination of patients has been recommended. However, there is limited data on the effect of the vaccine on the risk of hematologic abnormalities in patients treated with clozapine.

To study the hematologic effect of the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 in a population of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia treated with clozapine.

Twenty-five patients hospitalized for schizophrenia at the forensic psychiatry department of Razi Hospital in Manouba, Tunisia, were included. Eighteen patients were treated with clozapine, and seven patients were treated with other antipsychotics. Consent from patients and/or their relatives was obtained before vaccination. The results of complete blood counts performed as part of the therapeutic protocol were compared between the two groups before and after administration of the vaccine.

No patient experienced agranulocytosis induced by clozapine after vaccination against COVID-19.Blood cells counts,red blood cells counts,and platelets were within the normal ranges.However,a decrease in the number of WBCs,neutrophils,and lymphocytes was observed in patients treated with clozapine without significant difference compared to the patients treated with other neuroleptics, but there was no severe neutropenia or need to stop treatment.

The prescription of clozapine, the introduction protocol, and treatment administration have been greatly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the hepatotoxic risk of the drug. Vaccination is essential to prevent severe forms of the infection, especially in at-risk populations such as patients treated for schizophrenia.The potentiation of hematologic side effects induced by clozapine by the vaccine is not documented.The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is safe even with clozapine

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It is well known that emotions guide decision-making processes in risk contexts. Several studies in the literature have showed the influence of emotions on risk-taking using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART).

The aim this research was to investigate the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) levels on the impact of emotions in risk-taking propensity assessed by the BART.

To this end, we developed a variant of the BART in wich each balloon displayed a face with an emotional expression: happiness, fear, or neutral. EI was assessed from the performance-based ability model by the MSCEIT. The sample consisted of 120 participants (Mage = 21.52; 80% women).

A repeated measures ANOVA revealed a higher tendency to take risks when happy faces were presented, compared to the fear and neutral conditions. Moreover, participants with higher levels of EI showed a lower tendency to take risks across all emotional conditions. This relationship was particularly strong in the fear faces.

Our findings support the effect of incidental emotions on risk-taking and suggest the role of EI as a protective factor for risk engagement.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with early onset (Christiansen, H., et al. CPR 2019, 1–11), which is characterized by several symptoms, including lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are incompatible with age and developmental level (Caye, A., et al. 2020 JAACAP, 990–997)

This study aimed to determine the effect of Self-Regulation Based Cognitive Psychoeducation Program on emotion regulation and self-efficacy in children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and receiving medication.

The sample of this study with control group and pre-test, post-test and follow-up randomized experimental design consisted of children followed in the child and adolescent mental health outpatient clinic of a state hospital. The data were evaluated by parametric and non-parametric analyses.

A statistically significant increase was determined in the internal functional emotion regulation mean scores of children, who participated in the Self-Regulation Based Cognitive Psychoeducation Program, measured before, immediately after, and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). A statistically significant increase was also found in their external functional emotion regulation mean scores measured before and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between their internal dysfunctional and external dysfunctional emotion regulation mean scores measured before and 6 months after the intervention; however the mean scores of those in the control group 6 months after the intervention were higher than those in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant increase in their self-efficacy mean scores measured before and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05).

The Self-Regulation Based Cognitive Psychoeducation Program was found be effective in increasing the levels of emotion regulation and self-efficacy in children with ADHD.

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Alcohol and illicit drug use are highly prevalent among the homeless population. Religiosity and spirituality (RS) have been widely associated with lower substance use. However, evidence of this relationship among the homeless is still scarce.

To assess the association between RS and the use of alcohol and illicit drugs among the homeless population of a large Brazilian urban center.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. Aspects such as spirituality (FACIT-Sp12), religiosity (P-DUREL), religious-spiritual coping (Brief-RCOPE), and self-applied questions about current substance use (alcohol and illicit drugs) were evaluated. Adjusted Logistic Regression models were performed.

A total of 456 homeless individuals were included, with an average age of 44.5 (SD=12.6) years. More than half of the participants used alcohol (55.7%) weekly and 34.2% used illicit drugs weekly. The adjusted Logistic Regression models identified that aspects of RS were associated with a lower propensity for alcohol and illicit drug use, whereas negative religious-spiritual coping strategies were associated with a higher propensity for the use of both.

The prevalence of alcohol and illicit drug use among participants was high. Positive RS and religious-spiritual coping were significant protective factors against the use of these substances. Conversely, negative religious-spiritual coping strategies were associated with risk factors.

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The ageing population presents complex clinical challenges, particularly in the realm of mental health among the elderly. The intersection of geriatric psychiatry and geriatrics plays a critical role in providing a holistic and comprehensive approach to addressing psychiatric issues in older adults. This abstract explores the integration of these two disciplines and their significance in elderly mental health care.

This study aims to underscore the benefits of collaboration between geriatric psychiatry and geriatrics while highlighting areas of intersection. These areas include the assessment of medical and psychiatric comorbidities, the management of neuropsychiatric disorders, and the promotion of healthy ageing, both physically and mentally.

We comprehensively reviewed the literature, encompassing research studies, case reports, clinical guidelines, and reports published in the last 10 years. The research was conducted on medical databases, including PubMed, Medline, and specialized sources in gerontology.

Effective integration between geriatric psychiatry and geriatrics provides a more comprehensive and patient-centred approach to addressing the mental health needs of the elderly. This includes enhanced assessment and treatment of a wide range of psychiatric conditions commonly found in older adults, such as cognitive disorders (including dementia and mild cognitive impairment), mood disorders (including depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders. Additionally, the collaboration ensures a better understanding of the complex interplay between physical and mental health in the ageing population. The integration approach also encompasses the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with various medical conditions common in older adults, such as delirium and behavioural disturbances in dementia. This coordinated care extends to the judicious use of psychotropic medications, considering the unique pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in the elderly population, with a focus on minimizing adverse effects and drug-drug interactions. Furthermore, promoting emotional well-being and preventing mental illnesses emerge as critical areas of collaboration between these disciplines. Strategies for achieving this goal include psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions, and fostering a supportive environment for the elderly.

In summary, the collaboration between geriatric psychiatry and geriatrics is crucial for addressing the complex mental health needs of the elderly, providing patient-centred care, and optimizing resources. This integrated approach is essential in ensuring the well-being of older adults, emphasizing a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to mental health issues in this population.

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