Multi-staged and personalized in nature, psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients explain the necessity of relying on the potential of interdisciplinary interaction

To present the review of the model of interdisciplinary interaction of experts and institutions in the course of psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients, which is currently used in the Chuvash Republic.

This model involves the experts and institutions of the regional healthcare system, the regional system of social care, the regional and federal system of education, non-governmental medical and health resort institutions, and private practitioners.

In the center of this model is the Regional Cardiology Center, which interacts with the Psychotherapeutic Center and the Republican Mental Hospital’s Helpline. It also involves the town hospitals and the central district hospitals, non-governmental clinics and private practitioners. The process of rehabilitation and follow-up care continues in the regional health resorts. The social service centers provide additional support. The institute of chief experts of the regional Health Care Ministry, which includes a psychiatrist, cardiologist, psychotherapist, and psychologist, oversees the overall activity. The clinic faculty professors and associate professors are involved in the development of the programs.

The practical results of using the regional model of interdisciplinary interaction enhance the potential of psychosocial interventions for cardiac surgery patients.

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As a result of the notable progress in HIV / AIDS prevention and treatment globally, the HIV epidemic is considered controlled to the extent that individuals living with HIV manage to have a similar life expectancy to HIV-negative individuals and a good level of health. However, the “epidemic” related to the stigma of HIV-positive individuals, particularly of Men who have Sex with Men (MSM), still remains an issue, while it has been associated with a profound negative impact on individuals’ mental health.

The present study aimed to compare anxiety, depression, social support, loneliness, and psychological resilience between MSM with and without HIV. Furthermore, the study investigated the correlates of HIV related stigma in MSM with HIV.

The sample of the study comprised a total of 139 adult MSM. According to their self-report 84 individuals were HIV-negative (age in years: M = 24.58, SD = 5.55), while the remaining 55 individuals were HIV-positive (age in years: M = 38.99, SD = 10.95). Furthermore, the majority of individuals in both groups reported Greek nationality. Participants completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to assess anxiety and depression, the UCLA Loneliness Scale to measure loneliness, the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) to evaluate psychological resilience, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to assess social support. HIV-positive individuals additionally completed the HIV Stigma Scale-Brief Version, a brief scale measuring social stigma related to HIV.

According to the findings, MSM with and without HIV did not differ in anxiety (p = 0.908), depression (p = 0.904), social support (p = 0.657), loneliness (p = 0.086), and psychological resilience (p = 0.600). Furthermore, it emerged that among HIV-positive MSM, stigma was positively associated with anxiety (r = 0.479, p < 0.001), depression (r = 0.479, p < 0.001), and loneliness (r = 0.532, p = 0.001), while the correlation was negative with social support (r = -0.456, p < 0.001) and resilience (r = -0.400, p < 0.003). No significant association was found between stigma and age in HIV-positive individuals (r = 0.099, p = 0.474).

In conclusion, the findings of this study identified possible risk factors as well as protective factors for the mental health of HIV-positive MSM. As long as stigma associated with HIV continues to be a risk factor for the development of psychosocial problems in those living with HIV, it is advisable for both policymakers and the research community to take more proactive steps in order to offer the necessary support and attention to those who are living with HIV and experiencing multiple forms of stigma.

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The coronavirus pandemic has affected mental health since its outbreak in 2019 and several studies have revealed that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients were adversely affected.

The aim of our present report is to study the impact of the coronavirus infection on OCD.

We illustrate a case of new emerging obsessions and compulsions after a COVID-19 infection in a patient consulting at the Psychiatry C department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital.

Mr. HB first presented in our outpatient unit of the Psychiatry C department at the age of 32. His medical history was unremarkable except for a COVID-19 infection in June 2022 that did not cause any organic complications. His family history was negative without neurological and psychiatric diseases. Further history revealed that OCD symptoms already started before his infection with COVID-19. At that time, he suffered from compulsions with the urge to constantly wash his hands and check rituals, but his symptoms were not severe enough to make him seek a psychiatric consult or treatment. However, since July 2022, soon after his infection with COVID-19, he suffered from new obsessions and compulsions, he would spend hours calculating all the numbers he sees and counting the number of letters in the words he came across. Non-surprisingly, OCD symptoms caused relevant problems in social life, and at work, he had difficulties concentrating and working. Due to his symptoms, he had neglected hobbies, avoided social contact, spent less time with his family, and even had suicidal thoughts. Therefore, pharmacotherapy with clomipramine was initiated with a maximal dose of 150 mg/d. Because of adverse events and lack of efficacy, he stopped medication and decided to consult our department to seek a different treatment. Therefore, sertraline was started at the dose of 50 mg/d along with psychotherapy.

People with OCD are likely to be more susceptible to the mental health impact of COVID-19. Responses to the pandemic are not only associated with an increase in all Obsessive-Compulsive (OC) symptoms and their severity but also the emergence of new types of obsessions and compulsions. Consequently, therapists should consider the effects of the pandemic on all OC symptom dimensions and adjust their treatment plans accordingly.

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Occupational therapy - which also includes art therapy - is an activity/test with a purpose, it involves coordination between the sensory, motor, cognitive, and psychosocial systems of the individual. “Sciences recognize the role of observation in research… All artists who practice art therapy are based on their own artistic activity and present a common recurring feature: they are always in line with “essential pragmatism”. (McNIFF, Shaun, Trust the process: an artist’s guide to letting go. Creative ability. Psychological aspects. Self-actualization (Psychology). Artist-Psychology, Shambhala Publication, Boston, 1998, p. 78)

We seek to find new development solutions through stimulation, creativity, catharsis, and socialization to be authentic, spontaneous, feel fulfilled, emotionally balanced, and transformed, with the aim of fulfilling one’s social role through contact with human and environmental factors. (Emilia Chirilă, ART THERA PY IN EMOTIONAL DISORDERS OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS, printed edition 2018) ISBN 978-973-0-27683-1)

Through the graphic gesture, the child expresses various issues related to his feelings, like the search for his identity, the generated anxieties, the family and professional environment, and the situations of neglect and abuse. (MALCHIODI, Cathy A, Handbook of Art Therapy, The Guilford Press, New York and London, 2003, p. 157).

The following reactions can be identified: aggression, frustration, dominance tendency, low self-esteem, fraternal rivalry, hopelessness, sadness, compensation mechanisms, self-defense, other significant psycho-traumatic aspects. The disappearance of frustrations and negative feelings due to the disinterest of parents who do not visit the beneficiaries was achieved by gaining authority over the environment and by improving pre-existing skills. emotional disorders of children and adolescents” - Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry of Children and Adolescents from Romania - 2012 - vol. 15 - no. 3- p 121-136 - ISSN (printed): 2068-8040)

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Through the creative process and symbolic communication, associated with narration and imitation, we realize the development of outstanding and hidden abilities, we develop new ways of communication, new ways of self-expression, and new ways of seeing things, to increase the ability to face existential problems.(2018 Emilia Chirilă - Art therapy in emotional disorders of children and adolescents: “Festina lente - Hurry slowly!” Harmonizing the rhythm with those around us ,print edition, ISBN 978-973-0-27683)

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Survivors of the pandemic of COVID-19 suffered from multiple sequelae long time after recovery, such as tiredness and memory dysfunction, affecting daily life activities.

To assess fatigability, cognitive impairment and the severity of pain in long-COVID.

We conducted a prospective cohort study including 121 Tunisian COVID-19 inpatients who had been discharged alive from hospital. Each enrolled patient was asked about the period before the hospital stay, and the 6-9 month-period after hospital discharge, using the visual analog scale (VAS), self-completed unidimensional scale and yes/ no question about fatigability and cognitive impairments.

The median age of participants was 59 years, with extreme values ranging from 18 to 80. Among them, 51.2% were females.

Our findings showed a significant increase in VAS score after COVID infection (3.82 vs 1.69; p<0.001). Sixty-eight (56.2%) participants reported spontaneously fatigability after the infection and 52 (43%) reported spontaneously a deterioration in memory capacity either with or without previous memory dysfunction. Fatigability was statistically associated to cognitive impairment (55.9% vs 26.4%; P= 0.02). In addition, fatigability and cognitive impairment were statistically associated with pain (P=0.001 and P= 0.022 respectively).

There was no significative association of fatigability nor cognitive impairment with the gender of the survivors.

The clinician should keep in mind to screen for possible somatic or psychological distress, in particular pain, fatigability and cognitive impairment even after resolution of the COVID infection, in order to guarantee a better quality of life.

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COVID-19 affected humankind worldwide in different aspects of life. Survivors still report the effects of the pandemic on daily life, physical health, and mental health.

To assess effects of the pandemic on the mood and the quality of life of the survivors.

We conducted a prospective cohort study including 121 Tunisian COVID-19 inpatients who had been discharged alive from hospital. Each enrolled patient was asked about the period before the hospital stay, and the 6-9 month-period after hospital discharge, using several scales: the validated Arabic version of “Patient Health Questionnaire” (PHQ-9) to screen for depressive symptoms, and “EuroQol five-dimension three-level” (EQ-5D-3L) to assess the quality of life.

The median age of participants was 59 years, with extreme values ranging from 18 to 80. Among them, 51.2% were females. As compared with baseline statue of patients, the depressive dimension assessed through PHQ was significantly impaired (7.05 vs 1.12; p<0.001). The different dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L showed significant deterioration in mean scores (mobility:1.09 vs 1.31, p<0.001;  selfcare:1 vs 1.11, p=0.001; daily activities:1.09 vs 1.49, p<0.001; pain and disturbance: 1.17 vs1.49, p<0.0005 and anxiety and depression: 1.07 vs 1.57, p<0.001). Depressive symptoms were 10 times more frequent in post-COVID (57.9% vs 5.7%). The post-COVID PHQ-9 score was correlated with the post-COVID EQ-5D-3L score (p=0.033).

This study points out the long-term impact of the COVID infection. Therefore, the clinician should screen for possible psychological distress even after resolution of the disease, in order to guarantee a better quality of life.

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Attachment theory, first proposed by John Bowlby and later extended by Mary Ainsworth and others, outlines how experiences of early childhood attachment with caregivers can affect one’s emotional and interpersonal relationships throughout adulthood. Typically, attachment styles are categorised into four main types: secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant and disorganised. Conversely, it is recognised that various biological, psychological, relational, social and iatrogenic factors elements can impact an individual’s sexual function.

Our aim with this research was to present the most current literature on whether there is a correlation between attachment styles and sexual function.

We conducted a non-systematic review on the topic using PubMed and PsycInfo.

There is evidence indicating a link between attachment styles and sexual function.

People with secure attachment styles tend to experience more positive and fulfilling sexual relationships. Such individuals typically have a more positive self-image, they feel at ease with emotional intimacy, and are therefore able to openly communicate their needs and desires. They exhibit a healthy balance between seeking closeness and maintaining independence.

Individuals with anxious attachment styles may experience heightened levels of sexual anxiety and insecurity. Concerns regarding rejection or abandonment within sexual relationships may impact their sexual function and satisfaction. These individuals usually have a negative self-image and may be more prone to seek reassurance and validation through sexual activities.

People with avoidant attachment styles may encounter obstacles in developing emotional intimacy and closeness, which can negatively affect their sexual relationships. Such individuals might experience commitment anxiety and prioritise physical aspects of sexual activity over emotional bonding, ultimately decreasing sexual satisfaction for both them and their partners.

Disorganised attachment styles are linked with challenges in regulating their emotions and behaviours in intimate situations, which can have a negative impact on sexual function and satisfaction.

While the literature proposes attachment styles may impact sexual function, it is important to acknowledge other factors that contribute to sexual function. In addition to biological and iatrogenic factors, individual personality, relationship dynamics, past experiences, and cultural influences all have a significant role in shaping one’s sexual behaviour and satisfaction. All of these should be addressed in order to alleviate sexual difficulties.

Moreover, attachment styles may develop and change over time through positive relationships and therapeutic interventions, potentially leading to changes in one’s sexual functioning and relationship dynamics.

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Although the etiological diagnosis of loss of consciousness is essentially based on a careful history and clinical examination, electroencephalography (EEG) remains an important investigative tool.

The aim of this study was to identify the value of EEG in the management of adolescents with recurrent bouts of fainting

This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted from January 2019 to May 2022. We included all adolescents referred to the functional explorations department at Habib Bourguiba hospital, Tunisia for Electroencephalogram (EEG) as part of a workup to explore recurrent episodes of loss of consciousness.

A total of 55 adolescents were included in this study, with a mean age of 15.4±2.3 and a 72.4% female proportion.The delay between the EEG and the onset of the seizure was greater than one week.67.3% of patients were referred by the child psychiatry department.29.1% of the 55 EEG reports were pathological. Epileptiform discharges were noted in 56.3% of adolescents. Slow waves were found in 43.7% of cases. The location of the abnormalities was predominantly frontal. Patients with temporal EEG anomalies had a notion of ascending epigastric pain preceding loss of consciousness in 90% of cases. Adolescents with EEGs containing epileptiform abnormalities had a history of paroxysmal movements in 30% of cases. The sensitivity of the EEG was estimated to be around 25%, and the specificity around 79%.

Although the clinical examination is of great importance in the etiological diagnosis of loss of consciousness, the EEG remains a complementary examination of non-negligible interest in the etiological investigation.

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Despite the importance of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as treatment, it remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood treatments. Negative media representations, primitive practice in the past and fear for electricity results in fear that extends beyond other therapies. Research on the perspective and role of informal caregivers (IC) in the process of ECT is limited. Most research focuses on relatives’ attitude or knowledge of ECT measured with questionnaires. However, profound understanding of their perspective can facilitate the role of physicians (or psychiatrists) in guiding patients and their IC through the decision-making process of ECT.

The aim of this study was to describe the perspective of informal caregivers in the decision-making process in ECT treatment.

A qualitative phenomenological study was set up. Semi-structured interviews were held with IC of patients who are treated with ECT. Purposive sampling was based on maximum variation. All interviews were fully transcribed and thematic analyses took place. Trustworthiness was guaranteed by e.g. researcher triangulation

In nine interviews were held with partners, children and parents of patients. The interviews had a mean duration of 102 minutes and interviewing proceeded until saturation of the most important themes was reached. During the interviews it became clear that the decision-making process of ECT is strongly influenced by the illness-trajectory and context of living with the mental health problems of the patient. IC describe their life and that of the patient as ‘trying to survive’. The proposal of ECT is seen as a way out of this unendurable situation. The perceived responsibility of the IC in the informed consent process to ECT adds to this burden. The IC worry, feel uncertain and fear to do wrong. Nonetheless ECT seems to be a beacon of hope. Trust in the psychiatrist as a competent professional who wants the best for the patient seems more important than having an answer to all of their questions. After the ECT has been started, IC establish a framework to evaluate the side-effects and effectiveness of ECT. This framework is based on how they experience the patient in daily life and on what they define as ‘the patient becoming a bit more himself again’. IC weigh the effects and side-effects to support the continuation of ECT. However, if patients clearly express that they experience side-effects that are too hindering, IC follow the patient if he or she wants to stop ECT.

Our study gives an insight in the perspective of the IC of patients undergoing ECT. It could be helpful for IC if the psychiatric team repeats information stepwise and takes the burden of responsibility perceived by the IC into account. The framework used by IC to evaluate the effects of ECT could be a valuable addition to the clinical evaluation of the ECT treatment.

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In mental disorders, very little is known about the cellular and subcellular mechanisms underlying the development of symptoms. Postmortem studies can contribute to understanding these. Our research group collects and studies cortical samples with short postmortem intervals from schizophrenia patients.

We investigated primary motor cortical brain samples, to understand the background of motor symptoms in schizophrenia.

Both hemispheres of primary motor cortices of eight control- and eight subjects with schizophrenia were analysed by immunohistochemistry. We labelled pyramidal cells with SMI32 antibody, which binds to neurofilaments, and parvalbumin (PV) antibody, which labels one type of inhibitory input on these cells, axo-axonic and axo-somatic interneurons, and a proportion of giant pyramidal neurons (Betz cells). We were interested in the size and density of layer 3 and 5 pyramidal cells and Betz cells, the distribution of PV-labelled terminals and the PV expression of Betz cells. Results of the subjects were compared both as a whole and separately per hemisphere.

Most changes were present in the primary motor cortices in the right hemisphere (presumably subdominant). Here, the density of Betz cells and their inhibitory inputs were also reduced. PV-expression of Betz cells was not dependent on the group studied, but we observed that it is decreasing with age. The other investigated characteristics show no significant differences.

Our results suggest that the primary motor cortex may be involved in schizophrenia. Neurodevelopmental, pharmacological and neurodegenerative causes could be involved in this process. Network dysconnectivity is likely to underlie the stronger involvement of the subdominant side, and literature data point also in this direction. We believe that our research method is suitable for the study of the background of other symptoms and may lead to a better understanding of schizophrenia, especially if we could combine our results with clinical research.

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Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and personality disorders (PD) often co-occur and treatment dropout remains a challenging problem for both disorders. The literature on predictors of treatment dropout is highly mixed and few reliable predictors have been identified for both PTSD and PD treatments separately, let alone for concurrent PTSD and PD treatment.

The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of treatment attendance among a wide range of variables in patients with PTSD and comorbid PD who received trauma-focused treatment with and without concurrent PD treatment.

Data were used from the prediction and outcome study in comorbid PTSD and personality disorders (PROSPER), a study consisting of two randomized clinical trials (RCT) testing the effectiveness of trauma-focused treatment (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing or imagery rescripting) with versus without concurrent PD treatment (dialectical behavior therapy or group schema therapy). 256 patients with PTSD and comorbid personality disorder participated in the study. The potential predictors included demographic (e.g. work status), patient severity (e.g. PTSD severity), patient-therapist (e.g. working alliance) and therapist (e.g. therapist experience) variables. The ordinal outcome variable was treatment attendance (0, 1-7, 8-11, 12+ trauma-focused treatment sessions). Relevant predictors were identified by a series of ordinal regression analyses (threshold for inclusion p < .10). Relevant predictors were then entered together in a final ordinal regression model. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data.

The final model included ten predictor variables and provided a good fit for the data (pooled R2Nagelkerke = .29). Higher education level (OR = 1.22, p = .009), self-rated PTSD severity (OR = 1.04, p = .036) and working alliance (OR = 1.72, p = .047) were associated with a larger number of attended sessions. Higher levels of inadequate social support from a friend (OR = 0.90, p = .042) and being randomized in the concurrent treatment condition (OR = 0.52, p = .022) were associated with a smaller number of attended sessions.

In terms of treatment attendance rates, the results suggest that trauma-focused treatment is preferred over concurrent trauma-focused and personality disorder treatment for patients presenting with PTSD and PD. Clinicians should further be aware of the risk of lower treatment attendance for patients with a lower educational background and those reporting inadequate social support. Enhancing working alliance may protect against early treatment termination. Finally, patients with higher levels of PTSD severity at baseline may need a larger number of treatment sessions.

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Excoriation disorder (ExD) is a pathology recognized by DSM-5, and it is considered a part of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. ExD is associated with a high rate of psychiatric comorbidity (e.g., depression, ADHD, substance use disorders, etc.).

The main objective of this review was to explore the available evidence to support the diagnosis and treatment of skin picking in elderly population.

A literature review of the available sources reporting on ExD in elderly patients, realized by searching three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Clarivate/Web of Science) but also the grey literature. All papers published between January 1990 and July 2023, including the terms “excoriation disorder”, “compulsive skin picking”, “dermatillomania” and “elderly” or “old-age patients” were reviewed.

The information about ExD was extracted almost exclusively from reports on elderly patients with neurocognitive disorders. Tactile hallucinations, delusions of contamination, social isolation and focusing on own bodily sensations, and organic causes- dehydration, allergies, renal insufficiency, hepatic and pancreatic diseases, as well as toxic causes- e.g., adverse events of certain drugs should be investigated in elderly patients exhibiting signs of ExD. A differential diagnosis is very important in this population in order to find the most adequate treatment. Behavioral treatments, serotonergic antidepressants, and glutamatergic modulators have been explored in patients with ExD, although specific trials for elderly patients with this disorder are still lacking. However, case reports support the utility of several serotonergic antidepressants in the elderly.

ExD is a less explored disorder in the elderly, where an extensive differential diagnosis and screening for somatic/psychiatric comorbidities are needed. Trials exploring the potential treatments for ExD in old-age patients are also required for evidence-based case management.

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While in eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, the comorbidity of pathological personality traits is very common, and accordingly the personality traits of borderline personality disorder is considered very frequent and coexisting. The treatment of anorexia nervosa is based primarily on the psychotherapy and work on pathological personality traits even more than the treatment of the syndrome and the consequences of malnutrition itself. That achieves a longer-term and more reliable solution than symptomatic treatment of anorexia nervosa which usually does not bring satisfactory results. On the other hand, in patients with obesity, pathological personality traits, especially those of borderline personality disorder, are still very rarely associated, since obesity is usually not even considered a disorder, but a variation in the population.

The aim of this paper is to investigate the pathological personality traits of borderline personality disorder in people with obesity.

Investigating relevant scientific and professional literature from the field of personality pathology and eating disorders.

When obesity is related to impulse control disorder in the sense of emotional eating under increased stress according to today’s relevant literature, it can definitely be related to personality traits of borderline personality disorder, i.e. the presence of elements of borderline personality organization and prementalization models. Such an inability to deal with negative emotions such as increased anxiety or rejection sensitivity, which results in overeating and the related feeling of shame that overwhelms the person, regardless of whether he/she/they has any of the certain forms of compulsive behaviour afterwards, can be related to impulsive behaviour and the “all or nothing” way of thoughts. This is also confirmed by cases when certain people have a history of both one and the other disorder. Thus, some people have, for example, malnutrition in adolescence as part of anorexia nervosa, only to have problems with obesity after some time with a healthy body mass.

Since pathological personality traits in people with anorexia nervosa and obesity give indications of common characteristics in the form of borderline personality disorder traits, i.e. borderline personality organization and prementalization models in both disorders, future research will certainly shed light on the connection between these eating disorders.

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Behçet’s disease, a rare autoimmune disorder, can present a challenging diagnostic puzzle, particularly when neuropsychiatric symptoms take the forefront. In this case study, we delve into the diagnostic process of a 43-year-old patient without prior psychiatric history, who initially presented with depressive and catatonic symptoms. The trajectory from psychiatric admission to a final diagnosis of Behçet’s disease with neuropsychiatric involvement underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the consideration of rare diseases in psychiatric assessment. Clinical remission was achieved with immunosuppressive therapy.

Presentation of a clinical case of Behçet’s disease with neuropsychiatric manifestations.

Review of the patient’s clinical data in SOARIAN platform and research on UptoDate and Pubmed using the terms “Catatonia,” “Behçet disease,” “Neuro-Behçet,” and “Psychiatry.”

We present a clinical case of a 43-year-old patient, originally from India, not fluent in Portuguese or English, with no prior psychiatric history, who presented to the emergency department exhibiting mutism and was admitted to the psychiatry department with the diagnostic hypothesis of depressive episode with psychotic and catatonic symptoms. During hospitalization, severe vitamin deficiencies, gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, abdominal pain, and hematochezia), and gynecological symptoms (dyspareunia and vaginal discharge) were observed. From a psychiatric perspective, in addition to depressive and psychotic symptoms, atypical symptomatology incongruent with the initial diagnosis was identified, raising suspicion of an “organic” disease. There was an atypical fluctuation in symptoms, with periods of severe behavioral disorganization interspersed with periods of apathy and psychomotor retardation, significant alterations in attention and memory, and executive deficits. Additionally, there was a poor response to psychiatric medication and electroconvulsive therapy. A colonoscopy revealed ulcers at the ileocecal valve, and gynecological lesions suggestive of a vasculitic process were observed. Autoimmunity testing showed positivity for HLA B51/52. Given the neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, and gynecological manifestations, along with suggestive autoimmunity, the diagnosis of Behçet’s Disease with neurological involvement was established. Clinical remission was achieved only with immunosuppressive therapy. The case is enriched by the complex diagnostic journey, multiple complications encountered (including valproic acid-induced encephalopathy), and the challenges faced in treating neuropsychiatric manifestations.

This clinical case exemplifies the challenges in diagnosing a systemic disease with primary psychiatric presentation, as well as the therapeutic success resulting from multidisciplinary collaboration in a public hospital.

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Incorporating psychotherapy into the curricula of psychiatry residency programs has been proven difficult, even in countries where psychotherapy training is a requirement for psychiatry residents to become psychiatrists. There is a risk that future psychiatrists lacking psychotherapy skills will be restricted in managing the wide scope of disorders and personalities they will face in clinical practice. It is important to assess what psychiatry trainees around the globe have to say about psychotherapy training as part of their residency curricula.

The primary purpose of the article was to assess psychiatry trainees’ perspectives on psychotherapy training in residency programs worldwide.

The authors performed a narrative review, resulting 19 original research studies, published between 2001 and 2021, evaluating psychiatry residents’ perspectives by the application of a questionnaire.

Nineteen articles were included in this review. Most of the studies were developed across European countries (47.4%) and in the USA (36.8%). Psychiatry residents are interested in and value psychotherapy training, and some consider it should be an obligatory competency for psychiatrists, as it already occurs in some countries worldwide. Even though, most psychiatry trainees feel dissatisfaction with the existing training in residency curricula, pointing out concerns related to the quality of resources such as courses of psychotherapy and supervision of cases, time within the residency period, and financial constraints. In terms of personal psychotherapy, we found contrasting views of its importance in psychotherapy training for psychiatry residents. A crucial finding was that psychiatry residents tend to lose interest in psychotherapy during the years of the residency, and dissatisfaction with the quality of the psychotherapy curricula, lack of support, and low self-perceived competence in psychotherapy by trainees were factors associated with reduced interest in psychotherapy training.

At a time when psychotherapy is increasingly becoming acknowledged to play a central role in the treatment of most psychiatric disorders, current training is failing to provide these competencies to psychiatry trainees. Serious reflection must be given to both the extent of the guidelines and the practical opportunities for psychotherapy training so future psychiatrists can be qualified to provide an accurate biopsychosocial model of psychiatric care. The authors postulate that maintaining residents’ interest in psychotherapy requires improvements in the residency curricula and departmental leadership must support trainees’ goals of becoming comprehensively trained psychiatrists.

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A conflict arises when one or more individuals, groups or organizations disagree, creating internal or external tensions that can cause damage. This is particularly serious in operating theatres, where decisions involving life or death are common. Indeed, in this particular context, the multiplicity of stakeholders, the divergence of opinions and decisions related to patient care, the frequency of critical situations, stress and the limitation of resources are established causes of disagreement and tension.

To identify factors associated with the alteration of conflict management quality among anesthesia and resuscitation technicians (ART).

This is an observational, multicenter, cross-sectional and analytical study, enrolling all ART exercising at the two teaching hospitals of Sousse (Tunisia) over a two month period(March 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022). Conflict management was assessed using the Conflict Handling Style Scale.

Our study involved 50 participants, only eight of whom reported having had previous training in communication and conflict management. Conflicts in the hospital were rated frequent to very frequent by 58% of participants. Task conflicts were the most reported (74%). The main causes of conflict were lack of leadership (60%), unequal distribution of tasks (42%) and workload (28%). The main repercussions of the conflicts were the delay in patients care (60%), therapeutic errors (42%), and the cancellation or postponement of some acts (34%). The main factors associated with impaired conflict management abilities were age<40 years (p=0,03), tobacco consumption (p=0,001), and number of dependent children<2 p<10-3).

In light of our results, it would be useful and urgent to develop the soft skills of our human resources, particularly in terms of communication and conflict management.

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Precision medicine is a promising approach to improving the prevention, prediction and treatment of disease, based on individual characteristics and biomarkers/genetic variants shared by specific subgroups of patients.

This study aims to address the new paradigm of precision medicine in psychiatry and to discuss, through the literature, its emerging clinical framework.

We conducted an exhaustive review of the scientific literature using PubMed database and Google Scholar, with “Precision Medicine in Psychiatry” as keywords.

Our review revealed that while psychiatrists have long practiced a personalized therapeutic approach with, for example, treatment choices guided by individual criteria, the methods for achieving this objectively have until now been largely lacking. This dilemma has begun to be resolved with the implementation of data analysis methods such as machine learning and large-scale genomic analysis studies. The goals of precision psychiatry involved the delineation of genetic risk factors using GWAS, the redefinition of the functional domains involved in mental disorders and pharmacological repositioning. The highly polygenic nature of mental disorders and the failure of GWAS to confirm the role of candidate genes have suggested that a systems genetic approach that considers function at the network level would provide a better approach to the problem of linking heterogeneous genetic risk factors and brain mechanisms. In addition, the growing evidence that certain disorders such as psychotic disorders are syndromes rather than diseases in their own right suggests that many conditions currently recognized as such may have similar underlying patterns of cognitive dysfunction and neurobiological abnormalities that will need to be reclassified.

The application of precision medicine in psychiatry is still in its infancy. Numerous research programs creating large multimodal databases with multiple data on brain imaging, genetics, etc. will soon support the clinical deployment of precision medicine in psychiatry.

None Declared

The DiSCoVeR Project: ‘Examining the synergistic effects of a cognitive control videogame and a self-administered non-invasive brain stimulation on alleviating depression’ is a double-blind, sham controlled, randomized controlled trial investigating the feasibility and efficacy of an innovative, self-applied treatment approach for patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The trial is conducted at three clinical trial sites (Hadassah, Israel; Riga Stradiņš University, Latvia; Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Germany). The treatment approach combines prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation with a videogame designed to enhance cognitive and emotional control. This treatment is self-applied at home and remotely monitored. At the beginning of the intervention the patients are randomized in an active group receiving both active stimulation and videogame and the other group receiving sham stimulation and visually similar but not active videogame.

The present interims analysis after half of the patients included examines patients’ intrinsic motivation after completing the first five sessions (of 30) of the treatment. We also examine patients’ interest/enjoyment, perceived competence, effort, felt pressure/tension, and perceived choice following the first week of treatment. Intrinsic motivation has been associated with enhanced learning and performance, so it can be used as one of the predictors for patient compliance.

At the end of the 5th session, the patients filled in the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) including the following subscales: interest/enjoyment, perceived choice, perceived competence, effort/importance and felt pressure/tension (scored on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 “not at all true” to 7 “very true”).

This report includes the first 55 patients randomized (27 patients in the active group and 28 patients in placebo group) for the DiSCoVeR trial. Patients rated their overall interest/enjoyment at 4.50 out of 7 (SD±0.17 95% CI 4.16 to 4.84), their perceived choice at 5.55 (SD±0.16; 95% CI 5.23 to 5.87), their perceived competence at 4.52 (SD±0.15; 95%CI 4.22 to 4.82), their effort/importance at 5.07 (SD±0.16; 95%CI 4.74 to 5.40) and their pressure/tension at 3.00 (SD±0.13; 95% CI 2.73 to 3.26).

We conclude that overall patients were quite interested in the treatment and had inherent pleasure while doing the sessions, felt that it was their choice to do them, felt that they performed the task quite effectively, were invested in doing the sessions and the experienced pressure and tension were low. The perceived choice and competence are positive predictors of intrinsic motivation. This aligns with the previous published data of a smaller patient subset (L. Konosonoka et al Medicina (Kaunas) 2022;58(Supplement 1):72) with the standard deviations being smaller in our larger patient sample.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide-ranging impact on economic and social phenomena worldwide, particularly affecting mental health. However, these impacts have varied significantly across countries. Previous studies have shown that the groups more vulnerable to mental health problems also differ across countries and societies(Gunnel et al. Lancet Psy 2020; 7(6) 468-471, Pirkis et al. Lancet Psy 2021; 8(7) 579-588, Nomura et al. Psy Res 2021; 295 113622). Therefore, by examining changes in self-harm and suicide attempts, which constitute mental health emergencies, at the community level, we can explore the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the deterioration of mental health in various age groups within the region and identify the groups most vulnerable to mental health problems.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the number of emergency room visits due to suicide attempts or self-harm in teenagers and young adults in Incheon, a metropolitan city in the capital area of South Korea.

We conducted a retrospective data analysis on the medical records of patients who visited the regional emergency center of Incheon Medical Institution from January 2018 to December 2022 due to suicide attempts or self-harm. As our statistical method, we employed interrupted time series analysis to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has a statistically significant correlation with the trend changes in the number of emergency room visits related to suicide attempts or self-harm. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Korea(IRB approval number GFIRB2022-335).

The data of 4,030 subjects(35.8% male; n=1,443) who visited the regional emergency center during the study period were analyzed. A total of 556 (13.79%) of the study participants were minors under the age of 19, and a total of 1,789 (44.39%) were young adults aged 20-39. The analysis revealed an increasing trend in the number of emergency room visits due to elevated suicidality in teenagers and young adults (20-39 years old) following the COVID-19 pandemic(figure 1 & figure 2).

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While suicide attempts and visits to the emergency room due to self-harm increased both before and after COVID-19, it is noteworthy that past suicide attempts are the most significant risk factor for future suicide attempts. Therefore, the data on vulnerable groups presented in this study can be instrumental for effective prevention and follow-up management of suicide attempts within the field of community psychiatry.

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