Loneliness is widely recognized as a significant risk factor for psychosomatic issues in older adults, potentially impacting various aspects of health, including oral health.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between loneliness and oral health in older adults.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 84 older adults (41 females and 42 males), aged between 65 and 94 years (mean age: 74.1 years, SD = 8.1). Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the 12-item Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale. Multivariate analysis was used to assess the impact of loneliness on oral health outcomes.

The analysis revealed that emotional and social loneliness had a significant negative impact on oral health. Furthermore, the overall loneliness score was strongly associated with poorer oral health quality, independent of marital status or the presence of children. In other words, the relationship between loneliness and oral health was not moderated by these demographic factors.

As loneliness increases in older adults, their susceptibility to poor oral health rises, which can have significant implications for their psychological well-being. This study underscores the need to consider oral health as an integral component of overall well-being, particularly in the context of mental health in older populations.

None Declared

Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by a range of motor, cognitive, affective, and autonomic disturbances. It is often associated with psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and pervasive developmental disorders in children. Despite its potential severity, catatonia can be effectively treated with timely intervention, including the use of benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, treating catatonia in the context of schizo-obsessive disorder presents significant challenges.

The case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in managing catatonia, as well as the need for more ECT sessions in schizo-obsessive catatonia.

Clinical case report and brief literature review on schizo-obsessive catatonia was done. Informed consent from the patient’s legal guardians was obtained.

We present a case report of a 16-year-old male from Ankara, living with his family, who is a middle school graduate but could not start high school due to his disorder. He had been followed in our outpatient clinic with a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for 4 years. The patient presented to the emergency department with agitation, disrobing, attempting to climb out of a window, and experiencing delusions. He was initially diagnosed with psychosis and started on risperidone 1 mg and lorazepam 1 mg.

Five days later, during a follow-up, he exhibited non-compliance with commands, mutism, refusal to eat, and urinating in the living room for the past three days. Examination revealed no eye contact, no verbal communication, and a flexed arm posture, leading to a preliminary diagnosis of catatonia and hospital admission. Physical examination, blood tests, brain imaging, and EEG showed no pathological findings. No substances were detected in urine. Despite increasing lorazepam to 6 mg, catatonia symptoms persisted, leading to the initiation of ECT on the fifth day.

After 20 ECT sessions, catatonia symptoms and psychotic content improved, though obsessions persisted. He was diagnosed with schizo-obsessive disorder and treated with fluvoxamine 200 mg/day, olanzapine 10 mg/day, and clonazepam 4 mg/day, with maintenance ECT ongoing.

This case report highlights the complexity of schizo-obsessive catatonia and the necessity for a multifaceted diagnostic and therapeutic approach. The patient’s journey from an initial diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to the emergence of psychotic and catatonic symptoms underscores the fluidity of psychiatric diagnoses. The significant improvement following multiple, longer ECT sessions underscores the therapy’s potency, particularly in schizo-obsesive catatonia. This case underscores the importance of flexibility in psychiatric treatment, advocating for a tailored approach that evolves with the patient’s symptoms.

None Declared

Esketamine has been shown to produce a major antidepressant response in patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD). We evaluated the factors associated with achieving remission in these individuals.

The study was carried out across four psychiatry departments in Madrid, Spain. Patients aged over 18 years were included if they received esketamine as an augmentation treatment for TRD. Standard esketamine protocol included an induction phase (4 weeks) and a maintenance phase (5 to 8 weeks). Subsequent treatment continuation was proposed. Clinical data and scores at the Clinical Global Impression scales were measured following each esketamine administration.

Sixty-five patients initiated the treatment, and 45 patients (69.2%) completed the standard protocol. The median number of esketamine administrations was 19. The mean age was 53.09 and 52.3% of the patients were females. Out of the whole sample, 36 (55%) of the patients achieved remission over the follow-up. Remission rates elevated to 67% in those who completed the standard protocol, and to 70% in those having received more than 19 esketamine administrations. Achieving remission over the follow-up was associated with the absence of dissociative symptoms, and with completing the standard esketamine protocol (OR = 0.229, p = 0.045; and OR = 4.538, p = 0.025, respectively). Receiving more than 19 esketamine administrations was associated with remission over the follow-up (OR = 6.513, p = 0.006).

Our results suggest that extending the numbers of esketamine administration may increase the chances to obtain remission. Adverse effects did not impact the treatment course.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered daily life and affected the sexual dynamics of couples across various contexts. Enforced lockdowns and pervasive social isolation, coupled with heightened anxiety associated with the pandemic, have profoundly affected mental health and intimate relationships, affecting sexual satisfaction among couples. This narrative review examines the psychosocial effects of these changes on couples’ sexuality, focusing on the challenges and coping strategies adopted by couples to mitigate the adverse effects and enhance intimate relationship quality.

This review systematically analyzes the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic on couples’ sexuality, using post-2020 literature to better understand these dynamics and enhance psychosexual support.

An extensive literature review was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on keywords such as “COVID-19,” “sexual health,” “intimacy,” “divorce,” and “coping strategies.” Ten high-quality studies published after 2020 were selected based on their methodological rigor and relevance to couples’ dynamics. These studies include a mix of quantitative and qualitative research and systematic reviews, providing a broad yet detailed perspective on the topic.

The findings reveal that the pandemic has significantly diminished couples’ sexual desire and relationship satisfaction. Notable psychosocial effects include increased anxiety, stress, depression, and relational conflicts. Modifications in sexual frequency and quality were noted, yet many couples have adopted effective coping strategies such as enhanced communication, couples therapy, shared stress management activities, and the utilization of online psychological support resources, which have helped strengthen relationships during the pandemic.

The pandemic has profoundly influenced couples’ sexual and relational health, introducing psychosocial stressors. Despite these challenges, the resilience displayed by couples through diverse coping strategies highlights their adaptive capacity. This review emphasizes the need for mental health professionals to integrate targeted interventions to support couples’ well-being and prepare them for potential future crises.

None Declared

Eating disorders, such as anorexa nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, are complex conditions that affect both a person’s physical and mental health. Although biological and psychological factors have been extensively studied, sociocultural factors play a fundamental role in the developmental and maintenance of these disorders.

This poster explores how peer pressure, beauty standards, the influence of the media and social media, along with aspects such as gender, social class and culture, contribute to the emergence of eating disorders, especially among teenagers and young women.

Literature review

Patterns are identified that show a significant correlation between the idealization of thinness and increased body dissatisfaction. The impact of patriarchy, diet culture and social media consumption are discussed, and how these influences are amplified in different sociocultural contexts. Additionally, differences in the prevalence of eating disorders by gender and ethnicity are discussed, as well as implications for treatment prevention.

Intervention strategies that address sociocultural factors and promote a more inclusive and healthy view of the body are needed, with the aim of reducing the impact of these factors on the appearance of eating disorders. The research highlights the need for public policies that regulate media content and promote educational programs on physical and mental health.

None Declared

The use of restrictive practices such as restraint, seclusion and long-term segregation on people with mental health problems remains common in European psychiatric care to manage patients’ violent and other challenging behaviour. These practices violate human rights and thus there is a growing international policy move to reduce or even ultimately stop using them. To achieve this, clinicians, researchers, teachers, trainers, policy-makers and user representatives need to collaborate to transform psychiatric services towards non-coercive services. An international network provides one way towards this vision.

Here we present an international network focusing on developing knowledge and practices aiming at reducing violence and coercion in mental health settings. We will illustrate how networking in an interdisciplinary group can be beneficial to both European psychiatrists as well as other professionals in mental health services.

The EViPRG is a non-governmental research-focused network founded in 1997. Our vision is to work together to improve competency and quality of practice with the aim to reduce coercion and violence in mental health services, and address ongoing human rights issues. Clinicians in the psychiatric field as well as researchers can join the network through an electronic application (https://www.eviprg.eu/). Participation of early career researchers is encouraged.

The EViPRG offers a unique network to connect with like-minded colleagues, collaborate on research projects, learn from various national initiatives to reduce coercion, exchange best practice models and take part in discussions via our various platforms. The network meets 3-4 times per year both in-person and online. Meetings provide an arena to present the latest research findings, generate new research projects and get feedback from colleagues. The EViPRG also organises the bi-annual “European Conference on Violence in Clinical Psychiatry” and members get a reduced fee to attend.

The network has more than 130 members in Europe and beyond. Numerous multi-country studies have been initiated through the network. As an example, in the years 2021-2024, a European Commission-funded project COST Action FOSTREN widened the network to new countries. As a result, we expect a rise in our membership, especially from Eastern Europe. If you want to find like-minded research partners and innovators, link in with a strong community aspiring to influence policy and practice in this area, progress your career and international profile, or just meet new colleagues, membership in the EViPRG can be your choice.

None Declared

Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) is characterized by frequent episodes of consuming excessive amounts of food, leading to both psychological and physical symptoms. Treatment typically involves a combination of psychotherapy and antidepressants. The disorder is often associated with dysfunctions in the dopamine and norepinephrine systems and to address these dysfunctions, lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) may offer potential benefits by targeting impulse control and reward pathways, thereby addressing these underlying issues.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of LDX compared to placebo in adults with BED through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LDX versus placebo in patients with BED. Primary outcome was binge eating days per week (BEDW) and secondary outcomes were Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale modified for binge eating (YBOCS-BE), Clinical global impressions-improvement scale (CGI-I), weight reduction (WR) and specific occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAEs), like dry-mouth and insomnia. Mean differences (MDs), standardized mean differences (SMDs) and risk ratio (RR) were used for all outcomes. p<0.05 presented significant statistical results, while I²>40% represented a high heterogeneity.

A total of 5 RCTs were included, involving a total of 963 patients, of whom 517 patients received LDX. BEDW (MD: -1.29; 95% CI [-1.65, -0.93]; p<0.01; I²=60%; Figure 1A) was significantly reduced when comparing LDX with placebo. YBOCS-BE (MD: -6.16; 95% CI [-8.35, -3.97]; p<0.01; I²=66%; Figure 1B) has shown an indication of reduction of obsessive-compulsive behaviors (OCB) in patients using LDX. CGI-I (RR: 1.72; 95% CI [1.12, 2.63]; p=0.032; I²=71%; Figure 2A), WR (SMD: -1.31; 95% CI [-1.55, -1.07]; p<0.01; I²=59%; Figure 2B). The use of LDX exhibit an increase on dry-mouth (RR: 5.08; 95% CI [3.39, 7.61]; p=0.001; I²=0%; Figure 3A) and insomnia (RR: 3.00; 95% CI [1.52, 5.94]; p=0.014; I²=0%; Figure 3B) when compared with placebo.

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Our study has shown significant improvements in the use of LDX in BED. Patients presented a reduction in OCB, CGI-I, WR, and BEDW. Although some TEAEs were observed, LDX treatment in BED shows a greater benefit.

None Declared

Psychological and behavioural symptoms are an inherent part of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias or Parkinson’s disease. Despite the growing research on the subject, there are still large gaps in knowledge about their origin, pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment. In recent years, various initiatives have been carried out in Spain to improve knowledge, especially on the most controversial issues, of various aspects such as Alzheimer’s disease from the point of view of Psychiatry, the use of antipsychotic drugs or depression in neurodegenerative diseases. The presentation will include data on these national initiatives and will address in more detail two studies using Delphi methodology referring to depression in neurodegenerative diseases. The first one addressed depression in the context of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in 53 controversial items regarding risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. The second one addresses depression in Parkinson’s disease in 49 controversial issues about the aetiopathological mechanisms, clinical features and connections with motor and non-motor symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic options. In both cases, in addition to trying to shed light on etiological and clinical aspects, specific advice is provided on the choice of antidepressant treatment and the particularities linked to its prescription.

None Declared

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is a neuroinflammatory condition that often presents with psychiatric symptoms, such as psychosis, mood disturbances, and cognitive impairment, mimicking psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These symptoms frequently appear before neurological signs, complicating diagnosis and delaying treatment. Early recognition of this condition is fundamental to improve patients outcomes.

This review examines the psychiatric manifestations of AE, highlights challenges in differentiating AE from primary psychiatric disorders, and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

A nonsystematic review of literature focusing on the psychiatric presentation of AE.

AE often presents with psychiatric symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, agitation, and mood disturbances, frequently leading to misdiagnoses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. In particular, anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is associated with severe psychiatric manifestations like psychosis. Diagnosis is based on recognizing the rapid progression of psychiatric symptoms, along with seizures or other neurological signs, and confirming the autoimmune cause through specific autoantibody tests. Early treatment is essential to reverse these psychiatric symptoms. However, delayed diagnosis can result in persistent cognitive and psychiatric difficulties even after treatment. Diagnosing the psychiatric manifestations of AE is challenging due to their overlap with primary psychiatric disorders. However, the rapid onset and progression of symptoms, combined with neurological signs, should prompt clinicians to consider an autoimmune origin. Autoantibodies, particularly those against NMDA receptors, disrupt neurotransmitter systems, explaining the psychiatric features of AE. While psychotropic medications may provide temporary symptom relief, they do not target the underlying immune dysfunction. Timely immunotherapy significantly improves outcomes, and multidisciplinary collaboration between psychiatrists and neurologists is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

AE should be considered in cases of acute psychosis, mood disturbances, or cognitive impairment. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing long-term psychiatric and neurological issues. Greater awareness of AE’s psychiatric presentations aids in distinguishing it from primary psychiatric disorders and facilitates timely treatment. Further research is needed to explore the neuroimmune mechanisms behind AE and optimize treatment. Collaborative efforts between psychiatry and neurology are essential for successful patient outcomes.

None Declared

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sleep and mental health of the population have been disrupted worldwide. Predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors of insomnia may signify shared mechanisms that relate insomnia symptoms to psychiatric disorders during stressful periods like pandemic. However, long term repercussions of COVID-19 pandemic on sleep features such as insomnia, and psychological health remains poorly elucidated even after the alleviation of the pandemic measures.

The current study aims to identify the longitudinal trajectory of insomnia, in terms of prevalence and associated risk factors, during and post COVID-19 pandemic era among the general population of Singapore.

Current study consists of longitudinal online and in person surveys involving two-point assessments-Phase1 (during pandemic) from May 2020-June 2021 and Phase2 (post pandemic) from October 2023-August 2024. Singapore residents aged 21 years and above, fluent in English, Chinese or Malay language participated in the study. Participants answered an interviewer-administered questionnaire across both timepoints, including Socio-Demographic information, Insomnia Severity Index, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, Physical Health Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and Covid-19 related stressors-Exposure to Covid-19, current and future perceived risk of infection.

597 participants completed both assessments at phase1 and phase2. The prevalence of insomnia increased from 8.83% in phase2 as compared to 8.24% in phase1 (p<0.00). Those aged 50 years and above (vs 21-34 years) (p<0.02), highest educational attainment of primary school (vs University) (p<0.05), being economically inactive (vs employed) (p< 0.01), having mild levels of anxiety (p<0.007) and having severe levels of depression, anxiety or, stress (p<0.005) was seen to be significantly associated with insomnia.

Insomnia prevalence rose from 8.24% in phase1 to 8.83% in phase2 and was significantly associated with anxiety disorder, psychological distress, and perceived stress among Singapore residents in both phases. These findings could be ascribed to the failure in re-establishment of pre-COVID-19 pandemic norms, social situations and working dynamics that might have led to sleep curtailment and insomnia. Study findings can be utilised to design effective targeted interventions like cognitive behavioural therapy, therapist assisted relaxation and meditation programs to improve sleep and reduce psychological distress. Mentioned interventions can be delivered via smartphone applications enabling easy access, monitoring, delivery, and utilization by the vulnerable groups.

None Declared

Previous studies have shown that unwanted pregnancy and abortion, particularly in adolescents, are associated with a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Moreover, women with a history of abortion faced a significantly higher risk of various mental health problems, including suicidal behaviors, compared to those who did not undergo abortion. This is often due to a combination of psychological and social pressures. Factors such as the feeling of shame, social isolation, and a sense of being a burden can exacerbate the mental distress that pregnant women or adolescents experience, especially when the pregnancy is unplanned. Additionally, women who attempted suicide often report high levels of stress related to social expectations, family conflict, and lack of support during pregnancy. In some cases, individuals who were born from unwanted pregnancies or whose mother attempted abortions have also shown a higher risk of suicidal behavior later in life. However, our understanding of the risk and protective factors is uncomplete.

In our study the connection between unwanted pregnancy, abortion and suicide attempts were analysed and identify their role as potential suicide risk factors.

: Structural clinical interview was used to explore trauma history of induced abortion and unwanted pregnancy. 324 subjects were involved in the analysis. 134 of them with history of suicide, 135 clinical sample without suicide history 55 non-clinical sample. We assessed the moderator effect of the attachment style and childhood trauma using the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).

We found no significant effects regarding whether the individual was born from unwanted pregnancies (β = -1.509, p = 0.110, OR = 0.221), and whether they lost their child (β = 0.247, p = 0.892, OR = 0.981). However, whether their mother attempted abortion when pregnant with them have shown a higher risk of suicidal behavior later in life (β = 6.939, p = 0.007, OR = 1031.427). The participants who undergone abortion were also more likely to attempt suicide (β = 2.397, p = 0.011, OR = 10.988). In both cases, childhood trauma was a mediator variable on a significant level (in case of mother’s abortion: β = -0.130, p = 0.005, OR = -2.804) or as a trend (in case of participant’s abortion: β = -0.034, p = 0.050, OR = 0.966).

The perinatal period, particularly for those experiencing unwanted pregnancies, is a critical time for mental health interventions to prevent suicide attempts.

None Declared

Objectives: Tele-mental health services can play an important role in overcoming barriers in mental health services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. However, despite its potential, tele-mental health has not been widely adopted in Oman.

This study is an exploratory investigation into the experiences of therapists and their clients in utilizing video-based tele-mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 19 semistructured qualitative interviews were individually conducted, it included 13 adult clients with mental health conditions who received video-based tele-mental health care and six clinical psychologists who provided video-based tele-mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The clients reported favorable experiences using tele-mental health, with the primary benefits being convenience, easy accessibility to subspecialized care, reduced absenteeism from work with commuting costs, and alleviated mental health stigma. The therapists also expressed experiencing benefits from tele-mental health, such as reduced risk of intrahospital infection, reduced healthcare costs, and the achievement of work-life balance. Primary concerns were related to the lack of public tele-mental health services, lack of specified tele-mental health guidelines, shortage of trained therapists, limited access to high-speed Internet, electronic devices, privacy, and concerns toward the security of telehealth systems in general.

Clients and therapists report that tele-mental health offers new opportunities to improve the quality of mental healthcare services in Oman, and that the challenges could be resolved by establishing governmental tele-mental health services along with developing tele-mental health guidelines and implementing local postgraduate clinical psychology programs in universities in Oman.

None Declared

Cohort studies in first-episode psychosis (FEP) provide crucial insights into the diverse trajectories of clinical and functional recovery. These studies are invaluable for evaluating the effectiveness of new intervention models and informing resource allocation and policy development.

To synthesize quantitative and qualitative findings on mortality and clinical outcomes and to explore their interrelations in a multi-modal investigation of long-term outcomes in FEP. Specific objectives include appraising how this study’s findings have influenced the development of new models of care.

Data were drawn from the iHOPE-20 study, comprising cohort analyses and qualitative interviews with 171 FEP participants diagnosed between 1995–1999 in Dublin, Ireland. Participants with lived experience contributed to the design of the 20-year follow up assessments. Mortality rates were calculated; symptoms, functionality and quality of life trajectories were analyzed using mixed models; and personal recovery themes were derived through thematic analysis. Ongoing analyses are addressing predictors of the number, timing and sequencing of relapses/readmissions among baseline variables as foci for service development.

The study revealed substantial variation in long-term outcomes among individuals with FEP. Shorter DUP was consistently associated with better outcomes across all of the follow-up points. Mortality rates highlighted the importance of interventions to address physical health morbidity. Diagnostic instability over time underscored the dynamic nature of psychosis management. Employment status at follow-up highlighted the importance of strategies to support a return to education or employment after a first presentation.

Findings emphasize the enduring impact of DUP and the need for tailored interventions. Data from this cohort highlight the value of longitudinal insights as a benchmark for comparing the effectiveness of new intervention models. In such studies, addressing ethical and data protection challenges, incorporating the expertise of those with lived experience and harmonising outcome measures remain vital to advance recovery-oriented care models.

None Declared

The assessment of competence for medical decision-making is a critical aspect in the care of patients with mental health disorders. Since patient autonomy is a fundamental pillar of medical ethics, evaluating their capacity to make informed decisions ensures respect for their rights while safeguarding their well-being. An accurate assessment of competence not only facilitates safer and more appropriate decisions for the patient, but also allows physicians to act ethically and legally. Understanding the tools and criteria for such assessments is essential to balance patient autonomy with the protection of their health.

Identify factors that may influence a patient’s competence for specific decisions.

Familiarize with validated scales for assessing patient competence.

Identify strategies to improve competence in cases where necessary.

We present the case of a 65-year-old female patient without significant medical or psychiatric history, who was evaluated in the emergency department for cardiac tamponade, requiring urgent intervention via pericardiocentesis. At the time of the procedure, the patient refused the intervention due to severe pain, requesting voluntary discharge without undergoing further tests. Psychiatry was consulted to assess the patient’s decision-making capacity. An interview was conducted using the MacCAT-T (MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool for Treatment) scale.

A joint interview was conducted between the emergency medicine, intensive care, and psychiatry departments. The results indicated partial competence of the patient for this medical decision (understanding of the procedure and its impact on daily life, but high risk associated with the decision). The patient’s family was involved in the decision-making process, and it was decided to extend the emergency department stay for two additional days to promote better patient competence. No psychopathology was found that impaired the patient’s competence. Ultimately, it was determined that the patient had the necessary competence for this specific decision, and she was discharged home.

Interviews assisted by validated competence assessment scales, such as the MacCAT-T, can be a useful tool in challenging decision-making contexts in emergency situations, providing a more objective and ethical evaluation of patient competence.

None Declared

Cancer is a disease with a high mortality rate and requires care. The identification of cancer with death may cause patients and caregivers not to talk about illness and death. However, communication is one of the most important elements of this disease process. In addition to the inability to talk, the increased responsibilities of caregivers cause physical, economic, social and psychological burdens on caregivers. This can lead to high levels of stress, mental fatigue and depression in caregivers. Poor communication between patients and caregivers is an important factor related to depressive symptoms in caregivers during the caregiving process. Open communication between caregivers and the patient is a factor that can positively affect the disease process. With this study, it can be found that being open communication can reduce depression, anxiety and stress levels in caregivers and support studies to reduce the burden of care of caregivers. Thus, it can be ensured that patients and their caregivers experience the disease process more positively and spend it more positively.

Existing measures of mortality communication may not capture much of the nuance in that cancer caregiver report to be particularly upsetting, so we thought it would be important to examine reliability and validity of the Caregiver’s Communication with the Patient about Illness and Death (CCID) Scale for measuring the extent to which caregivers of cancer patients discuss illness and death with the patientin Turkey.

The methodological study will be conducted to establish the validity and reliability of the Caregiver’s Communication with the Patient about Illness and Death (CCID) Scaleto Turkish Culture and to determine the level of mortality communication, expected grief, care burden and mental health problems among cancer caregiver in Eastern Turkey. The sample of the study will consist of cancer caregivers and who agree to participate in the study. The data will be subjected to appropriate methods for statistical analysis and will be used to understand the relationships between mortality communication and grief, depression, anxiety, stress and caregiver burden at caregivers of cancer patients.

Data extraction is still on going in detailed style by principal authors. Description of studies and the key findings will be presented.

It is predicted that not discussing illness and death causes an increase in depression, anxiety and stress levels in caregivers. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate depression, anxiety and stress in caregivers of cancer patients who will be evaluated with the scale and to evaluate their relationship with care burden.

None Declared

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease in the general population. The role of the psychiatrist in this pathology is to consider the epileptic diagnosis within the diagnostic possibilities, its psychosocial consequences and the psychological and cognitive effects of common antiepileptics. It has been reported that 30% to 50% of all individuals with epilepsy present, at some point in their lives, psychiatric difficulties. An epileptic seizure is a transient paroxysmal pathophysiological alteration of brain function caused by spontaneous excessive neuronal discharge. Symptoms will depend fundamentally on the cerebral origin of the seizure and the spread of activity in the brain. Finally, to better understand the clinical case that will be presented, it is important to differentiate between partial epileptic seizures, which involve epileptiform activity in localized brain regions, and generalized seizures, which affect the entire brain.

The main objective of this work is to review the current scientific evidence on psychiatric symptons in epilepsy.

The case of a 75-year-old man with a neurological history and abrupt appearance of atypical psychiatric symptoms is presented. A detailed search was performed on UpToDate with the search terms “Epilepsy” and “psychiatric pathology.”

This is a 75-year-old man with an organic history of repeated cerebral strokes and vascular epilepsy who attended the Emergency Department due to the onset of autolytic ideation abruptly and without a biographical trigger. After the express request by psychiatry for a neurological study, an EEG was performed, where epileptiform activity was observed in the frontal lobe and a diagnosis of right frontal focal status epilepticus secondary to a chronic cerebrovascular lesion was diagnosed. Preictal events in complex partial epilepsy include autonomic sensations (gastric repletion, flushing and changes in breathing), cognitive sensations (déjà vu, jamais vu, forced thoughts), affective states (fear, panic, depression, euphoria) and automatisms.

Status epilepticus constitutes one of the main neurological emergencies. Convulsive status epilepticus is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate pharmacological treatment and life support measures, as well as recognition and treatment of a possible triggering cause. It is a prolonged epileptic seizure or one that repeats itself in time intervals that are short enough so that the patient does not regain consciousness between episodes. Among the possible symptoms in epilepsy with a focus on the frontal lobe, atypical behavioral alterations are included that can go unnoticed and be referred to psychiatry.

In conclusion, this case shows the need for organic screening in those patients with atypical symptoms that do not fit into the major neuropsychiatric syndromes.

None Declared

Schizophrenia frequently coexists with substance use disorders, especially cannabis use disorder (CUD). Importantly, cannabis use is known to further exacerbate symptoms, leading to more frequent and severe psychotic episodes, longer hospital stays and poorer overall treatment outcomes. The lifetime risk of relapse is around 60%. Therefore, the treatment of patients with multiple episodes is even more challenging

To evaluate the effectiveness of cariprazine in schizophrenia patients with multiple episodes and comorbid cannabis use disorder.

This was a 6-month, multi-centre, observational study conducted at six institutions in Spain. The study included adult outpatients aged 18 to 65 years, diagnosed with schizophrenia and cannabis use disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, who were receiving cariprazine treatment based on medical judgment. Exclusion criteria included pregnant or breastfeeding women and patients with co-existing medical conditions that could potentially skew the study results.

The study evaluated changes in schizophrenia symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH), as well as changes in CUD symptoms based on the Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) and the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). This post-hoc analysis focused on patients with multiple episodes. Patient characteristics were summarized using descriptive statistics. Least squares (LS) means were calculated for the change from treatment start to treatment end for PANSS, CGI-SCH, CAST, SDS using a mixed model for repeated measures. All analyses were conducted using SAS.

From the cohort, 38 (65%) patients had multiple episodes. The mean age of these patients was 36.5 and 65.8% of them was male. Most patients received 4.5 mg/day cariprazine at baseline (60.5%). Half of the patients also took concomitant antidepressants and/or antipsychotics. Throughout the 6-month observational period significant improvement was detected in both schizophrenia (LS mean change in PANSS Total score: -46.2, p<0.001, CGI-SCH Total score: -8.0, p<0.001) and CUD symptomatology (LS mean change in CAST Total score: -6.6, p<0.001, SDS Total score: -8.0, p<0.001).

Cariprazine seem to be an effective treatment option for schizophrenia patients with multiple episodes and comorbid CUD.

N. Szerman : None Declared, Z. Dombi Employee of: I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc., originator of cariprazine., P. Vega: None Declared, C. Roncero: None Declared, L. Peris: None Declared, L. Grau-López: None Declared, I. Basurte-Villamor: None Declared

Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty in verbally expressing emotions, a trait commonly observed in patients with psychosomatic symptoms, such as those with asthma. These individuals struggle to identify their emotions and are more prone to developing somatic health issues.

• - To study the prevalence of alexithymia, anxiety and depression in asthma patients

• - To identify the relationship between these aspects.

It was a cross-sectional, case-control, descriptive and analytical study, conducted in the pulmonology department at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax. The study involved 50 asthma patients and a control group consisting of 50 healthy nurses. Data collection was based on a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, as well as two psychometric scales: the Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

The mean age of the patients was 44.08 ± 12.78 years and the male-to-female ratio (M/F) was 0.92.

More than half of the patients (62%) had experienced an acute severe asthma requiring hospitalization. The disease was controlled in 70% of the cases.

The prevalence of alexithymia was 40% in the asthma patients and 36% in the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.68).

The prevalence of anxiety was 38% in patients and 34% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.012).

The prevalence of depression was 38% in patients and 28% in the control group with a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.002).

Alexithymic patients were significantly more anxious (p = 0.01) and more depressed (p = 0.01) than non-alexithymic patients.

Patients with ashtma present high rates of anxiety, depression and alexithymia. This latter does not appear to be a determining factor in asthma. However, it seems to be associated with the emotional distress caused by anxiety and depression. Timely screening for emotional distress and its early management is essential in this population.

None Declared

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. Among these psychiatric manifestations, psychosis occurs in a subset of patients, presenting significant challenges for both diagnosis and treatment. While pharmacological interventions, such as antipsychotics, are commonly used to manage psychosis in HD, they often come with limited efficacy and a high risk of adverse effects. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), traditionally employed in the treatment of severe mood disorders and treatment-resistant psychosis, has garnered minimal attention as a therapeutic option for psychosis associated with HD. This is proven by the absence of literature focusing specifically on the use of ECT for treatment of Huntington’s Psychosis. This underexplored avenue holds potential, given ECT’s neuroplastic and neurochemical effects, which may counteract the neurodegenerative processes seen in HD. Exploring the efficacy of ECT in HD-associated psychosis could not only provide symptom relief but also offer insights into the broader neuropsychiatric management of the disease.

This review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of ECT as a novel intervention in Huntington’s psychosis, addressing the current gap in clinical research and therapeutic strategies.

A non-systematic review of the published literature using the PubMed/MEDLINE database with the MESH terms “huntington,” “psychosis” and “ECT” was made. The articles were selected according to relevance.

There were found 14 relevant publications that adress the use of ECT in HD. 11 of them were case reports and 3 were case series. Most of the studies show good results from the use of ECT in HD. There was improvement in several areas of the patient’s mental state, namely depressive symptoms, irritability, psychotic symptoms and psychomotor agitation.

Few case studies reported worsening of the clinical picture, namely aggravation of the catatonic symptoms or cognitive impairment.

The limited but promising evidence from case reports and case series suggests that ECT may be an effective therapeutic intervention for addressing psychiatric symptoms, including psychosis, in patients with Huntington’s disease. The majority of studies demonstrate positive outcomes. However, the findings are not universally positive, with a few reports noting potential worsening some symptoms. Given the complexity of managing psychiatric symptoms in HD, ECT presents itself as a valuable treatment option, particularly when pharmacological approaches prove ineffective or poorly tolerated. Nonetheless, the absence of larger, controlled studies on ECT for HD psychosis underscores the need for further research to validate its safety and efficacy.

None Declared