Increasingly the collection and use of clinical data is considered as extremely important. These data may allow, among other targets, a better profiling of patients and as such help to develop better and more targeted care-pathways. Often these type of data collections are implemented on large, national levels. Although this already provides an important source of information, often the regional specifics are missed on these larger scales. Within the Antwerp region we developed a program allowing a deeper, smaller grained, level analyses of populations mental health care needs and their regional differences. The aim is to use these data to steer changes in the care pathways as offered by the different locally active care-providers.

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University hazing is a common practice that impacts students’ mental health and well-being, especially in medical schools. Despite its common occurrence, there is a lack of reliable tools to assess hazing experiences and perceptions among students.

This study aimed to evaluate hazing experiences, attitudes, and impacts and to develop and validate the University Hazing Self-Report Scale (UNI-Hazing) among Brazilian medical students.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among Brazilian medical students. The UNI-Hazing scale was developed as a four-part questionnaire designed to assess personal experiences with hazing, students’ opinions, and its perceived impact on their well-being. Participants also completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and established scales including the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale (JHLES), the Medical Student Stress Factor Scale (MSSF), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We conducted exploratory factor analysis to uncover latent factors and assessed internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity.

1,017 medical students from 74 universities across Brazil participated in the study. While the majority of students did not report being victims or witnesses of hazing, certain hazing behaviors, such as body painting and forced solicitation for money, were relatively common. Hazing incidents most frequently occurred at parties, followed by sports associations and fraternities, with fewer on-campus incidents. Students largely held negative views on hazing. Factor analysis revealed three subscales within UNI-Hazing: “Social Pressure and Institutional Responsibility”, “Emotional Harm and Ethical Concerns” and “Physical Hazing and Power Dynamics”. The scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92–0.93) and test-retest reliability (Pearson correlation coefficients: 0.44–0.84). Correlations with the external scales supported the scale’s validity, showing positive correlations with MSSF, GAD-7, and PHQ-9, reflecting the psychological impacts of hazing, and negative correlations with JHLES, indicating that as hazing experiences increase, positive life experiences may decrease.

The UNI-Hazing scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing hazing experiences and perceptions among medical students in Brazil. The findings highlight the need for universities to implement anti-hazing policies and support systems for students impacted by hazing practices.

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Recent research suggests that psychological and personality factors, specifically affective temperaments, may influence adherence to prescribed pharmacotherapeutic interventions. However, this relationship has not yet been investigated in the context of infertility treatments.

Our prospective longitudinal study aimed to assess the impact of affective temperaments on medication adherence during infertility treatments.

Among women presenting for infertility treatment at the Semmelweis University Assisted Reproduction Centre, we administered the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) questionnaire before treatment to assess their affective temperament and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) questionnaire six months after treatment initiation to measure their medication adherence during treatment. The effect of affective temperaments on medication adherence was analyzed using linear regression models. All statistical analyses were performed using R statistical software version v4.4.1.

In this paper, we present preliminary partial results. In our cohort of 121 women undergoing infertility treatment, higher hyperthymic affective temperament score predicted significantly higher adherence to pharmacotherapy recommendations (β = 0.11, p = 0. 042), while the other four dominant affective temperaments predicted significantly poorer medication adherence (cyclothymic: β =-0.15, p<0.001, depressive: β = -0.21, p=0.001, irritable: β =-0.14, p=0.004, anxious: β =-0.09, p=0.011).

The results suggest that affective temperaments may affect adherence to prescribed pharmacotherapeutic interventions among women undergoing infertility treatment, which may thereby influence the outcome of infertility treatment administered. By screening for affective temperament profiles, it would be possible to identify patient groups at high risk of drug non-adherence and then to aid adherence by applying patient-tailored treatment, including psychological interventions, which could increase the chances of successful pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between smartphone and social media use and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Ireland.

This study aimed to fill a gap in the existing literature by examining specific types of online activity, such as cyberbullying and “sexting” (sending sexually explicit messages), and the independent associations of these activities with worse mental health.

This study is a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data from the 2023 Planet Youth Partner survey. The study population was 4,544 mostly 15- and 16-year olds from Cavan, Monaghan and North County Dublin. The dependent variable was the total Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score, a tool commonly used to assess mental health status. Independent variables included hours of social media use, experiences of cyberbullying, body image perceptions, and involvement in sexting. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine the associations between these variables and mental health outcomes, controlling for potential confounders such as gender, sleep duration, and maternal education level.

The study found significant associations between several online activities and worse mental health. High use of social media (4 hours per day or more) was associated with a 62% greater risk compared to those who used it for about 1 hour or less.

Cyberbullying was a also strong predictor of poor mental health, with victims nearly twice as likely to have a high SDQ score. Negative perceptions of one’s own body image and participating in sexting were also significantly associated with worse mental health outcomes.

Gender differences were observed, with females more likely to be victims of cyberbullying, to be asked for and to send sexually explicit messages, and to have worse mental health outcomes when compared to males. Insufficient sleep was also a significant predictor, with those sleeping for 6 hours or less per night having more than twice the risk compared to those who slept for the recommended 8 hours or more.

The findings of this study suggest that specific aspects of smartphone and social media use, particularly high usage and negative online experiences, are independently associated with poorer mental health outcomes in adolescents. These results are consistent with international evidence and highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate the risks associated with this technology. The study recommends developing evidence-based guidelines for parents and teachers to promote healthier online behaviours among adolescents in Ireland. It also calls for a national Public Health campaign and policy measures to enforce stricter regulations on social media companies and protect young people from harmful online experiences.

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Affective disorders, including but not limited to major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and persistent depressive disorder, comprise a group of disorders characterized by clinically significant mood disturbances. Depression, which makes the most important contribution to the DALY index among all mental disorders, was the primary focus of this study. Physical activity, regardless of changes in body weight, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and the likelihood of a new episode of the disease.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders.

This study comprised a qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis. Following ethical approval, a convenience sample of 10 participants with affective disorders was drawn: all of the sample were female, aged 18 years or older, with 69% falling into the 27–35 years age bracket. Diagnostic and clinical information were collected, and barriers to engagement in physical activity were explored. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Ten face-to-face qualitative interviews were completed and lasted between 30 and 60 min. The findings were summarized under the key thematic areas of Anhedonia, Fatigue, Lack of time, Fear of condemnation, and Embarrassment, illustrated by texts. The key thematic areas were further grouped under the overarching themes of 1. Personal characteristics and the influence of low mood: anhedonia and fatigue; 2. External factors: need more time; 3. Social factors: embarrassment and fear of condemnation. Then, the following barriers were identified: “Lack of Strength” barrier, “Lack of Time” barrier, and “Rejection of physical characteristics” (or self-stigma) barrier.

While small and exploratory, the study provides significant insights into the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders. Although these findings are not generalizable to other populations or males with affective disorders, they offer valuable considerations for future research and interventions in this field. This study’s findings have profound implications for future psychosocial interventions for patients with affective disorders. By identifying and understanding the barriers to motivation for physical activity, it paves the way for more effective, individualized interventions, including those aimed at reducing self-stigma.

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Obesity is a growing problem in several developed countries and has a complex etiology in teenagers. Approximately one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. However, it is not clear how depression and obesity are screened and treated in the primary care setting for adolescents.

This study aims to describe the prevalence, screening, and treatment rates for depression in adolescents in ambulatory settings in the United States.

Data on 444,080,295 male and female adolescents ages 13-18 were extracted from the 2008-2018 CDC National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey datasets. Adolescents were stratified by weight groups based on CDC guidelines (i.e., body mass index percentile).

Of the adolescents, 16.89% were obese, 13.81% were overweight, 43.39% were normal weight, and 25.91% were underweight. Depression screening rates in adolescents with obesity is 2.89%, overweight is 3.35%, normal weight 3.49%, and underweight is 2.83% (p=0.382). Prevalence of depression in adolescents with obesity is 7.17%, overweight is 6.04%, normal weight is 6.31%, and underweight is 12.14% (p<0.0001). Prevalence of counseling and psychotherapy in adolescents with obese status is 2.70%, overweight status is 2.89%, normal weight is 2.92%, and underweight is 11.27% (p<0.0001). Patients seen by primary care health workers, age, female gender, number of chronic conditions, and increased visits are significant predictors of depression diagnosis in adolescents.

Depression in adolescents who are overweight or obese is under-screened for, under-identified, and under-treated. More mental health counseling and psychotherapy must be offered to those with both depression and obesity.

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Recent evidence suggest the nosological entity called Schizo-Obsessive Disorder (SchizoOCD), similar to Schizoaffective Disorder. Some authors argued that obsessions and delusions would be on a continuum, which justify the difficulty in distinguishing obsessive from delusional thoughts, and compulsions from stereotypical behaviors. In order to assist in the screening, monitoring or treatment of such disorders, instruments as scales and questionnaires may be important tools in psychiatric practice.

This systematic review investigated the most frequent instrumentsused to assess SchizoOCD.

We systematically reviewed articles up to 2015 in English, Portuguese and Spanish at PubMed, Scielo and Embase databases. We included studies with humans, no age limitation, with OCS or diagnosis of OCD and schizophrenia or psychotic symptoms. Systematic review articles, meta-analysis, letters to the editor and case reports were excluded, as well as articles that did not use assessment instruments for the diagnosis of schizophrenia comorbid with OCD. The methodological and clinical data extracted from the articles are described at the results.

A total of 9,833 articles were selected, but 53 were read. Cross-sectional studies were the most frequent (n=39; 73.6%), followed by cohort studies (n=9; 17.0%).The total sample size of Schizo-OCD patients was 2,605 patients (in 44 studies), of which 44.7% (n=1,164) were female. The mean age and the age of onset of the disorders are described in Table 1. Only 23 (44.4%) of the studies described the psychiatric comorbidities (2 (3.8%) studies reported that the patients had no comorbidities). The most frequent comorbidities were Major Depression (n=18; 34%) and Substance Use Disorder (n=9; 17.0%). The used diagnostic instruments or interviews are listed in Table 2. Table 3 describes the scales used to assess the severity of Schizophrenia and/or OCD symptoms. From a psychopathological point of view, only 9 (17.0%) of the articles described psychotic symptoms in more detail. For OCD, 15 (28.3%) of the articles detailed the obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

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Few studies in the literature used scales to discriminate psychotic and obsessive-compulsive aspects in patients with the alleged diagnosis of Schizo-OCD. Scales for measuring symptom severity such as PANSS and YBOCS were widely used in the studies, indicating that their application in clinical practice can serve as an aid during treatment management. Specific scales and instruments for Schizo-OCD were not found and we suggest as a future perspective the development of a new tool to assess symptoms and to elucidate possible symptomatic confusions.

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Trichotillomania (TTM) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) are two psychiatric conditions that frequently co-occur, presenting a significant challenge for treatment due to their complex interplay. TTM involves repetitive hair-pulling, leading to noticeable hair loss and distress, while MDD is characterized by persistent low mood and loss of interest or pleasure leading to dysfunctionality.

This case report aims to discuss a case of a 21-year-old female with major depressive disorder and trichotillomania, management challenges, and the importance of a comprehensive, multifaceted therapeutic approach to address both disorders effectively.

A 21-year-old female college student and youth church leader presented with chronic hair-pulling and depressive symptoms. She had low self-esteem and a strong need for validation. Despite her responsibilities, she struggled with emotional distress exacerbated by family dynamics and her church role. Her symptoms were linked to self-esteem threats and feelings of inadequacy. She was diagnosed with Trichotillomania, Scalp, and Major Depressive Disorder.

Initial pharmacologic management was Fluoxetine 20mg/day up titrated to 40mg/day with no improvement hence shifted to Escitalopram 20mg/day and N-acetylcysteine 1200mg/day with noted significant improvement in symptoms. Non-pharmacologic strategies included supportive-expressive psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and family therapy. Psychoeducation, suicide safety planning, and an interprofessional approach with dermatology co-management were also integral.

Over the course of 15 therapy sessions, the patient demonstrated significant improvement in both her depressive symptoms and hair-pulling behavior. Her active engagement in therapy, combined with pharmacological support, facilitated better emotional regulation and a more cohesive sense of self. Her adherence to the treatment plan, along with the collaborative efforts of the interprofessional team, contributed to her positive outcomes.

This case highlights the significance of addressing both TTM and its comorbid conditions for effective treatment outcomes. The interplay between TTM and MDD underscores the need for comprehensive treatment plans incorporating pharmacological and psychotherapeutic approaches. Future practice should consider the benefits of an interprofessional approach for managing complex cases like this.

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Clozapine, traditionally prescribed for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, has shown potential for off-label use, particularly in affective and personality disorders characterized by severe impulsivity, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicidality (Delgado et al 2020, Journal of psychiatric research, 125, 21-27). Emerging evidence suggests that clozapine’s unique pharmacodynamic profile (serotonergic activity and high affinity for D4R, α1R, H1R) may contribute to reducing aggression and impulsivity and offer therapeutic benefits for borderline personality disorder (BPD). This is particularly relevant given the high suicide risk in BPD patients, with an estimated annual rate up to 10%, 50 times higher than the general population. Despite this, current treatment guidelines for BPD typically limit pharmacological interventions in favor of psychotherapeutic approaches (Pascual JC et al Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010, 25(6), 349-55). However, clozapine’s ability to modulate impulsivity and emotional dysregulation could provide a valuable adjunct in the treatment of this complex disorder.

To evaluate the efficacy of clozapine in reducing impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and suicidality in patients with BPD.

The study cohort consisted of 47 patients (29 women) with a mean age of 28 years (IQR: 22-44), all diagnosed with BPD resistant to previous pharmacological treatments. Clozapine was introduced after a comprehensive risk-benefit assessment. At baseline, 96% of patients were taking mood stabilizers or anticonvulsants, 87% were taking SSRI/SNRI antidepressants, 81% were taking antipsychotics, and 66% were taking other medications such as benzodiazepines or gabapentinoids. Clinical assessments using the RIPoST-40, MOAS, and Columbia scales were administered at baseline, one week (T1), one month (T2), and three months (T3). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Friedman’s test with significance set at p<0.01 after Bonferroni correction.

Significant reductions in all scores were observed at T3: RIPoST-40 scores decreased by 40.15% (p<0.0001), MOAS by 58%(p<0.0001), Columbia Scale scores by 70.20% (p<0.0001). At month 3, clinical response, defined as a ≥50% reduction in scores, was achieved by 11% of patients on the RIPoST-40, 70% on the MOAS, and 94% on the Columbia Scale.

Clozapine demonstrated significant reductions in impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and suicidality in patients with BPD, with rapid improvements observed within the first week and sustained through 3 months. These findings suggest that clozapine, in combination with psychotherapy, may be an effective treatment strategy for the most severe symptoms of BPD. Further prospective studies with larger cohorts are needed to validate these preliminary results and to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of clozapine in this population.

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Accidents, whether minor or severe, can have significant psychological impacts, especially in elderly populations. Stress related to accidents often exacerbates pre-existing conditions or leads to new mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychological impact of accidents on elderly individuals is often compounded by physical frailty, social isolation, and diminished coping mechanisms. Following an accident, elderly individuals may face prolonged recovery periods, limited mobility, and a reduced sense of independence, all of which can heighten stress levels. Additionally, the fear of future accidents may lead to avoidance behaviors, further isolating them from social interactions and routine activities, thus exacerbating anxiety and depression. Pre-existing mental health conditions, such as mild cognitive impairment or chronic illness, can worsen under accident-related stress.

This study aims to explore recent trends in understanding and addressing accident-related stress in elderly individuals, focusing on the psychological, social, and physiological factors contributing to their vulnerability. The primary objective of this study is to examine the psychological, social, and physiological factors that increase the vulnerability of elderly individuals to accident-related stress.

A mixed-methods approach was used, combining a systematic review of literature from 2015 to 2024 and interviews with mental health professionals. The sample consisted of 30 peer-reviewed studies and 25 elderly individuals aged 65 and above who had experienced accidents within the last year. Studies were selected based on relevance to accident-related stress in the elderly, with an emphasis on post-accident psychological outcomes and interventions.

Results indicated that the elderly are more susceptible to prolonged stress responses following accidents due to physical fragility, social isolation, and reduced coping mechanisms. The review also highlighted an underutilization of mental health services in this demographic, despite the availability of stress-reduction programs. Furthermore, findings showed that older adults who participated in targeted mental health interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and peer support groups, experienced better outcomes in managing stress compared to those who did not.

In conclusion, accident-related stress in the elderly presents unique challenges that require specialized attention. Healthcare providers should prioritize early identification and tailored interventions to mitigate the long-term psychological effects of accidents in this vulnerable population.

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Suicide remains a major cause of death in prison (Status report on prison health in the WHO European Region 2022). In comparison with adults from general population, incarcerated people are at increased risk of presenting suicide-related behaviours (Fazel S, et al. Lancet Psychiatry 2017; 4 946–52). Although certain studies have identified effective programs to reduce suicide in prison context (Carter A, et al. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 44 101-266), there is little evidence examining the relationship between moderators of effectiveness at individual and contextual levels.

This study aims to review empirical research on moderators of effectiveness of interventions in prison to reduce suicide, summarizing effect sizes across studies.

For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched EBSCOhost, ScienceDirect, PubMed and ProQuest for articles published from 1990 to 2024. Elegible studies included those evaluating the effect of psychological interventions, delivered to adults during incarceration, on suicidal prevention. The impact of moderators covering bibliometric features (i.e. year of publication, country), methodological features of the study (i.e. sample size, mean age of participants, sex ratio, study design, assessment type and tools), suicide-related features (main outcome, previous suicide history), and other relevant variables (prison type and location, type and length of sentence) as well as psychological traits (alcohol or drugs misuse or other treatments) were also included. This review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses using random-effect models were used to pool effect sizes for moderators’ outcomes. The protocol was pre-registered with PROSPERO, CRD42024538967.

Of 7728 articles retrieved, 18 studies (1695 participants, 330 [19.5%] females, 756 males [44.6%], and 609 [35.9%] unknown) met the inclusion criteria. Mean ages were 32·0 years, and ethnicity data was not sufficiently reported to be aggregated. Type of prison was mostly public sector and located in rural areas. Studies were frequently conducted in UK (n=8; 44%) and used varying study designs; most frequently pre-post with no control group (n=9; 50%). On average, prevention programs in prison context were effective in decreasing suicide deaths, suicidal ideation and self-harm (n=14; 78%).

Findings suggest that explanations for efficiency of psychological interventions to prevent suicide behaviour and self-harm in prison context, are moderated by physical environment, individual and psychosocial factors. Future research identifying what factors moderate treatment outcomes in suicide and self-harm prevention within prison environments could help elucidate associated factors of efficiency, helping develop potential therapeutic actions.

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Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have higher rates of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, compared to the general population. Unique challenges, like cognitive impairments and communication barriers, require tailored treatments. This poster reviews strategies for managing these conditions in adults with IDD, focusing on adaptations in psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

To outline treatment approaches for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in adults with IDD, highlight limitations and necessary adaptations, and advocate for collaborative treatment models involving healthcare providers and caregivers.

A literature review identified studies and guidelines on psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to adults with IDD, examining the effectiveness of pharmacological agents, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and other adaptations.

Current treatments for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often deviate from standard protocols, requiring modifications in both pharmacological and therapeutic approaches. Depression management in IDD typically relies on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), adapted with gradual dose escalation and close monitoring due to limited data on their specific effects in this population. Psychotherapy, particularly group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has shown notable efficacy, with studies reporting significant symptom reduction in treated groups. For anxiety disorders, low-dose SSRIs remain the primary pharmacological option, with cautious titration to minimize adverse effects, while benzodiazepines are generally avoided to prevent paradoxical responses and disinhibition. CBT-based interventions, including graduated exposure therapy customized for specific phobias or triggers, show promise, though further randomized trials are warranted. Managing bipolar disorder in IDD is particularly challenging due to the heightened risk of severe functional impairment and symptom overlap, with mood stabilizers like lithium and antipsychotics administered sparingly given potential metabolic and neurological side effects. Given limited research, clinical strategies often rely on individualized treatment plans informed by provider expertise and patient-specific needs.

Treatment for psychiatric disorders in adults with IDD requires significant adaptation, with careful dosing and monitoring of medications to minimize adverse effects. Evidence supports CBT as an effective option, yet there is a critical need for more research, especially randomized trials, to develop more robust guidelines specific to this population. Close collaboration between healthcare providers and caregivers is essential for successful outcomes.

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Handwriting is mainly a motor process involving an efficient level of motor organization lead-ing to fine coordination of movements, thus, children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are particularly affected with handwriting disorders.

We aimed to investigate handwriting disorders in DCD children in order to better understand the semiology of dysgraphia.

Data from 65 children aged 5 to 15 years (mean age 8.9 years, SD = 2.5) with DCD were collected on DSM-V criteria. They had no other medical or psychiatric condition and born full-term. They were assessed with handwriting testing and standardized assessments of neuropsychological, neurovisual, MRI and neuropsychomotor functions (NP-MOT neurodevelopmental battery), including muscular tone examination. Particular attention was paid to minor neurological dysfunctions (MND) which can be detected with the NP-MOT battery, such as a mild phasic stretch reflex (PSR).

Findings showed a high rate of visual perceptual motor, visuo-spatial, and visuo-constructional impairments (> 82%), visual pursuit disorders (93%) and 89% of handwriting disorders (HD, n=58). Among these HD, there are 83% of poor handwriting (PH) and 17% of dysgraphia (DysG). Moreover, we found in HD, 36% of PSR (with 29% in PH vs 70% in DysG) correlated to imbalance of axial tone (hyper-extension) associated with increase of neuropsychomotor disorders such as dissonance between spontaneous gestural, usual and psychosocial lateralities (P = 0.03), impairments of coordination between upper and lower limbs (P = 0.001), impairments of manual dexterity (P < 0.001), impairments of dynamic balance (P = 0.002), and dysdiadochokinesis (P < 0.001). Comparing PH and DysG groups, dysgraphia is associated to PSR (P = 0.04). 38% of abnormal MRI scans were heterogeneous and non-specific to the level of handwriting disorder and to PSR.

Dysgraphia appears to be a singular disorder as a comorbidity of DCD, which is significantly associated with a high incidence of motor impairments, suggesting a disturbance of the motor pathway (mild distal spasticity of the pyramidal corticospinal tract dysfunction). The presence of MND such as PSR highlights a mild impairment of the motor voluntary movement from the premotor cortex. PH appears primarily due to an immaturity of handwriting gesture consecutive to disorders of coordination programming in DCD.

Dysgraphia should be assessed not only with a simple handwriting test (legibility and speed) but completed with a developmental standardized physical neuropsychomotor examination assessing the presence of MND because to know the nature of the disorder is useful in clinical decision-making processes for handwriting remediation.

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Children in special education schools are particularly susceptible to developing mental health issues. Specifically, it is estimated that 40% of individuals with intellectual disabilities have a comorbid mental disorder diagnosis (1). However, access to mental health services for patients with intellectual disabilities remains far below expectations. Numerous barriers impede this access, including a lack of coordination between professionals and service providers responsible for their care (2).

Therefore, interventions within special education schools, promoting early detection and intervention for psychopathology and facilitating coordination between educational and healthcare services, are critically important.

We present an innovative mental health care resource designed for special education schools in the Community of Madrid, Spain. This initiative combines multi-disciplinary expertise with flexible, hybrid care delivery to ensure accessibility for students across 14 public schools. The team consists of a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, and a mental health nurse who provide both in-person and remote assistance, addressing the psychopathology exhibited by their students.

Preliminary results suggest that this intervention has the potential to improve early detection rates of mental health issues and foster better coordination between education and healthcare systems. This model could serve as a blueprint for similar programs worldwide, addressing significant gaps in mental health care for children with intellectual disabilities.

(1) Cooper, S. A., Smiley, E., Morrison, J., Williamson, A., & Allan, L. (2007). Mental ill-health in adults with intellectual disabilities: prevalence and associated factors. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 190, 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.106.022483

(2) Whittle, E. L., Fisher, K. R., Reppermund, S., Lenroot, R., & Trollor, J. (2017). Barriers and enablers to accessing mental health services for people with intellectual disability: A scoping review. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 11(1), 69–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2017.1408724

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Alcohol consumption of mothers can lead to problems in emotional and behavioural development of children. However, less is known about the effects of paternal alcohol drinking.

We aimed to investigate whether maternal or paternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy longitudinally affected children’s mental health.

We analyzed a total of 2,013 parent-child triads (52% of children were males) from the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. Data on alcohol consumption was obtained from questionnaires from both parents during pregnancy and after the child’s birth. Mental health and behaviour of children was assessed with Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at ages 7, 11, 15, and 18 years old, as reported by mothers and children themselves. The associations were tested using linear regression, adjusting for parent’s age at child’s birth, child’s sex, and other socio-demographic and psychosocial covariates. We also tested an interaction between the exposure and children’s sex.

Maternal alcohol consumption was associated with higher total SDQ scores at ages 7, 11, and 18 years old when the outcomes were reported by mothers, but only at 11 when reported by children. We did not observe any dose-response relationship, and the effect size did not change during the follow-up. Results of the linear regressions are displayed in Table 1. We did not detect any effect modification by child’s sex. The effects were observed across various domains of SDQ (except for the peer problems subscale): in the emotional symptoms subscale at age 11 when reported by both mother and child, in the conduct problems subscale at ages 7 and 11 when reported only by mother, in the hyperactivity/inattention subscale at age 18 when reported only by mother. Paternal alcohol consumption was not associated with the total SDQ score.Table 1

Association of maternal alcohol consumption with the total score of Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire

* p-value < .05. The reference category is no alcohol consumption. Results are from a fully adjusted model.

Maternal alcohol consumption has a long-term effect on children’s mental health in particular when reported by mothers. Interventions preventing maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy may protect children’s mental health.

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Psychological First Aid is (thankfully) not something most people use daily – yet it’s crucial for responders to be trained, confident and fully prepared for unexpected emergencies. So how can we ensure this readiness? The answer is AI avatars in virtual reality! At VirtualSpeech, in partnership with Region Västra Götaland, we’ve developed AI roleplay simulations that enable crisis and emergency teams to not only practice their psychological support skills but also receive personalized feedback on their performance and tips for improvement.

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Germany is one of the countries that has taken in a large number of refugees. Around 2.25 million now have recognised protection status in Germany. In addition, Germany has taken in over 1,215,048 refugees from Ukraine. All of these people are very vulnerable refugees who are exposed to many risk and stress factors before, during and after their migration. As a result, they have a high prevalence of mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance use and persistent grief disorder. At the same time, refugees face numerous barriers to accessing medical care, such as language and cultural barriers, administrative barriers, structural, institutional and interpersonal discrimination and racism. There is also unequal treatment in Germany between refugees from Ukraine and other regions of the world. In addition, healthcare provision has recently been tightened due to changes in the Asylum Seekers’ Benefits Act. This presentation will focus on the sitaution in Germany and discuss üossible solutions.

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Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder linked to a life expectancy 15-20 years shorter than the general population1, due to higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, metabolic disorders, and increased risk of suicide and accidental deaths2.

This study aims to analyze survival and causes of death in a cohort of schizophrenia patients over a 10-year period, providing insights into mortality patterns in this population.

This 10-year retrospective study followed 635 schizophrenia patients, aged 18 or older, enrolled from 2010 to 2013 at the Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry and Neurology, Brasov, Romania. Patients with schizo-affective or other psychotic disorders were excluded. Data included demographics, clinical history, and survival outcomes, with causes of death confirmed by a Forensic Medical Specialist.

The study included 635 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The mean age at baseline was 48,01 ± 11.36, 42.04% were males, and the mean age of onset of schizophrenia was 26.68 ± 8.01.The average duration of illness was 21.27 ± 11.41 years. Among the cohort, 20.31% patients were treated with LAIs antipsychotics, and 17.16% were on clozapine. Of the 635 patients followed, 123 (19.4%) died during the 10-year follow-up. The average age at death was 59.04±11.96. According to the 2023 Eurohealth report and the World Health Organization, the overall life expectancy in Romania is 76.3 years 3. The data on schizophrenia patients suggests a significant disparity between their average age at death and the overall life expectancy in Romania. Schizophrenia patients in Romania live, on average, about 17 years less than the general population. Of the deceased, 13% died in psychiatric wards, and 17.88% were in chronic care at the time. Among the deceased patients, 18 were on typical antipsychotic LAIs. None of the patients in the deceased cohort were on atypical LAIs. Cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death (27.64%), followed by infections (17.07%) and cancer (12.19%). Metabolic causes accounted for 4.06%, respiratory for 1.62%, hepatic for 3.25%, and both neurological and gastrointestinal causes for 0.81%. The cause of death was undetermined in 15.45% of cases. Violent deaths accounted for 17.07% of cases, with 8 suicides and 13 accidents. Out of the 13 accidental deaths, 7 were due to choking-related asphyxiation during eating. Four of these patients were on haloperidol, 2 on quetiapine, and 1 on flupenthixol.

The 17-year lower life expectancy for schizophrenia patients highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and improved preventive care. Additionally, the high mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and infections, along with choking-related risks from antipsychotic medications, underscores the importance of careful medication management to enhance patient safety and survival.

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