Epidemiological evidence shows a concerning rise in youth mental health difficulties over the past three decades. Most evidence, however, comes from countries in Europe or North America, with far less known about changes in other global regions. This study aimed to compare adolescent mental health across two population-based cohorts in the UK, and two population-based cohorts in Pelotas, Brazil.

Four population-based cohorts with identical mental health measures were compared. In Brazil, these included the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort and the 2004 Pelotas Birth Cohort. In the UK, cohorts included the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, and the Millennium Cohort Study. Mental health was measured in all cohorts using identical, parent-rated scores from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). This was assessed in both countries over approximately the same time periods, when adolescents were aged 11 (2004 vs 2015 in Brazil, and 2003 vs 2012 in the UK), with follow-up analyses focused on outcomes in later adolescence.

Mental health problems were higher in the UK for adolescents born in the early 2000s compared to those born in the early 1990s. In Pelotas, the opposite was found, whereby problems were lower for adolescents born in the early 2000s compared to those born in the early 1990s. Despite these promising reductions in mental health problems in Pelotas over time, SDQ scores remained higher in Pelotas compared to the UK.

Our study represents the first to compare two population-based cohorts in the UK, and two population-based cohorts in Pelotas, Brazil, to understand how mental health problems have changed over time across the two settings. Our findings provide the most up-to-date insight into population-level rates of youth mental health problems in Pelotas, and shed novel insight into how these have changed over the last two decades in comparison to the UK. In doing so, our study provides a tentative first step towards understanding youth mental health over time at a more global scale, and presents a valuable opportunity to examine putative contributors to differences across time.

Cannabis use and familial vulnerability to psychosis have been associated with social cognition deficits. This study examined the potential relationship between cannabis use and cognitive biases underlying social cognition and functioning in patients with first episode psychosis (FEP), their siblings, and controls.

We analyzed a sample of 543 participants with FEP, 203 siblings, and 1168 controls from the EU-GEI study using a correlational design. We used logistic regression analyses to examine the influence of clinical group, lifetime cannabis use frequency, and potency of cannabis use on cognitive biases, accounting for demographic and cognitive variables.

FEP patients showed increased odds of facial recognition processing (FRP) deficits (OR = 1.642, CI 1.123–2.402) relative to controls but not of speech illusions (SI) or jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias, with no statistically significant differences relative to siblings. Daily and occasional lifetime cannabis use were associated with decreased odds of SI (OR = 0.605, CI 0.368–0.997 and OR = 0.646, CI 0.457–0.913 respectively) and JTC bias (OR = 0.625, CI 0.422–0.925 and OR = 0.602, CI 0.460–0.787 respectively) compared with lifetime abstinence, but not with FRP deficits, in the whole sample. Within the cannabis user group, low-potency cannabis use was associated with increased odds of SI (OR = 1.829, CI 1.297–2.578, FRP deficits (OR = 1.393, CI 1.031–1.882, and JTC (OR = 1.661, CI 1.271–2.171) relative to high-potency cannabis use, with comparable effects in the three clinical groups.

Our findings suggest increased odds of cognitive biases in FEP patients who have never used cannabis and in low-potency users. Future studies should elucidate this association and its potential implications.

Sustained alcohol intake, when combined with incomplete treatment, can result in chronic structural changes in the Central Nervous System, including generalized cortical and cerebellar atrophy, amnesic syndromes like Korsakoff’s syndrome, and white matter disorders such as Central Pontine Myelinolysis and Marchiafava-Bignami syndrome. It is crucial to prevent these complications due to their potential for irreversible and debilitating consequences. For Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, early recognition and thiamine administration for prevention are paramount, as it arises from thiamine deficiency due to malnutrition caused by persistent alcohol use. In the case of Central Pontine Myelinolysis, which is caused by abrupt fluctuations in serum osmolality, controlled sodium correction is essential.

Through a clinical case and a review of published literature, this study aims to reflect on the importance of preventing neurological injuries associated with chronic alcohol consumption, specifically Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis.

A literature review was conducted by searching for articles on PubMed using the terms “Alcohol Use Disorder,” “Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome,” and “Central pontine myelinolysis.” A clinical case is presented, featuring a 50-year-old patient with alcohol use disorder who developed Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis. Considering this case, we reflect on the primary approaches that could have been beneficial in preventing these complications and propose a straightforward method for doing so.

A 50-year-old patient presented with poor general condition, characterized by low weight, significant loss of strength in the limbs and arms, and incoherent speech with anterograde amnesia and confabulation. This condition had progressed to a point where the patient could no longer walk, perform basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating independently, underscoring the severity of his condition. The diagnoses of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis were established based on clinical manifestations and the presence of hyperintense lesions observed in the central pons on T2/FLAIR axial MRI scans. This clinical case highlights the importance of proper and precocious prevention of complications in patients with alcohol use disorder. The foremost step in preventing these complications is to treat alcohol dependence effectively, even when faced with patient resistance. It’s vital to remain vigilant about potential complications and implement suitable prophylactic measures.

The devastating effects of complications arising from Alcohol Use Disorder, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and Central Pontine Myelinolysis, underscore the importance of enhanced attention that clinicians should provide when approaching these patients at all clinical interactions.

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Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements, and vocalizations known as tics. While there are existing treatment options, there is a growing need for novel pharmacological approaches to manage the symptoms of TS effectively. This study delves into the emerging field of using cannabinoids as a potential treatment for Tourette’s syndrome.

The primary objectives of this review are to examine the current evidence base for the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, to assess the biological rationale supporting the use of cannabinoids in managing tic severity, to provide insights into the results of existing clinical trials involving cannabinoids and Tourette’s syndrome, and to draw conclusions regarding the potential efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments for TS.

Narrative review of the available scientific literature.

There is a strong biological rationale for how cannabinoids could impact tic severity. The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including motor control and neurotransmitter release. Activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain may modulate these processes, potentially reducing tics. While limited, two small randomized, placebo-controlled trials of THC have been conducted in TS patients. These trials suggested potential benefits of cannabis-derived agents in reducing tic frequency and severity. Self-report and examiner rating scales demonstrated significant improvements in tic symptoms. The trials indicated that THC treatment did not result in significant adverse effects in TS patients.

The exploration of cannabinoids as a treatment option for Tourette’s syndrome is promising but requires further investigation. The biological mechanisms through which cannabinoids may affect tic severity in TS are sound, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic option. Existing trials with THC have shown encouraging results, demonstrating a reduction in tics without significant adverse effects. However, the limited number of trials warrants caution in drawing definitive conclusions. Despite the promising findings, the overall efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments remain largely unknown. Further trials are essential to address dosing, active ingredients, optimal administration, and potential long-term effects. Clinical use should be approached with caution. While early evidence is encouraging, additional rigorous studies are needed to establish the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid-based treatments for this disorder.

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Irvin D. Yalom defines existential psychotherapy as a dynamic therapeutic approach that focuses on concerns rooted in existence with the four ultimate concerns being death, isolation, meaning in life, and freedom. Patients in advanced stages of cancer often experience elevated levels of psychological distress, encompassing conditions such as depression, anxiety, and a sense of spiritual hopelessness. Recently, interest in spiritual well-being has prompted a new wave of interventions that directly target this population, namely logotherapy and other existential interventions based on existential principles.

In this review, the primary focus was to comprehend the current evidence on the application of existential psychotherapy for individuals coping with advanced cancer and give an overview of the therapy approaches used.

Narrative review of scientific literature using Pubmed search engine.

Terao and Satoh identified nine types of existential psychotherapies which were investigated using randomized controlled trials for patients with advanced cancer or in terminal care: Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy (MCGP), Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (IMCP), Meaning-Making intervention (MMi), Meaning of Life Intervention, Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), Hope Intervention, Cognitive and Existential Intervention, Dignity Therapy, and Life-Review Interviews. All deal with the issues pointed by Yalom. Existential or spiritual well-being improvements were validated in MCGP, IMCP, Meaning of Life intervention, and Life-Review intervention.

Current evidence is still based on a very limited number of studies. Additional research is needed to delve into the impact of existential psychotherapy on individuals facing advanced cancer.

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Involuntary admission rates differ between gender across various countries. In several European Union countries, men are more frequently involuntarily admitted, while an opposite trend, associating women with involuntary care, has been observed in countries like Switzerland, Brazil, and China.

Considering the contradictory evidence about gender and involuntary care in the literature, we aim to analyze the gender patterns of involuntary care in Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo’s Psychiatric Acute Unit, exploring the gender differences in diagnosis among involuntary patients.

We stored and analyzed the data using Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics. We studied psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, Portugal over 2 years. The Acute Psychiatric Unit, located within a general hospital, has 24 beds, and offers acute mental healthcare services to adults aged 18 and above, serving a coverage area of approximately 251,000 residents. As part of our data collection process for all admissions to the Acute Psychiatry Unit, we recorded information such as gender, age, diagnosis at discharge, treatment type (voluntary or involuntary), and length of stay.

From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, there were 686 psychiatry admissions at Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, of which 125 (18,2%) were involuntary. The admission rates were approximately 136.6 per 100,000 people annually, with 24.9 being involuntary admissions per 100,000 people annually. In our analysis of involuntary admissions, women had a lower rate of such admissions, making up 6.4%, while men had a higher rate at 11.8%. No other gender identity was mentioned. Schizophrenia-related disorders were the primary cause for involuntary admissions for both genders, with 67.9% for men and 50% for women. Mood disorders were the second most common reason for involuntary admission, accounting for around 40.9% of cases for women and a significantly lower 16% for men. Involuntarily hospitalized patients exhibited longer lengths of stay independently of the gender. Men hospitalized involuntarily tended to be younger, whereas for women, involuntary hospitalizations were associated with older ages.

In conclusion, our study reveals gender differences in psychiatric involuntary admissions, with more men being involuntarily admitted than women. Schizophrenia group disorders were the most common diagnoses among male and female involuntary patients. Furthermore, all hospitalized women exhibited a higher prevalence of mood disorders, a trend that was more pronounced among those admitted involuntarily. These gender trends match the overall patterns seen in the epidemiology of schizophrenia and mood disorders. Additionally, women with schizophrenia generally exhibit better social functioning than men, which may explain the lower needs of involuntary hospitalization.

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A variety of peer support workers have been integrated in the mental health workforce in several countries. The effectiveness of this approach is still inconclusive. However, some data reveals promising results. Some projects have integrated peer support intervention in the treatment of psychosis. In fact, UK clinical guidelines for psychosis advise the inclusion of peer support within Early Intervention in Psychosis services.

The current study aims to evaluate how peer support may assist the intervention in psychosis and highlight challenges ahead in this field.

Narrative review of the available scientific literature.

Research suggests that consistent and frequent peer support enhances social support and boosts self-confidence and the overall quality of life for people going through psychosis. Individuals diagnosed with severe mental illnesses who receive peer support reportedly experience an increased sense of control, hopefulness, and empowerment, enabling them to initiate positive changes in their lives. People going through psychosis experience internalized stigma. Destigmatization of psychotic experiences is a central theme of intervention in psychosis. Participants viewed peer support as a valuable form of assistance that could offer advantages to both peers (service users) and peer support workers.

Peer support makes a strong contribution to destigmatising psychosis. The available date is promising and supports the effectiveness of peer support in such instances. As projects of peer support in psychosis continue to be implemented, further research should provide additional insight into the effectiveness and inherent challenges of this type of intervention.

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Psychotherapy serves as the foundation of care for individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), with pharmacotherapy being regarded as a supplementary measure to be considered when necessary. In clinical practice, however, most of BPD patients receive medication.

A major problem in the treatment of BPD is the lack of compliance derived from the pathological impulsivity of BPD patients. The use of long-acting antipsychotics (LAI) may be an option.

This work aims to address the use of long-acting injectables in borderline personality disorder.

Non-systematic review of literature using the PubMed ® database, based on terms “Borderline Personality Disorder” and “Long-acting antipsychotics”. Only six articles were found.

Several studies have shown promising results in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. A six-month study using IM risperidone demonstrated significant improvement, while LAI Aripiprazole also exhibited positive outcomes in individuals with BPD and Substance Abuse. Additionally, Palomares et al. (2015) found that palmitate paliperidone LAI reduced impulsive-disruptive behaviors and enhanced overall functioning in BPD patients. Carmona et al. (2021) compared oral and LAI antipsychotics and concluded that LAIs may have a role to play in the management of BPD.

Treatment with LAIs may play an important role in clinical and functional improvement in BPD patients.

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Koro, also known in Cantonese as Shook Yang, which literally translates to “shrinking penis”, has its roots in a cultural belief that a mythological figure would steal the penis of his victims. Predominantly reported in Southeast Asia, it involves an acute fear of genital retraction, often accompanied by the belief that this retraction may lead to death. Over the last two centuries, Koro has undergone several attempts to establish its definition and classification, without a true consensus having been reached.

This study aims to explore the cultural nuances surrounding Koro and reflect on the various conceptualizations that modulated its definition and nosological classification, from Ancient China until the present.

A non-systematic literature review with the keywords “koro” and “culture” was conducted.

Koro was only introduced to the Western world during colonial expansion, drawing the attention of several psychiatrists who, in Asian territory, reported numerous cases in natives, making the very first attempts at a nosological classification, whether as an anxiety neurosis, or as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. The literature reveals significant cultural variations in the manifestation of Koro, challenging the traditional psychiatric understanding rooted in Western diagnostic categories. Cultural factors, including societal beliefs, religious practices, and regional variations, emerged as influential contributors to the prevalence and presentation of Koro. Additionally, the study identified instances of Koro evolving in response to cultural shifts and globalization, emphasizing the dynamic nature of this syndrome.

This review underscores the need for a comprehensive understanding of Koro that acknowledges its diverse conceptualizations across cultures. Its occurrence, not only in multiple parts of the world, but also in close relation with various comorbidities, has contributed to the dissolution of its primary identity as a culture-bound syndrome, turning Koro into a moving target.

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Cancer treatments can affect male fertility. However, the reproductive concerns of this population remain little explored. There is a need to invest in understanding how concerns related to fertility and parenting affect psychosocial adjustment, in order to improve counseling in this context. To this end, it is a priority to provide reliable and valid measures for assessing this construct.

This study aimed to translate, adapt and preliminarily explore the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Reproductive Concerns After Cancer Scale - Male Version (RCAC-M).

Translation and back-translation were carried out by two independent translators. A reconciled version was obtained and evaluated by a panel of experts who ensured its cultural adaptation. Before studying the psychometric properties, a pre-test was carried out involving a focus group of 5 male cancer survivors who assessed the adequacy of the measure. The preliminary validation included 32 male cancer survivors aged between 18 and 55. Recruitment was carried out by providing an online questionnaire. A principal component analysis was carried out to explore the factor structure of the measure and to analyze the reliability and convergent validity of the measure.

The results showed good internal consistency of a version consisting of 17 items, grouped into four factors: fertility potential, child health and future life, personal health and future life, and acceptance. Significant moderate associations were found between reported concerns and other constructs that are consistently related to this variable in the literature, namely the importance of parenting and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

The original structure of the scale was not corroborated. However, this study suggests the promising character of the Portuguese version of the RCAC-M as a reliable and valid tool for assessing the reproductive concerns of male cancer survivors.

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We examined whether cannabis use contributes to the increased risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities in Europe.

We used data from the EU-GEI study (collected at sites in Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands) on 825 first-episode patients and 1026 controls. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) of psychotic disorder for several groups of migrants compared with the local reference population, without and with adjustment for measures of cannabis use.

The OR of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities, adjusted for age, sex, and recruitment area, was 1.80 (95% CI 1.39–2.33). Further adjustment of this OR for frequency of cannabis use had a minimal effect: OR = 1.81 (95% CI 1.38–2.37). The same applied to adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis. Likewise, adjustments of ORs for most sub-groups of non-western countries had a minimal effect. There were two exceptions. For the Black Caribbean group in London, after adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis the OR decreased from 2.45 (95% CI 1.25–4.79) to 1.61 (95% CI 0.74–3.51). Similarly, the OR for Surinamese and Dutch Antillean individuals in Amsterdam decreased after adjustment for daily use: from 2.57 (95% CI 1.07–6.15) to 1.67 (95% CI 0.62–4.53).

The contribution of cannabis use to the excess risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities was small. However, some evidence of an effect was found for people of Black Caribbean heritage in London and for those of Surinamese and Dutch Antillean heritage in Amsterdam.

We sought to determine whether increased antimicrobial use (AU) at the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was driven by greater AU in COVID-19 patients only, or whether AU also increased in non–COVID-19 patients.

In this retrospective observational ecological study from 2019 to 2020, we stratified inpatients by COVID-19 status and determined relative percentage differences in median monthly AU in COVID-19 patients versus non–COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 period (March–December 2020) and the pre–COVID-19 period (March–December 2019). We also determined relative percentage differences in median monthly AU in non–COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 period versus the pre–COVID-19 period. Statistical significance was assessed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

The study was conducted in 3 acute-care hospitals in Chicago, Illinois.

Hospitalized patients.

Facility-wide AU for broad-spectrum antibacterial agents predominantly used for hospital-onset infections was significantly greater in COVID-19 patients versus non–COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 period (with relative increases of 73%, 66%, and 91% for hospitals A, B, and C, respectively), and during the pre–COVID-19 period (with relative increases of 52%, 64%, and 66% for hospitals A, B, and C, respectively). In contrast, facility-wide AU for all antibacterial agents was significantly lower in non–COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 period versus the pre–COVID-19 period (with relative decreases of 8%, 7%, and 8% in hospitals A, B, and C, respectively).

AU for broad-spectrum antimicrobials was greater in COVID-19 patients compared to non–COVID-19 patients at the onset of the pandemic. AU for all antibacterial agents in non–COVID-19 patients decreased in the COVID-19 period compared to the pre–COVID-19 period.

Meta-analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have been used to elucidate the most reliable neural features associated with various psychiatric disorders. However, it has not been well-established whether each of these neural features is linked to a specific disorder or is transdiagnostic across multiple disorders and disorder categories, including mood, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders.

This project aims to advance our understanding of the disorder-specific and transdiagnostic neural features associated with mood, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders as well as to refine the methodology used to compare multiple disorders.

We conducted an exhaustive PubMed literature search followed by double-screening, double-extraction, and cross-checking to identify all whole-brain, case-control fMRI activation studies of mood, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders in order to construct a large-scale meta-analytic database of primary studies of these disorders. We then employed multilevel kernel density analysis (MKDA) with Monte-Carlo simulations to correct for multiple comparisons as well as ensemble thresholding to reduce cluster size bias to analyze primary fMRI studies of mood, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders followed by application of triple subtraction techniques and a second-order analysis to elucidate the disorder-specificity of the previously identified neural features.

We found that participants diagnosed with mood, anxiety, and anxiety-related disorders exhibited statistically significant (p < .05 – 0.0001; FWE-corrected) differences in neural activation relative to healthy controls throughout the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia. In addition, each of these psychiatric disorders exhibited a particular profile of neural features that ranged from disorder-specific, to category-specific, to transdiagnostic.

These findings indicate that psychiatric disorders exhibit a complex profile of neural features that vary in their disorder-specificity and can be detected with large-scale fMRI meta-analytic techniques. This approach has potential to fundamentally transform neuroimaging investigations of clinical disorders by providing a novel procedure for establishing disorder-specificity of observed results, which can be then used to advance our understanding of individual disorders as well as broader nosological issues related to diagnosis and classification of psychiatric disorders.

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, and in the majority of patients persists into adulthood. There is a lack of data regarding the risks of ADHD medication during pregnancy and breastfeeding. While some women may be able to discontinue without adverse effects, others may experience significant functional impairment. Due to the rising number of ADHD medication prescribed to women at child-bearing age, it is important to determine which medications can be considered relatively safe in pregnancy and lactation.

We aim to review recent evidence on the risks of stimulant and non-stimulant treatment in pregnancy and lactation.

Literature review on the topic through PubMed and Google Scholar using the search terms: “ADHD”, “ADD” , “Pregnancy”, “Lactation OR breastfeeding”, “Stimulants”, “Methylphenidate OR Amphetamine OR lisdexamfetamine OR atomoxetine OR modafinil”. Only original research papers written in English were included.

We identified twelve studies investigating the use of ADHD medication in pregnancy and four studies regarding lactation. Most of the studies did not find an elevated risk for congenital malformations by treatment with methylphenidate or medical amphetamines during pregnancy. A report suggested a moderate risk for congenital defects in infants exposed to modafinil in utero. The teratogenic effects of atomoxetine and guanfacine have not been investigated. Regarding lactation, only case reports and case series were found. Methylphenidate seems to be safe, with little transfer into breast milk and no reported adverse effects for the baby. Amphetamines transfer into breast milk and reach relatively high concentrations, and although the overall risk for intoxication seems to be low it cannot be fully excluded.

Prescription of ADHD medication to pregnant and lactating women should be considered after an individual risk-benefit estimation. In severe cases, when medication cannot be discontinued, the overall risk for adverse outcomes seem to be relatively low. More higher quality studies are needed on the topic.

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Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to identify the neural activity of both youth and adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) in comparison to healthy age-matched controls. Previously reported abnormalities in depressed youth appear to mostly align with those found in depressed adults; however, some of the reported aberrant brain activity in youth has not been consistent with what is observed in adults, and to our knowledge there has not yet been a formal, quantitative comparison of these two groups. In addition, it is not known whether these observed differences between youth and adults with depression are attributable to developmental age or length-of-illness.

The aim of this study is to elucidate the similarities and differences in patterns of abnormal neural activity between adults and youth diagnosed with MDD and to then determine whether these observed differences are due to either developmental age or length-of-illness.

We used multilevel kernel density analysis (MKDA) with ensemble thresholding and triple subtraction to separately determine neural abnormalities throughout the whole brain in primary studies of depressed youth and depressed adults and then directly compare the observed abnormalities between each of those age groups. We then conducted further comparisons between multiple subgroups to control for age and length-of-illness and thereby determine the source of the observed differences between youth and adults with depression.

Adults and youth diagnosed with MDD demonstrated reliable, differential patterns of abnormal activation in various brain regions throughout the cerebral cortex that are statistically significant (p < .05; FWE-corrected). In addition, several of these brain regions that exhibited differential patterns of neural activation between the two age groups can be reliably attributed to either developmental age or length-of-illness.

These findings indicate that there are common and disparate patterns of brain activity between youth and adults with MDD, several of which can be reliably attributed to developmental age or length-of-illness. These results expand our understanding of the neural basis of depression across development and course of illness and may be used to inform the development of new, age-specific clinical treatments as well as prevention strategies for this disorder.

None Declared

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mental illness that frequently originates in early development and is pervasive during adolescence. Despite its high prevalence and early age of onset, our understanding of the potentially unique neural basis of MDD in this age group is still not well understood, and the existing primary literature on the topic includes many new and divergent results. This limited understanding of MDD in youth presents a critical need to further investigate its neural basis in youth and presents an opportunity to also improve clinical treatments that target its neural abnormalities.

The present study aims to advance our understanding of the neural basis of MDD in youth by identifying abnormal functional activation in various brain regions compared with healthy controls.

We conducted a meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of MDD by using a well-established method, multilevel kernel density analysis (MKDA) with ensemble thresholding, to quantitatively combine all existing whole-brain fMRI studies of MDD in youth compared with healthy controls. This method involves a voxel-wise, whole-brain approach, that compares neural activation of patients with MDD to age-matched healthy controls across variations of task-based conditions, which we subcategorize into affective processing, executive functioning, positive valence, negative valence, and symptom provocation tasks.

Youth with MDD exhibited statistically significant (p<0.05; FWE-corrected) hyperactivation and hypoactivation in multiple brain regions compared with age-matched healthy controls. These results include significant effects that are stable across various tasks as well as some that appear to depend on task conditions.

This study strengthens our understanding of the neural basis of MDD in youth and may also be used to help identify possible similarities and differences between youth and adults with depression. It may also help inform the development of new treatment interventions and tools for predicting unique treatment responses in youth with depression.

None Declared

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a highly prevalent mental illness that often first occurs or persists into adulthood and is considered the leading cause of disability and disease burden worldwide. Unfortunately, individuals diagnosed with MDD who seek treatment often experience limited symptom relief and may not achieve long-term remission, which is due in part to our limited understanding of its underlying pathophysiology. Many studies that use task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have found abnormal activation in brain regions in adults diagnosed with MDD, but those findings are often inconsistent; in addition, previous meta-analyses that quantitatively integrate this large body literature have found conflicting results.

This meta-analysis aims to advance our understanding of the neural basis of MDD in adults, as measured by fMRI activation studies, and address inconsistencies and discrepancies in the empirical literature.

We employed multilevel kernel density analysis (MKDA) with ensemble thresholding, a well-established method for voxel-wise, whole-brain meta-analyses, to conduct a quantitative comparison of all relevant primary fMRI activation studies of adult patients with MDD compared to age-matched healthy controls.

We found that adults with MDD exhibited a reliable pattern of statistically significant (p<0.05; FWE-corrected) hyperactivation and hypoactivation in several brain regions compared to age-matched healthy controls across a variety of experimental tasks.

This study supports previous findings that there is reliable neural basis of MDD that can be detected across heterogenous fMRI studies. These results can be used to inform development of promising treatments for MDD, including protocols for personalized interventions. They also provide the opportunity for additional studies to examine the specificity of these effects among various populations-of-interest, including youth vs. adults with depression as well as other related mood and anxiety disorders.

None Declared

Cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and the risk of death from cancer has decreased continuously since 1991, therefore, This translates into an increasing number of cancer survivors (CS) worldwide.

During the survivorship seasons, CS face several short-term, long-term, persistent, and late-emerging health and psychosocial problems, including cancer-related pain, fatigue, menopausal symptoms, anxiety, depression, distress associated with the risk of cancer recurrence, chronic uncertainty, social disruption, alterations of sleep, sexual and cognitive dysfunctions.

Since 2002 that some researchers and clinicians argued that it is important to de-velop and implement rehabilitation programs for cancer patients that integrate both psychosocial and physical rehabilitation.

With the scarcity of studies on the effectiveness of combined interventions in this population, despite the strong recommendation to perform and study it, and aiming to contribute to a greater knowledge on the theme, the present work aims to build, implement, and evaluate a combined intervention program, which integrates psychoeducational intervention with physical exercise to cancer survivors and relatives, through the following indicators: psychopathological symptoms (anxiety and depression), self-concept, coping strategies, personal growth and QoL.

A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 70 cancer survivors was assigned to: control (without intervention: n=32), combined intervention (n=21) and psychoedu-cation intervention (n=17) groups. Both intervention groups were 9 consecutive weeks duration. The combined intervention group benefited from 2 weekly exercise sessions additionally. It was administered before and after intervention the following questionnaires: demographic; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); Clinical Self-concept Inventory (ICAC); Cancer Coping Questionnaire (CCQ); sub-scale of Personal Growth of the Psychological Well-being Scale (EBEP) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref).

It was observed a statistically significant reduction of anxiety and depression symptoms from the beginning to the end of the intervention, as well as a significative improvement of overall and all do-mains of self-concept and personal growth. It was not observed a significative difference on quality of life.

The findings of this study contribute to support of the beneficial effect of combined intervention on psychological functioning of cancer survivors. Positive effects of the psychological program were observed but not into the same extent as in the combined intervention.

None Declared