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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.
Methods
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.
Results
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.
Conclusions
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.
The presence of psychiatric comorbidity significantly impacts the quality of life for patients and often goes unnoticed within the realm of neurology.
Objectives
This study’s objective was to elucidate and characterize psychiatric comorbidity among patients hospitalized for neurological disorders in mainland Portugal.
Methods
This retrospective observational study analyzed hospitalizations categorized with a primary diagnosis of neurological disorders, defined by Clinical Classification Software (CSS) for ICD-9-CM codes 76, 77, 79-85, 95, and 109, occurring in adult patients (≥18 years) between 2008 and 2015. Psychiatric comorbidity was determined by the presence of secondary diagnoses falling under CCS categories 650-670.
Results
A total of 294,806 hospitalization episodes were documented with a primary diagnosis of neurological disorders in adult patients between 2008 and 2015 in Portuguese public hospitals. Approximately 26.9% (n=79,442) of these episodes were associated with documented psychiatric comorbidity (22.1% for female hospitalizations and 32.2% for male hospitalizations). Patients with recorded psychiatric comorbidity were younger (66.2±16.2 vs. 68.6±17.2 for those without psychiatric comorbidity, p<0.001), exhibited a lower overall in-hospital mortality rate, and experienced significantly longer mean hospital stays. Among these comorbidities, ‘Delirium, dementia, amnestic, and other cognitive disorders’ were documented in 7.4% (n=21,965) of hospitalizations, followed by alcohol-related disorders in 6.5% (n=19,302) and mood disorders in 6.1% (n=18,079). Epilepsy/seizures had the highest recorded psychiatric comorbidity rate among neurological disorders (39.9%).
Conclusions
Psychiatric comorbidity is present in more than a quarter of hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of neurological disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity varies across different neurological disorders and is associated with distinct demographic and clinical characteristics.
Cognitive dysfunction has been reported in acute psychiatric patients for a long time and has profound implications for the management of severe mental disorders. The Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP) is a scale developed for screening cognitive deficits. This tool is simple and easy to administer.
Objectives
To translate and to validate to Portuguese the SCIP.
Methods
The accepted back-translation method is employed for translating from English into Portuguese. One-hundred individuals in good health were characterized using demographic questionnaires and a neuropsychological battery. Subsequently, the new version of the scale was administered on two distinct occasions with a minimum one-week gap between them.
Results
High internal consistencies as well as strong correlations with comparable neuropsychological tests were obtained.
Conclusions
The results obtained from the Portuguese version of SCIP are in line with those from the English version. Effectively, SCIP serves as a key instrument for the initial assessment of cognitive function. Its characteristics, particularly its conciseness and independence from a technological platform, allow it to be integrated into clinical practice. Our aim is to use this version and apply it to different pathologies, comparing patients with controls. This will allow us to study different patients and apply it to our population.
Sexual unwellness (SU) has been linked to a lack of sexual satisfaction and to an incapacity to maintain sexual relations.
Objectives
The objective of this cross-cultural study is to shed light on older adults’ perspectives on SU across cultures.
Methods
Eighty-three older participants (65 to 98 years of age) took part in this qualitative study. Participants lived in the community and were of two different nationalities (Portuguese and Mexican). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and content analysis was then carried out.
Results
SU emerged in the findings of the content analysis through six themes: Dissatisfying Sexual Experiences; Feelings of Isolation; Spirituality; Medication; Unattractiveness and Pain. The most common theme among older Portuguese participants was ‘Dissatisfying Sexual Experiences’ (25.5%). ‘Feelings of Isolation’ was most common among older Mexican participants (13.7%).
Conclusions
A diversity of experiences of older adults in relation to SU was highlighted in this study. Moreover, cross-cultural research on the construct of SU is essential for understanding the cultural differences in the conceptualization of the construct and how these themes may influence the quality of sexual life in old age.
We conducted a systematic review of the qualitative literature on the sexuality and sexual health of older adults.
Objectives
The aim is to address which topics have been researched and the quality of research within this field.
Methods
All stages of this review were carried out peer-to-peer in order to guarantee minimized bias. The Cochrane Database, Psy-EBSCO, MEDLINE, Psy-Redalyc, Scielo, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched and 32 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority had not been reviewed in earlier review articles. A total of 95,478 references were screened and 27 studies were included in this review. The studies involved 3044 participants across seven countries, most being women (approximately 83%).
Results
We identified a wide variety of factors that can determine SWB of older adults, such as perceived health, sexual health, demonstrations of love; non-sexual joint activities; overall well-being and quality of life; partner support; positive self-image; being independent and active; the strength of spiritual beliefs, and patriarchal roles upheld by upbringings conveying that women’s role is to provide men with sexual pleasure.
Conclusions
Methodological issues related to sampling procedures, such as purposive sampling through the older samples and limited generalisability due to the homogeneity of participants. Additionally, there was a widespread lack of non-heterosexual control groups. However, most studies used appropriate measures and acknowledged inherent limitations. There is a lack of research with the older population, those with significant health needs, those outside the Western countries, and those with additional characteristics associated with discrimination.
Adult ADHD diagnosis sometimes represents a challenge for the clinician, due to the comorbid psychiatric diseases that are often associated and which complicate de recognition of the primary symptoms of ADHD. The prevalence of ADHD in adult populations is 2’5% and it is a relevant cause of functional impairment.
Objectives
Presentation of a clinical case of a male cocaine user diagnosed with adult ADHD.
Methods
Literature review on adult ADHD and comorbid substance abuse.
Results
A 43-year-old male who consulted in the Emergency Department due to auditory hallucinosis in the context of an increase in his daily cocaine use. There were not delusional symptoms associated and judgment of reality was preserved. Treatment with olanzapine was started and the patient was referred for consultation. In psychiatry consultations, he did not refer sensory-perceptual alterations anymore, nor appeared any signals to suspect so, and he was willing to abandon cocaine use after a few appointments. He expressed some work concerns, highlighting that in recent months, in the context of a greater workload, he had been given several traffic tickets for “distractions.” His wife explained that he had always been a inattentive person (he forgets important dates or appointments) and impulsive, sometimes interrupting conversations. In the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale he scored 32 points.
He was diagnosed with adult ADHD and treatment with extended-release methylphenidate was started with good tolerance and evolution, with improvement in adaptation to his job and social environment. Since then, the patient has moderately reduced the consumption of drugs, although he continues to use cocaine very sporadically.
Conclusions
Early detection of ADHD and its comorbidities has the potential to change the course of the disorder and the morbidity that will occur later in adults. Comorbidity in adult ADHD is rather the norm than the exception, and it renders diagnosis more difficult. The most frequent comorbidities are usually mood disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Treatment of adult ADHD consists mainly of pharmacotherapy supported by behavioral interventions. When ADHD coexists with another disorder, the one that most compromises functionality will be treated first and they can be treated simultaneously. The individual characteristics of each patient must be taken into account to choose the optimal treatment.
Patients with an alcohol use disorder frequently relapse after various efforts to quit. Admission to hospital units is a possible start to stop drinking alcohol and reach abstinence. Among the pharmacological strategies to quit this addiction are specific drugs, such as disulfiram or namelfen, which are widely studied. Hospitalized patients frequently initiate these medications to control addiction, but little is known about their efficacy after discharge in this group.
Objectives
The aim is to determine whether the initiation of treatment with specific drugs for alcohol use disorder could help to maintain alcohol abstinence after admission to a General Hospital Psychiatric Ward. In addition, we want to check those factors associated with a higher rate of relapse in consumption.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of a group of patients admitted in 2018 to a psychiatric hospitalization ward due to alcohol use disorder and who expressed their desire to stop drinking. At the time of admission, we recorded sociodemographic data, consumption of other substances and alcohol family history. Patients initialized specific treatments to reduce and control alcohol consumption if they wanted. Twenty-four months after discharge, we acquired the number of relapses through new admissions, emergency room visits or outpatient follow-up data.
Results
A sample of 36 patients (28 men) admitted to a psychiatric hospitalization ward was analyzed. At discharge, 17 accepted specific pharmacological treatments to reduce alcohol consumption. After a follow-up period of 24 months, 70.8% relapsed compared to 94.7% who did not accept treatment (χ2=4.001, DF=1, p=0.045, OR=0.13). There were no differences between the two groups in age, gender, amount of alcohol consumed, follow-up modality at discharge or if it was their first detoxification attempt. However, those who did not accept the specific pharmacological treatment consumed other drugs (41.1% vs 5.8%, χ2= 5.888, DF=1, p=0.015), had other history of mental disorder (64.7% vs 23.5%, χ2= 5.845, FD=1, p=0.015) and a higher proportion of relatives with alcohol consumption (81.8% vs 42.8%, χ2= 3.896, FD=1, p=0.048) more frequently. The time (in days) to relapse was faster in this group of patients (200.8 vs 402.7 , Z=-2.5413, p=0.005).
Conclusions
Accepting drug-specific treatment for alcohol use can be helpful for many patients who want to achieve alcohol abstinence. Among the factors that prevent the acceptance of this treatment is the consumption of other substances, comorbidity with another mental pathology and family history, which may involve genetic factors that favour addiction. This group of patients could benefit from a specific pharmacological treatment, although other psychosocial factors may also help.
Migration is a rapidly growing phenomenon in European countries and its association with psychotic disorders is a public health concern. Psychosis is more prevalent among migrants, which suggests that adverse social experiences play an important role in its pathogenesis. Throughout the migration process, migrants are exposed to several social disadvantages, including in the post-immigration context, where perceived discrimination appears to be an important stressor. In fact, the highest incidence rates of psychosis occur in the most discriminated populations, namely migrants with darker skin complexion, particularly when living in low-ethnic-density neighborhoods, where both discrimination and social isolation are more prominent.
Objectives
To conduct an updated review about the association between migration, perceived discrimination and psychosis, aiming to better understand the mechanisms involved.
Methods
Narrative literature review using the keywords “migration”; “psychosis”; “discrimination”; “racism” on PubMed database, in conjunction with presentation of a clinical case concerning a patient from Guinea-Bissau, admitted to our hospital in the context of first-episode psychosis (FEP), with onset months after completing the Mediterranean migration route to Europe.
Results
Literature suggests that experiences of racism and social exclusion contribute to feelings of imminent danger, fear and general anxiety, which may develop into paranoid ideas of ubiquitous persecution. Furthermore, intense social defeat experiences, common in migrants, are associated with more distressing forms of delusional content, with delusions of psychological persecution being more common. However, there is also evidence that migrants with FEP have better occupational and social functioning profiles compared to natives, suggesting that, in these patients, there is a higher burden of social-environmental risk factors, with the onset of psychosis occurring only when this burden overcomes a higher threshold. Our patient fits this description. After completing his migratory route and while living in an Italian refugee camp, he described suffering experiences of severe discrimination. Real or not, these experiences escalated to become delusional ideas of persecution involving European governments, thought to seek for his humiliation. Despite the presence of psychotic symptoms, this patient was able to maintain a reasonable level of functioning during years, up to his psychiatric admission.
Conclusions
Given the notorious effect of perceived discrimination and racism on the increased risk of psychosis in immigrants, it is urgent to adopt policies that promote the social protection of these vulnerable groups, namely through enhancing their integration in the host countries.
Interconsultation with the psychiatry service is frequently requested from other specialties for the assessment and treatment of patients who present neuropsychiatric symptoms secondary to organic alterations. On the other hand (and in relation to this case), within the possible causes for the elevation of calcaemia figures, the most frequent are hyperparathyroidism and neoplasms, representing between these two entities 90% of cases (1).
Among the organic mental disorders, Delirium stands out, with an approximate prevalence between 1 and 2% (general population), which increases in hospitalized and elderly patients (2).
Objectives
Presentation of a clinical case about a patient with delirium secondary to hypercalcemia, with hallucinations and behavioral disturbance.
Methods
Bibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about delirium (causes and treatment) and hypercalcaemia secondary to neoplasms.
Results
We present a 52-year-old male patient, who went to the emergency room accompanied by his wife, due to behavioral alteration. Two days before, he had been evaluated by Neurology, after a first epileptic crisis (with no previous history) that resolved spontaneously. At that time, it was decided not to start antiepileptic treatment.
The patient reported that he had left his house at midnight, looking for a cat. As he explained, this cat had appeared in his house and had left his entire bed full of insects. His wife denied that this had really happened, and when she told the patient to go to the emergency room, he had become very upset.
As background, the patient used to consume alcohol regularly, so the first hypothesis was that this was a withdrawal syndrome. However, although the consumption was daily, in recent months it was not very high, and at that time no other symptoms compatible with alcohol withdrawal were observed (tremor, tachycardia, sweating, hypertension…).
We requested a general blood test and a brain scan. The only relevant finding was hypercalcaemia 12.9mg/dL (which could also be the origin of the previous seizure). It was decided to start treatment with Diazepam and Tiapride in the emergency room, with serum perfusion, and keep under observation. After several hours, the patient felt better, the hallucinations disappeared, and calcium had dropped to 10.2mg/dL. A preferential consultation was scheduled, due to suspicion that the hypercalcaemia could be secondary to a tumor process.
Image:
Conclusions
It is important to rule out an organic alteration in those patients who present acute psychiatric symptoms. Hypercalcaemia is frequently associated with tumor processes (1) due to secretion of PTH-like peptide (4), so a complete study should be carried out in these cases.
Delirium has a prevalence between 1 and 2% in the general population (2).
Psychopharmacological treatment is used symptomatically, with antipsychotics (3). For the episode to fully resolve, the underlying cause must be treated.
Schizophrenia is a chronic severe mental disorder characterized by acute decompensation episodes that may lead to hospitalization. In Portugal a previous study found a total of 25,385 hospitalizations in an 8-year period, being one of the most burdensome serious mental disorders in Portugal.Rehospitalizations (hospitalization occurring after a previous discharge due to Schizophrenia) are one of the quality-of-care indicators of schizophrenia treatment.
Objectives
This project aims to describe and quantify hospitalization readmission rates in patients with schizophrenia in Portuguese public hospitals
Methods
A descriptive study was designed according to the RECORD guidelines, using a nationwide hospitalization administrative database that contains all hospitalizations registered in Portuguese mainland public hospitals. All episodes with discharges occurring between 2008 and 2015 with a primary diagnosis of Schizophrenia were selected according to the International Classification of Diseases version 9, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes of diagnosis 295.xx. Readmission rates were estimated using a methodological approach developed by the authors that identified patients who have been rehospitalized in <=5; <=30; <=90 and <=365 days from a previous hospitalization episode during the study period. Individual patients were identified (crosschecking three variables: birthdate; sex and place of residence). The time between discharges was calculated using the difference between an index hospitalization and the next registered hospitalization from the same patient.
Results
A total of 14,279 patients were anonymously identified in order to calculate readmission rates per patient from a total of 25,385 hospitalization episodes. The mean hospitalization per patient ratio was 1.78. A total of 367 patients (2.6%) had a readmission in <=5 days after discharge. The readmission rate at <=30 days was 8.6% (n=1224); 14.1% (n=2013) at <= 90 days and 23.7% (n=3378) at <=365 days. Readmission rates were higher in male sex patients. Shorter periods of time between readmissions were increasingly frequent in male patients (3.1% vs. 1.6% of all male vs. all female patients in <=5days readmissions; 9.6% vs. 6.5% in <=30 days readmissions; 15.7% vs. 11.0% in <=90days readmissions and 25.3% vs. 20.4% in <=365days readmissions).
Conclusions
Rehospitalizations arise as one of the indicators of treatment failure and quality of care in patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Our study is the first to measure and assess readmission rates in patients with Schizophrenia in Portuguese public hospitals at a nationwide level. Portugal presents lower 30-day readmission values when compared to other countries. The 30-day readmission rate in patients with Schizophrenia in Portuguese Public Hospitals is 8.6% and male patients have higher readmission rates when compared to female patients.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating behavior disorder that is often related to various personality factors. The relationship between obsessive compulsive disorder and eating Disorders has been highlighted.
Objectives
To present a clinical case of a patient with eating disorder and gastric bezoar, secondary to compulsive hair ingestion.
Methods
Bibliographic review of articles published in relation to the comorbidity of these disorders, based on articles published in the last 5 years in Pubmed.
Results
26-year-old female. Diagnosis of restrictive anorexia nervosa. She was admitted to the hospital on two occasions for nutritional disorders. In the last admission, she reported greater anxiety and significant weight loss. She reports that she has limited her food intake, but she does feel thin and is unable to eat for fear of gaining weight. Ruminative thoughts about her body image. During admission, the patient expressed a sensation of fullness, nausea and vomiting, later observing in abdominal X-ray and gastroscopy, the presence of a gastric trichobezoar, which was finally resolved conservatively.
Conclusions
Trichotillomania is observerd in 1 in 2000 people, trichophagia is even less frequent. According to DSM- V, these disorders are grouped within obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. A Trichobezoar is a conglomerate that can be found in the stomach or intestine, composed mainly of hair, previously ingested. Trichotillomania can be associated with anorexia nervosa, especially in patients with obsessive personality traits, which occurs frequently. The gastric slowing that patients with anorexia often present is a factor that favors the formation of the bezoar
Valproic acid is an antiepileptic drug used in different fields of Psychiatry. It is known mostly for its use in managing patients with bipolar affective disorder. In psychiatry of addiction, there is still no approved indications for its usage, but it is widely prescribed in treating alcohol and cocaine abuse, due to the existence of studies in these addictions.
Objectives
This review aims to clarify the relation between valproic acid and dependences, particularly cocaine.
Methods
Non-systematic literature review using a PubMed search, using the following key words: “valproate”; “cocaine use”.
Results
Cocaine dependence can decrease GABA levels in humans. Valproic acid has multiple mechanisms that favour the synthesis of GABA, potentiating its release and postsynaptic GABAergic response. Because of this, valproic acid was found effective in promoting abstinence and in reducing the use of cocaine. There are studies that support the valproic acid’s use in alcohol and cocaine dependences. Valproic acid has been shown to be promising in relapse prevention. It has also showed efficacy in the management of impulsivity and irritability, what makes it useful in managing patients with borderline personality disorder – patients at higher risk for alcohol or substance use disorders.
Conclusions
Cocaine addiction involves different phenomena and may respond to distinct pharmacologic approaches. Although some studies need to be confirmed by larger clinical trials, valproic acid seems a promising agent as one of some potential treatments for cocaine dependence. Further studies are required in this field to come to more reliable conclusions.
The harmful use of alcohol is an important risk factor for the health of the population around the world. The incidence of alcohol dependence in women is increasing and both its consumption pattern and its consequences have unique characteristics.
Objectives
To present a literature review focused on alcohol use disorder with a gender perspective.
Methods
Literature review.
Results
- Women use to start using alcohol sooner than men and this seems to be a risk factor to become addicted. - Due to physiological and psychological factors women experience more negative health effects from excessive alcohol use than men and it occurs at lower levels of use. - Psychiatric comorbidity associated with alcohol abuse such as anxiety and depression is more common in women and this in turn worsens the alcohol use disorder. - Alcohol consumption increases the vulnerability of women on several levels, including an increased risk of physical abuse.
Conclusions
Alcohol abuse among women deserves special attention and a specific intervention focused on the gender perspective.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment for those patients with high suicide risk or refractory psychiatric disorders. It is currently a safe technique, and its effectiveness has been widely demonstrated.
Objectives
Presentation of a clinical case about a patient with drug-resistant delusional disorder and high suicide risk, who eventually received ECT treatment.
Methods
Bibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about ECT procedure, effects and use.
Results
We present a 45-year-old man, who visited different doctors several times by reporting he had the feeling of “having a brain tumor or a vascular disorder”, so he requested imaging tests (computed tomography and magnetic resonance). These tests were absolutely normal, but he kept thinking something was wrong, and eventually attempted suicide by hanging (his family founded him before it was too late). The patient was admitted to hospital, and started psychopharmacological treatment, with minimal response. He desperately insisted that he had “something inside his head”. At this point, it was proposed to start ECT, and the patient accepted. After 6 bilateral ECT sessions, he was visibly more relaxed and less worried, and he no longer presented autolytic ideation. He was still a little bit suspicious about the feeling of having a neurological disease. Currently, the patient runs a follow-up consultation.
Conclusions
Electroconvulsive therapy is a safe and effective technique for those patients with high suicide risk. It may be useful to perform imaging tests in certain cases, for detecting intracranial pressure, acute hemorrhage, tumors… A follow-up of these patients must be performed
The concept of motivation pervades our professional and personal lives. Motivation is almost impossible to be observed directly, it is a construct for the interpretation of a behaviour that “calls the attention”.
Objectives
This work reviews the current available data on the phenomenological description of motivation and the abnormalities of motivation.
Methods
Non-systematic review of the literature with selection of scientific articles published in the past 10 years; by searching Pubmed and Medscape databases using the combination of MeSH descriptors. The following MeSH terms were used: “motivation”, “psychopathology”, “phenomenology”.
Results
Abnormalities in motivation may involve diminution or exacerbation. Anhedonia is the absence of pleasure in relation to usually pleasurable activities, it occurs in depression and schizophrenia where the pleasurable intrinsic motivation that acts as incentive for behaviour may be lost. In mania it may be increased so that mundane activities become unduly fascinating and rewarding.
Conclusions
Countless theories have been proposed to explain human motivation but each sheds light on specific aspects of motivation, neglecting others. This diversity creates confusion because most theories have areas of conceptual overlap and disagreement. To facilitate the development of studies, an agreement should be achieved on an operational definition of motivation.
Mutism is the inability or unwillingness to speak, resulting in an absence or marked paucity of verbal output. Mutism is a common manifestation of psychiatric, neurological, and drug-related illnesses. Psychiatric disorders associated with mutism include schizophrenia, affective disorders, conversion reactions, dissociative states, and dementias. Neurological disorders causing mutism affect the basal ganglia, frontal lobes, or the limbic system.
Objectives
Outline the importance of setting a differential diagnosis of mutism in the Emergency Room.
Methods
Review of scientific literature based on a relevant clinical case.
Results
Male, 58 years old. He has lived in a residence for 3 months due to voluntary refusal to ingest. Diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder. He is refered to the Emergency Service due to sudden mutism. During this day, he has been stable and suitable with a good functionality. For 3 hours he is mutist, oppositional attitude and stiff limbs, refusing to obey simple orders. Hyperalert and hyperproxia. Not staring. After ruling out organic pathology: normal blood tests, negative urine toxins and cranial CT without alterations, he was admitted to Psychiatry for observation and, finally, he was diagnosed with Psychotic Disorder NOS.
Conclusions
Mutism most often occurs in association with other disturbances in behavior, thought processes, affect, or level of consciousness. The most common disorder of behavior occurring with mutism is catatonia. The differential diagnosis of mutism is complex. In some cases the diagnosis will be clarified only by careful observation and after a neurological evaluation. Published studies show neurological disorders presenting with mutism can be misdiagnosed as psychiatric.
There is a high comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), observed in up to 58% of these patients; specifically, mood disorders, anxiety and personality disorders (PD). In some patients with PD there are nonspecific alterations in the EEG, which nevertheless sometimes involve pathology. The presence of personality disorders along with JME has been repeatedly described. Previous studies have emphasized the difficulties in treating patients with JME, which have been attributed to some specific psychiatric, psychological and psychosocial characteristics.
Objectives
Describing distinctive personality traits in JME
Methods
Review of scientific literature based on a relevant clinical case.
Results
19-year-old woman, single. Psychiatric history since she was 12 due to anxiety-depressive symptoms, after being diagnosed with JME. 4 admissions in Psychiatry, with a variety of diagnoses: eating disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and borderline personality disorder. The evolution of both disorders has been parallel, presenting epileptic seizures due to irregular therapeutic adherence together with pseudo-seizures, which made difficult their differential diagnosis. In addition, he has had frequent visits to the emergency room for suicide attempts and impulsive behaviors.
Conclusions
In 1957, for the first time, distinctive personality traits were described in patients with JME: lack of control and perseverance, emotional instability, variable self-concept and reactive mood, which have been confirmed in subsequent studies. It is believed as epilepsy progresses, patients tend to develop symptoms of depression, anxiety, social problems, and attention deficit. Therefore, these patients have difficulty in following medical recommendations, especially precautions regarding precipitating factors for seizures.
The Covid-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of adolescents. Several descriptive studies and systematic reviews have shown an increase in suicide rates in this age group.
Objectives
- To present a literary review on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and suicidal behavior of adolescents around the world. - To present data on admission rates due to suicidal behavior during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic in a Spanish child-adolescent psychiatric hospitalization unit.
Methods
- We will present a literature review and a retrospective cross-sectional study on admission rates for suicidal behavior in a child-adolescent psychiatric hospitalization unit. - Admission rates for suicidal behavior during the year prior to the pandemic will be compared with rates relative to the first year of the pandemic.
Results
- We have found a significant increase in admission rates for suicidal behavior during the year of the pandemic. Similar results have been found in different studies and meta-analyzes. - The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients are quite similar in the two periods of time analyzed, but the reference to intra-family problems has been more frequent in the year of the pandemic.
Conclusions
Our data is in line with other studies suggesting that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on teenage suicidal behavior.
Neurocognitive deficits amongst patients with schizophrenia are considered one of schizophrenia’s central features. These deficits appear to be present from the first episode of psychosis (FEP) and certain cognitive impairments could be components of a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. Regarding research on cannabis and cognition in schizophrenia, different studies have assessed neurocognitive functions: memory, attention/vigilance, processing speed, verbal learning, executive functions, and verbal fluency.
Objectives
The aim is to do a review of recent findings concerning the association of cannabis use with cognition in schizophrenia.
Methods
A literature review was conducted using the PubMed search database.
Results
Patients with schizophrenia and concomitant cannabis use are associated with worse performance in immediate verbal learning, and in some studies with worse working memory performance. There is an improvement of verbal memory when they cease the cannabis’ consumption. Regarding attention capacity and memory types assessed, the results are controversial. In FEP, heavy cannabis use during the previous year correlates with slower processing speed. Also, FEP-patients with cannabis use but no family history of psychosis perform worse in executive functions, while those with a family history of psychosis perform better.
Conclusions
The studies of psychosis, cannabis and cognition differ in relevant aspects, which might be connected to the result variability. Therefore, before solid conclusions can be reached, it is important to carry out longitudinal studies to understand the changes in the cognitive variables, which can depend on the pattern of cannabis’ use (concurrent or prior to the FEP). Possible confounding variables that might be present should be acknowledged.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause changes in the personality and behaviors. History of TBI has been associated with violent behavior and substance abuse.
Objectives
Presentation of a clinical case of a patient with antisocial personality traits who suffered a TBI and abuses alcohol.
Methods
We conducted a bibliographic review by searching for articles published the last 5 years in Pubmed
Results
We present the case of a 48-year-old male patient with a history of myoclonic epilepsy, who suffered a TBI in a car crash. During his stay at ICU antisocial and borderline personality traits were found. When he came to consultations, he presented signs of alcohol intoxication (verbiage with hasty and dysarthric speech, and psychomotor incoordination). He acknowledges daily alcohol intake, although he minimizes it. During the interview he is irritable, prone to anger when contradicted and boasts of episodes of heteroaggressiveness and violence that he has carried out in the past. He reports morning sickness and tremors, but does not accept that they may be due to alcohol withdrawal. There is no motivation for change.
Conclusions
It has been determined that history of TBI is more frequent in individuals with antisocial personality. TBI has been linked to violent behaviors, poor inhibitory control, engaging in illegal acts and higher rates of substance abuse. However, the causal relationship between antisocial behavior and TBI has yet to be clarified, as the available evidence does not show which comes first. More research is needed in the future that takes into account the temporal sequence of events.