The psychosocial and mental health-oriented variables of people are determinants for their life in society and their roles within organizations, especially educational institutions that are endowed with social complexities.

The objective of this research was to understand the meaning of work for teachers in educational institutions in the department in order to recognize elements such as the level of importance that work holds for them and the factors that either promote or hinder that centrality.

This is a descriptive study with a quantitative methodology, and the sample selection was done for convenience, taking into account ethical aspects such as the handling of confidentiality for both the individuals who participated in this study and the educational institutions involved.

Regarding the meaning attributed to work by teachers, the results indicate that 29.6% of teachers declare themselves neutral when it comes to the statement that “the most important things in people’s lives are related to work”. 26.8% of teachers are neutral regarding the statement that “the primary function of work is to generate income”, and 17.9% somewhat agree. 20.7% disagree to some extent. 15.6% disagree with the statement that “people’s primary goals in life should be oriented toward work”. 25.1% of teachers are neutral, and 17.9% somewhat agree with the statement that “the main function of work is to enable interesting contacts with other people”. Only 11.7% strongly agree with the statement that “work is, in general, one of the most important things in people’s lives.

It is concluded that there is a need to implement strategies that contribute to the strengthening of the teaching profession and contribute to improving educational quality

None Declared

Psychotic patients are a vulnerable population from a social and health point of view. The SARS Cov-2 pandemic affected millions of people around the world, however, its effects on psychotic patients in Avilés Spain, have not been analized.

The objective of this study was to determine and compare the mortality of patients with psychosis due to SARS Cov-2 in Avilés, Spain with others regions and countries in the European Union. Determine the influence of social condition and antipsychotic treatment on the condition of these patients.

This is a descriptive, observational study, in which patients diagnosed with psychosis in the period 2020-2021 who contracted SARS Cov-2 infection in Avilés, Spain, were studied to determine those who died from this cause. The influence of social status and antipsychotic medication, as well as sociodemographic factors (age, sex, marital status) were analyzed and compared with other regions and countries of the European Union.

Despite the high mortality rate in patients with psychosis, during the years of the pandemic SARS Cov-2 played an important role given the vulnerability of these patients.

The negative effects and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic were at the time a major problem for public health worldwide. This study concluded that the morbidity and mortality of psychotic patients who contracted COVID-19 was lower than the rest of the population.

None Declared

Health technology assessment (HTA) agencies in Spain have an important role in informing decisions about the introduction and use of health technologies in the Spanish National Health System. However, although different approaches have been taken to measure and improve their impact, no study to date has explored the perceived impact of HTA products at the national level. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of macro-, meso-, and micro-level decision makers on how to improve the impact of HTA.

Three online focus groups were conducted with policy makers, healthcare managers, clinicians, and patients. The transcripts were evaluated using a deductive thematic analysis based on a multidimensional framework to explore mechanisms of impact.

Four key themes were identified:

1. (i) Timeliness and use of HTA assessments: Although the quality of the reports was recognized, the time taken for the elaboration and extension of reports negatively affected their use. Participants considered that reports should be tailored to the needs of end users (e.g., briefer versions available for meso-and micro-level use);

2. (ii) Effective engagement and external communications: The engagement of multiple stakeholders (policy makers, manufacturers, clinicians, and patients) in the elaboration process was considered crucial to improve HTA impact and ensure adequate communication of results;

3. (iii) Good institutional reputation and fit within the healthcare and policy making system: Stakeholders agreed on the need to strengthen collaboration at the national level and increase public understanding of the value of HTA and its use in healthcare decision-making; and

4. (iv) Effective implementation of policy change regarding health technologies: Stakeholders were very receptive to the results and recommendations of HTA reports when new technologies are demanded, but the identification and selection process should be improved to guarantee that these reports are available on time.

This study has identified different proposals and mechanisms that could improve the impact of HTA in Spain.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has serious physiological and psychological consequences. The long-term (>12 weeks post-infection) impact of COVID-19 on mental health, specifically in older adults, is unclear. We longitudinally assessed the association of COVID-19 with depression symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults with metabolic syndrome within the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus cohort.

Participants (n = 5486) aged 55–75 years were included in this longitudinal cohort. COVID-19 status (positive/negative) determined by tests (e.g. polymerase chain reaction severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, IgG) was confirmed via event adjudication (410 cases). Pre- and post-COVID-19 depressive symptomatology was ascertained from annual assessments conducted using a validated 21-item Spanish Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models assessed the association between COVID-19 and depression symptomatology.

COVID-19 in older adults was associated with higher post-COVID-19 BDI-II scores measured at a median (interquartile range) of 29 (15–40) weeks post-infection [fully adjusted β = 0.65 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15–1.15; p = 0.011]. This association was particularly prominent in women (β = 1.38 points, 95% CI 0.44–2.33, p = 0.004). COVID-19 was associated with 62% increased odds of elevated depression risk (BDI-II ≥ 14) post-COVID-19 when adjusted for confounders (odds ratio; 95% CI 1.13–2.30, p = 0.008).

COVID-19 was associated with long-term depression risk in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, particularly in women. Thus, long-term evaluations of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and preventive public health initiatives are warranted in older adults.

Transition between adolescence and adulthood represents the most important challenge for personal development and involves several transformations: physical, psychological and social. It is a complex age bracket, concurring the transition from youth psychiatric units to adult ones, with an increased risk for the appearance of mental disorders and risky behaviours. TRANVIA program, developed in Avilés, provides psychiatric assistance to patients between 15 and 25 years old, diagnosed with a severe psychiatric disorder or with an increased risk of having one.

Our objectives are: ensuring clinical continuity assistance, promoting communication among professionals and the empowerment of our patients to improve their functionality and quality of life.

Descriptive study including patients involved in TRANVIA program from November 2019 to November 2021.

During this two-years period there have been 44 referrals to the program, 11 of them were rejected for failure to comply with diagnostic criteria. In November 2021 there were 33 patients included in the TRANVIA program with an average age of 17 years old (range: 15-22). 70% of them were men and 30% women. All of them had psychiatric assistance from different sources: youth mental health units, neuropediatrics… About 75% of the patients were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder and approximately three-quarters of the sample needed pharmacological treatment. Risperidone was the most prescribed drug. We have also developed other assistance alternatives as home-based care, relaxation sessions, social worker interventions and coordination with schools.

TRANVIA program has allowed us to provide continual attention to vulnerable patients that shift from youth psychiatric units to adult ones. Patients that meet inclusion criteria were enrolled independently the type of assistance they have previously received. Accessibility and flexibility were our priority. During the described period there was only one dropout, three patients required psychiatric hospitalization and two others visited the emergency department. There have been no cases of completed suicide.

None Declared

PIU has not yet been recognized by diagnostic classification systems, but it has received increasing research and clinical attention. It is defined as a generalized and compulsive use of the Internet associated with a loss of control and negative consequences for the individual

The main goal was to analyze the relation between problematic Internet Use and wellbeing in adolescents

The sample included a total of 1059 adolescents (47% were males). Age range was between 14 and 18 years old (M = 15,12; SD = 1,03). We used the Compulsive Internet Use Scale to assess Problematic Internet Use and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to screen for psychological difficulties and prosocial behaviour.

The results found in the ANOVA revealed that problematic internet use was statistically significant associated with psychological difficulties and prosocial capabilities (λ = 0.475, F(3,83,000) = 25.569, P ≤ 0.001, η² = 0.215).Adolescents with higher levels of Problematic Internet Use revealed more emotional and behavioural difficulties. In addition. those adolescents with higher levels of prosocial ablities were at a lower risk for Problematic Internet Use.

Previous research have revealed that the use of Internet has almost doubled in the last decade among adolescents across different European countries. Results revealed statistically significant correlations between Problematic Internet Use and indicators of well-being such as emotional difficulties and behavioral problems, as well as prosocial behaviours. Prevention strategies should focus on detecting problematic internet use among adolescents, as it is a variable related with different psychological difficulties that are diminishing adolescents’ well-being.

No significant relationships.

To analyse the consequences of broadening DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) on the utilization of health care resources and corresponding costs.

Multicentre, prospective and observational study conducted in outpatient psychiatric clinics selected at random and weighted by geographical density of population. Patients with GAD according to DSM-IV criteria and subjects with anxiety symptoms fulfilling broader criteria were compared. Broadening criteria was considered 1-month of excessive or non-excessive worry and only 2 associated symptoms listed on DSM-IV for GAD. Socio-demographic data, medical history and health care resources and corresponding costs were recorded during a 6-month period.

A total of 3,549 patients were systematically recruited; 12.8% excluded because not fulfilling inclusion criteria, 1,815 patients in DSM-IV criteria group (DG) and 1,264 in broad criteria group (BG). Both groups were similar on their sociodemographic characteristics at baseline. Type of treatments prescribed at psychiatric clinics during the study were similar in frequency; anti-depressives (77.0% in DG vs. 75.3% in BG, ns), benzodiazepines (71.5% vs. 67.2% respectively, ns), and anti-convulsants (72.1% vs. 67.0% respectively, ns). Health care resources utilization were statistically reduced to a similar extent in both groups as a consequences of treatments yielding to a cost-of-illness in the 6-month period of 1,196 (1,158) and 1,112 (874), respectively; p=0.304.

In a large sample of subjects, broadening of GAD criteria could lead to earlier diagnosis that would not be associated necessarily to an increase in health care resources utilization or costs to the National Health System.

To evaluate the effect of pregabalin as a tapering therapy over the subjective sleep quality of patients who underwent a benzodiazepine withdrawal program.

This was a secondary analysis of a 12-week, prospective, and observational study carried out in patients aged 18 years or over, who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for benzodiazepine dependence without other major psychiatry disorder. Evaluations included the Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Clinical Global Impression scale, and the MOS-Sleep Scale. Changes from baseline to the endpoint in the different scales’ scores as well as correlations of these changes with those of the MOS-Sleep scores were calculated.

282 patients met the criteria for analysis. Mean pregabalin dose was 315 (166) mg/day at end-of-trial. We observed a significant and clinically relevant improvement in sleep outcomes at the study endpoint as measured with the MOS-Sleep Summary Index, that was reduced from 55.8 (18.9) pts at baseline to 25.1 (18.0) pts at week 12 (55% reduction), as well as with the six dimensions of the MOS-Sleep Scale. Moderate correlations were observed between Summary Index and sleep domains with improvements in the anxiety symptoms and in the disease severity as well. Also, sleep ameliorations were observed in the 52% successfully benzodiazepines withdrawals but, although to a lesser extent, in the remaining failures as well.

Pregabalin treatment improves subjective sleep quality in patients who underwent a benzodiazepine withdrawal program and this effect appears partly independent of the improvement of anxiety or withdrawal symptoms.

To elucidate the consequences of broadening DSM-IV criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), we examined the evolution of GAD symptoms in two groups of newly diagnosed patients; one group according to DSM-IV criteria and the other, according to broader criteria.

Multicentre, prospective and observational study conducted in outpatient psychiatric clinics. Patients with GAD according to DSM-IV criteria and subjects with anxiety symptoms fulfilling broader criteria were compared. Broadening criteria was considered 1-month of excessive or non-excessive worry and only 2 associated symptoms listed on DSM-IV for GAD. Socio-demographic data, medical history and functional outcome measures were collected three times during a 6-month period.

3,549 patients were systematically recruited; 12.8% excluded because not fulfilling inclusion criteria, 1,815 patients in DSM-IV group (DG) and 1,264 in broad group (BG). Both groups were similar on their sociodemographic characteristics at baseline and most patients (about 80%), even newly diagnosed were exposed previously to pharmacological therapies (mainly benzodiazepines) of their anxiety symptoms. As a result of treatment at psychiatric clinics, the percentage of patients without symptoms of anxiety as per HAM-A scale were 49.0% and 58.0%, respectively at the 6 month visit (p=0.261). Similarly, responder rate (≥ 50% reduction of baseline scoring) were, respectively, 59.7% and 67.7% (p=0.103). Improvement in MADRS scores were observed in both group to a similar extent; 12.1 and 12.5 points average reduction respectively (p=0.264).

Broadening of GAD criteria could lead to earlier diagnosis that will benefit patients by starting appropriate treatment sooner.

One of the most important prognostic factors in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia is the number of hospitalizations they need during their life. In this work we describe risk factors which determinate psychotic relapse.

Retrospective review of the clinical histories of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who needed hospitalization during the year 2008 using Hospital Ramon Cajal's history software. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software 15.0 version.

1. - Socio-demographic: We collected a total of 57 patients, 60% were men and 77,2% were single who lived with their families. 52,8% only had Primary education and 14% had been to University. 38,6% were pensioner and 12,3% workers.

2. - Risk factors: 54,4% had abandoned their medication, 7% had had recent modifications in their medication, and 35,1% received long acting antipsychotic. 42,1% were identified as substance users.

3. - 40,4% had been diagnosed with schizophrenia more than three years ago; 57,9% had had less than 3 previous hospitalizations, and 54,4% need hospitalization the previous year.

Male under 30 years old have more risk of needing more hospitalizations. The main risk factor for suffering new psychotic episodes is the medication nonadherence, modifying medication only causes new episodes in few patients. Patients receiving long-acting antipsychotic agents suffer less psychotic relapse. Substance abuse among schizophrenia patients is a major complicating factor since almost half of the hospitalizations are related to it.

To analyse the effect of Pregabalin (PGB) on anxiety and depression symptoms in patients with refractory-severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and severe concomitant depressive disorder.

Post-hoc analysis of a multicentre, prospective and observational study conducted in outpatient psychiatric clinics to ascertain the impact of broadening GAD criteria. Men and women above 18 years, with GAD (DSM-IV criteria), PGB naïve and refractory to a previous course of benzodiazepines and/or anti-depressive drugs (minimum 3 months) and severe symptoms of anxiety (HAM-A ≥ 24) and depression (MADRS ≥ 35) were included. Changes in HAM-A and MADRS were assessed after 6 months of receiving PGB as per psychiatrist's judgement.

159 patients [69.2% women, 45.9 (12.6) years] fulfilled criteria for analysis. Respectively, 92% and 90% of subjects were previously exposed to benzodiazepines and anti-depressives before adding PGB [mean dose: 223.1 (126.3) mg/day]. PGB therapy reduced both anxiety and depressive baseline symptoms by a mean of, respectively in HAM-A and MADRS scales, 57.9% (from 35.5±5.8 to 14.8±9.4; p< 0.001, effect size: 3.57) and 58.1% (from 39.4±4.3 to 16.5±10.3; p< 0.001, effect size: 5.33). As a result, the percentages of patients without symptoms of both anxiety and depression were 34.4% and 40.9%, respectively at the 6 month visit (p< 0.001 in all cases). Similarly, responder rates (≥ 50% reduction of baseline scoring) were 63.1% and 62.9%.

Despite limitations, Pregabalin therapy had a meaningful and significant effect of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with severe refractory GAD and concomitant severe depressive disorder.

Natural polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) are low molecular weight highly protonated aliphatic molecules that physiologically modulate NMDA, AMPA/kainate glutamatergic receptors and limbic dopaminergic neurotransmission. Previous studies had demonstrated that polyamine metabolism might be disrupted in schizophrenia, what could potentially be linked to glutamatergic dysfunction. In particular, polyamine levels in blood and fibroblast cultures from patients with schizophrenia had previously been found to be higher than in healthy controls. Indeed, a significant positive correlation between blood polyamine levels and severity of illness may exist.

In order to test potential differences in blood polyamine levels between drug-free schizophrenia in-patients (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 26, blood donors), spermidine (spd), spermine (spm), and spermidine/spermine index (spd/spm) were determined using HPLC after dansylation.

No significant differences were found between groups (t = 0,974; df = 36; P = 0,337 for spd, t = l0, 52; df = 36; P = 0,959 for Spm, and, t = 0, 662; df = 36; P = 0,512 for spd/spm).

Though we couldn’t replicate previous findings suggesting disturbances in blood polyamine levels in schizophrenia, this issue may be a promising target. Future research should take into account possible factors such as sex, nutritional state, and stress.

To carry out cultural adaptation and validation into Spanish of the 7-items self-administered GAD-7 scale; a tool to identify probable patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The adaptation, conducted by an eight-expert panel, was performed by means of a conceptual equivalence process, including forward and backward translations in duplicate to the original language. The content validity was assessed by inter-ratter-agreement (item-goal congruence index of Rovinelli-Hambleton). The adapted version was administered to patients with GAD according to DSM IV criteria and their respective controls, matched by age and sex, who were recruited at random in Mental Health and Primary Care centres to verify scale feasibility and potential understanding problems.

The inter-ratter reliability confirmed the correct inclusion of items in the corresponding dimension of GAD. The study sample consisted of 8 patients with GAD and 8 controls (62.5% male), mean age 50.38 years (SD=16.76). The average time to completion was 2’30”. No items of the scale were left blank. Floor and ceiling effects were negligible. No patients with GAD had to be assisted to fill in the questionnaire. All the items, except item 5 (p=0,105), showed statistically significant differences among groups (p< 0.05).

After the adaptation process, a Spanish version of the GAD-7 scale was obtained, confirming its content validity, pertinence and adequacy of items in the Spanish cultural context. The brief time to completion precluded a fast and easy self-administration in the routine medical practice to promptly detect probable cases of GAD.