It is large known that Coronavirus outbreak has had a psychological impact on the general population, specifically on those with a mental disease as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and their relatives.

The aim of the study is to identify and examine the individual and familiar impact of the coronavirus outbreak on patients diagnosed with BPD and their parents.

A qualitative research design using focus groups was selected to identify and discuss participants’ experiences, beliefs, perceptions and attitudes. The target population consisted of patients with BPD and their parents. Participants were recruited from the BPD psychiatric service from the Hospital Universitari de la Vall de Hebron (Barcelona, Spain). Data was collected via two focus groups, one with patients with BPD and other with their parents. Content analysis was used to determine categories and themes.

The qualitative analysis of participants’ perceptions are presented using the following themes: changes and difficulties during lockdown, after lockdown concerns and challenges, general learning, and future needs. Results identify factors associated with the COVID-19 outbreak and other factors already present as family dynamics and individual difficulties.

Findings have been discussed focusing on individual and familiar impact, and allows us to consider challenges precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study evidence that a family intervention approach is essential to enhance BPD treatment.

Lockdown resulting from the experienced pandemic has had a great influence on the emotional and social well-being of the general population. Specifically, it is known that those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their caregivers had to overcome several challenges during this period. Moreover, this situation has influenced the professionals who work in this field.

The aim of this study is to describe the impact, the learnings and the challenges that have arisen for the patients with ASD, their families and professionals during the coronavirus outbreak through progenitors’ and professionals’ perceptions.

A qualitative research design using focus groups was selected to identify and discuss participants’ experiences, beliefs, perceptions and attitudes. The target population consisted on parents with children with ASD and professionals who work with them. Data was collected via two focus groups. A content was made using the program Atlas.ti to determinate the principal categories and themes that describe the COVID-19 impact.

Findings widely describe the problems faced and difficulties experienced by this population during lockdown and after it. As well as the challenges, opportunities and learning that this situation has offered.

Reflections derived from the study manifest the need of thinking about new models of intervention with children with ASD and their families. Greater attention must be paid to parents’ experiences in order to attend to the actual demands of patients and their caregivers contextualized within our current changing situation.

SPECT DaTSCAN is used in clinical practice for differential diagnosis between Parkinson disease and other movement disorders, dementias and drug induced parkinsonism (Park 2012, Scherfler 2007). Nevertheless, its rational indication in patients with psychiatric comorbidity has not been clearly identified.

To assess the rationale for the indication of SPECT DaTSCAN in psychiatric population, explore the therapeutic consequences and clinical outcomes.

A prospective case series of DaTSCAN applications requested from the department of psychiatry of a general hospital (2008–2012). Reason of request, sociodemographic and clinical data, side effects (UKU Rating Scale), diagnostic (DSM-IV-R) and outcome after one-year follow-up were recorded.

18 cases were included (13 hospitalized, 55.5% women, 65±13 years old). Baseline UKU showed: 89.5% bradikinesia, 68% rigidity and 31.5% tremor. The indications for DaTSCAN were: 1) Atypical extrapiramidal syndrome (AES; 55.5%) and 2) Parkinsonism presumably induced by drugs (PPID; 44,4%).

AES group (N=10): 80% of patients had an affective disorder and 20% a psychotic disorder; DaTSCAN identified three cases of Parkinson disease (30%), two non-parkinson dementia (20%) and one Huntington disease (10%).

PPID group (N=8): 50% of patients had an affective disorder and 50% a psychotic disorder; DaTSCAN identified one case of Parkinson disease (12.5%) and five of drug-induced parkinsonism (62,5%).

After one year follow-up, AES group showed a worse outcome and an important functional decline, while most of patients of PPID group experienced complete remission

The results of this study enable to establish the profile of psychiatric patients that would beneficiate most from DaTSCAN.

Variables such as the mother's personality, social support, coping strategies and stressful events have been described as risk factors for postpartum depression. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis was used to examine whether neuroticism, perceived social support, perceived life events, and coping strategies are associated with postpartum depressive symptoms at the 8th and 32nd weeks.

A total of 1626 pregnant women participated in a longitudinal study. Different evaluations were performed 8 and 32 weeks after delivery. Several measures were used: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS), the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ-RS), the St. Paul Ramsey life events scale and the Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire. The brief COPE scale was used to measure coping strategies. SEM analysis was conducted for all women and in those women with a clinical diagnosis of postpartum depression.

Passive coping strategies were associated with postpartum depressive symptoms at both visits (8th and 32nd weeks). Neuroticism was associated with more passive coping strategies and less active coping strategies. Neuroticism and life stress were positively correlated, and social support was negatively correlated with life stress and neuroticism.

Early identification of potential risk for symptomatology of depression postpartum should include assessment of neuroticism, life events, social support and coping strategies.

Polymorphic variations in the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT) moderate the depressogenic effects of tryptophan depletion. After childbirth there is a sharp reduction in brain tryptophan availability, thus polymorphic variations in 5-HTT may play a similar role in the post-partum period.

To study the role of 5-HTT polymorphic variations in mood changes after delivery.

One thousand, eight hundred and four depression-free Spanish women were studied post-partum. We evaluated depressive symptoms at 2–3 days, 8 weeks and 32 weeks post-partum. We used diagnostic interview to confirm major depression for all probable cases. Based on two polymorphisms of 5-HTT (5-HTTLPR and STin2 VNTR), three genotype combinations were created to reflect different levels of 5-HTT expression.

One hundred and seventy-three women (12.7%) experienced major depression during the 32-week post-partum period. Depressive symptoms were associated with the high-expression 5-HTT genotypes in a dose–response fashion at 8 weeks post-partum, but not at 32 weeks.

High-expression 5-HTT genotypes may render women more vulnerable to depressive symptoms after childbirth.