86 results
How cultural factors along with mental health diagnoses influence the treatment of a stroke patient with no previous mental health history: a case report
- P. Setién Preciados, E. Arroyo Sánchez, A. Sanz Giancola, I. Romero Gerechter, M. Martín Velasco
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S822-S823
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Mental health awareness campaigns in the past few years have vastly improved how medical professionals treat mental health patients. However, prejudices and ignorance still interfere in medical practice. In this context, with the case presented we can see that even in presumed mental health diagnoses along with cultural factors (race, language…), the best medical assistance is not ensured.
ObjectivesReview how different intersectional factors can determine the treatment patients receive at hospitals.
MethodsPresentation of a patient’s case and review of existing literature, in regards to the influence of race, language barriers and mental health diagnoses when attending patients.
ResultsThe patient is presumed to suffer from a mental health condition after a battery of initial tests with inconclusive results do not demonstrate an organic origin. Instead of continuing with the medical study, the patient is disregarded as psychiatric even though his profile doesn´t fit beforehand of a fictitious or conversion disorder. The fact that there are also cultural factors in play (race and language) probably unconsciously influence how the medical team treats this patient’s case. Cultural social factors persistently present as barriers in clinical practice.
ConclusionsRace, language barriers and mental health diagnoses as well as other intersectional factors do have a great impact in the treatment patients receive. There is yet a lot to do when it comes to educating health professionals if we want to offer the best medical assistance.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Suicide behaviour after hospitalisation and related factors: a case report.
- P. Setién Preciados, A. Sanz Giancola, E. Arroyo Sánchez, M. Martín Velasco, I. Romero Gerechter
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1115
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Suicide is a global epidemic, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that there are roughly 800,000 suicides annually, accounting for 1.4% of all deaths, and making suicide the 18th leading cause of death in 2016 (World Health Organization. There is a pressing need to better understand factors that contribute to suicide risk. One important domain for suicide prevention is inpatient psychiatric treatment, as many patients are admitted precisely in order to reduce their risk of suicide. Although inpatient psychiatric treatment is often used for suicide risk prevention the risk of suicide after inpatient treatment remains high. Patients who have been recently discharged have a greater risk of suicide than non-hospitalised mentally ill people.
ObjectivesReview suicidal risk after hospitalisations and the factors that may have an influence on it.
MethodsPresentation of a patient’s case and review of existing literature, in regards to the rate of suicide after a patient is released from psychiatric hospitalisation and the factors that surround it.
ResultsThe patient in question is admitted into a psychiatric ward with a diagnosis of severe psychotic depression, after a suicide attempt trying to dissect his arms’ blood vessels. Health professionals at the hospital attend to his needs and the patient sees improvement. Not long after his release, there is a second hospital admission, which doesn’t have the same result and after his release he successfully ends his life. What comes to mind with these sorts of patients is: what kind of help would they have needed? Why hospital admission was not enough? And which factors and profile of patient is more prone to develop suicide behaviour?
ConclusionsAdmissions at psychiatric wards always have to be thought of as a beneficial resource for patients. There are some cases in which patients do not get the help they need by being hospitalised, increasing the risk of comitting suicide. A lot more studies will have to be carried out to understand what variables play a part in this. Meanwhile an improvement in outpatient care to support patients after hospital release is crucial.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
New-Onset Bipolar Disorder in Late Life: a case report and review of literature
- A. Sanz Giancola, E. Arroyo Sánchez, P. Setién Preciados, M. Martín Velasco, I. Romero Gerechter, C. Díaz Mayoral
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S691
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The elderly represents the fastest growing group of the population. It is fair to assume that the portion of old age patients suffering from bipolar disorder will grow in a similar manner. Elderly patients represent approximately 25% of the bipolar population. Summarizing, 5–10% of patients were 50 years of age when they experienced their first manic episode, constituting the subgroup of late onset bipolar disorder (LOBD).
ObjectivesThe purpose of this case report and literature review is to emphasise the importance of LOBD in old population and to highlight its still sparse-knowledge.
MethodsDescriptive case study and review of literature (Arnold,I. et al. Old Age Bipolar Disorder—Epidemiology, Aetiology and Treatment. Medicina 2021,57,587; Baldessarini et al. Onset-age of bipolar disorders at six international sites. J Affect Disord 2010;121(1-2):143-6).
ResultsA 60-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department for evaluation by her family. Over the past 7 days, the patient has become increasingly irritable and argumentative, is sleeping less, is talking faster than usual and has begun to express paranoid concerns about her students “stealing my exam”. The patient is a university professor.
In the assessment interview she is hyperverbal, expansive, and grandiose. The family has also just recently discovered that she has spent a large sum of money on the Internet.
She has no history of psychiatric contact or substance use disorders; however, she has a family history of severe depression.
In the absence of any plausible non-psychiatric condition that could mimic or induce mania, the working diagnosis is bipolar I disorder, most recent episode (MRE) manic with psychotic features.
Image:
Image 2:
ConclusionsThe share of older age bipolar disorder will grow constantly in the next decades and further research on this neglected patient group is urgently required.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Lithium management in pregnant patients with bipolar disorder
- I. Romero Gerechter, M. Martín Velasco, A. Sanz Giancola, E. Arroyo Sánchez, C. Díaz Mayoral, P. Setien Preciados
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S198
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Women with bipolar disorder often ask their treating clinician for information about family planning, as they are concerned about the impact of their illness on offspring. Pregnancy places additional stress on patients, and physiological changes are particularly acute during postpartum. On the other hand, the risk of abnormalities and teratogenicity from psychotropic drugs is significant. The decision wether resuming or discontinuating lithium is discussed.
ObjectivesWe present a theoretical review on the topic.
MethodsA bibliographic review is presented.
ResultsThe choice to continue medication during pregnancy balances the risks of an untreated illness with the risks of medication exposure. Abrupt discontinuation of psychotropic medications is associated with an increased risk for illness recurrence. Women with BD who discontinue their medications before or during pregnancy have a 71% risk of recurrence with new episodes occurring most frequently in the first trimester. Recurrent illness during pregnancy is associated with a 66% increase in the risk of postpartum episodes. Untreated or under-treated BD during pregnancy is associated with poor birth outcomes independent of pharmacotherapy exposure, including preterm birth, low birth-weight, intrauterine growth retardation, small for gestational age, fetal distress, and adverse neurodeve- lopmental outcomes. Women with untreated BD also have behavioral risk factors such as decreased compliance with prenatal care, poor nutrition, and high-risk behaviors. Impaired capacity to function may result in loss of employment, health care benefits, and social support. The biological and psychosocial risks of a BD episode are the justification for the risk of medication exposure.
Fetal exposure to lithium has been associated with an increased risk for cardiac abnormalities. The risk for Ebstein’s anomaly with first trimester exposure is 1 (0.1%) to 2 in 1000 (0.2%), but the absolute risk remains low. Folate supplementation with 5 mg reduces the risk and severity of congenital heart disease. Lithium toxicity causes lethargy, hypotonia, tachycardia, coma, cyanosis, and chronic twitching in the newborn.
Strategies to minimize fetal exposure and maintain efficacy include using the lowest effective dose, prescribing lithium twice daily to avoid high peak serum concentrations, and regular monitoring of lithium serum concentrations. The effective serum concentration must be established before pregnancy. If a therapeutic concentration has not been established, the lithium dose is titrated to a concentration within the therapeutic range. Breast feeding is discouraged in women taking lithium because of the high rate of transmission to the infant.
ConclusionsTreatment decisions for pregnant women with mood disorders must weigh the potential for increased risks of lithium during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, against its effectiveness at reducing relapse.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Clozapine use in drug induced psychosis in Parkinson´s disease: a case report and review of literature.
- A. Sanz Giancola, P. Setién Preciados, E. Arroyo Sánchez, I. Romero Gerecther, M. Martín Velasco, C. Díaz Mayoral
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1041
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The occurrence of psychotic symptoms induced by dopaminergic drugs marks a new phase in the course of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The term drug induced psychosis may be used when other significant psychiatric diseases are excluded in patients with no history of psychosis. The prevalence of dopaminomimetic psychosis varies from 5% to 20%. Therefore, knowledge of the psychopharmacological management of this condition is essential.
ObjectivesThe purpose of this case report and literature review is to to learn the psychopharmacological management of this not uncommon medical complication.
MethodsDescriptive case study and review of literature
ResultsWe present the case of a 71-year-old man with a medical history of Parkinson’s disease with partial response to treatment with high doses of levodopa and carbidopa.
He was brought to the emergency department by his family due to the presence of behavioural alterations at home.
The patient reported seeing men in foam trying to harm his family. In a disjointed way in his speech, he links this idea with the delusional belief that he is being watched by electronic devices placed throughout the house. In a variegated manner he links this with a coelotypical type of discourse, however the delusional ideation remains unstructured throughout.
With no previous personal or family history of mental health and ruling out underlying organic conditions, a diagnosis of psychosis secondary to pharmacological treatment for Parkinson’s disease is presumed.
Considering the risks and benefits, it was decided to maintain the anti-Parkinson’s dose in order to avoid worsening the patient’s motor function. Therefore, after reviewing the literature, the best option was to introduce clozapine at low doses, up to 50 mg at night, with the respective analytical control. After a week’s admission, the patient began to improve psychopathologically, achieving an ad integrum resolution of the psychotic symptoms.
ConclusionsDespite the availability of other antipsychotic treatments such as quetiapine or the more recent pimavanserin, clozapine remains the treatment of choice for drug-induced psychosis in Parkinson’s disease.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Is social media important in adolescents with eating disorders?
- B. Martínez-Núñez, D. S. Cohen, R. Encinas-Encinas, A. Paniagua-Velasco, D. A. Gómez-Guimaraes, C. García-López, B. Muchada-López, M. Faya-Barrios, M. Graell-Berna
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S522-S523
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Eating disorders (ED) are complex entities of multicausal etiology that mainly affect adolescents and young women. For this reason, EDs frequently cause medical and psychological complications that can cause potentially irreversible developmental sequelae during adolescence.
96% of Spanish youth (15-29 years old) use daily Internet. In addition, 83% use Social Networks. Internet could be a good way to spread information through social media, websites, providing material and means to achieve the body culture purpose.
As we have seen in various papers, social media can influence and trigger the development of EDs.
ObjectivesThe objetives of the study are to analyse the preferred social network by adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders, as well as to measure characteristic and time-use of these networks.
MethodsWe decided to undergo a transversal study to analyse the use of social media. For that, we developed a survey to reflect the use of the main social networks (Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, YouTube and Reddit) in adolescents diagnosed with eating disorders in Spain, who are in outpatient treatment in a specialised ED unit.
ResultsThe total number of adolescents interviewed was 65; of these 96.9% were females and 3.1% males. The mean age was 14.8 years.
The preferred social network was Instagram (54%), followed by TikTok (34%) and YouTube (6%).
Most of the patients interviewed (68%) admitted checking Instagram daily, and 31% reflected spending between 1-3 hours/day. None of the adolescents reported using Facebook or Reddit.
The majority of adolescents (89%) admitted having ignored friend requests while 12% reflected the importance of having a high number of followers as a way of external validation, getting more ‘likes’ and getting to know more people.
ConclusionsThe obtained results reinforce the need of exploring and taking into account the use of Social Media in adolescents with ED and how it may influence their pathology. There is a need for further prospective research in this field.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Clinical management of psychotic pregnancy denial: what do we know? Case report and narrative review.
- M. Martín Velasco, I. Romero Gerechter
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S1128-S1129
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Denial of pregnancy is the lack of awareness of being pregnant. It associates with increased morbidity and mortality of mother and child and can be classified as non-psychotic or psychotic. There is few literature regarding the latter, making it difficult to recognize, let alone to treat, since we do not have robust data on the incidence nor approved interventions.
ObjectivesTo get a better understanding on the standard of care for patients with psychotic denial of pregnancy.
MethodsWe present a case report alongside a narrative literature review on the topic.
ResultsWe report the case of a 39-year-old caucasian woman, foreign, undomiciled, who was admitted to a Psychiatry unit due to psychotic symptoms. Her birthplace and prior medical records were unknown. She did not recognize being pregnant and showed great irritability when asked; her responses ranged from delusional attributions of symptoms related to the pregnancy to partially acknowledging her state but refusing to answer questions. Obstetric ultrasound revealed a low risk 35 weeks pregnancy. Treatment included quetiapine up to 700mg daily and psychological approach. A multidisciplinary team managed the case and arranged a plan for delivery. Eventually, delusional symptoms remitted and she accepted the gestation. She showed full collaboration during delivery, giving birth to a healthy female and presented transient recovery. After being separated from her daughter, her clinical situation worsened.
Psychotic denial of pregnancy is rather uncommon. It is usually seen in patients with prior history of major mental illness, most frequently schizophrenia, and important psychosocial vulnerability. It associates with several negative outcomes for mother and baby, including neonaticide. Most studies agree on the need of a multidisciplinary intervention including obstetrics, psychiatry, and others (social agents, ethical consultants…) to generate a plan for mother and baby. Biopsychosocial aspects should always be considered and each case individually formulated. Pregnant women must be given clear and concise information about the process. For some, seeing obstetric ultrasound might help them accept the pregnancy. Some authors propose labour induction prior to 39 weeks and performing a C-section, especially in cases of uncontrolled psychosis or risk of noncompliance. Most studies also recommend antipsychotic treatment. In cases of persistent denial or acute crisis, especially during the third trimester, patients should be admitted to a psychiatry unit with easy access to obstetric care. Supportive psychotherapy and psychosocial intervention should try to identify precipitating stressors for denial, such as prior or anticipated custody loss, which has been linked to psychotic denial.
ConclusionsPsychotic denial is a serious illness which requires a multidisciplinary treatment including biopsychosocial and obstetrical aspects.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Psychotic denial of pregnancy: case report and narrative literature review.
- M. Martín Velasco, I. Romero Gerechter, C. Díaz Mayoral, E. Arroyo Sánchez, A. Sanz Giancola, P. Setién Preciados
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S1129
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Denial of pregnancy is the phenomenon where a woman fails to recognize or accept her pregnancy at >20 weeks gestational age. It associates with increased morbidity and mortality of mother and child, and can be classified as non-psychotic or psychotic. There is fewer medical literature regarding the latter, making it difficult to recognize, let alone to treat, since we do not have robust data regarding incidence nor approved interventions or treatment.
ObjectivesTo describe this unfamiliar entity in order to be able to perform a proper diagnosis and thus prevent possible negative outcomes.
MethodsWe present a case report alongside a narrative literature review on the topic.
ResultsWe report the case of a 39-year-old caucasian woman, foreign, undomiciled, with an advanced pregnancy, who was admitted to a Psychiatry in-patient unit due to psychotic symptoms such as mistrust and delusions. She showed scarce collaboration during assessment and did not give any plausible information about her identity. Her birthplace and prior medical records were therefore unknown. Apparently, she had no family nor social support network. Despite the obvious signs, she did not recognize being pregnant and showed great irritability when asked; her responses ranged from claiming she was suffering from a gastric tumor and making delusional attributions of symptoms clearly related to the pregnancy to partially acknowledging her state but refusing to answer any questions on the matter. Blood work showed no significant abnormalities and obstetric ultrasound revealed a low risk 35 weeks pregnancy.
With an estimated prevalence of 1:475 in general population, denial of pregnancy is not as rare as it may seem. The psychotic variant, however, is rather uncommon. Typically, women with psychotic pregnancy denial have prior history of major mental illness, most frequently schizophrenia, and suffer from extreme psychosocial vulnerability. They usually present previous or anticipated child custody loss, which hampers the process of developing antenatal attachment behaviours. Psychotic denial does not associate with concealing, since these women are mentally detached from the gestation and tend to create delusional explanations to their pregnancy symptoms. Not all of them show complete denial, some being able to acknowledge it, though mostly in an inconsistent way. These patients often fail to seek prenatal care or are noncompliant, they are at greater risk of drug exposure, and some are unable to recognize symptoms of labour, all of which increases the rate of negative outcomes for mother and baby, including neonaticide.
ConclusionsPsychotic denial is a rare diagnosis which should be properly assessed due to its clinical implications and the need to prevent potential negative outcomes for mother and baby.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Application of family therapy in a case of anorexia nervosa
- C. Díaz Mayoral, I. Romero Gerechter, E. Arroyo Sánchez, M. Martín Velasco, A. Sanz Giancola, M. Martín de Argila
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S848
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Anorexia nervosa is a behavioral mental disorder, characterized by body dysmorphia, an intense fear of gaining weight and behaviors that interfere with this, in addition to a restriction of food intake, associated usually with medical complications, even a considerable risk of death.
Several psychotherapeutic approaches have been used along last decades. Until relatively recently, parents have been recognized as part of the problem, but nowadays we involve them into the therapeutic process through family therapy based on a systemic approach, recommended in current published clinical guidelines and research findings, with consistent evidence, as the first-line treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa.
ObjectivesA case of a patient with anorexia nervosa, is presented followed by a theoretical review on the topic.
MethodsA case is presented with a bibliographic review.
ResultsA 24-yeard-old female was hospitalized for renutrition due to a significant weight loss and multiple physical symptoms. After 4 months without progress, the patient was transferred to the psychiatric ward.
Once there, physical stabilisation was achieved with family therapy and pharmacological treatment, based on progressive administration of Clomipramine, previously assessed by Cardiology, which improved rumination and obsessive behaviour. We conduct daily individual and weekly family interviews, working on family dynamics, emotional regulation strategies and more adaptive ways of communication. Likewise, several lines of action were found in the systemic work: peripheral father; maternal over-involvement; fraternal rivalry; difficulties of interaction between all of them, derived from “the role of the sick person” and intra-family communication around the illness. Finally, showed effectiveness in terms of an improvement in interpersonal relationships, greater assertiveness and an optimistic attitude with an active search for coping strategies.
ConclusionsHistorically, parents have been recognized by a causal factor in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Nevertheless, the abolition of the emphasis on family responsibility, motivated by a philosophic and evidence-based, has allowed us to see them as an essential resource in aiding the patient in the improvement process. This parental involvement has resulted in a relevant reduction in morbidity, as well as a significant decrease treatment attrition rates. It has been noted a re-establishment in other individual and family factors such as self-esteem, quality of life, and some aspects of the experiences of caregiving, and behavioral symptoms have been resolved.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Patient satisfaction in an “open-door” acute inpatient psychiatric unit
- M. Campillo, L. Rius, S. Garcia, M. Olivero, G. Sanchez Tomico, M. Martinez Garcia, I. Garcia Velasco, C. Monserrat, A. Pratdesava, R. Sanchez
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S903
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Traditionally, psychiatric wards had established a “locked door” policy but secluded conditions may increase patient’s discomfort1 that could affect the perception of health quality of care2. Recently, the “open-door” policy is being adopted in several European countries but its impact on patient satisfaction remains unknown (Schreiber, LK. BMC Psychiatry. 2019 May 14;19(1):149). Since 2019 our psychiatric hospital has implemented the open-door policy.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the “open-door” policy on patient satisfaction during their stay in the acute inpatient unit of our psychiatric hospital.
MethodsThis is an observational study. Prior to the implementation of the open door policy 31 patient satisfaction data was collected between October 2018 to April 2019 and it was also assessed with 31 subjects between July to October 2019, after the implementation of the open “door-policy”. The inclusion criteria were being >18 years old, reading Spanish correctly and with a length of stay >72 hours. The patients with dementia disorder and intellectual disability where excluded from the study. We used the Satispsy-22-E scale, a self-administered questionnaire (Frías, V., et al. 2018. Psychiatry Res. Oct;268:8-14). It assesses patient’s experience of hospitalization through 22 items distributed into 6 dimensions. The score range is from 0 to 100. Differences in Satispsy-22-E scores were analysed by applying ANOVA using the IBM-SPSS (v. 25).
ResultsTotal scores in Satispsy-22 are provided in Figure 1. We found that patient satisfaction was increased in the dimensions of “personal experience” and “food” (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in staff, quality of care, information, activity dimensions and Total score (Table 2).
Dimension F-Test Statistic Value Staff 1.402 p=0.241 Quality of Care 841 p=0.362 Personal Experience 4.071 p=0.048* Information 656 p=0.420 Activity 434 p=0.512 Food 4.507 p=0.037* TOTAL 3.645 p=0.61 Image:
ConclusionsOur results provide preliminary evidence indicating that the open-door policy could have a positive impact on patient satisfaction, especially in relation to the personal experience on an acute inpatient psychiatric unit.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Long-term neurotoxicity in paediatric patients exposed to general anesthesia: Is there a relationship between exposure to general anesthesia in children between 0 and 4 years of age and the subsequent development of ADHD in childhood?
- B. Hernández Gajate, T. Gutiérrez Higueras, R. M. Fiestas Velasco, V. Rubio de la Rubia, F. Calera Cortés
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S145
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued new warnings about the possible effects of the repeated or prolonged use of general anaesthesia and sedatives on the brain development of children under 4 years old during surgeries or paediatric procedures.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the possible long-term neurotoxic impact the exposure to general anaesthesia has on the paediatric population from 0 to 4 years, which is the period during which the brain develops.
MethodsInitially, a search for observational studies that described the risk of neurotoxicity and alterations in the long-term cognitive development of children exposed to general anaesthesia before 4 years of age, was performed in PubMed between 2016 and 2020.
ResultsFinally, 5 retrospective cohort studies comparing children exposed and not exposed to general anaesthesia were included in this study. None of these showed significant differences in their main study variables. However, three of this studies found significant differences in some of the secondary variables such as speed of processing, motor skills, internalization of behaviour and learning, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ConclusionsIn vitro and in vivo studies of anesthetics have shown serious neurotoxic effects in the developing brain. However, the clinical relevance of these findings for children undergoing anesthesia remains unclear.
Most of these studies suggest a strong relationship between exposure to anesthesia in children aged 0 to 4 years, this being greater after multiple exposures. Despite these results, many of these articles conclude that further research is needed on this topic.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Mania induced after corticosteroid treatment: a case report
- E. Arroyo Sánchez, A. Sanz- Giancola, P. Setién Preciados, I. Romero Gerechter, M. Martín Velasco, C. Díaz Mayoral
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S697
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Corticosteroids are drugs widely used in clinical practice for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Despite their beneficial effects, a high association of these drugs with neuropsychiatric adverse effects such as psychosis, mania, depression, delirium or increased risk of suicide, among others, has been observed. We present the case of 54-year-old man who started treatment with hydroaltesone 20 mg/8h after undergoing surgery for a pituitary macroadenoma who began with maniform clinic.
ObjectivesTo know the prevalence, risk factors and treatment of mania as a side effect of corticosteroid drugs.
MethodsPresentation of the case and review of the available literature on the risk of developing mania after corticosteroid treatment.
ResultsSeveral studies confirm that the incidence of psychiatric adverse effects after the use of corticosteroids is around 6% if we refer to severe reactions; 28% moderate reactions; and 72% if we consider milder reactions. The direct relationship between these drugs and affective symptoms ranges in rates between 1-50% of cases, the most frequent being depression and mania. The risk of mania after treatment with corticosteroids is 4-5 times higher than if we compare it with a group of population not exposed to these drugs. There is a dose-response relationship, increasing the risk from a daily dose of 40 mg/day, with an average duration of symptoms of around 21 days. Female sex seems to be a risk factor in relation to the fact that diseases requiring this type of treatment are more common in this gender. As first-line treatment for mania secondary to corticosteroids, a decrease in treatment dose or its interruption, whenever possible, is proposed. Adjuvant treatment may be required, with atypical antipsychotics being the first choice.
ConclusionsCorticosteroid therapy has a direct dose-response relationship with the presence of psychiatric adverse effects such as mania. Dose and sex have been studied as possible adverse effects. Therefore, the pharmacological treatment of choice consists of a reduction in the dose of corticosteroids administered or withdrawal, if possible, and may be combined with an atypical antipsychotic such as olanzapine, quetiapine or risperidone. Re-evaluation is recommended until complete resolution of the clinical picture and then antipsychotic treatment can be progressively withdrawn.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Changes in the characteristics of Suicide Attempts during COVID-19 pandemic
- J. Curto Ramos, N. Kishanchandani Chandiramani, M. Torrijos, J. Andreo-Jover, B. Orgaz-Alvarez, M. Velasco, D. García Martínez, G. Juárez, S. Cebolla, P. Aguirre, B. Rodríguez Vega
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S405
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Different studies indicate high prevalence’s of suicidal behaviour, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and PTSD associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. There is currently not enough scientific evidence available to analyze the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the rate of suicide attempts and their characteristics.
ObjectivesTo analyze and compare the characteristics of suicidal behavior (in terms of method, severity, medical damage produced and need for hospitalization) of patients attended during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous years.
MethodsA retrospective study was performed based on a standardized data collection of patients attending the University Hospital La Paz between April 2018 and November 2021. 581 patients who attempted suicide at least once were included in this study. We compared the severity using the Beck Suicide Intent Scale. Chi-square ant Student’s t were used to compare clinical characteristics such as medical damage, method of suicide attempt and indication for admission after the attempt, between suicide attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic and previous years.
ResultsOur results suggest that during the COVID-19 pandemic suicide attempts caused more medical damage (p<0.001), had higher severity (p<0.000), and required more admission in Intensive Care Units, General Internal Medicine and Psychiatry compared with pre-Covid years (p<0.000).
ConclusionsThis is the first study in Spain analysing the changes in characteristics of suicide attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has important implications for reducing suicide rates, preventing future attempts, and enabling us to design specific treatments of Suicidal Behaviour.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Benefits of training/playing therapy in a group of captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
- L Carrasco, M Colell, M Calvo, MT Abelló, M Velasco, S Posada
-
- Journal:
- Animal Welfare / Volume 18 / Issue 1 / February 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 January 2023, pp. 9-19
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Animal well-being and enrichment continue to gain importance in the maintenance of primates living in captivity. Positive reinforcement training (PRT) and/or playing interaction have been shown to be effective in improving the well-being of several species of primates. This research study evaluated the effects of applying a combination of these two techniques (training/playing therapy) on a group of lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). The effects of this combination on the behaviour of captive primates have been given very little attention to date. The behaviour of a group of seven females was recorded in two different phases at Barcelona Zoo: before (periods 1 and 2) and after (periods 3 and 4) a series of changes were made to the composition of this social group. In each period, two phases were distinguished: i) baseline condition, after the subjects became used to the researcher, focal recordings were made of the group's regular behaviour and, ii) experimental condition, the training and playing sessions (‘gorilla play’) with two specific subjects began one hour before the group went to the outdoor facility. The frequency and duration of the behaviour observed in each of the recording conditions were compared. The results showed positive changes in the gorillas’ behaviour: stereotypies, interactions with the public, aggression between subjects and inactivity were all reduced, while affiliative behaviour and individual and social play-related behaviour increased. Moreover, the benefits of this therapy were observed in trained individuals and the rest of the gorillas in the group, which would seem to indicate that training/playing can be used to create a more relaxed atmosphere, reducing social tension and improving the well-being of all the subjects involved.
“I’ve discovered the COVID-19 vaccine”. Approach of a bipolar disorder clinical case in the Mental Health Day Hospital of Salamanca during the pandemic
- A. Gonzalez-Mota, C. Fombellida Velasco, A. Gonzalez Gil, P. Gómez Hernández, I. Vicente Torres, M. Covacho Gonzalez, C. Payo-Rodriguez, E. Beltran-Mercado, C. Roncero
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 65 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 September 2022, p. S412
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
A 21-year-old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder was hospitalized in the Mental Health Day Hospital of Salamanca during the Covid pandemic. The patient engaged with 4 different jobs and a master’s degree, beginning with verbose speech, dysphoria, global insomnia, grandiose delusions, extremely high energy and thinking she has the vaccine. She works the following objectives:illness insight, risk factors, psychopathological stabilization, social skills, slowing down of activities and taking responsibilities.
ObjectivesThe objective is do a follow-up of the patient during her hospitalization in the Mental Health Day Hospital and to carry out a structured search in PubMed and Up-to-Date about psychotherapy and bipolar disorder.
Methods3-month follow-up of a 21-year-old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder during her hospitalization in the Mental Health Day Hospital in Salamanca and a structured search in PubMed and Up-to-Date in April 2021 in English, French and Spanish, including the last 10 years with the keywords “psychotherapy”, “psychotherapies” and “bipolar disorder “.77 studies were analyzed: 12 included, 65 excluded.
ResultsSeveral randomized trials highlight the efficacy of group psychoeducation and cognitive-behavioural therapy in relapse prevention, improving illness insight, medical adherence and less hospitalizations. Therapeutic alliance plays a significant role in the process. Our patient improved her knowledge of her illness and treatment, her social skills and reconnected with her relatives and slowed down her activity. She then was referred to her community mental heath center psychiatrist.
ConclusionsThe insight in bipolar disorder plays an important role in medical adherence and prevention of relapses. Therapeutic alliance improves their insight, their functionality in their daily life and enables close monitoring. Medical treatment should be accompanied by psychotherapy for a complete approach of the treatment.
DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis and psychosis: case report and literature review
- T. Gutierrez Higueras, B. Hernández Gajate, R.M. Fiestas Velasco, F. Calera Cortés, S. Sainz De La Cuesta Alonso, S. Vicent Forés, M. Reyes Lopez
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 65 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 September 2022, pp. S866-S867
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Open access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis is a disease occurring when antibodies produced by the body’s own immune system attack NMDA receptors in the brain. Their functions are critical for judgement, perception of reality, human interaction, the formation and retrieval of memory, and the control of autonomic functions. The objective of treatment is to reduce the levels of antibodies in the blood and spinal fluid. Treatments include corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis in addition to other immunomodulators, such as cyclophosphamide or rituximab.
ObjectivesTo present a case of a 64 year-old patient who came to the emergency service of our hospital with long-standing anxiety, irritability, recurrent amnestic failures, visual hallucinations and recent-onset episodes of aggressiveness with his family. He required admission to the psychiatry department and was finally diagnosed with autoimmune anti-NMDA encephalitis by detecting antibodies in blood and CSF.
MethodsClinical case presentation and literature review of cases, focusing on psychotic symptoms.
ResultsA 65-year-old patient who was being studied by neurology and psychiatry departments for cognitive impairment and psychotic symptoms was admitted to Neurology after a positive lumbar puncture result for NMDA antibodies.During admission, the patient continued with a significant behavioral alteration that gradually remitted with the use of Quetiapine, corticosteroids and rituximab.
ConclusionsNMDA-encephalitis has a highly variable clinical presentation, which can lead to confusion with infectious etiology or psychiatric disorders, making the diagnosis difficult, which is only possible by detecting anti-NMDA antibodies in CSF. Recognition of the disease and coordination between services is essential for early diagnosis and treatment.
DisclosureNo significant relationships.
Turbulent impurity transport simulations in Wendelstein 7-X plasmas
- Part of
- J. M. García-Regaña, M. Barnes, I. Calvo, F. I. Parra, J. A. Alcusón, R. Davies, A. González-Jerez, A. Mollén, E. Sánchez, J. L. Velasco, A. Zocco
-
- Journal:
- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 87 / Issue 1 / February 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 February 2021, 855870103
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
A study of turbulent impurity transport by means of quasilinear and nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations is presented for Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). The calculations have been carried out with the recently developed gyrokinetic code stella. Different impurity species are considered in the presence of various types of background instabilities: ion temperature gradient (ITG), trapped electron mode (TEM) and electron temperature gradient (ETG) modes for the quasilinear part of the work; ITG and TEM for the nonlinear results. While the quasilinear approach allows one to draw qualitative conclusions about the sign or relative importance of the various contributions to the flux, the nonlinear simulations quantitatively determine the size of the turbulent flux and check the extent to which the quasilinear conclusions hold. Although the bulk of the nonlinear simulations are performed at trace impurity concentration, nonlinear simulations are also carried out at realistic effective charge values, in order to know to what degree the conclusions based on the simulations performed for trace impurities can be extrapolated to realistic impurity concentrations. The presented results conclude that the turbulent radial impurity transport in W7-X is mainly dominated by ordinary diffusion, which is close to that measured during the recent W7-X experimental campaigns. It is also confirmed that thermodiffusion adds a weak inward flux contribution and that, in the absence of impurity temperature and density gradients, ITG- and TEM-driven turbulence push the impurities inwards and outwards, respectively.
Global calculation of neoclassical impurity transport including the variation of electrostatic potential
- Part of
- Keiji Fujita, S. Satake, R. Kanno, M. Nunami, M. Nakata, J. M. García-Regaña, J. L. Velasco, I. Calvo
-
- Journal:
- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 86 / Issue 3 / June 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 June 2020, 905860319
-
- Article
- Export citation
-
Recently, the validity range of the approximations commonly used in neoclassical calculation has been reconsidered. One of the primary motivations behind this trend is observation of an impurity hole in LHD (Large Helical Device), i.e. the formation of an extremely hollow density profile of an impurity ion species, such as carbon $\text{C}^{6+}$, in the plasma core region where a negative radial electric field ($E_{r}$) is expected to exist. Recent studies have shown that the variation of electrostatic potential on the flux surface, $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$, has significant impact on neoclassical impurity transport. Nevertheless, the effect of $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ has been studied with radially local codes and the necessity of global calculation has been suggested. Thus, we have extended a global neoclassical code, FORTEC-3D, to simulate impurity transport in an impurity hole plasma including $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ globally. Independently of the $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ effect, an electron root of the ambipolar condition for the impurity hole plasma has been found by global simulation. Hence, we have considered two different cases, each with a positive (global) and a negative (local) solution of the ambipolar condition, respectively. Our result provides another support that $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ has non-negligible impact on impurity transport. However, for the ion-root case, the radial $\text{C}^{6+}$ flux is driven further inwardly by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$. For the electron-root case, on the other hand, the radial particle $\text{C}^{6+}$ flux is outwardly enhanced by $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$. These results indicate that how $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ affects the radial particle transport crucially depends on the profile of the ambipolar-$E_{r}$, which is found to be susceptible to $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6F7}_{1}$ itself and the global effects.
Treatment with glutamatergic drugs in the resistant schizophrenia
- R. Martínez de Velasco Soriano, F. Pando Velasco, M. Serrano Díaz de Otálora, P. Artieda Urrutia, C. Riaza Bermudo-Soriano
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 26 / Issue S2 / March 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 April 2020, p. 1447
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis defends the existance of factors that would cause an early impairment on the normal brain development. The neurodegenerative hypothesis proposes the existance of later and progressive pathological phenomena, responsible of the appearance of clinical manifestations and changes on neuroimaging. Both hypotheses would be complementary. Neurodevelopment is completed during adolescence. Within this period, these deficts on executive functions would become apparent, reflecting a neurodevelopmental impairment. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, present throughout the normal postnatal brain development and maduration. In schizophrenic patients and unaffected relatives, a glutamatergic hypofunction has been found and so, an alteration of the dopaminergic mesocortical limbic and nigrostriatal pathways.
ObjectivesUsage of molecules that are capable of reversing the glutamatergic hypofunction would be potentially benefitial for either positive or negative symptomathology in schizophrenia.
MethodWe have performed a review of several clinical trials (on humans and animals) using glutamatergic drugs alone and combined with neuroleptics to diminish behavioural disturbances related to NMDA blockage.
ResultsUsage of glycine binding site agonists (glycine, D- cicloserine, D-serine) has been proposed. D-serine is effective both as monotherapy and combined with neuroleptics. D-cicloserine is not effective on negative symptoms. Usage of high doses of oral glycine (30–60 mg a day) on its own has not shown any clinical change but there is an improvement on negative and positive symptoms if combined with neuroleptics.
ConclusionNowadays, there is no glutamatergic agonist used in schizophrenia treatment. Out of the three previously mentioned drugs, only D-serine has shown some efficacy.
Prevalence of paranoid symptomatology in the elderly and relationship to organic brain factors
- M. Serrano Díaz de Otálora, J. Gómez-Arnau Ramírez, R. Martínez de Velasco, P. Artieda Urrutia
-
- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 26 / Issue S2 / March 2011
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 April 2020, p. 853
-
- Article
-
- You have access Access
- Export citation
-
Introduction
Psychotic diseases in the elderly are underdiagnosed due to the limited use of medical resources. Advanced age makes psychoses of any cause less pure and differentiated, since old age adds a cognitive-impairment component to the basal psychotic defect.
ObjectivesWe intend to estimate the prevalence of paranoid symptoms in older patients, and to study the many medical conditions associated with psychosis.
MethodsWe conducted a literature review and we have performed a review of several clinical trials.
ResultsWe found 12.1% of paranoid symptoms in the elderly with cognitive impairment. In absence of this factor, we found a prevalence of 14.1% for suspicion tendencies, 6.9% for paranoid thoughts and 5.5% for evident delusions. These figures were significantly higher in old black people.
We present a table of the main medical conditions that can produce psychotic symptoms. Some cases of apparently typical delusional disorder can appear as a long-term complication of some of these diseases. If organic factors are subtle and long lasting, the clinical may reproduce a fairly typical delusional disorder and may respond to treatment with neuroleptic drugs.
ConclusionsIt seems possible that organic brain factors are more common that we believe, becoming essential a comprehensive study of the old psychotic patient. We should pay more attention to psychotic symptoms in elderly patients and avoid conclusions based on cross-evaluations. Diagnosis will be defined by evolution in most of the cases.