In individuals with severe mental illness (SMI), low muscle strength heightens the risk of mortality and chronic disease development. Routine muscle strength assessments could identify vulnerabilities, thereby reducing the growing burden associated with SMI. However, integration into clinical settings faces obstacles because of limited resources and inadequate healthcare staff training. The 5 sit-to-stand (5-STS) test offers an alternative for measuring muscle strength compared with more complex or demanding tests. Nevertheless, its validity in individuals with SMI remains unexplored.

This study aimed to analyse the criterion validity of the 5-STS test in SMI, considering potential age, gender and body mass index influences.

In a cross-sectional study following the ‘STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology’ (STROBE) guidelines, 82 adults with SMI (aged 18–65, 24 women) were assessed. Participants underwent both the 5-STS test and the isometric knee extension strength (KES) test.

Analysis revealed a significant moderate correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (−0.58 for both) for all participants, indicating that the measures are valid and assess related aspects of the same construct. Strong agreement was observed in women and the older age groups. The 5-STS test demonstrated accuracy, with a standard error of estimate lower than the within-subject variability on the KES test. Bland–Altman plots showed limits of agreement values of −3.39 and 3.52 for the entire sample, and heteroscedasticity analyses indicated consistent differences between the 5-STS and KES tests across all groups analysed, except in the women's group.

The 5-STS test seems to be a valid test for assessing muscle strength in individuals with SMI, supporting its usefulness for routine assessment in clinical settings, facilitating detection and intervention in critical situations.

Mental Health problems and substance misuse during pregnancy constitute a serious social problem due to high maternal-fetal morbidity (Cook et al, 2017; JOCG, 39(10) ,906-915) and low detection and treatment rates (Carmona et al. Adicciones. 2022;34(4):299-308)

Our study aimed to develop and test the feasibility and acceptability of a screening and treatment clinical pathway in pregnancy, based on the combination of e-Health tools with in-person interventions and, secondly, describe the prevalence of mental illness and substance use problems in this population.

1382 pregnant women undergoing her first pregnancy visit were included in a tailored clinical pathway and sent a telematic (App) autoapplied questionnaire with an extensive battery of measures (WHO (Five) Well-Being [WHO-5],Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], General Anxiety Disorder [GAD-7], Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test [AUDIT], Drug Abuse Screening Test [DAST], Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale [C-SSRS] and specifically designed questions on self-harm and psychopharmacological drugs).

Patients who did not respond to the questionnaire on their own received a counseling call.

Based on the screening results, patients were classified into five groups according to severity (Figure 1) and assigned a specific action pathway (Figure 2) that included a range of intervention intensity that goes from an individual psychiatric appointment to no intervention.

Of the 1382 women included in the clinical pathway, 565(41%) completed the evaluation questionnaires. Of these, 205 (36%) were screened as positive (Grades III,IV or V. Table 1) and 3(0.5%) were classified as needing urgent care. Of the patients offered on-line groups (100), 40% (40) were enrolled in them.Table 1:

Grade distribution of those screened as positives

Concerning prevalence rates, 73 (12,9%) patients endorsed at least moderate anxiety according to GAD-7 (≥10), 65 (11,5%) endorsed at least moderate depression according to PHQ-9 (≥ 10), 17 were positive on DAST (3%) and 63 (11%) patients scored above the threshold in AUDIT-C(≥ 3) for alcohol use.

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High prevalence rates suggest that effective detection and treatment mechanisms should be integrated into usual care. The use of standardized clinical pathways can help with this aim, allowing better clinical management and referral to treatment, but still face challengues to increase retention. The use of e-health tools offers the opportunity to improve accessibility and therapeutic outcomes through online interventions.

None Declared

There is a lack of standardised psychometric data in electronic health record (EHR)-based research. Proxy measures of symptom severity based on patients' clinical records may be useful surrogates in mental health EHR research.

This study aimed to validate proxy tools for the short versions of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS-6) and Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-6).

A cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted in a sample of 116 patients with first-episode psychosis from 12 public hospitals in Spain. Concordance between PANSS-6, YMRS-6 and MADRS-6 scores and their respective proxies was evaluated based on information from EHR clinical notes, using a variety of statistical procedures, including multivariate tests to adjust for potential confounders. Bootstrapping techniques were used for internal validation, and an independent cohort from the Treatment and Early Intervention in Psychosis Program (TIPP-Lausanne, Switzerland) for external validation.

The proxy versions correlated strongly with their respective standardised scales (partial correlations ranged from 0.75 to 0.84) and had good accuracy and discriminatory power in distinguishing between patients in and not in remission (percentage of patients correctly classified ranged from 83.9 to 91.4% and bootstrapped optimism-corrected area under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranged from 0.76 to 0.89), with high interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.81). The findings remained robust in the external validation data-set.

The proxy instruments proposed for assessing psychotic and affective symptoms by reviewing EHR provide a feasible and reliable alternative to traditional structured psychometric procedures, and a promising methodology for real-world practice settings.

Understanding the evolution of negative symptoms in first-episode psychosis (FEP) requires long-term longitudinal study designs that capture the progression of this condition and the associated brain changes.

To explore the factors underlying negative symptoms and their association with long-term abnormal brain trajectories.

We followed up 357 people with FEP over a 10-year period. Factor analyses were conducted to explore negative symptom dimensionality. Latent growth mixture modelling (LGMM) was used to identify the latent classes. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to investigate developmental trajectories of cortical thickness. Finally, the resulting ANOVA maps were correlated with a wide set of regional molecular profiles derived from public databases.

Three trajectories (stable, decreasing and increasing) were found in each of the three factors (expressivity, experiential and attention) identified by the factor analyses. Patients with an increasing trajectory in the expressivity factor showed cortical thinning in caudal middle frontal, pars triangularis, rostral middle frontal and superior frontal regions from the third to the tenth year after the onset of the psychotic disorder. The F-statistic map of cortical thickness expressivity differences was associated with a receptor density map derived from positron emission tomography data.

Stable and decreasing were the most common trajectories. Additionally, cortical thickness abnormalities found at relatively late stages of FEP onset could be exploited as a biomarker of poor symptom outcome in the expressivity dimension. Finally, the brain areas with less density of receptors spatially overlap areas that discriminate the trajectories of the expressivity dimension.

Stigma is one of the most important barriers to help-seeking, treating maintenance and recovery for people suffering mental disorders. These attitudes, when present in mental health workers, may have a negative effect on the quality of health care.

to evaluate the levels of stigma in a representative sample of mental health workers and to explore potential modifiable factors associated to stigma attitudes.

An online survey was conducted on the mental health workers of Castilla y León (Spain, 2409164 habs) while projecting the 2022 Mental Health Humanization plan in order to asses educational skills, burnout (Maschlach MBI), Professional Quiality of life (CVP-35) and Stigma attitudes (Mental Illness: Cinician’s Attitudes Scales, MICA4) together with sociodemographic and work position variables.

193 workers completed completed the survey. Stigma Attitude values of the sample were low (MICA4: 31.71; SD:7.3) and burnout were low or medium (medium Emotional Exhaustion: 19.22; SD8.89; low Depersonalization: 4.91; SD:3.61; Medium Personal Accomplishment: 34,17; 6.3). In the linear regression (R2=0.249; F:11,527; p<0,001), a lower Stigma was predicted by psychologist (Beta:0,207; p=0,003) or psychiatrist position (Beta:0,204; 0,005), Self-efficacy assessed by the item “I am qualified” in the CVP-35 (Beta:-10,144; p=0,023), and a higher stigma was predicted by nurse assistant position (Beta: -0.230; p=0.001), Depersonalization Burnout dimension (Beta:0,351; p<0,001) and years of service (Beta:0.148; p=0,023)

Some groups of mental workers are more vulnerable to develop stigma attitudes. These, may be increased by fatigue and burnout. Future interventions should determine if reducing burnout and increasing capacitation may be effective in stigma eradication

No significant relationships.

Data regarding the palliative needs of pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) cancer are scarce. We aimed to describe the attention provided by a pediatric palliative care (PPC) team to patients with CNS cancer and the differences in care compared to patients who did not receive PPC.

This retrospective study was based on the clinical records of deceased patients with CNS cancer attended by a PPC team over 10 years, analyzing their trajectory and provision of PPC, including medical, psychological, social, and nursing interventions. Furthermore, we compared the last month of life care of deceased patients with CNS cancer in the same institution, based on whether they were attended by the PPC team.

Of 71 patients, 59 received PPC, with a median of 1.6 months (Interquartile range: 0.6–5.2) from referral to death. Home hospitalization was provided to 84.8%, nursing interventions were registered in 89.8%, psychological characteristics in 84.7%, and social interventions in 88.1%. The most common symptoms were pain, dyspnea, and constipation. When comparing patients from the same hospital who received PPC (n = 36) with those who did not (n = 12), the former spent fewer days in the hospital in their last month and last week (p < 0.01) and were more likely to die at home (50% vs. 0%; p < 0.01).

Patients with CNS cancer show various medical, social, and psychological needs during end-of-life care. Providing specific PPC interventions decreased the number of days spent at the hospital and increased the rate of death at home.

Cognition heavily relies on social determinants and genetic background. Latin America comprises approximately 8% of the global population and faces unique challenges, many derived from specific demographic and socioeconomic variables, such as violence and inequality. While such factors have been described to influence mental health outcomes, no large-scale studies with Latin American population have been carried out. Therefore, we aim to describe the cognitive performance of a representative sample of Latin American individuals with schizophrenia and its relationship to clinical factors. Additionally, we aim to investigate how socioeconomic status (SES) relates to cognitive performance in patients and controls.

We included 1175 participants from five Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico): 864 individuals with schizophrenia and 311 unaffected subjects. All participants were part of projects that included cognitive evaluation with MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery and clinical assessments.

Patients showed worse cognitive performance than controls across all domains. Age and diagnosis were independent predictors, indicating similar trajectories of cognitive aging for both patients and controls. The SES factors of education, parental education, and income were more related to cognition in patients than in controls. Cognition was also influenced by symptomatology.

Patients did not show evidence of accelerated cognitive aging; however, they were most impacted by a lower SES suggestive of deprived environment than controls. These findings highlight the vulnerability of cognitive capacity in individuals with psychosis in face of demographic and socioeconomic factors in low- and middle-income countries.

Gestational anaemia (GA) is common in developing countries. This study assessed the relationship of late GA and negative perinatal outcomes in participants recruited in a reference maternity unit of the Caribbean region of Colombia.

Prospective analytical birth cohort study. Maternal Hb and serum ferritin (SF) levels were measured. GA was defined as Hb levels <6·82 mmol/l (<11 g/dl), SF depletion as SF levels <12 µg/l. Birth outcomes such as low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PB) and small for gestational age (SGA) were examined.

Mothers in the first stage of labour, living in urban or rural areas of Bolívar, were enrolled in an obstetrical centre located in Cartagena, Colombia. Blood and stool samples were taken prior delivery. Maternal blood count, SF levels and infant anthropometric data were recorded for analysis.

1218 pregnant women aged 18–42 years and their newborns.

Prevalence of GA and SF depletion was 41·6 % and 41·1 %, respectively. GA was positively associated with poverty-related sociodemographic conditions. Prenatal care attendance lowered the risk of PB, LBW and SGA. Birth weight was inversely associated with Hb levels, observing a −36·8 g decrease in newborn weight per 0·62 mmol/l (or 1 g/dl) of maternal Hb. SF depletion, but not anaemia, was associated with PB. SGA outcome showed a significant association with anaemia, but not a significant relationship with SF depletion.

Birth weight and other-related perinatal outcomes are negatively associated with Hb and SF depletion. Prenatal care attendance reduced the risk of negative birth outcomes.

There are few studies about the characteristics of Substance Use Disorder patients that relapse, defined by restart of the substance use that motivated the intake, after discharge from a Detoxification Unit.

To analyze the percentage of patients who had a relapse in the following 3 months after discharge and to describe their sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutical characteristics.

We prospectively studied drug dependents patients admitted to our Detoxification Unit from June 2008 to August 2009. Data was gathered at admission on demographic (gender, age), clinical (main abused drug, psychiatric comorbidities, polydrug users) and therapeutical variables (hospitalisation duration, prescribed treatment). Patients were followed up for 3 months and assessed for relapse at 1 and 3 months by clinical interview, alcohol screening test and/or urinalysis. Results from patients with and without relapses were compared.

The study sample included 103 patients (77,7% men, average age 38,31±9). At month 3, 57,3% of the patients had relapsed. We found significant differences between the relapse and the non-relapse group on the percentage of polydrug users (68,6% vs 31,4%, p=0,05), on heroine as main drug of abuse (76% vs 24%, p=0,05) and psychiatric comorbidities (60,8% vs 39,2%, p=0,04), being psychotic disorders the most frequent. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups concerning therapeutical variables.

More than half of the patients that ended the detoxification process relapsed in the first 3 months. Polydrug use, opiate dependence and having a psychiatric comorbidity might be considered as risk factors for relapse.

We aimed to study the relationship between impulsivity and the addiction severity in 3 groups of outpatients attending our clinic, through the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) and the standarized, semistructured interview EuropAsi.

174 outpatients were analized (82.6% men, 113 cocaine-dependent as main drug (mean age 32.71 y.o. (31.45–33.96)), 43 cocaine and heroin-dependent (mean age 36.68 y.o. (33.52–39.85)) and 18 heroin dependent (mean age 37.94 (32.71–41.50)). 26.3% were cannabis-dependent and 10.9% abused of Cannabis. Statistical analysis used was the Kruskal-Wallis Test.

Differences in motor impulsivity were found between the 2 groups with cocaine dependency and the only heroin-dependent (mean = 20.59, ST ± 7.7 and mean = 17.11, ST ± 7.3, respectively; W: .019). EuropASI, showed intergroup differences in the medical, use of alcohol and legal areas. In the medical area the most affected were the heroin dependent group (mean score = .40), followed by cocaine and heroin group (mean score = .27) and the cocaine-dependent (Mean = .10). In the use of alcohol area the most affected were the cocaine group (Mean = .16) followed by the cocaine and heroin-dependent (mean = .11) and heroin dependent (Mean = .06). In the legal area the most affected were the the cocaine and heroin-dependent (Mean =.22) followed by heroin-dependent (Mean = .09) and cocaine-dependent (Mean = .07).

Patients suffering from stimulant dependency alone or together with heroin dependency show different impulsivity levels. The addiction severity varies depending on the substance of abuse. Treatment programs should be designed attending patients’ needs.

Cocaine dependence disorder has been widely described. However, differences due to gender remain unknown.

To compare clinical gender differences in a large sample of cocaine-dependent patients.

We performed a cross-sectional, observational study in 902 patients (35.47 yo, 21.3% women) with a cocaine dependence according DSM-IV criteria, seeking treatment during 2005 to 2013. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected The SCID-I, SCID–II, BIS and a structured interview about cocaine-induced psychosis were performed. Simple descriptive statistics were carried out for demographic and clinical data. Bivariate analysis was made to compare the main variables by sex using SPSSvs18.0.

No differences in age of dependence onset, other clinical variables or cocaine-induced psychosis were detected. However, less cocaine used in the last month (2.12 vs 3.37g) (p < 0.009), more impulsivity (67.2 vs 63.03) (p < 0.040), and more sedative dependence (21.2% % vs 8.3%)(p< 0.00) were detected in women than in men. Affective disorders lifetime were the most prevalent (57,4%) in women. More comorbidity with anxiety disorders (p< 0.025) eating disorders (p< 0.000) and personality disorders (p< 0.039) were detected in women than in men.

Sedative dependence and anxiety disorders should be investigated in cocaine-dependent women in order to treat these conditions. Surprisingly high impulsivity level was detected and could moderate cocaine consumption. However, no difference have been found previously in studies about gender differences in cocaine-dependent patients, so this finding should be confirm in new studies.