Motivation for treatment is an important socio-psychological characteristic of patients, which is subject to the joint influence of various factors, each of which may require specific rehabilitation interventions.

To analyze and evaluate the cumulative influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), internal stigma, social characteristics on the intensity of treatment motivation in patients with mental disorders.

102 patients with mental disorders were examined using Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACEQ), Russian-language validated Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale and Treatment Motivation Assessment Questionnaire (TMAQ).

As a result of regression analysis (table 1), a model was obtained that predicted an increase in the chances of high patient’s motivation for treatment with an increase in the total score of ACEs (ACEQ total score) and with higher education. The overall severity of internal stigma (ISMI total score) did not show a significant effect on the chances of developing intense motivation in patients.Table 1.

Model of logistic regression analysis of educational, ACE total score and ISMI total score with the severity of motivation for treatment.

After post data analysis (table 2), a cut-off point was established for the ACEQ total score of 4 points, corresponding to an increased chances of high patient’s treatment motivation.Table 2.

Results of the test ROC analysis for ACEQ total score and the severity of motivation for treatment.

ACEs may likely be a source of posttraumatic growth in adulthood in patients with mental illness specially if their count amounts to 4 or more variants. The role of social and psychological characteristics of patients with mental disorders in the psychology of the treatment process should be considered systemically, rather than discretely.

None Declared

Personality neuroscience employs a broad range of methods to identify the neurobiological mechanisms of complex psychological phenomena. The role of the insula is often associated with its involvement in emotion processing.

The study aims to identify the associations between neural activity in the anterior insula cortex (AInC) and self-stigma (or its components) in a scoping review.

We searched in PubMed (MEDLINE), PsychINFO, EMBASE via the Ovid platform through September 21st, 2022. Included studies had to use fMRI to assess neurophysiological markers in AInC, and to include a measure of association between fMRI results and a measure of self-stigma and/or its components as assessed by a scale or questionnaire in participants aged 18-65 y.o. The PRISMA-ScR checklist was used.

After full-text screening 10 of 206 original researches were chosen for the final analysis (Table 1).Table 1:

Included studies in the analysis.

In 5 studies, the results were presented with MNI-space coordinates. Figure 1 illustrats the regions of local activity change maxima according to MNI-space coordinates based on the results of the included studies in the analysis.

Neural activation in the regions of the AInC was positively associated with greater levels of social rejection sensitivity and other components of self-stigma in 9 studies. Reduced activity was observed in only one study (Lindner et al., PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e85014) among highly self-stigmatized patients with schizophrenia. This finding may reflect a biological manifestation of deficits in self-awareness and affective processing in schizophrenia.

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Associations between neural activity changes in specific brain regions and levels of self-stigma and/or its components, as reported in included neuroimaging studies, have the potential to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying such a complex psychological phenomenon as stigma.

None Declared

It is known that many psychopharmacological drugs have anti-inflammatory, as well as antibacterial and antiviral effects.

To investigate the association between the severity and duration criteria of COVID-19 with psychopharmacotherapy in double-diagnosed patients.

A total of 169 case histories from a specialized infectious psychiatric department (May 2020 to January 2021) were evaluated. Progression indicators of severe and mild COVID-19, along with the duration of persistent SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding, were assessed in correlation with the administration of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and acid sphingomyelinase inhibitors (FIASMA-active drugs).

The use of any psychotropic agents was associated with a 0.9% increase in the risk of severe course of COVID-19 for each unit increase in the systemic inflammation index PLR, specifically in patients with intellectual disability (ICD-10 codes F70-79), when compared to patients with schizophrenia (ICD-10 codes F20-29): R²McF=0.138; AIC=181; χ²=25.8; df=9; p=0.002. High PLR values and the use of FIASMA-active drugs were associated with prolonged COVID-19 duration, while antidepressant therapy and elevated C-reactive protein levels were associated with a reduced predicted duration of viral shedding in 13.8% of variance: R²=0.0864; AIC=1299; F=5.2(3), p=0.002. Including the nosology of psychiatric disorders in the regression model increased the proportion of explained variance to 22.8%.

Thymoanaleptic therapy for individuals with psychiatric disorders may act as a protective factor against COVID-19. There is no evidence suggesting adverse effects of antipsychotics on the severity and duration of COVID-19. Further research is necessary to investigate the effects of FIASMA-active psychopharmacological agents within nosologically homogeneous groups.

None Declared

The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Summer School allows psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from all over Europe to meet, network, and learn together. After the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19, the 10th edition in 2021 focused for the first time on research and was conducted remotely.

To provide an overview and feedback about the first Virtual EPA Research Summer School as a new way to encourage international networking during COVID-19.

The School was organized by the EPA Secretary for Education, and 4 Faculty members. It started with a “breaking the ice session” one week before and then a two-days meeting on 23-24 September 2021 using an online video-platform. This was preceded by all the 21 participants (from 18 different countries) recording a short 4-minute video presentation, which was uploaded and shared with other participants and Faculty.

Participants were divided on a voluntary basis into three working groups: 1) “Drug repurposing: overcoming challenges in pharmacoepidemiology” 2) “Psychopathological research in psychiatry”; 3) “How to conduct a cross-sectional survey?”. The Summer School program was composed of plenary sessions with lectures by the Faculty members, discussion sessions, and working groups time. At the end, each group presented a summary of the work done to the rest of the participants.

Although the remote format limits social interactions during the Summer School, overall participants’ high satisfaction and productivity indicate that not only online formats, but also the topic of research might be covered in future editions.

No significant relationships.

The health care workers have extremely high risks of adverse psychological reactions from COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, patients with respiratory syndromes face stigmatization due to their possible contagiousness of SARS-Cov-2.

To study the association of behavior, psychological distress in health care workers, and their stigmatization attitudes to the patients.

The online-survey of 1800 health care workers performed during different lockdown periods in Russia: the first week and the last (30/Mar-5/Apr/20 and 4-10/May/20). The Psychological stress scale (PSM-25), modified Perceived devaluation-discrimination scale (Cronbach’s α=0.74) were used. Dispersion analysis with p-value=0.05 and Cohen’s d, Cramer’s V calculation (ES) performed.

In the 2nd phase medical stuff more often wore masks (64% vs. 89%; χ2=98.7, p=0.000, df=1; ES=0.23) and gloves (30% vs. 57%; χ2=57.6, p=0.000, df=1; ES=0.18), continued perform hand hygiene (94-95%) and physical distancing (73-74%), but was restricted in most effective protective measure: self-isolation (49% vs. 36%; χ2=16.0, p=0.000, df=1; ES=1.0). The psychological stress levels decreased in the 2nd phase (ES=0.13), while the stigma levels (ES=0.33) increased. Physicians experienced more stress compared with nurses and paramedical personnel (ES=0.34; 0.64) but were less likely to stigmatize SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals (ES=0.43; 0.41). The highest rates of contacts with COVID-19 patients (83%) were reported by physicians (χ2=123.0; p = 0.00, df=4; ES=0.28).

Direct contact with SARS-Cov-2 is associated with a significant increase in stress among medical personnel. However, the stigmatizing reactions are not directly associated with the risks of infection and are most prevalent among nurses and paramedical personnel.

The psychological stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has a complex multifactorial nature.

The aim: to evaluate the level of stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Russian-speaking population with(-out) affective disorders in different cities of residence.

The data obtained from an online survey of 4803 Russian-speaking respondents (age over 18) from March 30 to May 18, 2020. The survey included social, demographic and the history of affective disorders data. The anxiety distress level was evaluated with the Psychological Stress Measure (PSM-25).

Individuals from sub-cohort of Russian cities with populations less than one million had higher stress levels (M=135.39) compared to Moscow (M=129.47; p=0.003) or St.-Petersburg (M=126.63; p<0.001). However, stress scores in respondents with a history of affective disorders correspond to the average stress level according to PSM-25. Respondents without affective disorders from St.-Petersburg reported lower stress levels (M=92.88) than respondents from Moscow (M=100.47; p<0.001) and Russian cities with less than one million population (M=98.4; p<0.001). Average stress scores from St.-Petersburg and other Russian cities show a low level of stress on PSM-25, which indicates psychological adaptation. Stress scores from Moscow have borderline values between low and medium levels.

Our study showed that the city of residence and affective disorders status significantly affect stress levels in Russian population. These factors could be further used in individual psychological support strategies.

Psychiatric patients often are self-stigmatized and hardly involve in the treatment.

Associations of self-stigmatizing beliefs in psychiatric inpatients and their treatment motivation.

63 inpatients; ICD-10: F2–65%, F3–13%, F4+F6–14%, F06–8%; mean age 34±13, illness duration 12±11 years. Treatment Motivation Assessment Questionnaire (TMAQ), Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale (ISMI); K-mean cluster analysis; dispersion analyses; p≤0.05.

18 patients of cluster 1 (C1) demonstrated explicit self-stigmatization. In comparison with 25 subjects from cluster 3 (C3) stigmatized patients (C1) had higher levels of overall ISMI scores (2.9±0.3) caused by alienation (3.1±0.5), stereotype endorsement (2.5±0.5), social withdrawal (2.7±0.4), and discrimination experience (2.7±0.4). 20 patients of cluster 2 (C2) had an implicit stigma. They were more self-stigmatized (ISMI score 2.7±0.3) in contrast with subjects from cluster 3 (1.9±0.2) due to a lower level of stigma resistance (C2: 3.8±0.5 and C3 3.1±0.6 – reverse scores). Patients with implicit self-stigma (C2) had the lowest intensity of treatment motivation (Z-scores -1.2±0.6) compering with others (C1 and C3) due to the lowest TMAQ factor 1 (reliance on own knowledge and skills to cope with the disorder: -1.0±0.6) and factor 4 (willingness to cooperate with doctor: -0.9±1.0). Differences between explicitly and implicitly stigmatized patients manifested also in lower TMAQ factor 3 for the second group (awareness of the psychological mechanism of maladaptation: -0.5±0.9).

Despite alienation, stereotype endorsement, social withdrawal, discrimination experience some patients could sustain stigma due to cooperation with doctors and reliance on their own knowledge and skills to cope with illness.