Supervision is recognized as having a vital role in the professional development of psychotherapists. The way it is implemented has a direct impact on the quality of the educator’s learning process, as well as on the quality of psychotherapy provided to clients. Supervision is a complex and dynamic practice, requiring supervisors to conceptualize the thoughts, feelings and behavior of their educators and the educator’s clients, as well as selective attention to the complexly layered interpersonal dynamics between clients, educators and themselves.

Emphasizing the possibility of the appearance of difficulties and their aspects and increasing awareness of these concepts can greatly help supervisors and educators in the formation of ways and approaches that can facilitate better communication and the formation of a more professional relationship as significantly influencing the main result of the quality of psychotherapy and the process of professional development.

During the training of mental health professionals, it is crucial to ensure that the supervision process is carried out according to a legal, ethical and competent approach, such as informed consent and a supervision contract, and it is necessary to take into account elements such as supervisor and educator competencies, awareness of the challenges of diversity and multiculturalism, personal and professional boundaries, multiple contexts of relationship between supervisor and educator, evaluation and feedback. Through the supervisor’s dilemmas, ambiguities in the perceptions of supervision educators, success is reflected through the analysis of personal contribution, of unconscious interpersonal and developmental dynamics, and access to one’s own limits.

The importance of clinical supervision is evidently recognized by almost all licensing boards and accrediting bodies for the mental health professions, requiring that educators receive psychotherapeutic, clinical supervision as part of their training, and ongoing supervision is often necessary to maintain professional licensure. An integrative approach of incorporating innovative research results, as well as consolidating them with already established factors, is key in leading psychotherapeutic training, research, supervision, as well as the client’s treatment itself towards increased effectiveness. A significant contribution to the literature would be enabled by future research dealing with issues of difficulties in supervision through the prism of educators.

This paper focuses on understanding the significance of the supervision process thorugh the theoretical perspective, approaching the concept of difficulties by the prism of supervisors and educators, and the practical implications of successful supervision.

None Declared

Research suggests that the gender gap in alcohol (Alc.) consumption may be narrowing, with increasing consumption by the female population. For women, the equivalent of 20-25 grams/day is considered harmful consumption. Many of the harmful effects of alcohol consumption occur more rapidly and more severely in women, yet the majority do not seek treatment

To describe the prevalence of harmful use of alcohol in women admitted to hospital for other mental illness.

Retrospective observational study of six months duration. Data was collected from all patients admitted to the hospital during the period of study, with no specific exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics were performed.

During the study period, 312 patients were admitted to the hospital, 52.8% of whom were women, 21.8% of whom had a harmful use of Alc. The prevalence of harmful Alc. use in the different mental illnesses was: 22.2% in schizophrenia or other psychoses, 13.9% in bipolar affective disorder, 11.1% in depressive disorder, 13.9% in personality disorder, 19.4% in substance use disorder, 13.9% for other diagnoses and a prevalence of 5.56% for those of unknown diagnosis

In recent years, it has been shown that the overall prevalence of harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorder has increased in women. They tend to seek care in settings where their alcohol problems may not be recognised. They have lower social support for treatment participation and greater barriers to accessing treatment, resulting in even higher rates of co-occurring medical and mental health problems. Prevention strategies and intervention programmes should be adapted to the specific needs of women, taking into account both individual risk factors and socio-cultural contexts

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In transforming mental health care, integrating patient perspectives is essential through Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREMs) and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). PREMIUM and MyPsy&I® are two French initiatives advancing this approach by developing adaptive PREMs and PROMs and implementing a digital platform for seamless data collection, fully integrated within France’s national health information systems.

The objectives were (1) to develop eight item banks (seven PREMs and one PROM) and their corresponding Computerized Adaptive Tests (CATs) using a rigorous methodology grounded in Item Response Theory (IRT) (PREMIUM); and (2) to create a digital platform designed for multi-level use (micro, meso, and macro), enabling integration within the national health information system for enhanced patient feedback collection and analysis (MyPsy&I®).

This multicenter, cross-sectional study uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies across three main phases: (1) development of item banks and corresponding CATs based on a standardized procedure, including conceptual work, domain mapping, item selection, item bank calibration, and CAT simulations and validation; (2) development of a digital platform tailored for multi-level use and integrated within the national health information system; and (3) a qualitative study exploring the implementation and acceptability of both the CAT and the digital platform.

More than 3,000 patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder were recruited from various inpatient and outpatient settings in France.

Unidimensionality, local independence, and monotonicity were verified for each item bank. Psychometric properties were satisfactory for both internal (RMSEA ≤ 0.08, CFI, TLI ≥ 0.95, and infit mean square statistic ranging between 0.7 and 1.0) and external validity. Each CAT demonstrated satisfactory accuracy and precision (standard error of measurement < 0.55 and root mean square error < 0.3), with an average administration of eight items.

The MyPsy&I® digital platform has shown strong acceptability and value across 12 French hospitals, facilitating efficient, real-time collection of patient feedback. This streamlined approach allows healthcare providers to integrate patient perspectives at various stages of care, enhancing both the quality and responsiveness of mental health services.

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This work provides adaptive PREMs, PROMs, and a digital platform that streamline patient feedback collection, reducing burden on patients and providers. Integrating these tools into the health information flow is essential for embedding patient perspectives in modern healthcare systems, especially in a digital and AI-enhanced environment.

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Inflammatory processes and innate immune system activation have been implicated in psychiatric disorders. While our prior research highlighted elevated neutrophils, monocytes, and C-reactive protein (CRP) associated with symptom severity in schizophrenia, this study investigates whether similar immune alterations characterize major depression (MD).

Differential blood counts, CRP levels, depression severity (HAMD-21), and psychosocial functioning (GAF) were assessed in controls (n = 129) and patients with first-episode (FEMD: n = 82) or recurrent (RMD: n = 47) MD at hospital admission (T0) and after 6 weeks of treatment (T6). Functional immune parameters, including the phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes, were also measured in a subset of patients with MD (n = 16) and healthy controls (n = 27).

At T0, both FEMD and RMD patients exhibited increased neutrophils (p = 0.034) and CRP levels (FEMD: p < 0.001, RMD: p = 0.021) and decreased eosinophils (FEMD: p = 0.005, RMD: p = 0.004) compared with controls, adjusted for covariates (smoking, BMI, gender). Baseline lymphocyte counts were elevated in RMD (p = 0.003) but not FEMD. Functional analyses revealed significantly increased phagocytic activity of neutrophils in MDD patients compared to controls, both at baseline and T6. Changes in monocyte phagocytic activity correlated with ΔHAMD, indicating a link between immune cell function and symptom improvement.

At T6, eosinophils increased in FEMD (p = 0.011) without significant changes in RMD. Improvement in depression severity correlated with changes in neutrophil counts in FEMD (r = 0.364, p = 0.024). Comparatively, immune alterations in MD showed smaller effect sizes than those observed in schizophrenia. Notably, lymphocyte elevations were specific to recurrent MD, suggesting potential involvement of adaptive immunity in chronic MD.

These findings highlight state- and trait-dependent immune alterations in MD, including heightened neutrophil activity in early stages and adaptive immune involvement in recurrent cases. Functional data further support the role of innate immune activation in MD, with phagocytic activity potentially serving as a biomarker for treatment response. Future studies may inform stage-specific immune-targeted interventions in MD.

None Declared

Atypical antipsychotics (APs) are the drugs of choice for the treatment of the acute episodes and for relapse prevention in schizophrenia (SZ) and psychosis. Nevertheless, these drugs have side effects and particularly increase the risk to develop metabolic syndrome. Moreover, it has been reported that first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients have significant trends to insulin resistance, a higher body mass index and a higher rate of obesity, compared to the healthy subjects. Changes in gut microbiome have been linked to increased systemic inflammation, which could be associated with metabolic disturbances and the development of SZ. In this context, some previous studies have explored the efficacy of probiotic supplementation in SZ, showing benefits in gut regulation and in improving the metabolic effects of APs.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an add-on postbiotic to Aps on metabolic disturbances and psychopathological variables in patients diagnosed with FEP or schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). , as well as to determine whether the addition of postbiotics can improve biomarkers related to compensatory immunity and the endocannabinoid system.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which postbiotic or placebo will be administered for 12 weeks as add-on APs. The study comprises two branches: FEP branch, patients recently diagnosed with first psychotic episode; and SSD branch, patients with long-standing psychotic disorder. Five follow-up appointments will be conducted along the 12 weeks to carry on clinical assessments. Patients will be monitoring with a glucose sensor, and blood and microbiota will be analysed.

This is a study protocol that is currently underway. No results are available at this time.

Over the past few decades, it has been abundantly evident how important the human microbiota is to both short-term and long-term human health. In this regard, postbiotics seem to have higher benefitial effects and lower risk than probiotics and they offer a promising approach to improve metabolic disturbances and amelioration of psychopathological symptoms in FEP and SSD patients.

None Declared

Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) is commonly defined as an inadequate response to two or more antidepressant trials. The severity of TRD can be evaluated by means of the Maudsley Staging Method (MSM). The MSM consists of five domains including duration of the depression, symptom severity, number of treatment failures, augmentation therapy, and electroconvulsive therapy use. The Danish Medicines Council has suggested that the MSM could guide treatment decisions. However, the use of MSM in clinical practice is lagging and the evaluation of TRD in clinical practice has remained subjective and unstandardized.

To evaluate the use of MSM in clinical practice, we investigate the association between MSM scores and response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment, as measured by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17).

Patients with unipolar depression referred to six weeks of treatment with rTMS were consecutively invited to participate in the study. The study was a multi-center study with inclusion sites in Randers, Viborg, and Skejby, Denmark. Demographic information and clinical data were retrieved from the patient’s Electronic Health Record (EHR). The patients were assessed on the MSM within the first two weeks of the treatment. Ratings on the HAM-D17 and self-administered questionnaires including the depressive symptoms, side effects, and quality of life were completed on a weekly basis. Additionally, three side-effect interview assessments were conducted during the six weeks rTMS treatment. A power calculation estimated the inclusion of 65 patients.

Response is to be evaluated by means of the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rho) between MSM score and HAM-D17. An adequate response is defined as a 50% decrease in the Hamilton score or below the threshold for remission.

Data collection is ongoing. As of September 2024, a total of 59 out of 65 participants have been recruited. Preliminary results will be presented at the EPA 2025 Congress.

A systematic assessment of TRD according to the MSM in clinical practice, holds promise for predicting treatment outcomes and guiding treatment decisions. Integrating MSM, for instance, during the recording of patient medical history, could enhance its practical utility in everyday clinical settings.

None Declared

Adolescence and motherhood are transitional phases, moving from childhood to adulthood and from womanhood to motherhood. These processes involve significant psychological conflicts, where childhood narcissistic vulnerabilities risk being exposed.

The study aims to describe the mother-infant bond and the management of adolescent motherhood. This case informs the psychopathological and therapeutic reflections throughout the study.

This study examines a clinical vignette of a 16-year-old adolescent followed in the Perinatal Department at Rouen University Hospital, alongside a literature review. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the adolescent mother and her family from July 2019 to April 2020, covering sociodemographic data, pregnancy experiences and consequences, the adolescent’s baby, the baby’s father, and the adolescent’s family. Written consent was obtained from the mother at the study’s outset.

The case involves M.D, a 16-year-old at 16 weeks gestation, is the youngest of two siblings and is in a relationship with a 25-year-old man. Her family history includes maternal depression, and her personal history includes ADHD with irregular follow-up, behavioral hospitalization at age 7, and a pregnancy termination in 2018. She was referred by a midwife due to challenges in envisioning her pregnancy. M.D. lives in a disrupted family dynamic marked by intrafamilial violence, conflicts with her brother, and repeated runaways. She was placed under social services following a report from her mother concerning behavioral issues. Her pregnancy was marked by anxiety over a potential forced termination, conflicts between adolescence and motherhood, and worries about childbirth. Motherhood posed additional challenges, such as infantile regression, irritability, impulsivity, difficulty caring for the baby, emotional immaturity, and ambivalence toward her pregnancy and motherhood. Her interactions and emotional attunement with the baby were inadequate. M.D. received multidisciplinary support (gynecologist, pediatrician, social worker, psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, psychologist, childcare provider) with extensive family and partner involvement. Improvements were noted in mother-infant bonding, reduced impulsivity, and decreased marital conflicts with Methylphenidate.

A collaborative care network is essential to support the bond between the adolescent mother and her child. The father’s role can serve as a separating third party, facilitating the child’s access to symbolic thinking. This role may also be filled temporarily by professionals who act as substitute third parties, supporting both the mother’s and child’s development.

None Declared

Negative symptoms are a key aspect of schizophrenia, significantly impacting a patient’s functioning and quality of life. Although hospitalizations are often associated with positive symptoms, negative symptoms can also dominate the clinical picture in in-patients. Female patients are usually underrepresented in schizophrenia studies.

To analyse the changes of negative symptoms in female in-patients.

This was an observational study with data recorded at hospital entry and release. Adult inpatients with a schizophrenia diagnosis according to the International Classification of Diseases 10th edition who exhibited predominant negative symptoms according to clinical judgement were included. Patients received pharmacological and some non-pharmacological treatment as usual.

The primary outcome measure was the modified Short Assessment of Negative Domains (m-SAND), an anamnesis-based scale that is composed of 7 items: two positive items (delusions and hallucinations) and five negative items (anhedonia, alogia, avolition, asociality and affective flattening). Each item is rated from 0 to 5 (not observed; mild; moderate; moderately severe; severe; and extreme). Other measurements included the Self-evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS).

Least squares (LS) means were calculated for the change from baseline to final visit using a mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM).

63 female patients were included in the study. The mean age was 41.6 years with 14.2 years of mean duration of illness. All patients had predominant negative symptoms, in fact, 65% of them was hospitalized because of it. 30% of the patients also had secondary negative symptoms, mainly due to positive symptoms. The mean duration of hospital stay was 38 days. All patients received pharmacotherapy. At baseline, 9.5% were on cariprazine monotherapy and 84.1% on cariprazine combined with another antipsychotic such as olanzapine (23.8%) or quetiapine (7.9%). By the end of the hospital stay, 14.3% of female patients received cariprazine monotherapy and 82.5% cariprazine combination treatment with olanzapine (30.2%) or clozapine (15.9%). Significant decrease was detected in m-SNAD total score (LS mean change from baseline: -10.95) and SNS total score (LS mean change from baseline: -9.74). Functioning increased from poor (76%) to ‘manifest disabilities’ according to PSP (81%).

In summary, female patients had significant improvement during their hospital stay in terms of negative symptoms. The most utilized pharmacotherapy during the hospital stay was cariprazine both in a form of mono- and polytherapy.

J. Dragasek: None Declared, Z. Dombi Employee of: I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc., originator of cariprazine., P. Herman Employee of: I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc., originator of cariprazine., V. Dzurilla Employee of: I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc., originator of cariprazine., Á. Barabássy Employee of: I am an employee of Gedeon Richter Plc., originator of cariprazine.

A bill on euthanasia and assisted suicide is currently under discussion in France. It proposes that only competent adults suffering from a serious and incurable condition that threatens their life in the medium term, or who are in an advanced or terminal phase, and experiencing unbearable physical or psychological suffering—either refractory to treatment or considered unbearable in the absence of treatment—may request medical assistance in dying (MAiD). However, French psychiatrists have expressed concerns about the bill, as it does not mandate a psychiatric evaluation, despite the high prevalence of mental disorders, including depression, in the general population. These disorders are even more frequent in end-of-life conditions and can significantly impact decision-making capacity and the wish to die. Depression, a common comorbidity in cancer—the leading cause of MAiD requests—affects approximately 15% of cancer patients but is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The bill also raises concerns regarding its implications for suicide prevention. Some MAiD requests may stem from treatable psychiatric conditions rather than a well-considered end-of-life choice. Furthermore, a proposed obstruction offense could potentially criminalize suicide prevention efforts, complicating the role of mental health professionals. Uniquely, the French bill allows a third party chosen by the patient to administer the lethal substance, a provision not found in any other country. This raises significant ethical and psychological concerns regarding the emotional burden on the designated individual, who may experience distress, guilt, or long-term psychological repercussions from actively participating in assisted dying. Finally, the possibility of future expansion to include psychiatric-only indications, as seen in other countries, remains a critical issue requiring careful ethical and medical scrutiny.

None Declared

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition affecting 20% to 30% of adults globally, with prevalence rates rising to 19% to 38% in Europe. It is often linked to self-medication, particularly through alcohol consumption, due to alcohol’s short-term analgesic properties, which act on the opioid system. However, continued alcohol use for pain relief can lead to alcohol use disorder (AUD), worsening the pain and causing physical and mental health issues.

This study explores the relationship between alcohol use in chronic pain management and the development of AUD through a literature review and a clinical case.

A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed with the terms “alcohol use disorder” and “chronic pain.” English and Portuguese articles from the last 10 years were included, yielding 85 results. A clinical case involving a patient with chronic pain and alcohol dependence illustrates the issue.

The review shows that 28% to 35% of chronic pain patients use alcohol for symptomatic relief. While alcohol may provide initial pain relief, prolonged use leads to tolerance, increased consumption, and a significant risk of AUD. Approximately 18% to 25% of patients meet the criteria for AUD, with men being more commonly affected.

The clinical case describes a 56-year-old man with family history of AUD, who developed chronic pain after a work accident resulting in multiple trauma. The patient began consuming alcohol daily for pain relief, which escalated to an AUD diagnosis and worsened pain due to alcohol-induced hyperalgesia.

Alcohol use is prevalent among chronic pain patients, often as a form of self-medication. However, this practice is frequently counterproductive, as increased consumption to counteract tolerance can lead to serious complications, including hyperalgesia, psychiatric disorders, and significant difficulties in managing both pain and alcohol use disorder (AUD). The clinical case highlights these issues and reinforces the need for a multidisciplinary approach that addresses both pain management and alcohol dependence.

Early detection of problematic alcohol use is essential to prevent the development of AUD. A comprehensive treatment plan, incorporating strategies for pain control and addiction management, is crucial for improving the overall health and well-being of patients dealing with chronic pain.

None Declared

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders have a high social and economic cost. Antipsychotic drugs are the main approach to schizophrenia treatment. Drug adherence can be assessed with the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), which means the days covered by the drugs purchased / 1 year.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of primary family factors and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on antipsychotic MPR among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD). Furthermore, we analyzed long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) and mood stabilizers separately.

We had access to a database of former adolescent psychiatric inpatients (n=508) treated during the years 2001-2006 in Oulu university hospital, Finland. Participants were followed for SSD diagnosis via National care register for healthcare (CRHC) and physician-prescribed antipsychotic drug purchases via Social Insurance Institute (SII) register up to June 2023.

The participants using clozapine (OR 5.26, 95%CI 1.79-15.39) or mood stabilizers (OR 5.34, 95%CI 1.37-20.83) were significantly more likely to have MPR > 80% compared to participants using other antipsychotics. Sibling position, the size of primary family or ACEs did not associate with MPR.

Clozapine and mood stabilizers increased the likelihood of higher antipsychotic MPRs among former adolescent psychiatric inpatients having SSD.

None Declared

In depressive disorders caused by chronic psychological stress, cognitive decline is produced by neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative changes in the brain. M2-type macrophages possess high pronounced regenerative potential due to high production of neurotrophic, neuroprotective and angiogenic factors. We have previously shown that M2 macrophage-derived soluble factors (M2-SFs) edit stress-induced depressive-like behavior.

The aim of the study was to investigate the central effects of soluble factors derived from human macrophages, polarized to M2 phenotype (M2-SFs) involved in the mechanisms underlying the editing of depressive-like behavior.

Human macrophages were polarized polarised to M2 phenotype under serum deprivation conditions. Stress-induced depression-like male mice were undergoing intranasal administration of M2-SFs during 7 days. After which an immunohistochemical analysis was performed assessing the expression of the microglial marker Iba1. The levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cytokines in separate structures of the brain were assessed by ELISA. For histological examination Nissl staining was applied.

Depressive-like behavior editing after the M2-SFs administration was registered against the background of some structural and functional changes in the brain. It was found an increase in the density of pyramidal neurons in the frontal cortex and augmented level of BDNF in this brain structure and also in the hippocampus. After the introduction of the M2-SFs in depressive-like mice the decreased expression of the microglial marker Iba1, accompanied with decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ in pathogenetically significant structures of the brain was also observed.

The data obtained indicate that the depressive-like behavior-editing effect of M2 macrophage-derived soluble factors is mediated by stimulating neurogenesis, neuroplasticity and reducing neuroinflammation.

None Declared

Increasingly the collection and use of clinical data is considered as extremely important. These data may allow, among other targets, a better profiling of patients and as such help to develop better and more targeted care-pathways. Often these type of data collections are implemented on large, national levels. Although this already provides an important source of information, often the regional specifics are missed on these larger scales. Within the Antwerp region we developed a program allowing a deeper, smaller grained, level analyses of populations mental health care needs and their regional differences. The aim is to use these data to steer changes in the care pathways as offered by the different locally active care-providers.

None Declared

University hazing is a common practice that impacts students’ mental health and well-being, especially in medical schools. Despite its common occurrence, there is a lack of reliable tools to assess hazing experiences and perceptions among students.

This study aimed to evaluate hazing experiences, attitudes, and impacts and to develop and validate the University Hazing Self-Report Scale (UNI-Hazing) among Brazilian medical students.

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among Brazilian medical students. The UNI-Hazing scale was developed as a four-part questionnaire designed to assess personal experiences with hazing, students’ opinions, and its perceived impact on their well-being. Participants also completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and established scales including the Johns Hopkins Learning Environment Scale (JHLES), the Medical Student Stress Factor Scale (MSSF), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We conducted exploratory factor analysis to uncover latent factors and assessed internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity.

1,017 medical students from 74 universities across Brazil participated in the study. While the majority of students did not report being victims or witnesses of hazing, certain hazing behaviors, such as body painting and forced solicitation for money, were relatively common. Hazing incidents most frequently occurred at parties, followed by sports associations and fraternities, with fewer on-campus incidents. Students largely held negative views on hazing. Factor analysis revealed three subscales within UNI-Hazing: “Social Pressure and Institutional Responsibility”, “Emotional Harm and Ethical Concerns” and “Physical Hazing and Power Dynamics”. The scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.92–0.93) and test-retest reliability (Pearson correlation coefficients: 0.44–0.84). Correlations with the external scales supported the scale’s validity, showing positive correlations with MSSF, GAD-7, and PHQ-9, reflecting the psychological impacts of hazing, and negative correlations with JHLES, indicating that as hazing experiences increase, positive life experiences may decrease.

The UNI-Hazing scale is a reliable and valid measure for assessing hazing experiences and perceptions among medical students in Brazil. The findings highlight the need for universities to implement anti-hazing policies and support systems for students impacted by hazing practices.

None Declared

Recent research suggests that psychological and personality factors, specifically affective temperaments, may influence adherence to prescribed pharmacotherapeutic interventions. However, this relationship has not yet been investigated in the context of infertility treatments.

Our prospective longitudinal study aimed to assess the impact of affective temperaments on medication adherence during infertility treatments.

Among women presenting for infertility treatment at the Semmelweis University Assisted Reproduction Centre, we administered the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego (TEMPS-A) questionnaire before treatment to assess their affective temperament and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) questionnaire six months after treatment initiation to measure their medication adherence during treatment. The effect of affective temperaments on medication adherence was analyzed using linear regression models. All statistical analyses were performed using R statistical software version v4.4.1.

In this paper, we present preliminary partial results. In our cohort of 121 women undergoing infertility treatment, higher hyperthymic affective temperament score predicted significantly higher adherence to pharmacotherapy recommendations (β = 0.11, p = 0. 042), while the other four dominant affective temperaments predicted significantly poorer medication adherence (cyclothymic: β =-0.15, p<0.001, depressive: β = -0.21, p=0.001, irritable: β =-0.14, p=0.004, anxious: β =-0.09, p=0.011).

The results suggest that affective temperaments may affect adherence to prescribed pharmacotherapeutic interventions among women undergoing infertility treatment, which may thereby influence the outcome of infertility treatment administered. By screening for affective temperament profiles, it would be possible to identify patient groups at high risk of drug non-adherence and then to aid adherence by applying patient-tailored treatment, including psychological interventions, which could increase the chances of successful pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment.

None Declared

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between smartphone and social media use and mental health outcomes among adolescents in Ireland.

This study aimed to fill a gap in the existing literature by examining specific types of online activity, such as cyberbullying and “sexting” (sending sexually explicit messages), and the independent associations of these activities with worse mental health.

This study is a cross-sectional analysis of secondary data from the 2023 Planet Youth Partner survey. The study population was 4,544 mostly 15- and 16-year olds from Cavan, Monaghan and North County Dublin. The dependent variable was the total Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) score, a tool commonly used to assess mental health status. Independent variables included hours of social media use, experiences of cyberbullying, body image perceptions, and involvement in sexting. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine the associations between these variables and mental health outcomes, controlling for potential confounders such as gender, sleep duration, and maternal education level.

The study found significant associations between several online activities and worse mental health. High use of social media (4 hours per day or more) was associated with a 62% greater risk compared to those who used it for about 1 hour or less.

Cyberbullying was a also strong predictor of poor mental health, with victims nearly twice as likely to have a high SDQ score. Negative perceptions of one’s own body image and participating in sexting were also significantly associated with worse mental health outcomes.

Gender differences were observed, with females more likely to be victims of cyberbullying, to be asked for and to send sexually explicit messages, and to have worse mental health outcomes when compared to males. Insufficient sleep was also a significant predictor, with those sleeping for 6 hours or less per night having more than twice the risk compared to those who slept for the recommended 8 hours or more.

The findings of this study suggest that specific aspects of smartphone and social media use, particularly high usage and negative online experiences, are independently associated with poorer mental health outcomes in adolescents. These results are consistent with international evidence and highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to mitigate the risks associated with this technology. The study recommends developing evidence-based guidelines for parents and teachers to promote healthier online behaviours among adolescents in Ireland. It also calls for a national Public Health campaign and policy measures to enforce stricter regulations on social media companies and protect young people from harmful online experiences.

None Declared

Affective disorders, including but not limited to major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and persistent depressive disorder, comprise a group of disorders characterized by clinically significant mood disturbances. Depression, which makes the most important contribution to the DALY index among all mental disorders, was the primary focus of this study. Physical activity, regardless of changes in body weight, has been shown to reduce symptoms of depression and the likelihood of a new episode of the disease.

This qualitative study aimed to explore the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders.

This study comprised a qualitative investigation using semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis. Following ethical approval, a convenience sample of 10 participants with affective disorders was drawn: all of the sample were female, aged 18 years or older, with 69% falling into the 27–35 years age bracket. Diagnostic and clinical information were collected, and barriers to engagement in physical activity were explored. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Ten face-to-face qualitative interviews were completed and lasted between 30 and 60 min. The findings were summarized under the key thematic areas of Anhedonia, Fatigue, Lack of time, Fear of condemnation, and Embarrassment, illustrated by texts. The key thematic areas were further grouped under the overarching themes of 1. Personal characteristics and the influence of low mood: anhedonia and fatigue; 2. External factors: need more time; 3. Social factors: embarrassment and fear of condemnation. Then, the following barriers were identified: “Lack of Strength” barrier, “Lack of Time” barrier, and “Rejection of physical characteristics” (or self-stigma) barrier.

While small and exploratory, the study provides significant insights into the barriers to motivation for physical activity in patients with affective disorders. Although these findings are not generalizable to other populations or males with affective disorders, they offer valuable considerations for future research and interventions in this field. This study’s findings have profound implications for future psychosocial interventions for patients with affective disorders. By identifying and understanding the barriers to motivation for physical activity, it paves the way for more effective, individualized interventions, including those aimed at reducing self-stigma.

None Declared

Obesity is a growing problem in several developed countries and has a complex etiology in teenagers. Approximately one-third of children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. However, it is not clear how depression and obesity are screened and treated in the primary care setting for adolescents.

This study aims to describe the prevalence, screening, and treatment rates for depression in adolescents in ambulatory settings in the United States.

Data on 444,080,295 male and female adolescents ages 13-18 were extracted from the 2008-2018 CDC National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey datasets. Adolescents were stratified by weight groups based on CDC guidelines (i.e., body mass index percentile).

Of the adolescents, 16.89% were obese, 13.81% were overweight, 43.39% were normal weight, and 25.91% were underweight. Depression screening rates in adolescents with obesity is 2.89%, overweight is 3.35%, normal weight 3.49%, and underweight is 2.83% (p=0.382). Prevalence of depression in adolescents with obesity is 7.17%, overweight is 6.04%, normal weight is 6.31%, and underweight is 12.14% (p<0.0001). Prevalence of counseling and psychotherapy in adolescents with obese status is 2.70%, overweight status is 2.89%, normal weight is 2.92%, and underweight is 11.27% (p<0.0001). Patients seen by primary care health workers, age, female gender, number of chronic conditions, and increased visits are significant predictors of depression diagnosis in adolescents.

Depression in adolescents who are overweight or obese is under-screened for, under-identified, and under-treated. More mental health counseling and psychotherapy must be offered to those with both depression and obesity.

None Declared

Recent evidence suggest the nosological entity called Schizo-Obsessive Disorder (SchizoOCD), similar to Schizoaffective Disorder. Some authors argued that obsessions and delusions would be on a continuum, which justify the difficulty in distinguishing obsessive from delusional thoughts, and compulsions from stereotypical behaviors. In order to assist in the screening, monitoring or treatment of such disorders, instruments as scales and questionnaires may be important tools in psychiatric practice.

This systematic review investigated the most frequent instrumentsused to assess SchizoOCD.

We systematically reviewed articles up to 2015 in English, Portuguese and Spanish at PubMed, Scielo and Embase databases. We included studies with humans, no age limitation, with OCS or diagnosis of OCD and schizophrenia or psychotic symptoms. Systematic review articles, meta-analysis, letters to the editor and case reports were excluded, as well as articles that did not use assessment instruments for the diagnosis of schizophrenia comorbid with OCD. The methodological and clinical data extracted from the articles are described at the results.

A total of 9,833 articles were selected, but 53 were read. Cross-sectional studies were the most frequent (n=39; 73.6%), followed by cohort studies (n=9; 17.0%).The total sample size of Schizo-OCD patients was 2,605 patients (in 44 studies), of which 44.7% (n=1,164) were female. The mean age and the age of onset of the disorders are described in Table 1. Only 23 (44.4%) of the studies described the psychiatric comorbidities (2 (3.8%) studies reported that the patients had no comorbidities). The most frequent comorbidities were Major Depression (n=18; 34%) and Substance Use Disorder (n=9; 17.0%). The used diagnostic instruments or interviews are listed in Table 2. Table 3 describes the scales used to assess the severity of Schizophrenia and/or OCD symptoms. From a psychopathological point of view, only 9 (17.0%) of the articles described psychotic symptoms in more detail. For OCD, 15 (28.3%) of the articles detailed the obsessive-compulsive symptoms.

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Few studies in the literature used scales to discriminate psychotic and obsessive-compulsive aspects in patients with the alleged diagnosis of Schizo-OCD. Scales for measuring symptom severity such as PANSS and YBOCS were widely used in the studies, indicating that their application in clinical practice can serve as an aid during treatment management. Specific scales and instruments for Schizo-OCD were not found and we suggest as a future perspective the development of a new tool to assess symptoms and to elucidate possible symptomatic confusions.

None Declared