Emotional Intelligence (EI) plays a substantial role in shaping the behavior, overall well-being, and performance of individuals. In the context of healthcare, where professionals frequently confront a demanding work environment, there is a notable prevalence of high Psychological Distress (PD). Consequently, conflicts are a recurrent phenomenon within healthcare settings, exerting impacts on healthcare professionals, patients, and their families.

Aims:

1. Investigate the link between Emotional Intelligence (EI) and conflict management among healthcare professionals.

2. Examine how Psychological Distress (PD) relates to conflict management in healthcare.

3. Explore age, specialization, and experience’s influence on EI dimensions.

4. Analyze EI’s impact on healthcare professionals’ conflict resolution choices.

5. Assess how demographics affect conflict resolution preferences among healthcare workers.

These aims explore EI, PD, demographics, and conflict management in healthcare, informing skill enhancement and improved conflict resolution practices.

This study involved 143 healthcare professionals from diverse regions of Greece. Electronic surveys gathered demographic data and assessed Emotional Intelligence (via a dedicated questionnaire), Psychological Distress (using the Kessler K6+ questionnaire), and Conflict Resolution strategies.

The majority of participants were female (69.2%), with 42.7% aged 46-55 and 30.8% aged 36-45. Age was significantly associated with “Self-awareness” (P=0.032) and “Social Skills” (P=0.009 and 0.007) within Emotional Intelligence dimensions. Negative correlations emerged between Psychological Distress and Emotional Intelligence dimensions (-0.46 to -0.19). Additionally, Psychological Distress showed negative correlations with several Conflict Resolution dimensions: ‘Atmosphere’ (-0.20), ‘Doables’ (-0.28), ‘Mutual Benefit Agreements’ (-0.18), ‘Needs’ (-0.23), and ‘Extra Considerations’ (-0.27). Participants below 35 had higher scores in “Power” (p=0.002), while those aged 46 and above scored higher in “Options” (p=0.002 and 0.009) for conflict resolution.

In summary, this study underscores EI’s relevance in healthcare, especially its influence on PD and conflict resolution. Developing EI competencies offers promise for improving healthcare professionals’ emotional well-being and conflict-handling abilities, ultimately benefiting patient care and staff satisfaction. Further research and tailored interventions are warranted to advance this field at an academic level.

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Psychiatrists being one of the significant groups associated with one of the highest risks of emotional burnout (EB). The risks of EB increase significantly in the conditions of war, which places increased demands on their physical, mental and psychological resources, and determines the relevance and necessity of studying the predictors, clinical phenomenology, psychological and psychopathological mechanisms of EB, and necessitates the development of innovative approaches to its corrections.

The study the features of EB among psychiatrists in war period.

The examination included the usage of clinical-psychopathological, psychodiagnostic and psychometric research methods.

The study sample consisted of 120 psychiatrists who worked in Kyiv in the period from February 24, 2022, during 2022. 69.2 of psychiatrists working in Kyiv during the war have manifestations of EB of varying intensity and clinical variability. All of them have signs of professional maladaptation (PM), deterioration of well-being, somatovegetative and dyssomnia disorders, deformation of social ties and decrease in motivation to work. In 47.5%, the formation of symptoms of tension, resistance and exhaustion are observed, 21.7% have clinically complited and formed all manifestations of EB and PM.

The leading diagnostic and prognostic marker of EB is PM, the manifestations of which are the first consequence of the imbalance of the processes of performing professional duties and internal resources, which will ensure their optimal implementation.

A mathematical model of the development and forecast of PM, as a leading descriptor of EB, was developed, which considers the state of socio-demographic characteristics (age, work experience, and the total quality of life indicator), affective indicators (objective and subjective manifestations of depression and anxiety) and psychosocial features (social-psychological adaptation). The use of this model makes it possible to determine 4 risk groups for the development of PM (low, moderate, high, very high), based on which personalized approaches to the diagnosis, therapy and prevention of EB among psychiatrists during the war have been developed.

The implementation and further evaluation of these approaches proved their effectiveness in eliminating the manifestations of EB and PM, normalizing the mental state with the levelling of psychopathological symptoms, improving the socio-psychological adaptation and quality of life of psychiatrists.

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The Choice giving birth by cesarean section when it is not biologically necessary implies a greater risk to the health of the mother and child Toral et al. Eletrônica Estácio Saúde 2018; 95(1) 27-30,refers the psychological relevance to identify perinatal effects of a good medical practice at birth. In this respect Poojari et al. Early Hum Dev 2019;115 93-98, state that a cesarean section as a surgical risk, causes decrease fetal oxygenation and an impairment release of stress-related hormones in the maternal-fetal binomial that does not favor neural connections at birth

Identify the neurodevelopmental lags in infant on children under 24 months of age born by cesarean section and vaginal delivery,

A cross-sectional descriptive correlational; Sample consisted of 100 children of a term gestation, 70 with spontaneous vaginal birth and 30 whose birth was by cesarean section, aged between one and twenty-four months; using the Abbreviated Development Scale, an instrument created and validated for the Colombian population (Cronbach’s alpha, 0.94). All parents signed the informed consent.

All test scales were applied (gross and fine motor, language and social personal), the results showed that children born by cesarean section had better development in areas of fine motor and language, while children born by vaginal delivery had better development of gross motor. See (graphic 1).

Graphic 1: Areas of development according to the type of delivery.

References

The influence of contextual variables such as age and educational level of the mother on language and social areas was also found

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Neuropsychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide, as seen in cases such as depression, anxiety, bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia, which can be developed or exacerbated by the use of psychoactive substances. Most mental disorders have an early onset, often leading to early and/or permanent disability, increasing the need and cost of healthcare. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the identification of the epidemiological profile of these cases in the South of Brazil in order to enhance the diagnosis and reduce the costs associated with managing these disorders.

The present study aimed to analyze statistical data regarding hospitalizations related to mental disorders caused by the use of psychoactive substances and alcohol in the southern region of Brazil, highlighting the pathological scenario and identifying the most prevalent profiles of these disorders in this region.

A cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective, and quantitative study was conducted on hospitalizations of individuals diagnosed with mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of psychoactive substances and alcohol in the states of the Southern region of Brazil (Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) between February 2020 and December 2022. Data of January 2020 were not available. The data used were collected through the Department of Health Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) in the “Hospital Information System of SUS” section, gathering information regarding the nature of the care, age range, gender, and ethnicity of the patients.

The study covers the years 2020 to 2022, indicating a total of 81,608 hospitalizations, with the year 2022 having the highest number of cases (≈ 37.13%), followed by 2021 (≈ 33.30%) and 2020 (≈ 29.55%). The states with the highest number of hospitalizations were Rio Grande do Sul (≈ 54.90%), Paraná (≈ 29.29%), and Santa Catarina (≈ 15.79%). Urgent hospitalizations accounted for ≈ 87.29% of the total. The most affected age group was 30 to 39 years old (≈ 25.61%). Men were more affected than women (≈ 81.70% and ≈ 18.28%, respectively). Caucasians accounted for ≈ 64.29% of the hospitalizations. The average length of stay was 20.8 days, and the mortality rate was 0.32%.

There is a clear increase in the number of hospitalizations related to mental disorders caused by the use of psychoactive substances in the period from 2020 to 2022 in the southern region of Brazil, with the highest number of cases in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The most affected population consisted of Caucasian men aged 30 to 39 years old. Furthermore, these results may be related to the increasing trend of psychoactive substance use among the Brazilian population and also the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to a period of underreporting due to social isolation.

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The decline in fertility is one of the major problems worldwide that could affect family structure. Many studies have been conducted to assess attitudes toward fertility and childbearing around the world, but there’s a lack of research about that in Saudi Arabia (SA). The study aims to assess women’s attitudes toward fertility and childbearing in SA and to investigate its association with sociodemographic, medical, and psychological factors.

Aim of the Study: The purpose of the study is to assess women’s attitudes toward fertility and childbearing in Saudi Arabia and to investigate its association with sociodemographic, medical and psychological variables.

Specific Objectives:

1. 1. To assess women’s attitudes toward fertility and childbearing in Saudi Arabia.

2. 2. To investigate association between attitudes toward childbearing with sociodemographic characteristics in Saudi Arabia.

3. 3. To investigate association between attitudes toward childbearing with medical and psychiatric history in Saudi Arabia.

4. 4. To investigate association between attitudes toward childbearing with the childbearing preferences in Saudi Arabia.

This cross-sectional study of a convenient sample of 2172 women in SA in Dec 2022 and Jan 2023. Data were collected through a survey link that contains:1)Sociodemographic data, 2) medical and psychiatric history, 3) childbearing preference and 4) the Arabic version of the Attitudes toward Fertility and Childbearing Scale (AFCS). Data were analyzed by SPSS 25 ;We described the variables in means ± SD or percentage as appropriate. Student’s t-test and ANOVA were performed to analyze differences between the components and background characteristics.

Individuals in the age group of 18-25 years (25.54± 9.08, p<0.001), unmarried (25.23 ± 8.87, p<0.001), and diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (24.76 ±9.51, p<0.002) scored lower in importance of future of childbearing. In terms of hindrance at present and childbearing preparation, individuals in the age group of 18-25 years (25.66 ± 8.66, p<0.001) (18.53 ± 5.08, p<0.001) respectively, unmarried (25.71± 8.58, p<0.001) (18.46 ± 5.08, p<0.001) respectively, and students (25.92 ± 8.82, p<0.001) (18.55 ± 5.15, p=0.001) respectively were more likely to score high. Participants who had not made a decision about having children (9.36±3.32, p<0.001) scored lower in the female identity domain.

In conclusion, the findings of this study indicate that the younger age group (18-25 years) and those with psychiatric illnesses scored lower in the importance for future of childbearing compared to women of older age group (36-49 years ) and those without psychiatric illnesses. On the other hand, college students showed more concerns related to childbearing hindrance and preparation.

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The burnout syndrome is a blend of physical exhaustion and emotional fatigue that impairs an individual’s performance at work. In Tunisia, factors like working hours, the frequency of monthly shifts, and the physical and emotional abuse that physicians face from patients have collectively led to a significant incidence of burnout among medical professionals.

To evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome among medical residents working in healthcare facilities in Tunisia and to pinpoint the contributing factors.

This study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among medical residents completing their training in various healthcare facilities in Tunisia. The study employed an online self-administered questionnaire and assessed burnout across three dimensions: personal burnout, professional burnout, and relational burnout, using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI).

A total of 50 physicians took part in the survey. Among them, 72% were female, 80% were single, and the average age at the time of the study was 27.72 years. Concerning their professional status, 84% worked in university hospitals, 16% specialized in surgery, 40% specialized in medicine, and 44% were family physicians. The majority were students from the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax (56%), with 30% in Monastir, 8% in Tunis, and 6% in Sousse. Regarding their work hours, more than 40 hours per week were reported by 32% of participants. According to the CBI scale, 12% of participants had scores indicating severe personal burnout, while 20% had scores indicating moderate personal burnout. Additionally,16% reported severe professional burnout, and 12% had scores suggesting severe relational burnout. In contrast, only 8% had scores indicating moderate relational burnout. The sociodemographic and professional factors that were studied, such as weekly working hours, monthly shifts, specialty, and workplace, did not show a significant correlation with the presence of burnout syndrome.

Burnout syndrome among medical resident physicians not only impacts their physical and mental well-being but also reduces their effectiveness and motivation at work. It is essential to introduce stress management strategies within hospitals to foster a healthier work-life balance.

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Emigration has a substantial impact on Tunisia’s healthcare sector. Graduates, including medical students at different educational levels, as well as general practitioners and specialists, often choose to emigrate. Some do so to pursue further studies abroad, while others seek careers and settlement primarily in Europe. This phenomenon exerts a significant influence on the quality of healthcare systems in their home countries.

To evaluate the inclination to emigrate among medical residents employed in Tunisian healthcare institutions and to identify the factors associated with this intention.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among medical residents undergoing their training in various healthcare facilities in Tunisia. The study employed an online questionnaire to assess the degree of satisfaction with various aspects of their professional life and the socio-economic situation in the country, as well as their intention to emigrate. Satisfaction levels were measured using a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from “very dissatisfied” to “very satisfied”.

A total of 50 physicians participated in the survey. Among them, 72% were female, 80% were single, with an average age of 27.72 years at the time of the study. Regarding their professional status, 84% worked in university hospitals, 16% specialized in surgery, 40% specialized in medicine, and 44% were family physicians. The majority were students from the Faculty of Medicine in Sfax (56%), with 30% in Monastir, 8% in Tunis, and 6% in Sousse. The study found that 68% of medical residents expressed an intention to emigrate. Among the participants, 74% were dissatisfied with their working conditions, and 68% were dissatisfied with workplace safety. Additionally, 84% were dissatisfied with their salaries, 40% with their workload, 54% with supervision, and the quality of training provided in their hospitals. The political situation in the country and social security were considered unsatisfactory by 92% and 90% of the participants, respectively. Among the potential reasons studied to explain this emigration phenomenon, working conditions were a factor in 54% of cases, salary in 56%, training in 36%, and quality of life in 56%.

The emigration of young Tunisian medical professionals is driven by a range of factors, including working conditions, salaries, training opportunities, and quality of life. To counteract this phenomenon, it is crucial to enhance these aspects in order to retain these talented individuals in the country and thereby bolster the Tunisian healthcare system.

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Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress are more common in the population of nurses working in psychiatric hospitals than in many other segments of the health care system. These three elements of psychological distress (depression, anxiety, stress) may reduce the nurse’s ability to establish quality therapeutic relationships with patients, which are very important in the treatment of mental disorders. Some studies suggest that prosocial personality traits may have a protective role. Other research suggests that high levels of empathy, for example, may increase secondary traumatisation and lead to more pronounced symptoms of distress.

The main objective of the study was to examine the association of prosocial personality traits with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in nurses employed in a psychiatric clinic. The hypothesis was that more pronounced prosocial personality traits are associated with a lower expression of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress.

The target population were nurses employed in a psychiatric hospital working directly with patients. No sample was selected, but the whole available population was invited to participate. The independent variable was prosocial personality traits measured by the Prosocial Personality Battery (PSB). The outcome was symptoms of distress (depression, anxiety and stress) measured using the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The hypothesis was tested using three linear regression analyses.

Total of 63 MST were included with a median (interquartile range) age of 34 (24-42) years. Prosocial personality traits were statistically significantly associated with scores on the DASS-21 subscale measuring depression: personal distress (PD) (r = 0.32; P = 0.01) and self-reported altruism (r = 0.30; P = 0.02). Only the subscale measuring the specific personality trait of personal distress (PD) was statistically significantly correlated with the scores of the other two DASS-21 subscales, anxiety and stress (anxiety: r = 0.54; P < 0.001; stress: 0.46; P < 0.001). Helpfulness was negatively related to anxiety (b = -0.29; P = 0.03).

This research partially confirmed the hypothesis that stronger prosocial personality traits are associated with a lower prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in the MST of employees in a psychiatric clinic.

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In comparison to extrapyramidal and metabolic side effects, the subjective aspects of neuroleptic treatment have been less extensively researched. Nevertheless, they are equally significant given their potential to influence adherence and functional outcome. Historically, terms such as “neuroleptic dysphoria,” “neuroleptic-induced psychic indifference,” and “neuroleptic-induced deficit syndrome” were used to characterize a range of unpleasant mood states on the one hand and a documented and observable motivational deficit on the other. The latter aligns with the findings from preclinical neuroscientific studies and animal models highlighting the significant involvement of mesolimbic dopamine in motivational processes. Despite an abundance of anecdotal data these adverse effects are often undetectable in large-scale clinical studies that utilize standardized assessment measures.

To present adverse subjective changes in arousal, mood and volitional drive resulting from neuroleptic intake from a patient’s perspective.

The subject is a patient, with no reported negative symptoms or lasting functional impairment described, who underwent a gradual 6-month discontinuation of risperidone in an outpatient setting following a complete recovery after a single psychotic episode. A semi-structured interview modelled after The Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS) was conducted. We aimed to elicit descriptions of the subjective experience while ensuring our approach remained non-suggestive.

In addition to describing potential akathisia and lethargy at higher doses, the subject reported a significant lack of motivation and a notably reduced willingness to exert effort towards achieving specific goals or engaging in activities that he still found rewarding or pleasurable. Furthermore, he consistently noted gradual improvements across various psycho-social aspects following the discontinuation of the medication. These adverse and unpleasant experiences were presented as the primary reason for wanting to discontinue pharmacological treatment.

Certain adverse effects of antipsychotic medications can only be elucidated by the clinician through the examination of the patient’s subjective experiences. Medication induced dysphoria and volitional deficits have the potential to profoundly impact treatment adherence, leading to unrecommended discontinuation of neuroleptics, and can cause important functional impairment.

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Research into dreams, have shown the association between increased frequency of distressing dreams, specific content themes (analysed using the Hall Van de Castle system) and greater incidence of progression of neurological conditions and dementia. The history of predicting illnesses by the content of dreams, in the western world is popularly traced backed to the ancient Greek medicine. This stimulates the curiosity if any such practices existed in the ancient medical practises of the eastern world. Ayurveda is one such traditional system of medicine, that is native to the Indian subcontinent. Charaka Samhita is one of the oldest texts on Ayurveda consisting of 8 sections and 120 chapters totally. This text was selected for the purpose of this review, with the line of enquiry such as what does Ayurveda say about dreams associated with illnesses? What are the contents of such dreams? Furthermore, the dream content analysis was done using the Hall Van de Castle system, which is probably the first time being done on an Ayurveda text content.

1) To explore if, Charaka Samhita mentions, describes dreams in relation to illnesses, stages of illnesses and their prognosis. 2) To analyse content of the dreams seen in prodromal stage of illnesses.

1-The Charaka Samhita text was scanned chapter by chapter, to answer the questions- a) What are the types of dreams? b) Are any associated with illnesses? c)Are any dreams mentioned in the prodromal stage of illnesses? d)What do they imply? e)What are their contents? 2- The contents of prodromal dreams were analysed against the categories of Hall Van de Castle system.

As per Charaka Samhita, the types of dreams are, i) those based on what was seen ii) heard iii) reflected upon iv) desired v) imagined vi) those of prophetic type and vii) those caused by illnesses. Specific dreams in the prodromal stage, predict manifestation of specific illnesses (mild or fatal). In the diverse dream contents (18 themes mentioned) ranging from things animals to gods and demons, except the elements of the past, rest of the general categories occur, at least once. The categories characters, objects, activities and social interactions were more common than the rest.

Thus akin to the ancient Greek medicine, Ayurveda too had the practice of predicting illnesses based on the dream contents.

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The purpose of my presentation is to introduce the Hungarian Association of Psychiatric Trainees (HAPT), - our NAT - to you, which includes residents and young specialists within five years of training.

Currently we have 108 members, from 15 cities and villages throughout Hungary, and one person is working in Denmark. The vast majority (58 %) of the members are from Budapest, our capital city. There are 14 members, who are young specialists, the others are doing residency training. We have 21 members who are working in child and adolescent psychiatry.

HAPT has been existed since 2013, so in the previous years, our founder members have reached the point when they no longer meet the criteria of being ‘psychiatric trainee’ or ‘young specialists’, however every year we encourage the new residents to join us.

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OUR DUTY: The main goals of HAPT are educating ourselves, forming a community and making connections with colleagues country-wide and last but not least, trying to stand up for our interests, when needed.

Throughout the year we organize educative presentations about topics that are somehow left out of focus during the official training program. Every year our main event is a three-day long weekend, where we can go deeper into a couple of topics via presentations or workshops, and it is also a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

We also organize case-discussion-groups according to the Balint method, considering the residents’ daily difficulties and trying to pay more attention to their mental well-being.

Last year we tried some other ways to broaden our perspectives in the form of cultural events, when we watched a movie or a play and then discussed it together as a group, had been led by a psychotherapist.

HAPT is part of the Hungarian Psychiatric Association and the relationship between the two Organizations has a constantly changing dynamics – in some ways we are trying to be more independent, however, there are common goals that are important for all of us, for example being present on at international events.

FUTURE GOALS: One of our future plans include being more active in the European community, like getting to know the EFPT or the ECP better. This conference is a perfect opportunity for all of us to make new professional connections.

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Somatic disorders in patients suffering from psychiatric disorders have become an important issue in the overall care of these patients

Comorbidity studies show that 30 to 60% of patients consulted or hospitalized in psychiatry present an associated organic pathology

However, the detection of somatic conditions in psychiatric patients remains too late and this exposes them to sometimes lethal somatic complications

To evaluate the prevalence of somatic disorders in patients followed for a psychiatric disorder at Ar Razi hospital in Salé – Morocco, and to determine the associated factors

We carried out a cross-sectional study with 80 patients followed for a psychiatric disorder at Ar Razi hospital in Salé presenting clinical signs in favor of an organic pathology and transferred for specialized advice to the medical-surgical services, in the period from September 1st, 2022 until August 31st, 2023.

Most of our patients were male (65%) with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years. Addictive behaviors were found in more than half of our patients.

The most frequent reasons for requests for advice from medical-surgical services was the suspicion of an organic cause of psychiatric symptoms in 25% of cases or the presence of an organic warning sign in 30% of cases.

The comorbidity of somatic illness and psychiatric disorder was noted in 35% of cases.

Somatic comorbidities were essentially: infections and cardiovascular diseases.

Side effects of psychotropic drugs were predominantly neurological in 40 % of cases

Somatic comorbidities in patients hospitalized or in consultation in psychiatric hospitals are very common, often unrecognized, hence the need for early screening in order to improve care.

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Personality hardiness expresses the characteristics that help to overcome stress and achieve well-being.

This study focused on the Hardiness as the important personality trait, which allow coping with stress and the relationship of empathy, emotional sensitivity and the personality hardiness.

88 healthy volunteers, students aged 17 to 26 years (mean age = 19, SD = 1,69), participated in this study. We used Cloninger’s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), the Maddi Hardiness Survey (adapted by Leontyev), Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), the Barratt impulsiveness scale (BIS-11), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy (QMEE).

The cluster analysis was used to identify groups of hardy personalities. We demonstrated a negative relationship between hardiness and depression and burnout. It revealed significant differences between these groups by the following traits: Attention (BIS-11), Self-Control (BIS-11), Cognitive Complexity (BIS-11), Hostility (BPAQ), Exploratory activity (NS1 TCI), Shyness of strangers (HA3 TCI), Resourcefulness (S3 TCI). Regression analysis was used to identify Hardiness factors and to build the following regression models. For the first group the models describe 100% of dispersion (R-square=1,000, Durbin-Watson statistic = 1,419) and are:

Control = -16,998 - 2,922*С2 + 3,549*С5 + 3,264*CI + 0,723*ST2 + 0,747*S4 - 0,306*SC + 0,166*RD3 - 0,020*C — 0,003*NS2, where C2 – scale Empathy (TCI), C5 – scale Principles (TCI), CI – cognitive instability, ST2 – Transpersonal identification scale (TCI), S4 – Self-acceptance (TCI), SC – Self-Control (BIS-11), RD3 – Social attachment (TCI), C – Cooperativeness (TCI), NS2 – Impulsive decision making (TCI).

The Hardiness model described 50% (R-square=0,456) of dispersion:

Hardiness = 63,527 – 4,080*C2, where C2 –Empathy scale (TCI) (p=0,003).

The regression models of the second group explain 50% of group dispersion (R-square=0,512) and are Independent variables significance p<0,05:

Challenge = 12,484 + 0,389*SC + 0,197*EE — 0,702*RD1 — 0,206*A,where SC- Self-Control scale (BIS-11), EE – Emotional Empathy (Personality test of Emotional Empathy), RD1 – Sentimentality scale (TCI), A – Anger (BPAQ).

The Hardiness model describes 35% of dispersion (R-square=0,364, Durbin-Watson statistic = 2,066):

Hardiness = 100,352 + 0,941*SC — 0,527*H, where SC – Self-Control scale (BIS-11) (p=0,009), H – Hostility scale (BPAQ) (p=0,021).

Thus, the attention and self-control problems, hostility, cognitive complexity and shyness have a negative impact on hardiness.Our results suggest that the excessive use of empathy leads to decrease of ability to control situation and cope with the stress.

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Many mental health conditions, including anxiety, mood disorders, and depression, can be effectively treated at a relatively low cost. Exercise interventions can be a therapeutic strategy, but even though exercise has consistently been shown to improve physical health, cognitive function, and psychological well-being, as well as reduce depression and anxiety symptoms, this intervention is often neglected in mental health care services.

The study aims to assess the feasibility of incorporating an Exercise Intervention Program (EIP) as a therapeutic pathway within the Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) in Nova Scotia, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the program on mental health outcomes and incremental costs, and the patient acceptability and satisfaction with the program.

This proof-of-concept study has a pragmatic, prospective, controlled observational design with an embedded one-phase qualitative component. Patients with a primary diagnosis of depression or anxiety attending the Rapid Assessment and Stabilization Program (RASP, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada) will be offered to receive 60-minute exercise sessions three times per week, per 12 weeks. Patients with similar mental health conditions that have opted to wait for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with the community provider and declined from the EIP will be part of the control group. A certified recreational therapist will conduct the EIP. Participants of both groups (EIP and control condition) will be assessed at baseline and then weekly for four weeks, six weeks and then at 12 weeks post-enrollment. Primary outcomes include differences in the mean change in functional (well-being, resilience, and recovery) and symptom variables (depression, anxiety, and suicidal risk), which will be assessed through online validated scales/questionnaires. Service variables (patient acceptance and satisfaction) and health care utilization (crisis calls, emergency department visits, hospital admissions and readmissions, length of stay for each admission) will comprise the secondary outcomes.

The results of the study will provide information about the effectiveness of EIP in the treatment of anxiety and depression compared to those only wait-listed to receive CBT or counselling from a CMHA provider. The study will also inform about the acceptability and satisfaction of the EIP, as well as the incremental cost-effectiveness of the intervention compared to the control condition.

This proof-of-concept study will demonstrate the effectiveness of EIP as an adjunctive or alternative therapeutic option for the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients seeking mental health support from the MHAP in Nova Scotia.

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Dermatitis artefacta (DA), also known as factitial dermatitis, is a condition among factitious disorders, whereby self-induced skin damage is the means used to satisfy a conscious or unconscious desire to assume the sick role, particularly in those with an underlying psychiatric diagnosis or external stress. DA should be distinguished from malingering, in which skin damage may be inflicted for the purpose of secondary gain.

Review what dermatitis artefacta and factitious disorders in general consist of and the challenges they present.

Presentation of a patient’s case and review of existing literature, in regards to factitial dermatitis and factitious disorders.

In general, in regards to factitious disorders in literature, the majority of patients were female with mean age at presentation at thirty. A healthcare or laboratory profession was reported most frequently, as well as a current or past diagnosis of depression was described more frequently than personality disorder in cases reporting psychiatric comorbidity, and more patients elected to self-induce illness or injury than simulate or falsely report it. Patients were most likely to present with endocrinological, cardiological and dermatological problems. In our patient’s case, common factors described previously are dermatological lesions, comorbid psychiatric disorder and the beginning of the disorder at an earlier age.

Specifically, when it comes to DA, the hallmarks of diagnosis include self-inflicted lesions in accessible areas of the face and extremities that do not correlate with organic disease patterns. Importantly, patients are unable to take ownership of the cutaneous signs.

Management in these cases is challenging, and different modalities may be employed, including topical therapies, oral medications, and cognitive behavioural therapy; adopting a multidisciplinary team approach has been shown to be beneficial in allowing patients to come to terms with their illness in an open, non judgmental environment.

DA is a rare cutaneous condition that must be considered when the clinical presentation is atypical and investigations do not yield an alternate diagnosis. Few are referred to psychiatric services and even fewer accept care. They have a protracted course, complicated by repeated hospitalizations, ultimately leading to their premature deaths. Clear guidelines on the management of these patients need to be set to protect both patients and providers in light of the ethical and legal considerations.

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Psychopathological exploration (PPE) involves an assessment of the mental state of patients, where psychological signs and symptoms are analyzed, which collectively form a syndrome. To conduct this assessment, the clinician must utilize their expertise to identify the presence and authenticity of a series of symptoms that, once recognized, allow for a diagnosis (1). The presence of this subjective component could explain why, despite the continuous growth of artificial intelligence (AI), its application in clinical psychiatry practice remains limited. However, the combination of the clinician's work with AI could enhance diagnostic accuracy and our understanding of diseases (2).

The objective of this study is to investigate whether AI can make accurate diagnoses through an initial psychopathological evaluation.

A random sample was selected from our medical records of all patients admitted to our acute mental health inpatient unit through the hospital's emergency services in the year 2022. An anonymized database was created, including sociodemographic information, the results of the psychopathological assessment in the emergency department, and the diagnosis at the time of discharge. The psychopathological assessment conducted in the emergency department was provided to the AI chatbot ChatGPT, with a request to establish a diagnosis according to the DSM-5. Diagnoses such as brief psychotic disorder, schizophreniform disorder, and schizophrenia were considered, given their acute symptom similarities, as well as major depressive disorder (unipolar) and bipolar disorder. The level of agreement between both diagnoses was evaluated using the kappa coefficient.

The sample consisted of 15 patients, of whom 60% were male, with a mean age of 45 years (standard deviation = 15.6). 73.3% of the patients had prior mental health follow-up, and 66.7% had been previously hospitalized. Diagnoses included psychotic disorder in 33.3% of cases, bipolar disorder with manic episode in 26.7%, depressive disorder in 13.3%, delusional disorder in 13.3%, schizoaffective disorder in 6.7%, and borderline personality disorder in 6.7%. A kappa value of 0.561 was obtained, indicating a moderate degree of agreement between the diagnoses.

Despite the inherent subjectivity in psychopathological assessment, this study suggests that AI, in the form of natural language processing chatbots like ChatGPT, can be a useful tool to assist mental health professionals in the diagnostic process. While AI shows promising potential, it should not entirely replace the experience and clinical judgment of mental health professionals. Instead, the importance of potential collaboration between AI and clinicians for achieving more precise and comprehensive diagnoses is highlighted.

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The delicate balance between the need to ensure quality patient care and the reality of physicians dealing with psychiatric diseases poses a major challenge within the medical field. This issue raises fundamental ethical, legal, and medical questions, highlighting the complexity of decision-making regarding professional aptitude for practitioners affected by mental disorders.

To examine the impact of psychiatric diseases on the medical aptitude of physicians.

This was a retrospective descriptive study that focused on physicians with psychiatric diseases referred to the occupational pathology clinic at Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis for medical evaluations of their work aptitude between January 1, 2021, and September 15, 2023.

During the study period, we collected data from 20 patients. The mean age was 38 ± 11 years, with a sex-ratio (F/M)of 4.5. Five examined physicians had family histories of psychiatric disorders. Medical specialties were the most represented (N=17), including three general practitioners, two family medicine practitioners, and two anesthesiologists. The study population included 10 residents, eight hospital assistants, and two medical interns. The most common psychiatric diagnosis was depression (N=7), followed by bipolar disorder (N=5). The medical treatment prescribed was combinations of antidepressants and anxiolytics in seven cases, antipsychotics in five cases, and antidepressants in two cases. Medication adherence was noted in 10 physicians. Fourteen physicians had taken long-term sick leave, with an average duration of 203 days. Five physicians were declared fit to continue their regular professional activities, seven physicians were declared fit with restrictions on night work, and one physician was declared fit with workplace accommodations.

This study highlights the challenges surrounding the medical aptitude of physicians with psychiatric diseases. However, it is imperative to promote mental health awareness and to implementsupport measures to ensure both compassion for physicians and patient safety.

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The Gaza-Israel conflict has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the immediate geographic confines of the conflict zone.This war certainly has repercussions on people who follow it via the media.

To study the prevalence of acute stress disorder among Tunisian people and determinate the factors associated to it.

It was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted among Tunisians. Data were collected during October and November 2023, through an anonymous online questionnaire, spread throughout social media (Facebook/Instagram), using the Google Forms® platform.

We used the the National stressful Events survey acute Stress Disorder Short scale (NSESSS) to assess the severity symptoms of acute stress disorder .

The National Stressful Events Survey Acute Stress Disorder Short Scale (NSESSS) is a 7-item patient assessment measures that assesses the severity symptoms of acute stress disorder in individuals age 18 and older following an extremely stressful event or experience.

A total of 1091 participants completed the questionnaire. The participants had a mean age of 32.7 ± 9.8 years. More females (77.7%) than males (22.3%) participated in the study with a sex ratio (F/M) = 3.5. They were divorced in 2.1% .A history of psychiatric follow-up was found in 19,5% of case.

Results demonstrated that 100% of the respondents closely monitored the war, primarily relying on social media (98.6%) as their primary source of information.

According to the NSESSS ,83.4% of the participants had an acute stress disorder. The breakdown of acute stress disorder severity indicated that 29.7% experienced mild symptoms, 27.5% moderate, 21.6% severe, and 4.6% extreme symptoms.

The factors associated with high score of NSESSS were: female sex ( p=0.000), the divorced people (p=0.001)and previous history of psychiatric follow-up (p=0.000)

These findings indicate a substantial impact of the Palestine-Israel conflict on the mental well-being of the Tunisian population, as evidenced by high rates of acute stress disorder.

Understanding the heightened prevalence of acute stress disorder among different demographic groups following such international conflicts is crucial for developing tailored interventions to support the mental health and well-being of affected individuals.

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