Men and women with psychosis have different courses and presentations of symptoms. Men with psychosis have an earlier onset of illness, more negative symptoms, and worse premorbid functioning. Women, on the other hand, have better social functioning and less substance abuse. Despite these evident differences, there are few studies that delve into these distinctions, especially from a subjective perspective.

The aim of this study is to understand the differences in the perception of psychosis between men and women.

Five women and five men diagnosed with schizophrenia participated in the study. They were matched so that the age difference between them was no more than 5 years, with ages ranging from 40 to 56 years. Participants had not experienced acute decompensation of their underlying illness and had not required admission to an Acute Care Unit in the 6 months prior to inclusion in the study. Data collection was conducted through the Spanish translation of the Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview, consisting of five parts: a narrative about their life, a narrative about the illness, questions related to how the illness has changed their life and what has not changed, the overall influence of the illness on their life, and lastly, expectations for the future.

Men expressed more concerns about work (4 men versus 2 women), while women expressed more concerns about not having become mothers (3 out of 5 women, compared to one man). All participants shared experiences of isolation in intimate relationships, including romantic relationships. Regarding stigma, three women believed that people treated them like children and dismissed their opinions. However, two of them viewed this behavior from their loved ones positively. Two women discussed the impact that psychosis and medications had on their bodies and how others had reacted to these changes

The concerns and stigma associated with mental illness differ between genders. These differences should be taken into account when developing specific biopsychosocial treatment plans.

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Firstly, we will speak on the violence against women from a Russian perspective. The selected reports from regional psychiatric services and police department reports of domestic violence cases will be presented.

Secondly, we will draw upon our work developing and providing a new educational program, «Women victims of domestic violence: Detection, clinic, help,» mainly based on teaching several modules, WPA International Curriculum for Mental Healthcare Providers on Violence Against Women.

In this present paper, we examine evidence-based practice from the starting points of research as illumination and psychiatry as a discipline with hermeneutic potential, to consider relationships between research and practice and the opportunities available within the current research agenda for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists working in clinical settings.

We contend that the quality of women’s mental health services will only improve when they can acknowledge the considerable impact that intimate partner violence and sexual violence, as well as social inequalities, especially those based on gender, have on women’s mental health. We do not underestimate the difficulty of providing practical help to women whose mental health has been profoundly affected by the violence, damage that is often further compounded by years of mistreatment and revictimization in services.

The paper provides commentaries and reflections on the steps that must be taken to create opportunities to foster dialogue, discussing and exchanging ideas on a diverse range of topics relevant to the advancement of the program in the broader context.

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Postnatal depression is a common mental health condition that affects women across the globe. Lower education is frequently considered to be linked to an increased likelihood of postpartum depression. Nevertheless, inconsistent epidemiological evidence has been reported concerning the associations between education and postpartum depression risk. This study investigates the correlation between education level and postpartum depression in the Czech Republic.

The aim of this study was to examine whether there is an association between educational attainment and the risk of postnatal depression in women who have recently given birth in the Czech Republic.

Women aged 18-45, who spoke Czech and had an email address, and had given birth in the hospital were eligible to participate in the study. The research was conducted in the maternity unit, where a medical professional presented the opportunity to take part. All participants were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with the cut-off score of ≥10 showing increased of postpartum depression.

Education data was collected via self-reported questionnaires. Binary logistic regression was employed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess the relationship between educational attainment and postpartum depression risk, with sociodemographic and health-related characteristics being stepwise adjusted.

Our study consisted of 3,739 postpartum respondents (mean age of 31 years). The prevalence of increased postpartum depression (≥10 EPDS points) was 22.7%. Compared to individuals with higher education (reference category), those with basic education had a higher risk of postpartum depression (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.26–2.23; p<0.001), even after adjusting for all covariates (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.08–2.22; p=0.017). Basic education was found to have the strongest association with an increased risk of postpartum depression, even when adjusted for covariates. The association between education and postpartum depression was explained by the covariates.

Having only basic education is a significant risk factor for postpartum depression. Interventions to reduce the burden of postpartum depression ought to focus on individuals with low levels of education.

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Violence against women is a public health problem worldwide and a violation of human rights. It affects women’s lives due to its potential short-, medium- or long-term physical and psychological consequences.

The aim of our study is to explore the link between violence against women and self-esteem.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2023 among Tunisian women consulting in three health care centers in Sfax, Tunisia. We have included women victims of violence (psychological, physical, sexual, and economic). We have used a semi-structured interview and the Rosenberg scale to determine the quality of self-esteem.

Among one hundred interviewed women, fifty-four women who had reported being violence victims were included in our study. The mean age of the participants was 44 years with the majority being married (87 %). Only 29.6% had a high school level and 51.9% had a profession. A total of 29.6% had a low socioeconomic status.

We found that 79.6% are victims of domestic violence (57.4% being victims of spousal violence). Psychological violence seemed to be the most frequent type (59.3%).

Almost all those who were abused (90.6%) experienced psychological (emotional) violence.

The mean score of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale was 31.54.

Self-esteem was very low in 16.7%, low in 37%, medium in 18.5%, and high in 27.8% of the women.

A statistically significant association was found between being a victim of spousal violence and low self-esteem (p=0.032). The semi-structured interview demonstrates that women with low self-esteem are more likely to accept violence.

These results justify the implementation of screening and support programs for women victims of violence to improve their self-esteem.

None Declared

Fear of childbirth is attracting growing interest because of its impact on the experience of pregnancy and on the progress of childbirth and it seems that some women are more susceptible to fear of childbirth than others are.

Our objective is to identify pregnancy factors that predict the fear of childbirth.

We approached 350 pregnant women consulting at the Gynecology-Obstetrics department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax. We collected their sociodemographic and clinical data. Fear of childbirth was assessed using the French version of the Traumatic Event Scale (TES), adapted to assess fear of childbirth.

The mean age of the participants was 28 years (16-41) and the mean gestational weak was 36.27. Half of the participants (53.7%) were nulliparous, and eight reported a history of infertility. The pregnancy was not planned in 61% of cases. As many as 67% of the participants had regular checkups, 50.3% had exaggerated somatic symptoms and 34.3% had pregnancy-related diseases.

The mean score for the TES was 48.73 ± 13.72.

We found a positive correlation between the TES score and nulliparity (p=0.01), gestational age ≥ 40 weeks (p=0.01), planned pregnancy (p=0.002), exaggerated somatic symptoms (p=0.03), and pregnancy-related diseases (p<0.001).

Identification of women at risk for fear of childbirth could help in preparing them before or during pregnancy to improve their childbirth experiences.

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Fatty acids omega-3 are irreplaceable. They stabilize cell membranes, nerve impulses, homeostasis, immune reactions, the birth process, the psycho-emotional state of the fetus-mother dyad. Correlations between adequate dietary intake of omega-3 and cognitive health have been described in detail. According to the literature, docosahexaenoic acid is associated with the synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate, neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic action, has antidepressant effect. Omega-3 makes up 60% of neuronal membrane phospholipids. Under clinical aspect,according to publications, fish oil reduces the risk of preterm birth by 44%.

The aim is to study the risks and benefits of using omega-3 during pregnancy and lactation in patients with mental disorders.

Comparative analysis of evidence-based scientific publications for the use of omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy and lactation.

The body level of omega-3 depends on the quantitative intake from food, as well as gene polymorphism and age. For pregnant and lactating women are recommended 200-300 mg per day or about 300 g per week from food. Deficiency of omega-3 (protectins) affects the processes of myelination, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, the metabolism of neurotransmitters, cell differentiation, neuronal migration and inflammatory responses.

There are many probably mechanisms of action of omega-3, namely: Enhances peroxisomal oxidation, reduces the synthesis of triglycerides in the liver; inhibits plasma acyltransfrerase. Omega-3 acts on phospholipids of the cell membranes of the nervous system and retina, their adequate functioning, improve psychomotor development of newborns. It was found the effect of decreasing the levels of cytokines and depressive symptoms, as well the risk of food allergies and depression. In conclusion, in adequate doses, omega-3 fatty acids seems to be useful in deficiencies and for prophylactic purposes in pregnancy and lactation.

omega- 3 fatty acids, pregnancy, lactation, mental disorders.

None Declared

Tunisia marked a significant milestone in the fight against gender-based violence with the adoption of Organic Law No. 2017-58. This pioneering law in the region enhanced the protection of women and girls’ rights and introduced harsher penalties for perpetrators of sexist violence. However, the journey toward eradicating violence against women is complex and multifaceted.

Our aim is to explore how tunisian women perceive gender-based violence and their attitudes towards it.

A cross sectional online survey designed using Google Forms and distributed on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram) was conducted from August 30th to September 25th 2023. The questionnaire, presented in the tunisian dialect, included questions about personal experiences with violence, knowledge of gender-based violence laws as well as their perceptions and attitudes towards gender-based violence. The sample consisted of women from various regions of Tunisia.

In our study, we analyzed a sample comprising 110 tunisian women, with 46.4% falling within the 20 to 30 age bracket and 36.4% belonging to the 30 to 40 age range. Half of the survey participants were unmarried, and the majority of them (97.3%) had attained a university-level education.

Our research revealed that 45.5% of the surveyed women reported instances of gender-based violence in Tunisia. However, only a minority of these individuals (22.2%) initiated legal proceedings, primarily citing a lack of confidence in the judicial system and fear of potential reprisals as their reasons.

A majority of the participating women expressed deep concern regarding the issue of violence against women in Tunisia.

When asked about their perceptions of the most prevalent types of violence in Tunisia, 76.36% believed that psychological violence was the most common, followed by sexual violence (21.3%). Economic and physical violence were perceived as less frequent (9.9%; 12.6%). These women attributed the primary factors contributing to violence against women in Tunisia to cultural norms and laws that they considered inadequately stringent. Indeed, 83.3% of them believed that the current legislation was not stringent enough to deter potential perpetrators, and 37.3% indicated that they were unaware of the existing legal framework.

Despite legislative advancements, gender-based violence remains a pressing concern in Tunisia. These findings underscore the importance of increasing awareness about available resources for victims, educating individuals about women’s rights and mental health, and building trust in the judicial system.

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New technological trends and access to more information have generated an anxious disorder and the need to obtain everything that the consumer society has to offer, this has increased with the influence of neuromarketing in internet ads.

The objective that was raised in the present investigation was to analyze the influence of neuromarketing in the increase of anxiety reflected in compulsive purchases of women in the city of Santa Marta.

The field research design is non-experimental and cross-sectional, the sample taken was of 500 women with purchasing power of more than three Colombian minimum wages.

The IDARE Ch. Spielberger, R. Díaz Guerrero et al. (1966) checklist was applied; To review the relationship between advertising with neuromarketing, anxiety and compulsive purchases, a Likert-type scale instrument was designed and validated with the Alpha Cronbach Coefficient. Analysis of Covariance ANOVA, inferential statistics and SPSS were performed.

57% of the women meet the criteria for the IDARE clinic. The analysis of the questionnaire showed a goodness of fit of R² = 0.697. The result indicates that the more hours women spend on the internet with access to ads focused on neuromarketing, the more they feel the need to buy, and this generates anxiety processes.

The mental triggers used by neuromarketing accelerate the need in women to buy the solutions that they sell and the same need to buy is evident in the signs of anxiety that is reflected in the women under study. Training that educates women to spend less time connected to the Internet is recommended, but it is also essential that they understand that advertising and marketing exert pressure that increases their anxiety and need to purchase, so it is recommended the implementation of training in personal management and control.

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Chronic pain is a prevalent condition that is frequently complicated by concomitant mood and anxiety disorders. Very preliminary data indicate that female physiotherapists could have a better attitude towards psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the present article is to identify eventual differences in the management of patients with chronic pain and anxiety/mood disorders depending on the physiotherapists’ gender.

An ad-hoc questionnaire was developed and sent to physiotherapists by e-mail. The two group identified by gender were compared by unpaired sample t tests for continuous variables and χ2 tests for qualitative ones. A binary logistic regression was then performed with factors resulted statistically significant at univariate analyses as independent variables and gender as dependent one.

Female physiotherapists (compared to male ones) resulted to be more confident in the prosecution of physiotherapy by patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)comorbidity (t=2.46, p=0.01) and by patients who had received a visit with a mental health professional (t=2.79, p=0.01). Furthermore, female physiotherapists versus male ones believed that pharmacotherapy was less associated with motor side effects (t=2.90, p<0.01) and more frequently recognized the importance of a training to identify affective disorders (t=2.65, p=0.01) and the need of more education in mental health (t=2.85, p=0.01). The binary logistic regression model confirmed that female professionals (compared to male ones) were less likely to work as freelance in private institutions (p=0.015) and were more confident in the prosecution of physiotherapy by patients with GAD comorbidity (p=0.05).

Female compared to male physiotherapists resulted to be more comfortable with patients affected by mental conditions and to be more aware of the need of training on mental health. Implementation of mental health education for male physiotherapists is probably necessary and further studies are needed to confirm the results of the present study.

None Declared

Eating disorders (ED) are serious mental and physical illnesses that involve complex and damaging relationships with eating, exercise, and body image. They emerge due to a multifaceted interplay of factors, including familial predispositions, personality traits, and cultural influences. While societal beauty standards are recognized as significant risk factors, it is hypothesized that the roles and responsibilities associated with adult womanhood may also contribute to their development. In particular, the unique challenges faced by women, especially in developing countries like Turkey, may lead to discontent with traditional gender roles.

This study aims to explore the connection between eating disorders, female identity perceptions, body attitudes, expectations regarding women’s roles within families, and their potential association with body dysphoria. We investigate whether eating disorders are linked to a form of sexual dysphoria and body dysmorphia related to femininity rather than solely driven by societal beauty ideals.

Data from 228 female college students, both undergraduate and graduate, were collected via online surveys. The survey instruments included a sociodemographic form, the Eating Attitude Test, the Gender Roles Attitude Scale, and the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire.

The average age of the participants was 24.41 (18-33) years. Regression analysis revealed that age (β=-0.155, p=0.015), the belief that physical appearance would be less important if they were male (β=0.292, p<0.001), and maternal criticism about weight (β=0.239, p<0.001) were influential factors in shaping eating attitudes. Surprisingly, no significant relationship was found between eating attitudes and traditional gender roles (β=0.072, p=0.246). However, we did establish a connection between aspiring to meet ideal thinness standards and perceiving women as disadvantaged in the workplace due to their traditional gender roles (t(226)=2.32, p=0.021), as well as with maternal criticism (t(225)=3.55, p<0.001).

Our findings suggest that the absence of a direct link between eating attitudes and traditional gender roles may be attributed to an individual’s perception of their environment rather than their self-assessment of masculinity within an egalitarian context. Notably, maternal influences specifically their criticism regarding their daughters’ weight and the roles assigned to mothers significantly shape these perceptions and, consequently, eating behaviors, aligning with existing literature (Ferreira et al., 2021). This underscores the need to consider eating disorders within a broader biopsychosocial framework, encompassing attitudes toward the world and one’s role within it.

None Declared

Pregnancy and puerperium are two critical stages for women’s mental health due to the biological stress of pregnancy itself, as well as the emotional stress that surrounds this vital moment. (1) Debut and aggravation of psychiatric symptoms may occur, as well as relapse in women previously diagnosed with Severe Mental Disorder (SMD).

Symptoms of the anxious spectrum are the most frequent within the perinatal mental pathology, being impulse phobias an entity that appears in about 25% of women previously diagnosed with OCD and up to 10-15% of women without previous psychopathology (2)

Exposing the importance of Perinatal Mental Health from the presentation of a clinical case.

Review of the literature available in PubMed. Presentation of the pathobiography and evolution of the patient.

Our case is about a 37-year-old woman, 30 weeks pregnant with her first child and history of having required admission to Psychiatry with subsequent follow-up in Mental Health for anxious-depressive symptoms with the presence of self-injurious ideas who, after two weeks with multiple life stressors, came to the Emergency Department for the presence of impulse phobias focused on pregnancy with significant internal anguish and ideas of death as a resolution to it, which is why it was decided to hospitalize her. During admission, and taking into account the patient’s gestational state, treatment was started with diluted Mirtazapine and Aripiprazole solution at minimal doses, which in this case were sufficient for symptom control.

The latest guidelines addressing psychopharmacology during pregnancy and lactation point to sertraline among the antidepressants and Lorazepam among the benzodiazepines as the safest drugs during pregnancy (3).

• - The exacerbation of anxious symptomatology and the presence of gestation-focused impulse phobias are frequent during pregnancy and their intensity increases as the time of delivery approaches.

• - Sertraline, Lorazepam, Mirtazapine and Aripiprazole are safe drugs during pregnancy.

• - In these women, a close and multidisciplinary follow-up by Psychiatry and Gynecology is advisable.

None Declared

The perinatal period poses heightened vulnerability to bipolar affective episodes. Lithium serves as first line in the management of bipolar disorder, demonstrating efficacy in stabilizing mood episodes and preventing relapses. Therefore, it also a recommended treatment during the pregnancy period. However, its use presents potential risks for both the mother and the developing fetus. Given the prevalence of bipolar disorder in reproductive-age women, it is crucial to investigate the risks associated with lithium use during pregnancy, along with its subsequent obstetric and neonatal complications.

This report outlines a case of severe polyhydramnios in a 42-year-old primigravida patient, under long-term lithium and antipsychotic treatment. Additionally, a systematic search for similar case reports was conducted to provide an overview of the existing literature.

The patient’s medical history and perinatal medical care are documented in this case report. A systematic literature search on MEDLINE (PubMed) was conducted using Boolean operators.

The patient was diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I and had a history of lithium treatment for over 20 years, supplemented later with antipsychotics. During her pregnancy, she experienced a polyuria-polydipsia syndrome and a severe polyhydramnios. She also suffered renal impairment. Together, it is indicative of a nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), likely induced by prolonged lithium treatment. As the pregnancy progressed, she experienced premature rupture of membranes at 34 weeks and 5 days. The newborn needed medical support and was admitted to the neonatal unit, without further complications.

Systematic research showed three published case reports describing nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and polyhydramnios associated to lithium treatment.

Chronic administration of lithium may contribute to the development of resistance to antidiuretic hormone (ADH), leading to polyuria-polydipsia syndrome and potentially severe obstetric complications. The co-administration of lithium and antipsychotics may exacerbate these effects. Further research is needed to elucidate their combined clinical impacts.

None Declared

Affective disorders are among the most common mental health problems in women of reproductive age. A life-changing condition, such as pregnancy, may trigger or intensify symptoms of affective disorders, rather than pregnancy being a protective factor for the development of the disorder, as previously thought. Previous research indicates that 18% of women suffer from perinatal depression. One in 7-10 pregnant women and 1 in 5-8 midwives develops a depressive disorder, which is more than half a million women a year. Untreated perinatal depression has significant repercussions for both mother and child. Given that there are no controlled randomized studies during pregnancy, and the results of previous research on the harmfulness of the use of psychotropic drugs are contradictory, we need to nurture an individualized and integrative approach to the use of psychotropic drugs in pregnant women and in the postpartum period. The goal of this lecture is to point out the necessity of treating perinatal depressive disorder with an emphasis on the need to work on dilemmas and selected sources of information by pregnant women themselves, as well as health professionals. In the end, I must emphasize the importance of choosing an adequate psychopharmaceutical in that sensitive period for a woman, nurturing an individual approach as well as the latest knowledge.

The aim of this research is to examine the attitudes of psychiatrists, GP doctors, gynecologists and pregnant women about prescribing and taking pharmacotherapy during pregnancy.

The research will be conducted at the psychiatry clinic, the gynecology clinic and in health centers through semi-structured questionnaires, which will be filled out by psychiatrists, gynecologists, doctors and pregnant women.

Preliminary results (given that the research is still ongoing) indicate that most psychiatrists avoid prescribing drugs during pregnancy, and if they decide to do so, then diazepam is prescribed. The views of gynecologists, family medicine doctors and pregnant women are still pending.

This lecture aims to point out the factors contributing to the fear of prescribing psychotropic drugs perinatally, based on our own research, which included psychiatrists, gynecologists, family medicine doctors, and pregnant women.

None Declared

(Abstract for the accepted case-based workshop by the NDAL section at EPA)

Women with ADHD are underdiagnosed in mental health care, and although ADHD starts in early childhood, the symptoms and impairment of women with ADHD may only be recognised for the first time during (peri)menopause.

The relationship between decreasing levels of estrogen and the interaction with dopamine function in the brain in women with ADHD will be discussed and illustrated by a clinical case vignet of Mary, age 54.

Mary presents with a history of repeated burnout episodes, mood swings, lifetime difficulty concentrating, planning and organising daily life, restlessness, sleep problems, and cardiac complaints.Mary has been working hard her whole life to overcome all difficulties, but her problem is she can never stop, leading to getting burnout several times. This time she is exhausted and can no longer cope; she is visiting the cardiologist for palpitations, hypertension and a recent myocardial infarction.

After a positive screening for ADHD, based on her lifetime symptoms of inattention, restlessness and impulsivity, as well as mood swings, she is referred to a psychiatrist for assessment of ADHD, mood and sleep problems. The pathophysiology behind this cluster of disorders during (peri)menopause, as well as the treatment options will be discussed based on Mary’s case.

Both ADHD in women, (peri)menopausal mood disorders as well as the heart complaints in women during menopause are underrecognised and undertreated, leading to unneccesary suffering and cardiac death in women. It is time for psychiatry to join forces with cardiology and gynaecology for better recognition, sharing knowledge and multidisciplinary treatment of women with mental disorders such as ADHD during menopausal transition (see www.h3-netwerk.nl).

None Declared

Simulation-based training (Sim) is an established method of teaching in medical education and can help bridge the gap between medical theory and clinical practice. While sim is well-established in medical and surgical specialties, it is less well developed in psychiatry. Psychiatric emergencies often occur out of hours when there are fewer senior staff available on-site. Sim offers a safe setting for development of essential clinical skills with carefully delivered feedback.

Sim can be high-cost involving specialized simulation facilities, especially when utilising high-fidelity equipment. Even lower-fidelity techniques requiring standardized patients (SPs) require funding for actors and this can be a barrier to utilising Sim.

We piloted a Sim course to NCHDs working in psychiatry in a tertiary university hospital with the aim of improving trainee skills and confidence in managing psychiatric emergencies on-call including risk assessment, involuntary admission and acute behavioural disturbance. A low-fidelity approach was taken with minimal use of SPs.

A sim handbook developed by Irish Centre for Applied Patient Safety and Simulation (ICAPSS) was used for reference in developing the simulation modules. Three modules were delivered in a structured manner over three hours; involuntary admission, risk assessment and management of acute behavioural disturbance. Each module involved the simulation exercise (20 minutes) followed by debrief (20 minutes). The facilitated debrief involved open discussion and prompted reflective learning. Anonymous, paper-based questionnaires were used to collect feedback on participants’ experience of the training.

There were 12 attendees and ten participants completed the feedback. All participants (100%, n=10) agreed or strongly agreed that sim helped them to learn and all agreed that the topics covered were relevant to their clinical role. All participants (100%, n=10), indicated that they enjoyed the workshop. Eighty percent (n=8) agreed or strongly agreed that they would like to do more sim-based workshops. The supportive environment and debrief sessions were reported as the most enjoyable aspects of the workshop.

Participants unanimously agreed that the training was useful to them in their clinical roles and helped them to learn. Sim was effective in teaching high risk complex psychiatric cases to psychiatry NCHDs and consideration should be given to expand this teaching method within postgraduate psychiatry training in Ireland.

None Declared

Adult and child psychiatry residents encounter unique stressors in their training distinct from those in other medical specialties. Patient suicide has been identified as one of the most distressing experiences during psychiatric training.

This study represents the first Tunisian investigation aiming to assess (1) the impact of patient suicide on psychiatry residents and (2) the limitations of the institutional support system in dealing with such cases.

A Google Forms questionnaire was distributed via email to all residents, gathering socio-demographic data, assessing traumatic impact using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and soliciting open-ended responses regarding personal experiences and expectations of the institutional support system.

Fifty-three residents participated in the study. Among them, 29 residents had encountered patient suicide, with 12 directly involved. Symptoms of PTSD were detected in three residents. The physician directly involved in treating the suicidal patient reported the highest PCL-5 score. The majority of residents (27 out of 29) expressed the need for a structured support and training program tailored to healthcare professionals dealing with suicide.

The findings suggest that psychiatric residents may require additional training and support to effectively address the complex issue of patient suicide. Implementing specific training programs could significantly enhance their ability to manage such situations.

None Declared

The professional quality of life for psychiatry residents is a complex and multifaceted aspect of their careers. However, the demanding nature of their work can place significant stress on their own psychological well-being. Balancing the need to care for patients while also managing personal and professional responsibilities can be challenging. Nevertheless, psychiatry residents have the opportunity to make a profound impact on the lives of their patients and find fulfillment in their work.

To assess the prevalence of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS) among psychiatry residents.

We conducted a descriptive online cross-sectional survey in January 2022 among psychiatry residents practicing at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in the Sfax region in Tunisia. Professional life quality was evaluated using The Professional Quality of Life Scale - 5 “ProQOL-5”.

The total number of residents was 34, of which 91.2% were female. Their mean age was 27.94 years±2.43. They were single in 67.6%. They were residents in adult psychiatry in 61.8% and in child psychiatry in 39.2%. For 91.2% of them, the specialty of adult or pediatric psychiatry was their own choice. The individuals had been practicing psychiatry for an average of two years. They reported a personal medical or surgical history, a personal psychiatric history, and a family history of psychiatric disorders in 32.4%, 8.8%, and 50%, respectively.

On the ProQOL-5 scale, we found that 88.2% of the residents had a moderate level of compassion satisfaction, 67.6% had a moderate level of burnout, and 52.9% had a moderate level of secondary traumatic stress.

Our study showed a moderate professional life quality among psychiatry residents, hence the importance of implementing intervention strategies.

None Declared

The nature of psychiatry as a specialty dealing with mental health and emotional well-being may contribute to the perceived stigma. These misconceptions and biases can impact the way psychiatry residents perceive their profession, their own self-esteem, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Our goal was to evaluate the experience of stigma among psychiatry residents.

A descriptive cross-sectional online survey was conducted in January 2022 among psychiatry residents at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia.

The Clinician Associative Stigma Scale (CASS) was used to assess stigmatization experiences.

A total of 34 residents participated in this survey. Their average age was 27.94 years ± 2.43, with 91.2% being female. Of the participants, 61.8% were adult psychiatry residents, and 39.2% were child psychiatry residents. Additionally, the choice of adult psychiatry or child psychiatry specialty was self-determined in 91.2% of cases. The participants had an average of 2 years of experience in psychiatry. They reported a personal medical or surgical history, a personal psychiatric history, and a family history of psychiatric disorders in 32.4%, 8.8%, and 50%, respectively. The average CASS score was 47.09 ± 8.32.

The mean scores for the “discomfort with disclosure” factor, the “stereotypes about mental health professionals” factor, the “negative stereotypes about individuals with serious mental illness” factor, and the “negative stereotypes about effectiveness” factor were respectively 8 ± 3, 9.44 ± 2.57, 15.62 ± 5.7, and 11.35 ± 3.33.

Our study highlighted that residents in psychiatry suffered stigma. Special attention should be given to reducing this phenomenon in this population.

None Declared

Becoming a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or psychotherapist involves a complex set of skills that require extensive training. Clinical practice development and professional and personal identity formation are closely intertwined and continue throughout one’s career. Individual and environmental factors influence dropout. The beginning stages of training are incredibly challenging for trainees and can be a time of vulnerability as they face early professional hurdles. We propose that certain educational factors, such as inadequate practical training and insufficient emotional support during professional dilemmas, play a crucial role in manifesting burnout or other symptoms, potentially leading to stagnation in one’s career.

The main objective of our study is to identify causes of disruption and/or discontinuation of the training/residency programs in psychiatry, clinical psychology, and psychotherapy. Our study also aims to highlight the causes of chronic exhaustion among trainees in mental health professions.

The research team has developed a comprehensive questionnaire including two validated psychometric scales, the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI, Siegrist et al. Soc Sci Med 2004; 58 1483-99, Salavecz et al. J Men Psychosom 2006; 7 231–246) and the Mental Health Test (MHT, Vargha et al. J Men Psychosom 2020; 21 281–322). A quantitative analysis (Braun et al. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006; 3 77–101) will be performed on the responses, following which interviews will be conducted with previous volunteers who participated in the study. The interviews will be evaluated through content analysis. Our survey is prepared with the involvement of all significant training centers in Hungary. The study was approved by the United Ethical Review Committee for Research in Psychology (EPKEB, approval numbers: 2021-109, 2023-101).

The participants’ main characteristics and the questionnaires’ results will be summarized with standard statistical methods, while the interviews will be analyzed with the help of qualitative methods.

Based on the results of the described study, we aim to investigate the educational system’s impact on the career development and commitment of psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists in Hungary. Additionally, the research will yield valuable perspectives on how these factors affect the mental well-being of these professionals. Ultimately, the results could help address areas of concern and improve mental health professionals’ training.

* Presenting author

** The two authors contributed equally.

None Declared

This review explores the benefits of incorporating personal experience(s) with non-ordinary states of consciousness as a core component of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PaT) training.

The program incorporates an optional experiential training component. We collaborate with professionals affiliated with a Canadian non-profit organization specializing in PaT experiential training. As do other stakeholders in this field– including program developers, educators, and researchers–we navigate a rapidly evolving and often ambiguous landscape, where infrastructure and regulations are lagging scientific data and best practices. Given the potential for differing perspectives, the authors acknowledge that their personal experiences could be a potential source of bias, influencing objectivity.

Conversely, these lived experiences could be seen as valuable contributions, enriching perspectives on the role of experiential training. In that context, our intention is to provide a comprehensive review, presenting arguments both in favour of and against the integration of experiential training in PaT.

There is an urgent need for establishing legal training and practice options, bridging the underground with best practices, with all practitioners operating within a regulated and ethically accountable framework. Such a proactive strategy would mitigate the risks associated with unregulated training in a field with relatively few guidelines on how to develop competency.

An in-training PaT experience supports personal comfort, self-assuredness, and confidence supporting others in non-ordinary states of consciousness, with contemporary researchers/experts highlighting the specific challenges among therapists who lack lived experience. These might include holding unrealistic expectations, being unaware of the impacts of set and setting, and misunderstanding

Whether or not therapists engage in experiential training - serving a dual in one’s own healing process, it is imperative that they maintain their own wellness practices. This proactive/primary prevention strategy would improve well-being and resilience, reducing secondary mental health consequences for patients and providers. Cultivating a culture of self-care within the mental health field should be an overarching priority for training programs and professional organizations, without which we are left with broken people in support of broken people. Current rates of burnout, absenteeism and early retirement suggest that we are already on that trajectory and should serve as a call to action.

None Declared