Several caregiving activities appear to be compromised by postpartum depression including breastfeeding, sleep routines and well-child visits, such as vaccinations and safety practices. Previous studies highlighted the need for universal screening of maternal and paternal depression, as well as the establishment of early interventions during the postpartum period such as the infant massage for their infants.

The goal of the present pilot study is to purpose the neonatal massage as an intervention to decrease the depressive symptoms of the couple during the post partum period.

Depressive symptoms were evaluated through the Edinburgh Postnatal Depressive Scale (EPDS; Cox, Holden & Sagovsky, 1987) and the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, Brown, 1996) at 3 months of the baby. In the following 4 weeks, the couple was trained to touch the baby through the neonatal massage techniques. Their interaction was videotaped and assessed through the Assessment Tool for Observation of Mother/Father-infant Interaction (Dumas, Bystrova, Widstrom, 2005). At the end of the training, depressive symptoms were evaluated through the same measures.

Preliminary findings have shown lower scores of depressive symptoms on the EPDS, and the BDI in both mother and father after the neonatal massage took place. Also parents reported lower complaints of the baby in several area.

Early intervention during the postnatal period of life of the family may lead toward a greater functioning of the couple, and to a greater sensitive approach with the baby.

Literature suggest that antipsychotic medications may decrease cortisol level, an effect that seems to be more present with second generation antipsychotic. Our study aims at assessing effect of long term use of antipsychotics on cortisol level

30 chronic schizophrenic patients on antipsychotics compared to 20 drug naïf schizophrenic patients as regards serum cortisol level

Cortisol level was significantly lower in chronic schizophrenic patients receiving antipsychotics compared to drug naïf patients (P=0.002 <0.05)

Antipsychotic medications seem to have the potential to decrease cortisol level in blood. Among hypothesis proposed in literature is the good control of pseudo stress due to psychotic features

Depression in older adults is often under-diagnosed and consequently under-treated, despite association with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, increased healthcare utilisation and greater economic cost compared to younger populations. Better identification will be imperative in the future because of the estimated growth in the older adult population. Screening could improve identification; a well-known screening tool tis the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the brief GDS-15 and ultra-brief versions in the detection of major depression.

Seven electronic databases and unpublished literature were searched, using predefined criteria, from 1982 to April 2014. Primary study quality was assessed using the QUADAS-2. Pooled diagnostic performance data was calculated using bivariate meta-analysis. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were pre-planned. Heterogeneity was explored through meta-regression.

Of 6635 records identified 32 studies were included. Meta-analyses were possible for the GDS-1, GDS-4 and GDS-15. For the GDS-15, at the recommended cut-off score of 5, the diagnostic odds ratio was highest in a community setting and for older adults aged ≤69 years. A cut-off score of 4, however, provided better diagnostic accuracy. Diagnostic data was less favourable when depression prevalence was ≥10%. Better diagnostic properties were found in non-Western countries. Meta-regression revealed country and language were predictive of diagnostic accuracy.

Further research is needed to explore diagnostic properties of ultra-brief GDS versions. GDS-15 findings suggest selective reporting of cut-off scores, which requires cautious interpretation and a need for greater methodological rigor in primary studies.

Suicidal behaviors are increasing in our country and they can be influenced by several factors such as social and cultural factors. It is important for physicians to better elucidate the risk factors in order to develop better strategies for prevention and management.

To determine socio-demographic and clinical features in Tunisian patients who committed suicide attempts.

Retrospective and descriptive study using medical files of patients referred to the outpatients clinic of Razi hospital. Included patients have made a suicide attempt in the period from january to september 2014. Socio-démographic and clinical features were collected.

Thirty-three patients were included (19 men and 14 women). The mean age was 30.6 years.

Most of these patients were single (n=20; 60.6%), unemployed (n=19; 57.6%), with a low education level (n=19; 57.6%) and a low financial income (n=18; 54.5%).

Nine of our patients went to jail (27.3%) and 8 had a personal history of suicide attempt (24.2%).

Eighteen patients had addictive behavior (54.5%) and 7 of them were addicted to many substances (21.2%).

Most prevalent psychiatric disorders in our population were adjustment disorder (57.6%) and depression (39.4%).

Personality disorders were found in 18 patients (54.5%).

57.6% of patients used drugs for their suicide attempts

Four patients were hospitalized and 82.2% of patients were lost afterward.

Suicidal attempts were associated with a disturbed and unsettled social and familial life leading to personality disorders. Furthermore, we noticed the high prevalence of addiction behaviors and bad treatment compliance.

Depressed patients demonstrate low frustration tolerance which increases the risk of suicide and causes difficulties in social adaptation. Resting-state neuroimaging studies revealed abnormalities in “default-mode” network in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). To our knowledge, functional network responsible for frustration has not been investigated in depressed subjects previously.

To investigate functional responses to frustration in MDD subjects and healthy controls (HCs).

15 subjects with MDD and 15 HCs underwent 10-min fMRI scanning. We used modified Stroop-test to investigate subjects’ responses to frustration. There were two sessions: during the first one the subject had to determine the color of the text by pressing corresponding button while scanning; the second one was a “frustrative” part when the subject had to respond within a short period of time. We modified this interval so that it was almost impossible to respond correctly and keep within the allotted time. The subject was being informed on its performance during the test. Independent component analysis was used to isolate the frustration network in each subject. Group maps of the response network were compared. A within-group analysis was performed in the MDD group to explore effects of depression scores on functional connectivity.

We revealed differences in limbic functional connectivity patterns during the test perfomance in MDD in comparison to HCs.

The findings suggest that low frustration tolerance in depressed patients can be explained by the impaired function of stress-response brain network and reveal perspectives for future research on depression and suicide risk.

Information and computing technologies promise new virtual learning and communication opportunities within the real communities of health care professionals.

This research is interventional. in this study one questionnaire was distributed to nursing staff working in Psychiatry ward. the questionnaire was to assess the knowledge of the nurses with regards to essential information required for; nursing care for patients with Psychiatry problems, Anxiety Disorders, and Depression etc.

Their knowledge was then re-assessed following forward of-ten E- Newsletter via SMS mobile phone to the same nursing staff during a one month. the two results, before and after sending the information, was compared.

The findings of this study showed there was significant improvement in awareness and knowledge of the staff in thePsychiatry ward of Shiraz Psychiatry Hospital before and after sending E-newsletter containing the required information, via SMS. (p < .0/05)

According to the results of this research, development of mobile technology in all parts of our country can be used to forward the latest information to medical, paramedical professionals and to all employees and workers in these sectors, even in remote areas using this technology. the information can even be expanded based on request based on their needs.

Alcohol drinking behavior is increased in alarming rate in public universities of Ethiopia. However, their prevalence is not well described. This study was conducted to describe the prevalence of alcohol drinking behavior in public universities of Ethiopia.

A probabilistic sample of 861students was selected and interview edusing the CAGE questionnaire regarding their alcohol drinking behavior.

Eighty-one per cent of the respondents admitted that they currently drank alcohol. The prevalence of alcohol drinking was 19.4% for females and 47% for men. Among those who drank, 24.6% met the criterion for problem drinking as defined by two or more positive responses to the CAGE. The overall prevalence for problem drinking was found to be 5.5%.

The prevalence of alcohol drinking behavior in Public Universities of Ethiopia is high.

The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic forced a change in the functioning of health care systems across the globe, requiring rapid adaptation to new conditions for the safe provision of services within all medical fields. General disruption has also affected the traditional program of a postgraduate training, which has been so far fixed with temporary solutions, but not given a proper evaluation in the times of big expectations and pressures from both patients and healthcare workers.

Outbreak of the COVID-19 put psychiatry trainees and Early Career Psychiatrists in an unprecedented position of responsibility for treatment of a variety of comorbidities they had no prior experience with due to closure of specialized hospital departments and limited access to regular diagnostic tools. In addition to changes in clinical practice and deployment to unfamiliar ground, rescheduling of different components of regular training, transferring most of the educational activities to distance learning, limiting professional growth by canceling most courses and conferences only strengthened the feeling of uncertainty caused by constant adjustments of the final examinations’ conditions.

The Speciality Training Section of the Polish Psychiatric Association decided to review changes forced by the COVID-19 outbreak in a traditional postgraduate training program in psychiatry.

Identified shortcomings pose questions about the necessity of a solid revision of the training in order to cope with more demanding working conditions.

Presented recommendations may be the starting point for a discussion on the programs’ evaluation across the entire region.

No significant relationships.

To determine the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of second-generation antipsychotic drugs (SGAs) in anorexia nervosa.

We covered all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing a pharmacotherapy with SGAs to placebo or no treatment in anorexia nervosa. Primary outcome was weight gain assessed by mean change in body mass index (BMI). Secondary outcomes were change of anorectic symptoms assessed by the Yale–Brown–Cornell Eating Disorders Scale (YBC-EDS) score and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) score, and premature discontinuation of treatment. Using the random-effects model of Der-Simonian and Laired standardized mean differences based on Hedges's g and risk ratios were calculated.

Seven RCTs investigating olanzapine (N=4), quetiapine (N=2), and risperidone (N=1) with 201 subjects were included. There was no significant between-group difference in mean BMI change when comparing the pooled group of SGA drugs with the pooled control group (N=6, n=152; Hedges's g=0.17, 95% CI: -0.14-0.48; p=0.28). None of the examined single SGAs was significantly superior to placebo/no treatment in achieving BMI gain. We found no significant between-group differences for all secondary outcomes with the exception of the EDI total score which decreased statistically significant more in the pooled control group. The antipsychotic medication was well tolerated.

Because of lacking evidence SGAs cannot be generally recommended in anorexia nervosa although some individuals or subgroups of patients might respond to an antipsychotic medication. Further research is needed to identify which anorectic patients could probably benefit from treatment with antipsychotic drugs. The medication with SGAs was well accepted and tolerated in anorectic patients.

Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic that demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of adults with schizophrenia in the dose range of 37–148 mg/day.

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of lurasidone in adolescent patients with schizophrenia.

Adolescents (13–17 years old) diagnosed with schizophrenia were randomly assigned to six weeks of double-blind treatment with lurasidone 37 mg/day, 74 mg/day or placebo. Changes from baseline to week 6 in PANSS total and subscale (positive, negative, general psychopathology, excitability) scores were evaluated using mixed-model repeated-measures analysis.

A total of 326 patients (mean age, 15.4 years) were randomized and received lurasidone 37 mg/day (n = 108), 74 mg/day (n = 106), or placebo (n = 112). The PANSS total score at week 6 demonstrated a placebo-adjusted, least-squares (LS) mean improvement of –8.0 (P < 0.001; effect size [ES], 0.51) for the 37 mg/day group and –7.7 (P < 0.001; ES = 0.48) for the 74 mg/day group. Placebo-adjusted LS mean change for lurasidone 37 mg/day and 74 mg/day, respectively, was –3.2 (P < 0.001; ES = 0.62) and –3.2 (P < 0.001; ES = 0.60) on the PANSS positive subscale, –1.7 (P = 0.011; ES = 0.41) and –1.6 (P = 0.022; ES = 0.35) on the PANSS negative subscale, –2.8 (P = 0.012; ES = 0.38) and –2.8 (P = 0.011; ES = 0.37) on the PANSS general psychopathology subscale, and –1.1 (P = 0.016; ES = 0.36) and –1.8 (P < 0.001; ES = 0.53) on the PANSS excitability subscale.

In adolescent patients with schizophrenia, lurasidone (37 mg/day and 74 mg/day) demonstrated statistically significant efficacy and clinically meaningful improvement across a wide spectrum of symptoms associated with schizophrenia. Sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01911429.

Dr Correll reports being a consultant and/or advisor for Alkermes, Forum Pharmaceuticals Inc., Gerson Lehrman Group, IntraCellular Therapies, Janssen/J&J, Lundbeck, Medavante, Medscape, Otsuka, Pfizer Inc, ProPhase, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc., Supernus, Takeda, and Teva providing expert testimony for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Janssen, and Otsuka serving on a Data Safety Monitoring Board for Lundbeck and Pfizer Inc and receiving grant support from Takeda. Drs Goldman, Cucchiaro, Deng and Loebel are employees of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an efficacious treatment for many mental disorders, but is underutilized because of fears of adverse effects, including the risk of death.

To provide a full picture of the magnitude of ECT-related mortality worldwide.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (PubMed and Embase) in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. Only publications reporting on a specific number of ECT treatments as well as specific number of ECT-related deaths were included in our analysis. The ECT-related mortality rate was calculated by dividing the total number of ECT-related deaths by the total number of ECT treatments. The 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of this estimate was calculated using Bernoullis principle of distribution.

Fourteen studies with data from 32 countries reporting on a total of 757,662 ECT treatments met the predefined inclusion criteria. Fifteen cases of ECT-related death were reported – yielding an ECT-related mortality rate of 2.0 per 100,000 treatments (95% CI: 1.0–3.0). In the eight studies published after 2001 (covering 406,229 treatments), no ECT-related deaths were reported.

The ECT-related mortality rate was estimated at 2 per 100,000 treatments. For comparison, a recent meta-analysis on the mortality of general anaesthesia in relation to surgical procedures reported a mortality rate of 3.4 per 100,000. Thus, our systematic review and meta-analysis documents that death caused by ECT is extremely rare. This information can be used to reassure patients in need of ECT.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.