According to the World Health Organisation goals of treatment of drug addiction are: reducing of drug use and craving, improving of health, well-being and social functioning of the affected individual, prevention of future harms by decreasing the risk of complications and relapse. Wellness means a sense of overall well-being incorporating numerous aspects of an individual’s life. These include physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, occupational, and spiritual aspects. For those who suffer from mental and substance use disorders, wellness means feeling a sense of purpose in life, being actively involved in work or play that is satisfying, finding happiness, having joyful relationships, and having a healthy body and living environment. .

We will present different dimensions of wellness and describe how to incorporate these dimensions into drug addiction treatment.

Presentation of theoretical frame and description of treatment programme at the Center for Treatment of Drug Addiction Ljubljana.

When each of wellness dimensions is balanced, it is easier to maintain recovery process and avoid the triggers of relapse.

In the context of wellness, treatment goal is to maximize the capacity of person to feel, think and act in ways that enhance his/her ability to enjoy life and deal with the challenges he/she face. Wellness lifestyle includes a balance of health habits such as adequate sleep and rest, productivity, exercise, participation in meaningful activity, nutrition, productivity, social contact, and supportive relationships.

No significant relationships.

Covid-19 pandemic caused a pivot to online clinical education and assessment across the globe.

To explore the views of psychiatric trainees and examiners on assessment of communication skills during online high stakes postgraduate examination.

This study was designed as interpretive descriptive qualitative research. All candidates and examiners of the online Irish Basic Specialist Training exam in September and November 2020 were included. The respondents were interviewed by Zoom which were transcribed verbatim. Data was coded using NVivo20 pro and Braun and Clarke thematic analysis was used to draw various themes and subthemes.

A total of seven candidates and seven examiners from different training deaneries and specialties were interviewed with average duration of 29m 45s and 24m 20s respectively. The participants were largely satisfied with the online examination but did not consider it equal to face-to-face for picking nonverbal cues. The candidates were very conscious of eye contact while examiners placed more emphasis on overall professional behavior and patient engagement. All candidates preferred to continue online format post pandemic for practical reasons e.g., avoiding travel and overnight stay, while all examiners preferred to go back to in-person Objective Structured Clinical Examination due to some limitations in assessing physical and cognitive examination. However, continuation of online Clinical Formulation and Management Examination was agreed by both groups.

The results of the study have shown different insights of two important stakeholders in a professional postgraduate psychiatry examination which can be useful to improve same exam and design similar assessments in other settings.

No significant relationships.

Alcohol dependence and depression are often combined, patients with comorbid pathology have a more severe course of the disease, a high risk of suicide and therapeutic resistance. Enzyme dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) is a key player in a link between dopamine and norepinephrine neuromediations and may be involved in alcohol dependence and depression comorbidity and genetic markers in DBH gene may be associated with the risk of comorbid state.

To test an association of DBH gene polymorphisms rs161111580 and rs1108580 with depression risk in alcohol-dependent patients.

Our sample consisted of 104 inpatients diagnosed by ICD-10 criteria: 40 with alcohol dependence (AD group) (age 45.6 (SD 10.853), 5% females), 64 with depression and alcoholism comorbidity (AD+D group) (age 41.2 (SD 9.903), 22% females) and 112 healthy controls (age 35.5 (SD 8.286), 15% females). rs1108580 and rs1611115 were detected by RT-PCR.

For rs161111580, frequencies of minor T allele (p=0.031) and ТТ genotype (p=0.017) was higher, СС genotype (p=0.042) was lower in AD group vs. controls. rs161111580 T allele and TT genotype increases the risk of AD (OR=3.715, 95%CI [1.728-7.986], P=0.001 and OR=4.009, 95%CI [1.502-10.699], P=0.006). For rs161111580, frequency of ТТ genotype (p=0.009) was higher in AD+D group vs. controls. For rs1108580, frequency of major А allele (p=0.059, trend) was higher in AD+D, then in AD group. Major А allele rs1108580 increases the risk of depression in alcohol-dependent patients (OR=2.74, 95%CI [1.283-5.855], P=0.001).

It was shown that the DBH rs1108580 increases the risk of depression in patients with alcohol dependence.

No significant relationships.

Facing the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are experiencing severe mental distress. Following social distancing and economic insecurity, significant increases in mental health concerns have developed.

The aims of this study was to report the levels of depressive and anxiety within active population in Romania, and to identify possible risk and protective factors for mental health.

Data collection occurred between February-March 2021. The online survey included questions regarding socio-demographic characteristics and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). 620 responses were validated (331 students and 289 workers).

Among active population, risk of anxiety symptoms is lower in those who already were infected with SARS-Cov2 (p=0.026, df=2, Phi=0.109), while positive screening for anxiety or depression in this study was statistically significant associated with younger age (p=0.026, df=4, Phi=0.134) and female gender (p=<0.001, df=2, Phi=0.166). Even though anxiety and depression scores are similar among students and employees, there are different aspects regarding symptomatology between these two groups. Students have experienced more frequently tendency to worry and sudden feelings of panic (p=0.004, df=3, Phi=0.146). Also, their ability to laugh and see the funny side of things is affected (p=0.019, df=3, Phi=0.127) and they feel less enthusiasm about future (p=0.001, df=3, Phi=0.159). Participants living with someone else scored lower on anxiety and depression subscales and those are not influenced by the person with whom they are cohabitating or residing (p=0.020, df=3, Phi=0.138).

Findings from the current study offer initial insights into the rates of anxiety and depression within active population in Romania, one year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

No significant relationships.

As liaison psychiatrists, it is very important to mantein a good relationship with other medical specialties in order to obtain the best result for our patients. Most of the times, the somatic process affects direct or indirectly to mental healt and vice versa, so our cooperation is extremely important for the patient’s welbeing.

With this study we try to find special considerations and necesities of every specialty that count on us in our hospital. We have design this batebase with the aim of discovering which are the main problems that suffer the admitted patients, which doubts face our colleagues when evaluate mental health patients, etc. Thus, our team could help other physicians properly or so we could stablish a proper liaison in order to make things easier.

A database has been created with all the patients evaluated by our liaison psychiatry team during half a year. We have taken into account sex, age, referral specialist, mental health diagnosis (after our evaluation), previous mental health follow-up, if they are on psycopharmacology treatment, if they requiere psycopharmacology treatment and if they requiere follow-up once discharged.

22,9% were kid/adolescent patients. 25,8% were elderly people (>70 yo). 47% were men (of which, 6% were trans men), 53% were women. 22,9% suffered from adjustment disorder, 14,1% had no acute mental health problem, 11,76% presented substance abuse. Main petitions were made from Internal Medicine (30%)

With this information we can explore other specialists’ and admitted patients’ needs and concerns and focus our effort in solving them.

No significant relationships.

The term “Sexual and Gender Minorities” includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and/or asexual populations. It was introduced in the MeSH Database in 2018. Mental health research on sexual and gender minority populations is gaining momentum.

To describe mental disorders among sexual and gender minorities.

This is a review of the literature via Medline. The database was searched using the keyword combination “sexual gender minorities” OR “homosexuality” OR “bisexuality” OR “transgender persons” OR “intersex persons” AND “mental disorders”. The filters applied were Full text, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review and in the last 5 years.

A total of 59 articles were included. The lowest rates of depression and anxiety were reported among heterosexual people. Depressive symptoms, suicidality, interpersonal trauma exposure, substance use disorders, anxiety, and general distress have been consistently elevated among transgender and gender non-conforming people. Among transgender people, the prevalence of binge drinking ranged from 7%-61%. Depression was the most frequent mental disorder among sexual minority men (43.2%) followed by anxiety (32.2%), suicidal ideation (21.2%), suicide plans (6.2%) and suicide attempts (7.3%). Eating disorders were more frequent among sexual minority women compared with heterosexual peers. Compared with heterosexual youth, sexual minority youth had 123% to 623% higher odds of lifetime substance use, 82% to 317% higher odds of depressive symptoms and suicidality and 20% to 280% higher odds of violence victimization.

The prevalence of mental disorders is high among sexual and gender minorities for whom mental health prevention and treatment programs are needed.

No significant relationships.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 era, there has been a major shift of psychiatry and psychotherapy practice to the online venues, or what has been broadly known as telepsychiatry. A practice that has been very practical since then. And yet, there has been a debate about the patients’ degree of satisfaction with the therapeutic process, especially with a modality like group therapy, which has not been widely researched.

The objective of this pilot is to assess the level of patients’ satisfaction among both online and in-person participants of dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills group as a part of comprehensive outpatient DBT program.

27 DBT skills group participants completed an online form including demographic data, type and duration of group attended, in addition to the Arabic version of the Satisfaction with Therapy and Therapist Scale- Revised (STTS-R).

The majority of the 27 participants were females (88.9%), of which 81.4% were 18-34 years old and 77.4 % at least had a university degree. Among all the participants, 63% were online group attendants versus 37% in-person. The mean total of patient’s satisfaction with the in-person group was 53.5 in comparison to 49.2 in online group participants. Also, 90% of in-person group participants reported that the group helped them in dealing with presenting problem to an extent in comparison to 82.2% of online participants.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic mandated more use of telepsychiatry, in-person DBT skills group participants reported higher satisfaction of their therapy in comparison to online group participants.

No significant relationships.

Kandinsky–Clérambault syndrome with religious delusion of possession (KSRDP) in schizophrenia is insufficiently explored phenomenon. The syndrome characterized by significant severity of clinical state, high social risks and resistance to psychopharmacotherapy and requires the close attention.

To analyze psychopathological specifics of KSRDP and to identify the prognosis, dynamics of schizophrenia with KSRDP.

Thirty four patients (18 women; 16 men; the average age 28 ± 9,5 years) with schizophrenia (F20.0, F20.01, F20.02 according to ICD-10) were examined by psychopathological, psychometrical and statistical methods

The specifics of the syndrome is delusional belief in possession by demonic or divine ‘spiritual being’, invaded within the body. This possession is interpreted by patients as the totality of mind, body and soul control; and in several cases – as the appearance of a new identity. According to the “classical” Kandinsky–Clérambault syndrome, KSRDP accompanied by extensive psychic automatisms (ideational, cenestopathic, kinaesthetic), haptic and olfactory pseudo-hallucinations. Furthermore the specific hallucinations for KSRDP (Hallucinationen der Gemeingefühlsempfindun by von Krafft-Ebing, R.) are observed, which based on sensory-spatial imaginary sensations, with a clear localization in the field of a visceral sensitivity (as a material object with a certain shape, consistency, size, and weight).

In contrast with “classical” paranoid syndrome of Kandinsky–Clérambault when negative effect is usually perceived by patients as external influence, KSRDP is characterized by delusional idea of ‘spiritual being’s invasion inside the body, mind and soul to control the whole human’s existence. Patients with KSRDP require specific treatment and management due to the religious content of delusion.

No significant relationships.

Seizures occur in about 3% cases of alcohol withdrawal. They usually appear within 48 hours after abrupt cessation, and are characterized by a reduction in seizure threshold secondary to adaptation to alcohol. More than 50% of individuals will experience a new seizure and in 5% of these cases, progression to a sustained epilepticus status can occur.

The aim is to do a review of the literature on alcohol withdrawal and the onset of seizures in individuals with alcohol addiction.

A literature review was conducted using the PubMed search database.

Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and chronic consumption causes neuroadaptation in order to maintain homeostasis. This adaptation involves the upregulation of excitatory neurotransmitters systems and the downregulation of inhibitory ones. When consumption is abruptly discontinued, the depressive contribution of alcohol to a previously established balance is disrupted, resulting in withdrawal symptoms associated to a generalized CNS’ hyperexcitability state.Critical episodes increase the risk of delirium tremens, a fatal condition in 20% of untreated cases. Thus, the treatment and prevention of seizure recurrences is essential: the clinical guidelines of the American Society of Addiction Medicine 2020, offer an action proposal. Pharmacological therapy after seizures is the preferential treatment: intravenous administration of fast-acting benzodiazepines (lorazepam and diazepam) is the first line treatment.

It is essential to monitor signs and symptoms that alert us to the appearance of seizures associated to alcohol withdrawal, effectively treat these cases, prevent recurrences, and provide a quality follow-up for these patients.

No significant relationships.

Art-therapy (encompassing plastic arts, music, theather and writing) is a promising and acceptable management strategy of eating disorders (ED). It has the potential to improve well-being and therapeutic alliance, targeting psychological dimensions of ED, and dealing with difficulties of expression and rationalization of patients. Nevertheless, the efficacy of this approach is difficult to evaluate because of the lack of studies in this area.

We sought to provide an overview on the efficacy of art therapy in the management of ED, by a systematic review of all controlled trials using art therapy on patients with ED.

This systematic review included all controlled trials using art-therapy on a population of adolescent and adult patients with ED. The effect of art therapy on clinical indicators such as anthropometric variables, symptoms and dimensions of ED was evaluated.

Of the 1286 screened records, only four respected inclusion criteria. These four trials evaluated plastic art therapy, music therapy, writing therapy, and dance-movement therapy. A large number of bias and strong heterogeneity of inclusion criteria, techniques and variables prevented any attempt of quantitative synthesis. Music therapy appeared to have a significant effect on post-prandial anxiety, while dance-movement therapy showed an effect on body dissatisfaction.

The generalizability of the results found is weakened by the high heterogeneity of trials. Replication studies and a rigorous methodologies are necessary for more reliable conclusions. Art therapy could help improving some specific dimensions of ED.

No significant relationships.

Fondamental Foundation supported the developement of the application EMMA

Both Major Depressive and Alcohol Use Disorders are highly prevalent. They also are the major contributors to disability and decreased quality of life and, as they are often comorbid with each other, the diagnosis and treatment of concurrent depression and alcohol use disorder represents a challenging task with multiple clinical questions requiring evidence-based recommendations.

The goal of this presentation is to review the optimal strategies to treat concurrent alcohol use and major depressive disorders in the context of current research findings and clinical practice.

Narrative review, knowledge synthesis.

The most up-to-date research findings in the areas of epidemiology of concurrent depression and alcohol use disorder, their differential diagnosis, and treatment approaches will be reviewed. This review will include the current evidence of effectiveness of various antidepressants in treatment of depression concurrent with alcohol use disorder and antidipsotropic agents use for alcohol use disorder in the context of depressive symptoms, as well as their combinations. We will discuss the timeline of initiation of both antidepressants and antidipsotropic agents, non-pharmacological treatment modalities as well as the clinical tools that can be used to properly monitor patients’ progress and optimize the treatment process, and the integrative teamwork necessary to achieve optimal results.

Ultimately, the optimal diagnostic and treatment algorithm and the set of evidence-based treatment recommendations will be presented.

No significant relationships.

Mental health professionals are one of the major sources of stigma for persons with schizophrenia and their families. The stereotype of incompetence is central in this stigmatization, whereas valuing skills is a fundamental aspect of mental health care and recovery.

The aim of this study is to identify the domains of competence stigmatized in schizophrenia by mental health professionals and the factors associated with this stigmatization.

An online survey was conducted with a specific measure of the stereotype of incompetence and these associated factors. Participants were to be mental health professionals who work or have worked with persons with schizophrenia. These participants were recruited through professional social networks.

Responses of 164 participants were analyzed. The results reported four highly stigmatized skill domains: ability to relate well socially, ability to be effective in their work, ability to make decisions about their health, and ability to control their emotions. Intelligence was found to be less stigmatized than the other dimensions. Recovery beliefs, categorical beliefs, and perceived similarities were factors associated with the stereotype of incompetence.

Responses of 164 participants were analyzed. The results reported four highly stigmatized skill domains: ability to relate well socially, ability to be effective in their work, ability to make decisions about their health, and ability to control their emotions. Intelligence was found to be less stigmatized than the other dimensions. Recovery beliefs, categorical beliefs, and perceived similarities were factors associated with the stereotype of incompetence.

No significant relationships.

Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have an increased risk for cardiovascular morbimortality. Clinical risk factors, specifically for arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death remain understudied.

This study was conducted to assess differences in cardiac conduction among BD patients.

We included patients with BD in a cross-sectional design, confirmed by structured interview, age 18 through 80. Clinical characteristics were obtained using a structured questionnaire or medical records review. ECG intervals duration and morphology were manually assessed by cardiologists and compared among clinical subgroups using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskall-Wallis tests. Exploratory multivariable linear and logistic regression models were fitted to adjust for potential confounders.

We included 117 patients (60.7% women, 76.9% bipolar I, 50% history of psychosis, 22.6% suicide attempts). We found a significantly longer QTc interval in BD patients with hypertension (difference: 9.5 ms, p=0.006), obesity (difference: 25 ms, p=0.001), and metabolic syndrome (difference: 13 ms, p=0.007). Hypertension remained a significant predictor of longer QTc after adjusting for age, gender, and antipsychotic use (estimate 17.718, p=0.018). We observed a significantly shorter PR interval in women (difference: 6 ms, p=0.029), early age of onset (difference 6 ms, p=0.025), non-users of lithium (difference 4 ms, p=0.002), and early trauma (difference 4 ms, p=0.038). Finally, we identified significant correlations between symptom severity, blood glucose and PR interval (r=0.298, p=0.001; r=0.278, p=0.003; respectively).

Patients with BD and hypertension may have an increased risk for QTc prolongation. Careful cardiovascular monitoring may be warranted.

No significant relationships.

Evidence suggest that critically ill COVID-19 patients are at higher risk of developing anxiety symptoms, which may be related to or exacerbated by patients concerns regarding their health status and recovery.

To assess anxiety symptoms in critically ill COVID-19 survivors, 1-2 months after hospital discharge and to analyze its association with concerns reported by patients regarding their own health status and recovery.

In the framework of MAPA prospective research, this preliminary study included COVID-19 patients admitted in the Intensive Care Medicine Department (ICMD) of a University Hospital. Patients were excluded if they had an ICMD length of stay (LoS) ≤24h, terminal illness, major auditory impairment or inability to communicate at the evaluation time. Participants were assessed at a scheduled telephone follow-up appointment, with Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Additional questions were asked to assess the survivors’ post-discharge concerns regarding discrimination against for COVID-19, infection of a family member, re-infection or sequelae related to COVID-19.

Eighty-three patients were included (median age=63 years; 63% male) and 24% had anxiety symptoms. Anxiety scores were higher in survivors who reported being afraid of being discriminated against for COVID-19 (30% vs 10%; p=0.034), being re-infected (100% vs 79%; p=0.032) and having sequelae (94% vs 44%; p<0.001).

These findings revealed that anxiety is common in COVID-19 survivors and is associated with post-discharge patients concerns that may limit patient daily living. This study emphasizes the importance of psychological assessment and follow-up of the COVID-19 survivors, in order to support these patients recovery.

No significant relationships.

There is growing evidence that sexual minority men (e.g., gay, bisexual) experience lower sleep quality when compared to their heterosexual peers. Minority stress (e.g., discrimination, victimization) may account for these differences, however little is known about these relationships and how generalized anxiety may play a role in sleep disturbance.

Therefore, the aims of this study are to (a) understand the relationship between minority stress and sleep disturbance in a sample of sexual minority men, and (b) test whether these relationships are mediated by generalized anxiety.

In 2020, 241 sexual minority men were recruited across a south-eastern state in the USA. Participants were asked to respond to scales assessing perceived social stress, minority stress constructs (i.e., internalized homophobia, experiences of harassment, microaggressions), generalized anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Linear regressions were used to test the relationship between minority stress and sleep disturbance controlling for perceived social stress and to test mediation by generalized anxiety.

Two minority stress constructs (experiences of harassment, and microaggressions) and perceived social stress were found to have a positive relationship with sleep disturbance. Generalized anxiety symptoms fully mediated the relationship between minority stress and sleep disturbance.

Because sleep quality has a profound impact on health, findings from this study suggest the need for psychological intervention to improve sleep for sexual minority men. Given that generalized anxiety fully mediates the relationship between minority stress and sleep, targeted anxiety-based interventions have the potential to reduce sleep disturbance disparities between heterosexual and sexual minority men.

No significant relationships.

Methylphenidate and amphetamine are the two most widely used stimulants in managing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)1. Reynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is a reversible distal vasoconstriction presenting with various dermatological symptoms. RP can secondarily develop after certain medications as well2.

The review was undertaken to synthesize the incidence of RP within ADHD population treated with stimulants, and any causal relation of RP and stimulant-use.

PubMed, Psych-Info and Google Scholar were searched using these keywords: skin change, Raynaud, stimulants and methylphenidate. All relevant study types were included. Results were synthesized narratively.

Initial search yielded 240 articles with 5 articles fulfilling our inclusion criteria. One was retrospective case-controlled study while remaining 4 were case reports. Six cases were identified with an age of 12-19 years, who presented with RP after being treated with methylphenidate-or-dextroamphetamine. In one case, multiple clinical signs of RP were seen with cold distal fingers, transient color changes and even frank ulceration3–6. In two cases, it was seen that RP was dose-dependent with stimulant use and got resolved after decreasing the dosage respectively. In case-control study, 32 cases with RP and 32 controls were enrolled. The results showed a statistically significant association (χ2 =5, p=0.01) between RP and past-or-current stimulant usage.7

The literature review suggests weak evidence of the association between RP and stimulant use but no evidence of any causal link. Further studies are needed to identify characters that can predict this adverse effect in vulnerable ADHD individuals.

No significant relationships.

In 2016 the United Nations launched their “Decade of action on nutrition” promoting a healthy and sustainable food pattern. The International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research held its first International Conference in 2017. Current evidence in this area consists mainly of association studies, while interventional studies with food supplements or altered diet patterns are starting to emerge.

To our knowledge practice based research on promoting healthy food and investigating the role of medical professionals is scarse in general and especially so in psychiatry. Hence, our research questions were: 1. What is the attitude of mental health professionals with regard to promoting healthy food in their patients. 2. What is the subjective knowledge and attention in training schemes on this topic.

We conducted a self-made online questionnaire using a 5 point Likert Scale. Surveys were sent out to 50 mental health professionals of our institution, including psychiatrists, psychiatric residents, General Practitioners and Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Results were analysed with descriptive statistics.

40 (80%) of the respondents returned the questionnaire. 65% of respondents considered promoting healthy food as a key task for themselves in their daily practice. 45% of respondents believed their patients would be reluctant to follow advice on healthy diet. 62% had sufficient knowledge on the subject to give professional advice, while 65% answered this topic received insufficient attention during their training.

In this survey we found the role of promoting healthy diet deserves more attention in mental health practice and training. Smartphone applications may ameliorate treatment adherence.

No significant relationships.

The development of emotional intelligence is an urgent issue of teaching people in our time. The use of a virtual reality (VR) systems for the development of emotional intelligence is a problem of modern pedagogy.

The research is aimed at studying interrelations of the level of development of emotional intelligence the manifestations of the ability to perceive and identify emotional expression demonstrated by a virtual avatar in VR CAVE system. The research is aimed at finding unusual ways to develop emotional intelligence.

The study involved 55 participants aged 18 to 25 years (average age-20.38 ± 0.28), 23 of whom were men and 22 were women. During the study we diagnosed the level of development of emotional intelligence (Sergienko, Vetrova, 2009) and spatial abilities (Rimfeld et al., 2017), type of attachment to the loved one (Sabelnikova, Kashirsky, 2015), and the negotiating style of personality (Soldatova, Gasimov, 2019). In the VR CAVE system, a situation was simulated in which the subject had to detect the avatar and determine the emotional-facial expression displayed by it.

It was shown that the level of respondent’s emotional intelligence development does not determine the success of identifying the avatar’s emotion in VR. The success of identifying emotions depends on the level spatial abilities development. Therefore, it is assumed that in the simulated situation, the avatar is perceived as a special spatial image, and not as a full-fledged partner for interpersonal communication.

Thus, the use of VR systems for training and development of emotional intelligence is not proven.

No significant relationships.

Methamphetamine associated psychosis has increased globally because of the increased usage of the substance. The use of risperidone is noted to reduce the cravings of methamphetamine in patients who have methamphetamine use disorder. This becomes relevant because the number of patients who are being treated with MAP tends to have high relapse rates. MAP is being treated with different antipsychotics and the treatment protocol is made usually for alleviating the symptoms, a formal treatment regimen for patients with MAP is yet to be developed (Chiang et al 2018; Srisurapanont 2021; Edwards and Mooney 2014)

The purpose of this review is to highlight the use of risperidone in reducing the cravings of methamphetamine in patients who have methamphetamine use disorder

PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science literature databases were screened and filtered.With established Inclusion and exclusion criteria, obtained a total of 15578 hits which was refined to 133articles. A total of 10papers were reviewed in detail

Multiple clinical trials have shown that risperidone was effective in lowering drug cravings in methamphetamine use disorder. Along with the effects on craving, risperidone has also been studied for its effect on positive symptoms in patients with MAP (Samei 2016). Risperidone was noted to be effective in reducing positive symptoms.

Risperidone can be effectively used in the acute setting for psychosis and future cravings in the patients. Considering the limited clinical trials and research on risperidone and the cravings of methamphetamine use disorder, studies are needed with longer follow-ups and more samples in the future.

No significant relationships.