Sleep-disordered Breathing (SDB) is a spectrum disorder ranging from primary snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). One of the most common sleep-disorder in childhood, however remarkably little is known of the effect of SDB on behavioral functions.

The aim of our study to investigate the behavioral consequences of SDB compared to children with no history of sleep disorders.

Two hundred thirty-four children aged 4-10 years participated in the study. The SDB group consists seventy-eight children, sixty-one of the them with OSA and seventeen with primary snoring (average age: 6,7 (SD = 1,83), 32 female/46 male), One hundred fifty-six children participated in the control group (average age: 6,57 years (SD = 1,46), 80 female/76 male). The two groups were matched by age and gender. We used the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale, Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire, and Child Behavior Checklist to assess the behavioral functions. Furthermore, the OSA-18 Questionnaire was administrated to support the diagnosis of SDB.

According to our results, children with SDB showed a significantly higher level of anxiety and depression and demonstrated significantly higher externalizing (such as attentional problems, hyperactivity, or social problems) and internalizing behavior problems (aggression, rule-breaking behavior).

Due to the neurobehavioral consequences, our finding underlines the importance of the early diagnosis and treatment of sleep-disorder breathing.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our model of face-to-face psychosocial treatment and rehabilitation format. To adapt to the current situation, as professionals, we have decided to transform the format into a virtual one that will offer the continuity of rehabilitation and therapy. Two clinical psychologists held online sessions and a special chat created in the IM messenger where patients could safely interact with each other.

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the effect of online sessions in a sample of outpatients engaged in rehabilitation programs.

Data from 50 patients (F20-F25, aged from 25 to 45) treated with a new online psychosocial program, including i. psychoeducation, ii. learning skills of the behavior under the circumstances of isolation, iii. training skills of effective communication and emotional regulation, and assessed for depression, anxiety, hopelessness, hostility (BDI, STAI, BHS, BDHI), and self-esteem, were analyzed for this study. Motivational enhancement techniques were also used to engage the patients in this new treatment format.

According to the preliminary data, we point out a statistically meaningful reduction in depression (p=0,003), anxiety (p=0,001), and hostility (р=0,001); self-esteem, evaluated with the Dembo-Rubinstein method, was improved (p=0,002); the T Wilcoxon criterion used for rating the magnitude.

Our results indicate that establishing a new online psychosocial program over the last few months positions us to respond effectively to such a new challenge and suggest that rehabilitative programs targeting patients’ needs may continue in this time of uncertainty.

No significant relationships.

Health-related behavior correlates in critical ways with the current epidemic of chronic diseases. Modifiable behaviors increase the risk of chronic disease. Despite there are well-identified behaviors, efforts at behavior change are clinically-challenging and frequently ineffective.

We aim to establish how the current evidence and latest neuroscientific knowledge about behavioral change allow the most reliable assessment of patients with refractory health-related behaviors that negatively impact health outcomes.

We performed a literature review using Pubmed databases and UpToDate. The search included “behavioral change” and “health-related behavioral change”[MeSH Terms].

Habitual behavior consists of behavioral patterns operating below conscious awareness and acquired through context-dependent repetition. Behavioral change is a complex multi-level field of intervention. The Health Belief Model allows a careful description of the patient’s perceived vulnerability, perceived disease severity, self-efficacy, and change motivation. The identification of social variables is critical since they correlated with poor health outcomes, particularly in chronic diseases. Temperament and character traits can have a strong influence on the difficulty of changing habitual behavior. Psychopathology, if present, must be addressed because it can be a notable factor of behavior instability and correlates negatively to health outcomes. Assertive and efficient communication skills in the clinical context are imperative. Motivational interviewing skills can allow effective behavioral change.

Interventions addressing behavior change require careful, thoughtful work that leads to a deep understanding of the nature of what motivates people. Intervention based strategies focused on behavioral change must undergo further investigation in the future.

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

Fear associated to infectious diseases is directly related with their transmission rate, morbidity and mortality. High levels of fear associated with COVID-19 can affect people’s ability to act and think rationally. In a time of pandemics, it is essential to understand individual factors that might be associated to higher vulnerability to stress and fear.

To analyse: a)correlations between Fear of Covid-19 and clinical and sociodemographic characteristics; b)the mediator role of repetitive negative thinking on the relationship between personality traits and Fear of Covid-19.

234 adults (75.6% women; mean age=29.53±12.51) completed an on-line survey with the Portuguese version of the Fear of Covid-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and other questionnaires to evaluate clinical and sociodemographic characteristics (years of education, perceived physical and mental health and infection by Covid-19), Personality (NEO-FFI-20) and Repetitive negative thinking (PTQ-15). SPSS and Process Macro (Hays, 2020) were used.

FCV-19 mean scores were significantly higher in women and significantly correlated with years of education (r=-.14) (p<.05). History of previous/current Covid-19 infection did not significantly distinguish FCV-19 scores and they did not correlate with perceived health. FCV-19 correlated significantly with neuroticism and PTQ total and dimensional scores (r>.20, p<.01). Both Repetitive thinking and Cognitive interference were mediators of the relationship between neuroticism and fear of COVID, even after controlling for gender and education.

This study provides preliminary evidence on individual factors that might be associated to the emotional response to the Covid-19 pandemics, aiming to facilitate public health initiatives to ease people’s fears in a near future.

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

Cognitive function is impaired in depressive disorders. Among several factors implicated in regulation of the cognitive function, metabolic syndrome has been showed have a pivotal role cognitive functioning in healthy controls. However, the role of metabolic syndrome in regulating the cognitive functioning of subjects affected by depressive disorders is little studied.

To investigate the effect of metabolic syndrome in regulation of cognition in unipolar and bipolar depression.

One-hundred-sixty-five people affected by a depressive disorder (unipolar depression, UP; bipolar depression, BP) were enrolled at the Psychiatric and Clinic Psychology Unit of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. A group of healthy controls (HC) matched for agender and age was enrolled. The cognitive functions were evaluated with a computerized tool, THINC-it.

UP and BP had lower performances in THINC-it cognitive domains than HC. Metabolic syndrome is a negative, independent predictor of low performance in the THINC-it cognitive domains of people with depressive disorders.

Our findings confirm that metabolic syndrome has a prominent role in determining the cognitive efficiency in depressive disorders, independently by the presence of a unipolar or bipolar depressive disorder. Metabolic syndrome has to be considered a major factor that should be considered in the treatment strategies of cognitive functioning improvement of people affected by depressive disorders.

No significant relationships.

The high COVID-19 morbidity and mortality are observed among residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) worldwide. Employees of LTCF, who are facing a critical epidemiological situation endangering the vulnerable residents, are exposed to pandemic’s psychological consequences daily.

The main aim of this study was to assess psychological consequences (somatic symptoms, anxiety and insomnia, social dysfunction, and depression) among LTCF employees exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic crisis. Moreover, we investigated if factors such as: personal protective equipment (PPE) availability, safety guidelines or access to psychiatric and psychological support at the workplace, correlated with the level of psychological distress experienced by personnel.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among personnel of LTCF in Poland. The survey consisted of the sociodemographic section, the authors’ questionnaire with questions related to COVID-19 exposure, working conditions, access to PPE and mental health services, GHQ Questionnaire-28.

show that access to PPE (P= .018), to workplace safety guidelines (P= .031), psychological support at workplace (P<0.01), fixed shift schedule (P= .05) and feeling that the right number of staff are employed in the workplace (P= .009), were related to the lower severity of psychopathological symptoms evaluated with the GHQ-28.

The study indicates an evidence that LTCF personnel are susceptible to the development of anxiety, depression, insomnia and social dysfunction during the pandemic crisis. However, these can be modified by: access to PPE, safety guidelines and psychological support. Findings from this study lay a basis for effective interventions aiming to support psychological health within this group.

Many studies showed an increased incidence of psychotic disorders (PD) among immigrants.

Study the characteristics of patients suffering from PD and having immigration experience (IE) by comparing them to patients without IE.

A retrospective controlled study, involving 58 male patients having IE and suffering from PD (DSM 5) who were followed in the psychiatry department of Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax (Tunisia), between January 2013 and December 2018.They were compared to 60 male patients suffering from PD who lack the IE. Samples were matched on age and socio-economic status. Data was collected from their medical records.

The mean age was 36 years old. The countries of destination were almost European (65.5%). The most common PD were schizophrenia (62%) and schizoaffective disorder (19%). The use of psychoactive substances (PS) was noted in 55% of cases.The average time interval between the onset of the PD and immigration was 4,7 years. The mean age of the onset of PD was 27 years old. The mean age of PD onset was earlier among patients having IE (27 year old vs 28.5 year old, p=0.24).The use of PS was significantly higher in these patients (p=0.04).

Our study identified some of the features associated with PD that occur during an immigration experience such as the use of PS. Further studies should be conducted in collaboration with countries of destination of immigrants to clarify the relationship between immigration and PD.

While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads across the globe, many countries have closed schools to ensure physical distancing to slow transmission and ease the burden on health systems. Concerns regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) school closures often increase stress levels in parents.

This study examined whether higher levels of parental concerns were associated with children’s problematic behaviors and other factors during COVID-19-related primary school closures.

Participants were 217 parents who responded to a web-based questionnaire covering parental concerns, subjective stress, and depression; children’s sleep patterns, behavioral problems, and changes in activity level after COVID-19; previously received mental health services; and media usage during the online-only class period from community center in Suwon city.

The number of parental concerns was associated with children’s behavioral problem index (BPI) score (Pearson correlation 0.211, p < 0.01), sleep problems (0.183, p < 0.01), increased smartphone usage (0.166, p < 0.05), increased TV usage (0.187, p < 0.01), parents’ subjective stress levels (0.168, p < 0.05), and parental depression (0.200, p < 0.01). In families with children who previously received mental health services, the children reportedly suffered from more sleep and behavioral problems but not increased media usage, and parents noted more stress and depression. Parental concerns are related to family factors such as change of caregiver, no available caregiver, decreased household income, and recent adverse life events.

Ongoing monitoring of mental health at risky group and multiple support systems should be considered for parents having difficulty in caring their children.

Psychological well-being has an important impact on individuals. In the face of the health threat of COVID-19, psychological changes as fear stress anxiety and depression is reported.

Explore the prevalence of depression and anxiety among people under quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia.

A cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 65 participants who were quarantined at multiple hotels under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Health. The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder questionnaire (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety.

The majority of the participants were male (66.2%), aged 18–29 (47.7%) from the Eastern region (66.15%), who were still waiting for the result of the COVID-19 test (64.6%). Approximately half of the sample had depressive and anxiety symptoms (49.2% and 44.6%, respectively). The depression mean score was significantly higher only among the 18–29 age group. However, the depression and anxiety mean scores were higher among females than males and among participants with positive COVID-19 test results compared to those who had pending or negative results. The anxiety mean score was higher during the first week of quarantine, but the depression mean score was higher during later weeks.

Depression and anxiety were prevalent among people in quarantine during the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Saudi Arabia. It is crucial to study the most effective interventions to reduce the psychological consequences, especially for vulnerable groups. Longitudinal research studies need to be conducted to follow up regarding participants’ mental health symptoms and evidence-based interventions.

No significant relationships.

Exploring the ways in which sexual fantasies may affect sexual experience and satisfaction is of relavence in the clinical setting involving sexual dysfuntion.

To observe how the sexual fantasy scores differ in their relationship with sexual satisfaction, experience and quality between sexual dysfunction cases and normal controls.

Scales included: Wilson’s sex fantasy questionnaire (WSFQ), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), Sexual Quality of life Questionnaire (SQoL), and a subjective sexual satisfaction meter. Differences in resposes of both groups on WSFQ (item-wise and domain-wise) were analysed using T-tests. Two-way ANOVA was applied to see how other scales affected sexual fantasy.

Cases scored significantly higher on ASEX scale, and low on satisfaction, SQoL and WSFQ

Majority of WSFQ responses, both in cases and controls, fell in the intimate and impersonal domains. Sexual fantasy scores and sexual satisfaction had a strong positive and significant correlation in controls but no linear correlation in the case-subjects. sexual fantasy scores contributed to 5.7% of difference in the scores of SQoL between groups. Major variance in scores of satisfaction in our subjects depended on presence or absence of sexual dysfunction(46.5%)but sexual fantasies also contributed to 8.8% of the variance.

The study showed that fantasies contribute to positive sexual outcomes only in absence of sexual dysfunction. ANOVAanalysis revealed that in case-subjects sexual satisfaction briefly increases initially with increase in fantasy scores but starts to decline as fantasies increase.

No significant relationships.

The environment at medical colleges is competitive and typically generates higher stress levels. Both academic and psychosocial stresses appear to play a role, and the resourceful students who are able to employ effective coping strategies to deal with their stress are shown to outperform their peers in the academic settings.

Objective: To determine the Association of Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies with Depressive symptoms in students at a private medical college in Islamabad

Fourth and Final year medical students of Foundation university medical college were enrolled in the study. Beck’s Depression Inventory was used to assess the depressive symptoms, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was the tool used to look for the perceived stress and the coping strategies were assessed using the Brief COPE Inventory. Association of Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies with Depressive symptoms and other sociodemographic factors was established.

Out of 262 medical students studied, 211 (80.5%) had no or mild depressive symptoms while 51 (19.5%) had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. 66 (25.2%) had low stress, 127 (48.4%) had moderate stress while 69 (26.3%) had high stress. Chi-square test revealed that perceived stress, self-distraction, active coping, denial, substance use, behavioral disengagement, positive reframing, acceptance, religion/ spirituality and self-blaming had statistically significant relationship with presence of depressive symptoms among the target population.

Considerable number of medical students had presence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms in our study. Perceived stress and some specific kinds of coping strategies had significant association with presence of depressive symptoms among target population

Several restrictive measures have been implemented to reduced COVID- 19 impact with unknown consequences on people daily life.

The primary objective is to asses the psychosocial impact and employment status changes since lockdown COVID-19 measures in Chile.

Cross-sectional study was implemented using an anonymous and self-administered online questionnaire. Adult people were invited to participate through social networks between May to June 2020. The questionnaire included sociodemographic information, coping strategies, changes in income and working conditions and psychological distress (K10 Scale).

3102 participants over 18 years answered the questionnaire. 69.9% reported psychological distress mainly women (82.2%), members of the public health system (59%), dependent workers (39.8%), people who suffered income reduction (36.8%)., and those who changed their employment status (26.4%). Participants who presented income reduction were 1.83 times more likely to present psychological distress than those without changes (p <0.001)

Pandemic crisis had impacted population health, especially in some specifics groups that could be targeted for future interventions.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted daily life worldwide. It may also have had a psychological impact, especially on those with less resources already before the crisis and those who reported substantial changes to their work situation.

To investigate whether socioeconomic status before the crisis and changes in work situation during the crisis (unemployment, home-office) are associated with psychological impact in a cohort of young Swiss men.

A total of 2345 young Swiss men (mean age = 29) completed assessments shortly before (April 2019 to February 2020) and early during the COVID-19 crisis (May to June 2020). Assessments covered psychological outcomes assessed before and during COVID-19 crisis (depression, perceived stress and sleep quality), and assessed during the crisis (fear, isolation and COVID-19 psychological trauma), socioeconomic status (relative financial status and difficulty to pay bills) before the crisis and changes in work situation (unemployment, home-office).

About a fifth of the sample were in partial unemployment or lost their job during COVID-19 crisis. Those in partial or full unemployment, those mostly working from home and those with a lower socioeconomic status already prior to the crisis showed overall higher levels of depression, stress, psychological trauma, fear and isolation.

Even in a country with high social security such as Switzerland, the COVID-19 crisis had a higher psychological impact on those who were already disadvantaged before the crisis or experienced deteriorations in their work situation. Supporting disadvantaged subpopulations during the crisis may help to prevent an amplification of pre-existing inequalities.

No significant relationships.

The 2019 coronavirus epidemic (CoViD-19) in Italy originated in Lombardy, on February 21, 2020. The Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo di Pavia has been involved in the management of the outbreak since its beginning

We evaluated all the population who went to the ED for intossication and substance abuse to assess the severity of cases evaluated as exit code and rate of hospitalization.

We enrolled all patients accessing our ED for intossication and substance abuse form February 22 to May 1, 2020 and during the same period of the previous year.

We enrolled 142 patients. 41 in the CoViD period and 101 in 2019. The vital parameters, and sex were overlapping. patients during the pandemic were younger (38 vs 46) The priority codes for the medical examination were not different. CoViD pandemic patients have higher codes (yellow and red) for the medical examination (66% vs 59%); discharge severity codes (red) more frequently than in the reference period (2.4% vs 0.9%) and more frequently need hospitalization (26.8% vs 16.8%).

The epidemic has led to a reduction of accesses for intossication and substance abuse. Patients had more frequent hospitalization needs and more severe exit codes. the data may be due to the fact that during the pandemic only the most serious patients access the E.D., but also to the fact that a pandemic has contributed to destabilizing this class of fragile patients.

Burn-out syndrome is an underestimated entity in the medical environment, and lack of health policies for screening, prevention and early phase treatment strategies may be responsable for complications of this syndrome, e.g. major depression, substance use disorders, or anxiety disorders. Large variations in the estimation of burn-out prevalence in healthcare providers may be related to poorly designed epidemiological trials and lack of well-defined criteria for diagnosis.

To analyse the current evidence in the literature about the diagnosis and treatment of burn-out syndrome in physicians and auxiliary personnel.

A literature review was performed through the main medical databases (Cochrane Database of Systematic reviews, PubMed, Thomson Reuters/Web of Science, SCOPUS, EMBASE, CINAHL) using the search paradigm “burn-out” AND “healthcare providers” OR “physicians” AND “nurses”. All papers published between January 2000 and August 2020 were included in the primary analysis.

A large number of papers were detected in the primary analysis (n=245), but only 15 remained after the inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied. Maslach Inventory for Burnout is the most extensively used instrument for screening, but its validity is questioned, and new instruments have been created, but less frequently applied. Cognitive behavioral therapy led to improvement of the emotional exhaustion in multiple trials. Meditation techniques, music therapy, structured physical exercises, and management-related interventions have been associated with low to moderate degree of success.

Burn-out syndrome is a still insufficiently explored diagnosis and more good-quality epidemiological and clinical trials are needed in order to support adequate prevention and treatment strategies.

The usage of clozapine in patients with schizophrenia and epilepsy raises many challenges due to the epileptogenic effects of the drug. There is little data about using clozapine for treatment of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) accompanied by epilepsy.

To present a case report illustrating a patient diagnosed with epilepsy and TRS, successfully treated with clozapine.

A literature review on “PubMed” database was conducted, using the keywords: clozapine, antipsychotics, epilepsy, seizures, psychoses. Information regarding the clinical case was obtained by consulting the patient’s file.

We present a woman, 33 years old with mild intellectual disability and a 10-year history of schizophrenia. At the age of 24, the patient lost consciousness and experienced tonic – clonic seizure, but epilepsy was not diagnosed. The patient was hospitalized multiple times due to positive symptoms of schizophrenia and suicidal thoughts. Various combinations of neuroleptics and electroconvulsive therapy were used for treatment without therapeutic effect. At the age of 32, a diagnosis of TRS was established, leading to treatment with a moderate clozapine dose (400mg/day). At the fifth month of treatment with clozapine un episode of generalized seizures occurred, leading to a diagnosis of idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Since then, the patient was treated with levetiracetam and the dosage of clozapine was lowered to 275mg/d. The seizures did not re-occur and clinical response to the psychiatric treatment was positive.

This case report highlights how clozapine can be used safely and effectively for patients with TRS and epilepsy and how the epileptogenic effects can be moderated by using antiepileptics in the overall treatment scheme.

No significant relationships.

Delusional disorder is a mental illness in which delusions are the dominant symptom. Delusional disorder is not well studied relative to other psychotic disorders - it is poorly understood in practically every aspect of its nature, including cause, phenomenology, prevalence, comorbidity, course, treatment, and prognosis.

To study the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of individuals admitted for inpatient treatment with the diagnosis of delusional disorder, in particular the adherence to treatment.

Retrospective observational study of inpatient treatment of patients with delusional disorder diagnosis between january 1st2007 and 31th december of 2017 in the Psychiatry Service of CHUSJ. Follow up of 2 years from discharge. Data collected included sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features. Descriptive analysis of the results was performed using SPSS (v.26).

In the period of time analyzed, 152 hospitalizations were identified, corresponding to 114 patients: 38.2% male and 62.8% female. The average age was 58 years. 3 months after discharge: 65% of patients were going to the medical appointments, which dropped to 60% in 6 months, 55% in 12 months, 53% in 12 and 24 months. Regarding adherence to the treatment: 65% of patients were still adherent to medication in 3 months time, 55% in 6 months, dropping to 50% in a year and to 48% in 2 years. There is a relation between involuntary discharge and adherence to consultations and medication.

A cardinal characteristic of delusional disorder, conviction that one is not mentally ill, contributes complexity to the treatment challenges and profoundly affects the therapeutic relationship.