Insomnia is a frequent reason of consultation in psychiatry. Always it is associates to other psychiatric pathologies.After stabilisation of the main disorder, it can become the only complaint.

This study aimed tob assess the prevalence of severe insomnia among patients suffering from different psychiatric disorder, and their sociodemographic profile.

It is a cross sectional study conducted in February 2020 at the psychiatric ward of the military hospital of Tunis, including 80 patients who responded to the questionnaire of Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

The study included 80 patients (18 to 66) years old with average age 38.78.The questionnaire showed that 26.92% didn’t have any sleep disorder, 25% had light insomnia, 42,30% had mild insomnia and only 5.76% suffered from severe insomnia.The patients counseling for anxiodepressive disorders were 48%, for PTSD were 17.46% and 17.3% for psychosis. Military population represented 80% of total patients interviewed and the average of years of service was17.7 years. The single patients were 46% th others were married. 70% of the patients were under hypnotic drugs besides the main treatment.

Sleep disorders have a significant impact on cognitive functions and life quality which should be separately studied. Despite of well conducted pharmacotherapy, some patients still suffering from severe insomnia, it can be attributed to the main psychiatric disorder, relapse, treatment resistance, substance abuse…The importance of the psychiatrist involvement in screening and treatment can obviously enhance the prognosis. Other therapeutic alternatives which are non pharmacological such as phytotherapy ans CBT should be proposed to patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused employment related challenges worldwide. Adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are especially vulnerable, due to pre-existing employment challenges, intolerance to changes and uncertainty and high levels of related anxiety.

To examine COVID-19 related changes in work experiences and mental health of employees with ASD who held a steady job before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Data were collected from 23 participants diagnosed with ASD (4 females), aged 20–49, who answered an online administered survey at two timepoints: prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, and during the outbreak. Self-reports included measures of background and employment status; mental health (General Health Questionnaire-12); job satisfaction (Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire); and satisfaction of psychological needs at work (Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration – Work domain).

Participants who continued to physically attend work maintained pre-COVID-19 levels on all assessed variables. Participants who transitioned to remote work from home preserved their salary levels and job satisfaction, but showed a marginally significant deterioration in mental health and a significant decrease in the satisfaction of their needs for competence and autonomy at work. Unemployed participants showed a significant decrease in mental health.

Results highlight employment as a protective factor from the potential negative implications of COVID-19 on mental-health of employees with ASD. Employees who transition to working from home require personalized work-support plans due to the possible negative effects of this transition on mental health. Maintaining the routine of physically reporting to work should be preferred, when possible.

Personality disorders comprise a set of diagnosis characterized by inflexible, pervasive and enduring patterns of cognition, affect, behavioural and social interaction. The status of research on the personality among different cultures implies the universality of traits and disorders, as well as, their measuresacross cultures.

To study the prevalence of personality disorders in foreigner patients.

In this retrospective case series, clinicaldata was collected from 40 patients who were hospitalized at the short-stay inpatient psychiatric service of the Príncipe de Asturias University Hospital during 2018.

Nineteen (47.5%) patients were European, ten (25%) were from South America, nine (22.5%) were Africanand two (5%) were Asian. Eight patients were diagnosed of diverse personality disorders. Seven (87.5%) of them were European, and only one (12.5%) was from South America.

This case series suggests various directions for future research. The fact that patients diagnosed with personalitydisorders were mainly European could indicate diverse conclusions. It would question the universality of personality disorders out of a Euro-american frame of reference. It would also point out the difficulty of diagnosing personality disorders, taking into consideration language, awareness of cultural values,traditions, interactional patterns, and social norms. More studies of traits and personality are needed, taking into account the culture and the society in which patients have grown and in which they currently live.

No significant relationships.

Accurate and objective risk assessment is important in the evaluation of many mental disorders and behaviours. For example, in the evaluation of suicidal behaviour or the assessment of accidents in ADHD. Video games could contribute to improve the assessment and increase engagement.

Our hypothesis is that the proposed videogame can precisely evaluate risk. In addition, the developed game is able to indirectly assess the risk. This feature is useful in setups where patients are prone to lie.

We have developed a car driving video game where users are told that they should drive near to the border but not too much. We record distance to the border and each key pulsation every 0.1 seconds.

It has been observed that the median of recorded distance positively correlated with the score obtained by Self-report of Risk-taking Behaviors (SRB). In addition, the interquartile range significant correlates with the global score obtained in this questionnaire.

The proposed videogame is able of performing an accurate risk assessment. Our game takes seven minutes and it does not need complicated nor expensive hardware and could be deployed online. Results obtained open up new possibilities of creating video games which make an objective assessment risk.

The presence of psychological impact on relatives of patients admitted for Covid-19 has been described. The effectiveness of psychological first aid in critical situations has also been described. The first psychological aid describes a human response supporting another person who is suffering. This intervention is indicated for those affected by a traumatic event.

To present a theoretical review about psychological first aid and to describe data about it on relatives of patients admitted for Covid-19.

Literature review about psychological first aid and data description of telephone intervention carried out by mental health professionals on family members of patients admitted for Covid-19.

From an initial pool of 77 Covid-19 patients, 50 were selected as telephone contact with relatives was possible. Mean age was 68.9 years, 13 were female and 37 male. 90% were admitted in internal medicine department and 10% in intensive care unit. First telephone intervention in all cases was to introduce the psychiatrist in charge of the follow-up and provide contact number of psychiatry department. In 13 relatives` support, emotional ventilation and active listening was provided and 2 of them also received therapeutic guidelines. Further phone contact was required in 12 relatives. In follow-up phone calls, all relatives received therapeutic guidelines and 3 was referred to our outpatient clinic.

Family members of patients admitted for covid-19 may present emotional symptoms, many of them normal reactions in context of a crisis situation. A large percentage do not require a structured psychotherapeutic intervention but can benefit from a first psychological help.

No significant relationships.

Recent studies showed that stress and anxiety increased during the Covid-19 pandemic (Bäuerle et al., 2020; Salari et al., 2020). It is important to identify factors which are related to this increase.

In present study we investigated how perceived value threat of Covid-19 is related to anxiety and depression symptoms in April – May 2020 during the lockdown in Russia.

Three hundred and four participants were recruited online (Mage=33.18, SD=13.33, 108 males, 194 females). Participants completed the Short Schwartz’s Value Survey (SSVS; Lindeman & Verkasalo, 2010). They were next asked to rate how likely their values could be threatened because of the Covid-19. They also completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Spielberger, 1983) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (Beck et al., 1996).

A multiple linear regression model was built to assess how own values and values threatened by Covid-19 explain state anxiety during the lockdown. Threat to openness values was positively related to state anxiety (b=1.07, SE=.49, β=.13, p=.032). Threat to conservation values was only marginally related to state anxiety (b=1.03, SE=.58, β=.13, p=.074). The effects of self-enhancement and self-transcendence values were not significant.

When Covid-19 is perceived as a threat to openness to change values – hedonism, stimulation and self-direction – people experience higher level of anxiety symptoms. Interestingly, perceived threat of Covid-19 to security, conformity and tradition was only marginally related to anxiety. Future studies might explore how encouraging people to fulfill their openness to change values in a safe mode might decrease the level of anxiety.

The emergence of COVID-19 changed the lifestyle of individuals through the appearance of lockdown. This period seems to have potential effect on some health determinants related to behaviors such as drug addiction.

Compare the prevalence and behavior of drug consumers before and during the lockdown.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on 1001 Moroccan addict between April and July 2020, using two international questionnaires: The global drug survey “Special Edition on COVID-19” and the survey on impact of COVID-19 on patients and families.

before lockdown, tobacco use (80.2%), alcohol (70.9%), cannabis (46.3%). During lockdown: tobacco consumption remains unchanged (80.7%), alcohol and cannabis consumption reduced significantly, respectively (39.6%) and (40.8%). Results show also the weaning of hallucinogens and solvents. 76.3% decreased their use, the raisons behind these changes were: 39.8% worried about health issues, 26.6% have less opportunities to consume, 23.7% think that the current life style make it difficult to use, 23.4% think they have less ability to obtain drugs.

The lockdown seems to be an opportunity for addicts to reduce drugs consumption. However, setting up support services with targeted interventions is the best chance to decrease psychological stress and avoid the consequences of this reduction.

A stroke represents a major cause of the disability of an adult with various biological, physiological and social implications. Excluding the characteristic neurological pathology, a series of complications may follow and if they are neglected they might compromise the success of medical rehab and the reintegration of the patient back into society.Recent studies have demonstrated that there is a higher rate of incidence of cancer among the survivors of a stroke in comparison with the general population.

The correlation between strokes and oncological disease.

We have effectuated a prospective study of 6 months at the Neurology Section of Emergency Hospital “Saint Andrei”, Galati, in which we’ve included a total number of 50 patients who were over 60 years old. In this timeline we’ve analyzed the correlation between strokes and the comorbidities of the patient and the influence of these over the plan of medical rehab and the period of recovery after the stroke.

Over these 6 months, of all 468 patients having suffered strokes, 50 of these had been secondarily diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders. 56% of them were male and 44% were female, 37% from rural areas and 63% from the urban areas.

The category of neurocognitive disorders includes the group of disorders in which the principal clinical deficit is located at the cognitive functions level and is usually acquired, not representing a disorder of development.

The course of the epidemics such as COVI9 -19 and SARS has taught us that the management of the epidemic depends primarily on people’s adherence to and implementation of the recommended measures.

This study aimed to determine the knowledge and opinions of individuals about COVID-19 and transmission methods, sources of information, application status about protection measures and related factors.

1444 people participated into the digital survey between March 22-April 6, 2020 for this descriptive study. For data collection, a 12-questions questionnaire consisting of questions about the sociodemographic characteristics, information sources they used about the COVID-19, their thoughts the practices to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 was conducted. Using descriptive statistics and comparison tests, individuals’ perceptions about methods of protection from Covid-19 and related variables were investigated.

The participants have had sufficient knowledge about Covid-19 and measures.They were using social media platforms, official web sites and TV news to get information about the COVID-19. The rates of believing and applying measures such as staying distant from people, washing hands, staying at home, avoiding from public transportation, using alcohol disinfectants were quite high. The women, people living in large cities, healthcare workers, regular commuters to work believed in measures more, however, their level of anxiety and seeing themselves and their environment at risk were higher.

Despite all the positive results regarding coronavirus infection and protection measures, the fact that the epidemic is spreading rapidly indicates the need for studies to continuously evaluate what has changed in the process and as time increases.

No significant relationships.

There is a growing literature suggesting disgust plays a major role in religiosity. Asceticism is a personality trait characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Since few studies suggested that higher disgust levels may lead to greater fear of sin, contamination disgust may serve as effective mechanisms for inflated scrupulosity.

We aimed to investigate the role of contamination disgust on a specific religious belief in two clinical groups: eating disorders and anxiety disorders.

We enrolled 84 patients admitted in the Psychiatric Unit of Careggi with diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders (AD) and Eating Disorders (ED). We administered them: Disgust Scale Revised (DS-R) and Eating Disorders Inventory 2 (EDI-2)

A t-test for independent samples between AD patients and ED patients showed no difference in DS-R contamination disgust subscale (t=1.437, p=0.153), while significantly higher EDI-2 asceticism scores were detected in ED patients (t=2.452, p=0.010). An ANCOVA model having EDI2 Asceticism subscale as dependent variable, and DS contamination disgust subscale, diagnosis, and interaction between contamination disgust and diagnosis was estimated. The overall model was significant (F(1,136)=4.854, p=0.003) and accounted for 9.7% of variance of EDI2 Asceticism subscale (R2=0.097). The effect of contamination disgust was positive and significant (β=0.302, t=2.781, p=0.006), and accounted for 5.4% of variance of EDI2 Asceticism (partial η2=0.054). No effect was detected for diagnosis (F(1,136)=0.012, p=0.912) or interaction between contamination disgust and diagnosis (F(1,136)=1.346, p=0.248).

Contamination disgust may have a trans-diagnostic effect on asceticism and may be a possible driver for specific religious behaviors.

No significant relationships.

Existing literature supports the association between depression and self-harm, a prominent risk factor of suicide.

Аnalysis of psychological characteristics of women with depression and self-harming behavior and their differences from patients with depression without self-harm.

The study involved 62 women with depression (age 16–23), 36 with self-harming, 26 did not have episodes of self-harm. Hamilton Scale (HDRS), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), SCL-90-R, Rosenberg self-esteem scale, Body Investment Scale (BIS) were used.

Computer test execution time is shorter in the self-harming group, the total time in WCST and IGT tests is significantly shorter (T Test p<0.001), «inhibition» (HDRS) in this group is significantly lower. The self-harmed group demonstrates higher feelings of guilt (2.222±1.141 versus 1.367±1.326 in the non-self-harm group, p=<0.001), suicidal ideation (2.653±1.302 versus 1.100±1.373 p<0.001), psychopathological symptoms in SCL90-R: sensitivity (1.812±0.861 versus 1.185±0.553), hostility (1.388±0.965 versus 0.729±0.700 p=0.004), GSI (1.539±0.705 versus 1.205±0.473 p=0.039), and a special attitude towards body - a decrease of somatic symptoms (HDRS), decreased parameter of “protection” of body and the «attitude to the body» in Body Investment Scale (BIS).

The study revealed psychological characteristics that distinguish a group of depressed women with self-harming: a mismatch of the severity of the components of depressive tirade - motor and ideator inhibition was less pronounced, while the affective component was significantly more pronounced. The body investment is reduced, the need to protect one’s own body is ignored. High level of guilt, and the increased sensitivity characteristic of these patients can be a vulnerability factor.

No significant relationships.

There are several sets of skills first set of skills which psychiatrists should acquire before or as early as possible after starting their career. THe first of those are communication skills – including those of listening, speaking clearly and convincingly, negotiating and writing scientific and other types of documents. A second set of skills are those that will enable psychiatrists to understand and use legal documents and materials. The third set of skills that is likely to be useful are skills necessary to function as a physician. These sets of skills combined with the knowledge of the subject of psychiatry should help in building a career in any of the areas open to psychiatrists.. Yet, more important than any of the skills or bits of knowledge that a candidate psychiatrist should have to build a career and be happy with it are the motivation to do psychiatry and the acceptance of a style of work marked by empathy, willing acceptance of ethical principles of medicine and if at all possible infectious optimism. The above array of skills, knowledge style of work are not easily developed and those educating future psychiatrists should be careful in their selection of trainees and resourceful in the provision of training that will create psychiatrists who can advance the health of their patients as well as their discipline and will have a chance to live a rewarding life.

No significant relationships.

No significant relationships.

Work experience develops not only professional skills, but also affects people’s personal characteristics. A long period of intensive work usually promotes the development of professional deformations. Prolonged exposure in stressful conditions is a risk factor for developing professional deformations. Military service is intense and stressful. Armed forces personnel work is related to unquestioning execution of orders and extreme working conditions (Kozlova, 2013). These risk factors may cause professional deformations of personality. The study was supported by the RFBR #19-013-00799 А.

Influence of working activity on professional deformations development in military personnel.

The research involved 708 participants, the sample consisted only of men. Average age 20.3 years (min – 18, max – 32). They fulfilled 2 standardized questionnaires: Managerial stress survey — MSS (Leonova, 2007), The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (ed. Kapustina, 2001).

Based on the findings the following outcome can be seen: the high scores of the Acute stress (M=45,7; SD=5,2), medium level of Chronic stress (M=43,6; SD=6,5), and Professional deformations (M=43,4; SD=7,1). In particular it turned out that burnout syndrome (M=46,1; SD=6,9), neurotic reactions (M=45,4; SD=7,0) and behavioral risk factors (M=46,7; SD=8,7) are high.

In that way, we can assume that Professional deformations aren’t developed by military personnel in our research. That point of view confirms on Acute and Chronic stress level. Despite the fact that there are some behavioral risk factors. That can cause a reduction of work efficiency and a decline in the health level of military personnel.

Lockdown resulting from the experienced pandemic has had a great influence on the emotional and social well-being of the general population. Specifically, it is known that those with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their caregivers had to overcome several challenges during this period. Moreover, this situation has influenced the professionals who work in this field.

The aim of this study is to describe the impact, the learnings and the challenges that have arisen for the patients with ASD, their families and professionals during the coronavirus outbreak through progenitors’ and professionals’ perceptions.

A qualitative research design using focus groups was selected to identify and discuss participants’ experiences, beliefs, perceptions and attitudes. The target population consisted on parents with children with ASD and professionals who work with them. Data was collected via two focus groups. A content was made using the program Atlas.ti to determinate the principal categories and themes that describe the COVID-19 impact.

Findings widely describe the problems faced and difficulties experienced by this population during lockdown and after it. As well as the challenges, opportunities and learning that this situation has offered.

Reflections derived from the study manifest the need of thinking about new models of intervention with children with ASD and their families. Greater attention must be paid to parents’ experiences in order to attend to the actual demands of patients and their caregivers contextualized within our current changing situation.

Decades of neuroimaging research in attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have yielded a few apparently firm findings and many open questions. The long-term objective of these efforts is to uncover the underlying brain pathophysiology of the disorder, to reveal reliable biomarkers of prognosis and treatment response, striving for personalized medicine. Unfortunately, neuroimaging research in ADHD and other psychiatric disorders is still unable to inform clinical practice. This presentation will provide an up-to-date overview of neuroimaging in ADHD, highlighting the most promising results and current challenges of structural and functional research with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Evidence from large, multicentric studies and from highly-sophisticated resting-state functional MRI techniques will be presented; methodological and reproducibility limitations in current literature will be introduced, and the way forward to bring this area of research closer to clinical practice with patients with ADHD will be discused. Dr. Pereira-Sanchez is conducting original research using resting-state functional MRI to study potential correlates of treatment response to stimulants in children and adolescents with ADHD; he has also recently published two literature reviews of MRI studies in ADHD.

No significant relationships.

Current classification systems are not sure where to place the internet use disorder. Is it an addiction, an impulse control disorder, a consequence of another psychiatric morbidity or a consequence of personality trait/personality disorder?

We intended to study which personality traits associated with online cognition may contribute towards Problematic internet use(PIU). We also analysed the relationship between number of hours of use/week of internet and PIU along with its relation with two ‘screening’ questions.

Online cognition scale and Abbreviated Eysenck Personality questionnaires were our measurements of choice in addition to demographic measures and some questions pertaining to online behaviour patterns.

Total 163 responses were analysed. The demographic pools consisted mostly of young adults who had, on average, used the internet for 5.2 years at present rate of 21.81hours/week. We observed significantly higher mean OCS scores in men, in people who thought that the internet interfered with their lives and in those who felt the need to ‘cut-down’. A moderate positive and significant correlation was observed between hpurs/week of internet use and OCS scores. Also, significant positive correlation was observed between Neuroticism and OCS, impulsivity, and loneliness/depression scores. Significant negative correlations were observed between the Lie trait and impulse control. Neuroticism and Lie together contributed to 21.8% of variance in OCS scores.

Neuroticism and Lie traits (representing need for social acceptance) were found to the causing significamn varience in the OCS scores of the subjects. High number of hours/week use of internet was related to the feeling of ‘need to cut down use’.

The birth premature babies with hypoxic-ischemic damage to the neutral system with the subsequent development of hypoxic encephalopathy (HIE). Monitoring of the mental development and neurological status of such prematurely born children is carried out taking into account the corrected age and traditional scales.

To compare indicators of psychomotor development in preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks) with and without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

A prospective study was carried out in the neurological department. The study included data from infants with a gestational age of < 32 weeks of gestation. Scale score immediately after birth and at corrected ages in the first, third and sixth months of life (data analysis according to Griffiths Scales).

Data from 95 newborns were eligible for conclusion. Of these, 67 children took part in the study, 32,8% of them were diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. In newborns with HIE gestational age at birth was less so they received parenteral nutrition for a longer time, the body weight gained during the hospital stay was less, they needed more time to switch to enteral nutrition. And only at the 3rd (80% of children) and 6th months of life, there were no statistically significant differences in psychomotor development between groups with and without hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

In this study, it was shown that in premature infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, normal indicators of psychomotor development and neurological status were restored at the corrected age only by 6 months of age.

No significant relationships.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a negative impact for mental health. ULS-Guarda in cooperation with Portugal National Health Service, provided the population of the district of Guarda with a mental health helpline (MHHL).

Provide a descriptive data analysis of the MHHL calls received between April 1st and September 20th of 2020.

The data was obtained through the filling out of questionnaires. It included fields for gender, age, the type of service provided, relation to COVID-19, symptoms displayed and the number calls made per patient. For the statistical analysis, Microsoft Excel TM was utilized.

MHHL received 191 calls. The largest volume was received during April, which saw 116 instances of patients seeking the MHHL. The number of calls then tapered progressively throughout the following months. The services provided were split between psychiatric assistance, psychologic assistance, and the renovation of medical prescriptions, in 44%, 31% and 19% of the cases, respectively. The 101 patients who resorted to the MHHL were unevenly distributed in gender, being 74 female and 27 male individuals. Their ages were mostly between 50 and 69 years old. The most common symptoms were anxiety, depressed humor and insomnia, in 35%, 16% and 11% of the cases, respectively.

The largest influx of calls coincides with the home confinement period, and decreased alongside the relaxation of the confinement measures held. The MHHL had enough adherence to warrant consideration of it being an alternative means of healthcare access, especially in situations where physical access to healthcare is restricted.

The inter-critical phase in bipolar disorder may contain symptoms that do not meet the diagnostic criteria for a thymic episode. According to studies, these symptoms are common and usually associated with impaired psychosocial and family functioning.

Study the subsyndromal symptoms in remitted patients with bipolar disorder, and their functioning repercussions.

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, in the outpatient psychiatry department of the University Hospital in Sfax (Tunisia) among 30 remitted patients with bipolar disorder. We used: the Montgomery And Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Angst Hypomania Questionnaire and the FAST test to assess functioning levels.

The average age of our population was 44.37±15.45 years with a sex ratio (M/F) =0.66. Most of them lived in urban areas (60%) and half of them did not go beyond the primary school level. Most did not have a constant job (76.6%). The average number of previous thymic episodes was 2±1.33 times/year. A quarter of the patients (26.6%) had hypomanic symptoms in the intercritical phase and 20% had depressive symptoms. Hypomanic symptoms were correlated with tobacco use (p=0.035). Depressive symptoms weremore frequent in men (p=0.074). Functioninglevel was lower in subjects living in rural areas (p=0.065).

Our study suggests that residual symptoms were frequent with a significant functional impact. As a result, their identification and management are highly essential to improve the overall functioning of patients with bipolar disorder.