Web-based tools allowed the provision of psychological counseling and therapy at-distance during the COVID-19 lockdown. Nevertheless, psychologists’ attitudes towards the adoption of these tools and its impact in their professional practices need to be further explored.

The objective was to study the use of web-based tools on psychological practices before and during COVID-19 lockdown, trying to identify changes on psychologists’ professional practices related to the pandemic, as well as to explore factors that could have affected such changes.

One-hundred and eight psychologists filled-in an online survey, developed for the purposes of this study, during mandatory lockdown. The study was disseminated by mailing list, social networks, and by the Portuguese Psychologists Association.

The results have shown that psychologists kept providing their services during lockdown thanks to the adoption of web-based tools. Although psychologists have recognized that additional precautions were needed for at-distance practice in comparison to in-person interventions, the experience of using IC technologies in clinical practice was described as positive, ensuring clients’ adherence with positive results. Additionally, despite psychological services were maintained on a larger scale by psychologists with more years of experience, professionals with average experience stated more favorable attitudes towards the use of web-based tools in counseling and therapy.

Although the implementation of ICT based practice was enforced by current circumstances, the experience that psychologists gathered and shared during the lockdown can guide future professional practice, improving and fostering the replication of best practices at distance.

Patients with dissociative identity disorder (DID) present two or more identities. Although it is a widely questioned diagnosis, it is currently found in the main DSM-5 and ICD-10 diagnostic manuals. So far there is no standard psychopharmacological treatment for people with this pathology.

Describe the pharmacological treatment associated with the clinical evolution of a patient with DID.

Follow-up was carried out in a mental health center for a year, undergoing psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment. The information is taken from the medical history.

The patient presents with anxious and depressive symptoms. She was referred from primary care with 50mg sertraline without response. Dose was increased to 100mg without response. New management started with desvenlafaxine 100mg, associated with lorazepam, partially reducing the symptoms. Later, the patient presented self-referentiality, sounding of thought, began to describe frequent memory losses and a rebound in anxiety-depression symptoms, increasing the dose of desvenlafaxine to 200mg and introducing haloperidol to 1.5mg. Three months later, she presented showing another identity, active, aggressive, pythiatic, without evident anxious symptoms that she previously presented in a marked way. Desvenlafaxine was adjusted to 100mg and haloperidol to 0.5mg every 12 hours. The patient evolved favorably, decreasing anxiety, depressive symptoms and memory loss, in addition to disappearing psychotic symptoms. This treatment was sustained, keeping the patient psychopathological and functional stability and allowing a psychotherapeutic approach.

Treatment with desvenlafaxine and haloperidol was favorable to maintain clinical stability and allow other therapeutic approaches.High dose of antidepressant could favor the expression of another identity of the patient.

No significant relationships.

antidepresive antipsicotic disociative memory-loss

People from the general population often tend to believe that psychiatric patients may be incurable, dangerous, and unpredictable. Stigma represents a critical issue which should be defeated. In spite of the interest of research, little is known about the relationship between personality traits and level of stigma toward people with mental illness.

To evaluate whether certain personality traits can influence the level of stigma towards mental illness in a population of university students.

A web-survey was spread on social networks between March and June 2020 through Google Forms. Eligibility criteria for inclusion were:1) Being 18 years of age or older; 2) Attending a degree course in an Italian University; 3) Provide informed consent. Socio-demographic characteristics of the participants were collected. Stigma was measured using the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27), personality traits were evaluated through the Big Five Inventory (BFI) and the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS-i) investigated the knowledge about mental illness. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 24.0.

We computed a multiple linear regression to calculate potential predictors of stigma, adjusted on the basis of the knowledge of mental illness. Results showed that age and faculty class were not related to stigma. Agreeableness (A) and Openness to experience (O) were associated with less stigmatizing attitudes. Conversely, Neuroticism (N) and Conscientiousness (C) seemed to predict higher levels of stigma.

Our results suggest an interesting relationship between personality traits and stigmatizing attitudes, which deserves to be further studied. They also confirm the importance of implementing appropriate strategies against the stigma of mental illness.

No significant relationships.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in adolescents (15-19 years). Physical pain is an important risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in a delicate phase as adolescence.

Several studies investigated this association and the aim of this meta-analysis was to synthesize data in literature about this topic in adolescents (11-20 years).

We started from a systematic review published by Hinze and colleagues in 2019 and we searched on PubMed (January 2019-June 2020) studies comparing rates of suicidal outcomes (Suicidal Ideation, Suicide Plan, Attempt, Self-Harm: SI, SP, SA, SH) in individuals with any type of physical pain (head, back, neck, chest, stomach, abdomen, muscle, joint, arthritis) vs. those without it. Data were analyzed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (CMA, version 3).

Of the 16 included studies, eleven focused on SI (68.8%), six (37.5%) on SA, four (25%) on SH and two (12.5%) on SP. Adolescents with physical pain were more likely to report SI (p < .001), SH (p < .001), SA (p = .004) and SP (p = .006). In all analyses, the between study heterogeneity was high. The presence of publication bias has been detected in SI (k≥10).

Results are in line with previous literature on this topic. Future research should investigate the specific impact of: acute vs. chronic pain; different types and intensities of pain; planned vs. impulsive action and therefore suicidal intent; role of psychological factors (in particular sensitivity and tolerance to physical pain).

Incidence for depression increases during the perinatal period. Risk factors for depression may differentially affect each time period.

To assess demographic, psychological and obstetric risk factors that differentially affect prenatal and postpartum depression

A total of 169 subjects participated. Assessment was conducted during the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, within a month after childbirth, and a month after childbirth. Demographic and obstetric measures, as well as psychological measures, including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale were conducted. Multiple regression and the Mann-Whitney U test were performed to examine the association between variables and depression scores.

Depression score was higher during the postpartum period than the prenatal period. Younger age was associated with depression during the first trimester. In the second trimester, less education, a history of depression and having stress within a year significantly affected depression scores. Smoking, artificial abortion and lack of support from family and parents correlated with depression during the third trimester. Within a month after childbirth, psychiatric and depression history, smoking, stress level within a year and lack of family support were associated with depression. At a month after childbirth, those who were primiparous and not breastfeeding had significantly higher depression scores.

This study identifies various risk factors for each gestational and postpartum period and suggests differential interventions for different perinatal periods.

On the basis of complex clinical anamnestic, clinical psychopatological, pathopsychological research, data were obtained about reasons and conditions of formation, abnormal clinical psychopathological structure, syndrome peculiarities of emotional disfunctions for patients with episodic paroxismal disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and mixed anxiously depressed disorders.To realize the aim and tasks of the research, 145 patients were examined with anxiety disorders, that passed the stationary course of treatment.

The purpose of the research was to discover emotional disturbance peculiarities for anxiety disorder patients with different origins of pathological syndromes.

The basic method was a group psychotherapy with the elements of rational, positive, suggestive and family psychotherapy. In relation to disfunctions of emotional sphere, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was used for the phobic-depressive and anxious-depressed disorders.

Decrease in general level of anxiety and internal anxiety was obtained for most patients. No spontaneous emergence of fear was practically observed. While active interviewing, patients stated that their former worries and fears have lost actuality and apparent emotional colouring, somatic-vegetative correlates of anxious states disappeared. Up to the end of the therapy course, a sense of calmness was attained as a base-line for the background emotional state. Considerable reduction of symptomatic of the depressed circle also took place. Patients’ mood increased, their interests broadened, patients started to feel joy and optimism.

To correct emotional disfunction of patients with episodic paroxismal disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and mixed anxiously depressed disorders, psychotherapeutic correction system is optimal to use, which is built based on stepwise and multimodal principles.

Opioid dependent individuals frequently complain of sleep problems in withdrawal and during abstinence.

The objectives were to assess the subjective sleep parameters among buprenorphine-maintained opioid-dependent patients and to correlate it with socio-demographics, concomitant drug use and treatment related variables

Using a cross-sectional study design, 106 hundred six opioid-dependent patients maintained on buprenorphine for at least six months and on same dose in past month were interviewed. Sleep was assessed by Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) and Epworth sleepiness scale. Association between subjective sleep parameters, socio-demographics, concomitant drug use and treatment related variables was also studied.

All participants were males. Their mean age was 41.1 years (SD:14.3). The mean duration of illicit opioid use was 10 years (IQR: 5,22). About 63.2% (n=67) had PSQI scores more than 5 denoting sleep problem. The scores obtained in Epworth Sleeping Scale were in normal range. Mean subjective total sleep time of the sample was 403.5 (SD 94.8) minutes and median sleep latency was 35 (IQR 18.8, 62.5) minutes. Subjective total sleep time was significantly higher in participants who had use tobacco in the past three months (p value=0.03) and who were in moderate ASSIST risk category (p value=0.04). Subjective sleep latency was significantly higher (p value=0.04) in participants who had used opioids in last three months. It was observed that age was a significant predictor of subjective total sleep time and OST compliance was a significant predictor of sleep latency.

A sizeable proportion of opioid dependent patients on buprenorphine have sleep problems

The objective of this poster is to show the importance of understanding the situation of the patient’s family in order to know the development and role that eating symptoms are occupying both in the patient and in the different members that make up the family

Highlight the triggering and sustaining factors of a case of anorexia nervosa

Case Report

Patient is a 14-year-old woman who begins to develop excessive concern about her body image initiating eating behaviors in the form of high restriction and counting of calories from food. Also she explains that she began to compulsively perform more than two hours a day of sports in order to lose weight Family genogram: she is an only daughter, whose parents have been separated for 4 years. Parents recognize conflictive relationship. The patient recognizes a very close relationship with her mother. When she talks about her relationship with her father, she explains how she felt very close to her father when she was young but that after the separation her father moved away. She describes that his father rebuilt his life a year ago and that he recently informed her that he is going to be a father again. She recognizes intense feelings of abandonment from her father. She acknowledges that the sense of control starting with anorexia initially helped her to feel confident about herself.

Understanding the origin of the symptoms and their function is essential for a better management of cases of anorexia

No significant relationships.

The process of adjustment to disability and illness among people with chronic illness and disabilities (CID) impacts on motivation for rehabilitation illness self-management, and psychological well-being. It involves a complex interplay of biopsychosocial factors, and was seldom examined in the Chinese context.

Identify the predictors of mental well-being of people with from a set of variables including illness and social support, functional abilities, coping strategies, resilience. Examine how these factors interact in determining psychosocial adaptation and mental well-being by structural equations modelling (SEM).

We conducted a survey of people with CID, who were recruited from community-rehabilitation settings and self-help groups (N = 244). The research questionnaire collected basic demographic information, illness-related variables (e.g. pain, fatigue, functional limitations), and RIDI), social support, measures of resilience, coping, psychosocial ad as predictors, and mental well-being.

Of General Linear Model (GLM) revealed that males have better adaptation than females. Resilience, social coping, & active problem solving are significant predictors of adaptation (Table 1), while age, breathing, pain, resilience, avoidance coping, are predictors of maladaptation (Table 2). A SEM was tested to examine the interaction among the predictors and outcome of adaptation and mental well-being (Figure 1), and the model fit was fair (CFI = 0.89; RMSEA = 0.09)

The results indicated that there are gender differences in adaptation. While all the hypothesized groups of variables contributed to mental well-being of people with CID. Resilience, illness variables, and some forms of coping are closely linked to adaptation and maladaptation.

No significant relationships.

Although cyberchondria was suggested as a separate phenomenon (Starcevic, Berle, 2013, Starcevic, 2017), it is by definition related to both health anxiety, general hypochondriac beliefs and behavior and Internet use (Baumgartner and Hartmann, 2011, Eastin and Guinsler, 2006, Singh and Brown 2014).

The aim was to reveal relationship between cyberchondria in adult Internet users, Internet use and hypochondriac beliefs and behavior.

126 adults (18-70 years old) filled The Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS, McElroy, Shevlin, 2014), checklist of activities about health online, Scale for Assessing Illness Behavior (Rief et al., 2001), Cognitions About Body and Health Questionnaire (Rief et al., 1998).

Compulsion, Distress, Excessiveness, Reassuarance Seeking scales are related to various health-related activities online including both specialized (medical web-sites) and non-specialized (Wikipedia) ones (r=.25-.48, p<.01). Compulsion is closely related to surfing in social networks (r=.41, p<.01), excessiveness – to viewing of illnesses-related pictures (r=.48, p<.01) and reassurance seeking – to reading of online reports (r=.47, p<.01). Cyberchondria is related both to health anxiety (r=.37), hypochondriac behavior (r=.19-.41), beliefs about autonomic sensations, bodily weakness, intolerance to sensations and somatosensory ampliphication (r=.25-.31).

In general population, different aspects of cyberchondria seem to reflect health anxiety and hypochondriac beliefs but are differently related to different forms of online behavior including use of more or less specialized web-sites. Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-013-00799.

Internet addiction (IA) is a significant public health issue among adolescents. There is considerable evidence that IA is associated with various psychosocial harms.

The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of internet addiction among secondary school.

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 152 students enrolled in secondary school. The participants had filled the Internet Addiction Test of Young and a data file regarding the socio-demographic information, physical and information about the internet access and use.

The sample consisted of 90 males and 62 females with a mean age of 13.14 ± 1.2 years. The majority of participants had their own smartphone (83.6%). The average duration of connection among participants was 5.3 hours per day. The prevalence of IA was 14,5%. Results showed that 46,8% feel their internet use significantly hinders their family relationships. Twenty participants (13,2%) reported that they connected to the internet while they were in classroom. The prevalence of IA was higher among boys than girls (p= 0.018). There was, also, a significant relation between IA and having academic difficulties (p=0.037).

The prevalence of IA is elevated in Tunisia. Many negative consequences are identified. Urgent measures should be taken to counter the problem.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has affected the functioning and capacity of healthcare systems worldwide. COVID-19 has also disproportionately affected older adults, including those living with dementia. In the context of COVID-19, decision-making surrounding place of care and place of death in this population involves significant new challenges.

To explore key factors that influence place of care and place of death decisions in older adults. A secondary aim was to investigate key factors that influence the process and outcome of these decisions in older adults. To apply findings from current evidence to the context of COVID-19.

Rapid review of reviews, undertaken using WHO guidance for rapid reviews. Ten papers were included for full data extraction. These papers were published between 2005-2020. Data extracted was synthesised using narrative synthesis, with thematic analysis and tabulation.

Papers included discussed actual place of death, as well as preferred. Results were divided into papers that explored the process of decision-making, and those that explored decision-making outcomes. Factors such as caregiver capacity, the availability of multidisciplinary teams, cultural appropriateness of care packages and advanced care planning were found to be key.

The process and outcomes of decision-making for older people are affected by many factors – all of which have the potential to influence both patients and caregivers experience of illness and dying. Within the context of COVID-19, such decisions may have to be made rapidly and be reflexive to changing needs of systems and of families and patients.

In the United States, students who attend early-entrance to college programs (EECP) undergo a unique, accelerated educational path. Many of these programs require students to forego their final years of high school to take dual-enrollment classes while residing on a college campus. While previous literature has documented mental health outcomes among traditional college and high school student populations, there is scarce literature on the mental health among this hybrid population in the United States.

Investigate anxiety and depression among students enrolled in EECPs in the United States.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-8 item (PHQ-8) were asked in 3 sets for how students felt before, during, and after their attendance in their EECP.

66 alumni students who graduated from an EECP were surveyed after giving informed consent. GAD-7 average scores before the students attended was 4.83 (median = 4, “mild anxiety”), during attendance was to 11.5 (median = 12, “moderately-severe anxiety”), and currently was 6.95 (median = 6, “moderate anxiety”). PHQ-8 scores for depression before attending were 5.1 (median = 4, “mild to potentially moderate depression”, during the program 10.9 (median 11.5, “moderately severe depression”), and current PHQ-8 was 16 (median = 16, “severe depression”).

Anxiety and depression seem to have a presence in this student population, compared to traditional college student populations, but different compared to international cohorts. Academic rigor was a notable driving force of these outcomes, differing from the literature on traditional college student populations.

The impact of listening to music on the stress response system has received increased attention lately.

An update of the relative research.

Literature review.

Listening to music seems to reduce stress by influencing both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomous nervous system. Most studies, mainly conducted in healthy adults, show a decrease both in cortisol levels (a well-known stress-biomarker) and in sympathetic activity (reduction in heart rate frequency and blood pressure). Compositional elements of music such as melody, rhythm, tonality and frequency seem to influence individual relaxation responses. Most studies used classical music, nonetheless, the abovementioned effects were noticed irrespective of music genre. High-frequency music seems to have a greater role in stress-relief: 528 Hz frequency music apparently lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin (a modulator of stress response and social bonding) levels. A decrease in perceived anxiety and the induction of a positive mood state -particularly when relaxation was affirmed as the purpose of music listening- has been noticed using appropriate scales. Regarding particular settings, perioperative music may attenuate the neuroendocrine stress response caused by the surgery procedure. Music interventions in obstetric patients as well as in cardiovascular and cancer patients have led to similar findings. Finally, music appears to beneficially affect stress among patients with PSTD, fibromyalgia and depression.

The stress-relieving effect of music listening seems promising in clinical settings. The heterogeneity of the studies’ sample and the “administration” of different music intervention “schemes” are among the main limitations of the current research.

No significant relationships.

Contextualization: Emotional experiences of psychologists related to the care of suicide crises are important since the health professional has been trained to save lives. It makes him apprehend the aggressive side of suicide and symbolize it as an attack. When the patient’s desire to liveceases, the professional may feel confused, since his/her profession/vocation was confronted.

AIM: To explore and interpret the meanings of emotional experiences reported by psychologists who care for patients in suicide crises.

Strategies: clinical-qualitative design, semi-directed interviews with open-ended questions in-depth. Six clinical psychologists from a Brazilian city participated, with a sample closed by information saturation. Interviews audio recorded, full transcribed and categorized by Qualitative Content Analysis. Results were peer-reviewed in meetings in a Qualitative Research Study Group.

Findings: Three emerging categories - (1) Ambivalent emotions as challenges for clinical management, (2) The non-paralyzing experience of emotions, (3) The management that is learned in practice.

Considerations: assistance to patients with a suicidal crisis can generate ambivalent emotions, not always paralyzing. When recognized and elaborated can assist in clinical practice. It can be tools that will support qualified approaches, especially in relation to suicide. As a public health problem, it demands a combination collective actions with effective individual clinical approaches.

Suicide is one of the most common causes of death among young people worldwide. Adolescence is an important developmental period of life due to the increased risk of suicide and the prevalence of psychiatric disorders.

To explore the suicidal ideation, intentions and risk factors of adolescents.

A clinical case study presentation will be performed.

An adolescent female, aged of 16 years old, was admitted to the Department of Psychiatry for Children and Adolescents of a General Hospital, diagnosed with behavioral and emotional disorder and active suicidal ideation on ground of sexual abuse. During her hospitalization, she exhibited self-destructive behaviour by swallowing objects or causing extensive skin scarring as well as serious suicide attempts by hanging. Her emotional and behavioral status was unstable and unpredictable. The adolescent had repeatedly expressed her will to escape from an unbearable life.

The results of the presentation of our clinical case could contribute to the improvement of awareness regarding suicidal behavior in adolescence, which might have a significant effect on the prevention and treatment of this potentially lethal condition.

No significant relationships.

Music has been said to be emotion’s language. Research confirms a link between music structure and triggered emotions.

To assess the relationship between selected music excerpts and the emotions trigged, in order that the former will be used in future research.

An anonymous study was performed in April 2019 on 65 subjects of both sexes, aged 19- 33 (mean=21,09; SD=3,05).Subjects listened 4 excerpts of music, believed to be related either to excitement or to calmness, and answered to a questionary on emotion’s triggered by each exposure.

Regarding to the music excerpts that were believed to induce excitement 80% of the subjects mentioned exciting emotions, 78% enjoyed the music while 78% didn’t knew them. For the ones that were believed to induce calmness 69% of the subjects mentioned calm emotions, 84% enjoyed the music and 62% didn’t knew the music. In an excerpt of music related to calmness, we observed association between knowing the music and the emotion trigged (p=0,027). The triggered emotion responses were independent of liking the music (P>0,05).

In our study, independent of liking the music, the participants reported to have perceived the expected emotions triggered by musical excerpts, showing this to be a phenomenon related to music structure. Calmness perception may be also influenced by previous knowledge of the music and related experiences. The role of individual perceptions will be looked for in following studies.

No significant relationships.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is considered the most prevalent anxiety disorder with the highest disease burden amongst anxiety disorders. Despite available effective treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a majority of individuals with SAD do not seek treatment and many drop out when confronted with elements of exposure. Several studies highlight the many advantages virtual reality exposure holds over in vivo exposure. In this study, we investigate the added effect of real-time biofeedback during virtual reality exposure.

The current study is part of a large scale study called VR8. The current study aims to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a VR-biofeedback-intervention for adults with mild to severe social anxiety disorder, before continuing randomized controlled trials.

Data from semi-structured interviews and surveys will be compared to biodata collected during VR exposure. Participants include a minimum of (n=10) patients and (n=10) clinicians from the Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark. Surveys include questionnaires used for assessment of anxiety symptoms, usability of technology, and presence in the virtual environment. Collected biodata includes heart rate variability and electrodermal activity. Behavioral markers include eye-gaze. The findings will be analyzed and discussed in a mixed methods design.

The study is ongoing. Preliminary results will be available at presentation.

Successful development and implementation of a biofeedback-informed virtual reality exposure intervention may provide increased reach for patients and individuals who would have otherwise not sought- or dropped out of regular treatment, as well as inform the clinician on how to proceed during virtual exposure.

Prof. Stephané Bouchard is consultant to and own equity in Cliniques et Développement In Virtuo, which develops virtual environments, and conflicts of interests are managed according to UQO’s conflict of interests policy; however, Cliniques et Développeme

Early Intervention Services for Early-Phase Psychosis have shown efficacy and effectiveness (Correl C, JAMA). In Pamplona, Spain, there is an Early Intervention Program that has been providing multiprofesional assistance for First Psychotic Patients for the last two years.

The aim of this study is to analize the longitudinal effects of the different interventions in several functional variables: GAF, Occupational State, CGI-CogS, QLS, Sofas and WHODAS II applied to 240 patients during two years of follow-up.

We apply an standard evaluation protocol to every patient at different times: premorbid, initial time and at months 6, 12, 18 and 24. We analyse the data with the SPSS statistical program to see the results in these variables.

The GAF scale shows a decline during the first 6 months, but tends to reach and maintain the premorbid levels after a year of treatment. Regarding baseline, patients with normalized jobs or studies are 60.7%. This percentage persists during the next months of follow-up but decline at the 24th month Both the Whodas and Sofas scale show improvement tends. The QLS results show a progresional improvement in every subcale during the whole time of follow-up.

The Early Intervention Services in Psychosis improve, not only psychopatological dimension but also functional areas, what is important for the whole recovery of First Psychotic Patients.

Psychiatric staff could be exposed to various types of violence that might have potential consequences on their psychological balance.

To detect post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To assess the professional quality of life among psychiatric hospital workers.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the psychiatric department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax. The questionnaire study had three major components: the baseline participant characteristics,the post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist (PCL-5) for which a total symptom severity score cutoff of 38 was recommended as the cutoff for a positive screening test and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL).

Thirty-one participants completed the questionnaire. The sex-ratio was 0.93. The mean age was 41.5 years. All participants were exposed to physical or verbal assault. Physical aggression was the most traumatic behavior reported by 39.3% of psychiatric professionals. A feeling of insecurity when performing professional tasks was reported by 93.3% of participants. Among participants, 41.9% expressed the desire to change workplace. The mean score on the PCL-5 was 21.6 ± 15.35. Five participants (16.7%) had a PCL-5 score ≥ 38. The Compassion Satisfaction mean score was 37.48 ± 5.64. The burnout mean score was 26.41 ± 7.3 and the mean score at the secondary traumatic stress scale was 27 ±6.7.

PTSD could result from stressful events encountered in the course of managing patients in mental health departments. Attention to post-traumatic event interventions may be useful both to reduce the rate of PTSD and to improve the professional quality of life among psychiatric staff.