Psychodermatologic disorders are conditions involving an interaction between the mind and the skin. Dermatitis artefacta (DA), also known as factitial dermatitis, is a frequently unrecognized psychocutaneous illness, in which the patient creates skin lesions to satisfy the unconscious need to presume a sick role. It is more common in women and in patients with a diagnosis of psychiatric illness. This is an exclusion diagnosis and organic causes should be ruled out. Treatment of DA can be challenging and it needs to involve a multidisciplinary approach consisting of dermatologists and mental health professionals.

From a case report the authors intend to present a literature review of dermatitis artefacta.

Observation the patient and review the clinical file. Consultation published and referenced scientific articles on PubMed.

60 year old man, diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, was admitted for manic decompensation of his pathology. During physical examination he had sparse erythematous lesions, more exuberant in the neck, scalp, belly and upper limbs. The diagnosis of artifact dermatitis was made after excluding other possible causes.

Treatment of DA can be challenging and it needs to involve a multidisciplinary approach. Dermatitis artefacta is a long-term disorder, and patients need regular follow up with a dermatologist and a psychiatrist because relapses are common. These doctors must be aware of this possible pathology in order to make a correct diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders that sometimes coexist with skin lesions. The prognosis for most patients is poor leading to self-injury, scarring and poor cosmesis.

No significant relationships.

In palliative care, depression and pain are prevalent variables with a reciprocal and controversial relationship. Depression is common in people with chronical diseases. In the last decades, self-compassion has been pointed as a protective psychological process to negative affect.

The current study aimed to test the role of self-compassion in the relationship between pain and depression in palliative patients.

Sample was composed of 33 patients in palliative care, with a mean of 74.12 years of age (SD = 12.76). Participants completed self-report questionnaires and data was analyzed using SPSS.

From the descriptive analysis of the results of the Geriatric Depression Scale, 22 patients were depressed (66.6%), 9 of them in severe depression (27.7%). Self-compassion presented a negative and moderate correlation with depression. Depression was positively correlated with pain. A hierarchical regression to predict depression was conducted. Firstly, pain was entered as a predictive variable with a significant effect. Secondly, self-compassion was entered, and the model was significantly incremented, explaining 41% of depression. Only self-compassion was significant in this model.

Discussion and conclusion: The association between pain and depression in palliative care corroborate previous research. Results seemed to show that self-compassion has a significant effect in the relationship between pain and depression. Cultivating a compassion self-to-self relationship might have an important effect attenuating the link between pain and depression in palliative care.

PER1 is a repressor protein involved in regulating circadian rhythm. While obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurred pauses in breathing caused by the collapse of the upper airways it might be associated with disruption of the circadian clock.

The study aimed to assess PER1 protein in OSA patients and evaluate its association with PSG parameters.

The study included 40 individuals, who underwent diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) examination. Based apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) patients were divided into groups: control (AHI<5; n=10) and OSA (AHI5; n=30). All participants had their peripheral blood collected in the evening (9:00-10:00 pm) before and in the morning (6:00-7:00 am) after the PSG. PER1 protein concertation measurements were performed using ELISA. Funding: National Science Centre, Poland-2018/31/N/NZ5/03931.

The control and OSA group were match in sex and age, while differed regarding BMI (p=0.039), desaturation index (p<0.001) and AHI (p<0.001). PER1 protein level was elevated in OSA group compared to control both in the evening (322.384.1vs.208.460.1pg/ml;p<0.001) and morning (314.891.9vs.228.157.3pg/ml;p=0.002). No difference was observed between evening and morning PER1 level (p=0.946). Morning PER1 correlated with AHI (r=0.400; p=0.011), desaturation index (r=0.391;p=0.013), age (r=-0.312;p=0.049) and BMI (r=0.383;p=0.015). In a multiple linear regression model (R2=0.268;p=0.003) morning PER1 protein level was influenced by age (p=0.006) and AHI (p=0.025), while BMI and desaturation index were not significant.

OSA patients might suffer from circadian clock disruption, which is mainly associated with the severity of the disorder and age. Further studies are needed as this dysregulation can result in metabolic and mood disorders often observed in this group of patients.

The COVID-19 pandemic may bear serious consequences for mental health, such as the increase in psychopathological symptoms.

Analysis of changes in depressive suicidal ideation symptoms and during the COVID-19. Depressive symptoms and suicidality were considered separately.

Internet survey 22.03.20–22.06.20 (908 responses), included SCL-90R, COPE, question about suicidal ideation.

The analysis showed a positive correlation between suicidal thoughts and depression (Spearman .45; p<.001), a growing trend in the depressive symptoms (Std.J-T=2.51, p=.012), and the increase in severity of suicidal thoughts (Fisher’s Exact Test, 5.92, p=.046). Severity of depression positively correlates with the emergence of the virus in the city, contraction of disease among friends (Spearman .165; p<.001), sick and die fears, an also is linked to more expressed seeking «emotional, social and instrumental help» (COPE). The intensity of suicidal ideation was not associated with these factors, but negatively correlated with «acceptance» and «planning».

The increase in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts is determined by different factors. Depressive symptoms is associated with various fears and mediated by non-constructive ways of coping, but there are also constructive coping-strategies as the search for help. The intensity of suicidal thoughts is associated with higher levels of stress, which cannot be explained by the «objective» threat of contagion and fears, but is experienced as an «indefinite» anxiety, supposedly linked to the measures to counter the pandemic, such as restrictions on social interactions, loneliness and uncertainty. The increase in depressive symptoms is linked with an orientation to another person, but the suicidal ideation is not.

No significant relationships.

Catatonia, a complex psychomotor syndrome and psychiatric emergency, is encountered across various psychiatric disorders. Most findings have been derived in the context of schizohrenia, warranting more comprehensive understanding in affective disorders.

To evaluate the longitudinal course of affective disorders presenting with catatonia and factors influencing the same.

Medical records of 439 patients presenting with catatonia to the psychiatry emergency from 2014 to 2017 were reviewed till June 2020. 135 patients with a final diagnosis of affective disorder (67 bipolar and 68 unipolar) were identified. Poisson regression and survival analysis were used for longitudinal data.

77.6% of bipolar patients were initially diagnosed under psychotic spectrum disorders compared to 3% in unipolar. Bipolar patients had a significantly younger age of first catatonic episode, earlier illness onset, and longer duration of illness. Survival analysis showed no significant difference between groups in time to recurrence of mood episode, readmission or catatonia relapse, with both groups demonstrating a greater likelihood of catatonia relapse in first 20 months. Poisson regression showed that bipolar patients had fewer catatonic relapses longitudinally over 2.5-6.5 years (RR: 0.64, CI: 0.43-0.96), but warranted more electroconvulsive therapy sessions for catatonic relapses (RR: 2.33, CI: 1.49-3.50), with fewer episodes resolving with lorazepam (RR: 0.62, CI: 0.40-0.95) compared to unipolar patients over same time period.

Bipolar disorders appear to have an earlier onset but fewer episodes of catatonia over illness course. Poorer lorazepam response and higher number of ECT sessions for catatonia resolution longitudinally suggest a differential treatment response of catatonia in bipolar disorder.

No significant relationships.

Bipolar disorder is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders among suicidal patients. A large part of patients with bipolar disorder (30–50%) will attempt suicide. Suicidal ideation being a major risk factor of suicidal act, it is crucial to better characterize patients with suicidal bipolar depression (i.e. depression with current suicidal ideation). The aim of this study was to characterize suicidal bipolar depressed patients in comparison with non-suicidal depressed patients in terms of clinical characteristics, evolution of depression and suicidal ideation course over time, and risk of suicide attempt during follow-up.

Among patients with bipolar disorder recruited from the network of FondaMental expert centres for bipolar disorder between 2009 and 2017, we selected patients with at least mild depression and without current manic symptomatology at baseline (N = 938). Suicidal depression was defined by a baseline score ⩾2 for item 12 of the QIDS-SR (28.9%). A subsample of about 300 patients (w/ or w/o suicidal ideation at baseline) was followed up for 2 years.

Baseline clinical features (e.g. depression severity, childhood trauma, global functioning) were more severe in patients with without suicidal depression. Suicidal patients tended to remain more suicidal throughout the followup (3.4-fold higher risk of persistent suicidal ideation at the 2-year visit despite an improvement in depressive symptomatology).

Depressed bipolar disorder patients reporting suicidal ideation had more severe clinical features and were more prone to report persistent suicidal ideation during the follow-up, independently of thymic state. Clinicians should closely monitor this subgroup of patients

No significant relationships.

The continuum of social threat ranges from anxiety to paranoia. Examining the factors that predict and mediate the relationship between social anxiety and persecutory paranoia will help with the development of interventionist-causal theories that can guide the development of new treatments.

To investigate mediators between social anxiety and persecutory paranoia in a prospective cross-cultural analogue sample.

A 3-month follow-up online survey included participants aged ≥18-years-old in Thailand and the UK. Recruitment was via advertisements on websites and social media. Participants completed questionnaires at baseline (T1) and 3-month follow-up (T2) measuring social anxiety, paranoia, depression. Mediators were: stigma; internal and external shame; social rank; self-esteem; and safety behaviours. We used linear regression to examine predictors of paranoia and mediation analysis to test indirect effects. Estimating the indirect effects was calculated by 10,000 bootstrapping bias-corrected 95% confidence intervals.

At follow-up, 186 (70.4%female; mean age 34.9±9.1) Thai and 236 (81.4%female; 35.7±12.7) UK respondents completed the survey. Regarding change scores (T2-T1), higher paranoia was significantly predicted by higher social anxiety and external shame controlling for age, gender, depression. A simple mediation model controlling for depression showed significant indirect effects for external shame (ab=0.06, 95%CI=0.018 to 0.105) and safety behaviours (ab=0.06, 95%CI=0.002 to 0.127). A multiple mediation model found external shame was a significant mediator (ab=0.06, 95%CI=0.020 to 0.110).

These cross-cultural data suggest that external shame may mediate the prospective relationship between social anxiety and paranoia. These data suggest the potential for treatment of persecutory fears and social anxiety in psychosis by targeting shame-related cognitions.

Both the COVID-Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale have been recently developed to facilitate research on COVID-19 anxiety.

To examine the psychometric properties of Russian translations of the COVID-Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale.

In order to examine the psychometric properties of Russian translations of the COVID-Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale, a total of 341 Russian adults completed both measures.

First, a high level of COVID-19 anxiety was found in the sample. Second, confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the Russian translations of both the COVID-Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale had satisfactory psychometric properties, with both scales having a hypothesised one-factor structure. Third, a significant positive association was found between both the COVID anxiety scales. Fourth, higher COVID anxiety scores were associated with being female, and being older.

These findings provide initial evidence for the satisfactory properties of the Russian translations of the COVID-Anxiety Scale and the Fear of Coronavirus-19 Scale. Further research is suggested that examines the prevalence and psychological correlates of COVID-19 anxiety.

A study, examined creativity and aggression in individuals suffering from mental disorders, will present.

Five groups: individuals suffering from mental disorders – with or without a history of aggression; creative individuals; aggressive individuals; and a control group

Different personality questionnaires: anxiety, absorption, schizotypy and humor and the microgenetic method – a projection technique, using visual stimulation by means of a computerized experiment. The stimuli that were presented in this study were two artworks. They were presented in a blurry manner that became clearer and the exposure time became longer.

An emotional process aroused, when exposed to the stimuli. The stimuli had an influence on the subject’s internal world, which was reflected back in the verbal reports, especially the aspects of creativity and aggression. Secondly, the pathological groups were the lowest in the expression of creativity. However, they expressed more aggressive expression than expected while exposed to the stimuli. Moreover, these groups were ranked high, in traits related to creativity, such as schizotypy, absorption and the P dimension.

The Microgenetic-method gave a better perspective of the participant’s personality and can be used as a diagnostic-tool. In addition, the research demonstrates that creativity and aggression are multi-dimensional traits and are noticeably present in the pathological groups. Therefore, a person coping with psychopathology should get assistance with controlling the expression of his urges. They should be directed towards a creative expression of their inner-world, allowing a full range of expression of his strengths and pains. This will sublimate the feelings of aggression.

No significant relationships.

Pharmacogenetics (PGx) studies genetic variance and related differences in drug outcomes. The aim of PGx testing is to increase therapy efficacy and safety, by applying e.g. dose adjustments in patients with a specific geno- or phenotype. PGx guidelines for psychotropic drugs are available (PGx drugs), including atomoxetine used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In Denmark, broad implementation of PGx is currently still low, possibly due to the lack of population-based studies investigating the real-world impact of PGx variability.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association of PGx variability (patients’ genotype/phenotype) in users of atomoxetine and different treatment outcomes in a large population-based sample of individuals with ADHD.

This study will use data of the large Danish population-based iPSYCH case-cohort study sample including information on genetic variants, prescription drug use and outcome data, e.g. psychiatric and somatic hospitalizations and death. The study population comprises all individuals diagnosed with ADHD born 1981-2005 with at least one prescription for atomoxetine between 1995 and 2016. All individuals will be categorized according to their CYP2D6 phenotypes. We will perform Cox regression analysis to estimate the hazard ratios comparing the rates of the different outcomes in people with different phenotypes adjusted for a number of confounding factors.

We have identified approximately 20,000 individuals with ADHD, of whom an estimated 10-20% have filled at least one prescription of atomoxetine.

We expect results in the beginning of 2021.

We thank the iPSYCH consortium, in specific the iPSYCH PI’s (Merete Nordentoft, Anders Børglum, Preben B. Mortensen, Ole Mors, Thomas Werge and David M. Hougaard). The iPSYCH project is funded by the Lundbeck Foundation Denmark and the universities and un

According to Vygotsky, children with special needs follow the same trajectory of development as normally developing children, although some of the skills can be observed in a later period. This statement can be implemeted to the children with Down syndrome. The number of such children in Russia is around 25 thousand.

The aim is to study the conditions of negation formation in children with Down syndrome.

The sample consisted of 22 dyads of children with Down syndrome of 24-36 months old and their mothers. The research methods included: parents’ questionnaire; analysis of problematic situations; Tkacheva’s inventory Parent’s Psychological Type; Varga &Stolin Inventory of Parental Attitude; Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Bass-Darky Hostility Questionnaire, Leonhard-Schmieschek Test, Spielberger’s Test Anxiety Inventory.

Firstly, we have studied how a child expresses his or her negative reaction: whether he or she uses a gesture or a sound for “no” or reacts with the whole body. According to those results we have divided the sample into two groups and then have compared them. The research shows the connection between mother’s aggressiveness and formation of the child’s negation reaction (gesture/sound or the whole body) as well as differences in the level of alexithymia and anxiety: all the characteristics are lower in the first group.

Mothers of the children with Down syndrome demonstrate a high and a medium level of anxiety. However, the mothers of the children who expresses negation with a gesture/sound show a lower anxiety level comparing with the mothers whose children react with the whole body.

The confinement associated with COVID-19 pandemic was an experience with significant physical and mental health implications, including higher stress levels, decreased sleep quality, pain symptoms and changes in lifestyle behaviours.

The main goal of this study was to analyze the relationship between stress and health variables (sleep, health symptoms, health perception, and lifestyle behaviours) in a Portuguese university during COVID-19 home confinement.

A cross-sectional online survey design was conducted. A sample of 263 Portuguese workers (64.3% females), with mean age of 48.3 years (sd=8.9), filled in the PSS10, answering questions concerning health symptoms (perceived health, pain symptoms and fatigue), lifestyle behaviours (sleep and eating habits, use of alcohol and tobacco) during COVID-19 home confinement. A descriptive statistical analysis, a Pearson correlation analyses and the t Student test, for independent samples, were performed.

The results showed significant correlations between stress and perceived health (r=-.404; p<.0001), arms pain (r=.212; p=.002), legs pain (r=.201; p=.003), back pain (r=.219; p=.001), headache (r=.289; p<.0001) and fatigue (r=.295; p<.0001). Concerning lifestyle behaviours, the results showed significant correlations between stress and sleep (r=-.552; p<.0001) and stress is significantly higher (p<.0001) in individuals who have changed their eating habits.

During the COVID-19 home confinement, higher stress levels are associated with a worse perception of health, more pain symptoms (legs, arms, back, headache), worse sleep quality and more fatigue. Moreover, the individuals with higher levels of stress have changed their eating habits. Lastly, health promotion interventions are needed in order to minimize the impact of home confinement in health.

Individuals with affective disorders, who are prone to negative cognitive bias, may be particular vulnerable to positively biased presentations by other social media users. The degree of positive bias in self-presentations on social media sites is however poorly understood

To investigate the validity of self-presentation on social media sites and its association with affective disorder

Individuals aged 18-75 receiving treatment at the outpatient clinic for affective disorders at Aarhus Hospital or at two general practices were invited to participate in a survey focusing on social media use. Two core questions were: “To what extent do your social media content reflect your real life” and ”To what extent do others’ social media content reflect their real lives”. Response was provided on a likert scale with the following steps: “much more negative” (1), “more negative” (2), “the same as” (3), “more positive” (4) and “much more positive” (5) than real life. Based on these responses on bias, we calculated a bias ratio (validity of own self-presentation/validity of others’ self-presentation). The association between unipolar depression, bipolar disorder and bias ratio>1 was investigated using logistic regression with adjustment for age and sex

A total of 183 individuals with unipolar depression, 119 with bipolar disorder and 186 controls participated in the study. Unipolar depression was associated with a bias ratio >1 (OR: 3.4, 95%CI: 1.2;9.9)

Individuals with unipolar depression are prone to consider their self-presentation as more positively biased compared to others’ self-presentation. This may shape the impact of social media use on these individuals.

Oncologic patients with schizophrenia have a higher mortality, which could be explained by a delayed diagnosis and a poor quality of the oncologic treatment (1). Some of the potential reasons are related with patient’s psychopathology, stigma, and barriers in access to medical care. An structured support during the oncologic treatment has been proposed to solve the difficulties that patients with schizophrenia can experience when handling with an oncologic process. (2).

To illustrate two approaches for cancer accompaniment in patients with schizophrenia.

We present two case-report and literature research of the topic.

Case A. A 49 y.o. woman diagnosed with a schizoaffective disorder. In the last years she had difficulties to manage her selfcare, so her mental health providers linked her to an individualized community nurse, who later played a crucial role in helping the patient during the diagnosis and treatment of a breast cancer. Case B. A 37 y.o. man diagnosed with schizophrenia, who was very integrated in a peer-support organization. After being diagnosed with a Lymphoma, he continued participating in all the group activities (theatre, collaborative radio, painting) until his decease. Sharing the process with other patients not only improved his quality of life but also helped the group to manage the grief.

- Individualized support with a mental health nurse could enhance the communication between the oncologist and mental health providers, improve the symptoms management, and allow psychological support. - Peer-support can prevent social isolation, improve the quality of life and the management of the oncologic treatment.

No significant relationships.

Patients with schizophrenia have increased cardiovascular and suicide risk. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is widespread in this group, however, there are no unambiguous data on the relationship between the separate components of metabolic syndrome and suicide risk.

To examine the relationship between the separate components of the MetS and suicide risk in patients with schizophrenia.

We examined 64 patients with schizophrenia. All patients received antipsychotic therapy in doses comparable in chlorpromazine equivalents. We measured serum levels of lipids, glucose and insulin. The visceral fat level was determined through the non-invasive bioimpedance analysis with an “Omron BF508” scale and body composition monitor. Suicide risk was assessed using Beck Hopelessness Inventory. There were identified two groups of examined: with MetS and without MetS. In both groups were distinguished two subgroups: patients with normal range of hopelessness and patients with mild and moderate hopelessness. Subgroups were compared among themselves for a number of anthropometric, biochemical and clinical indicators. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U-test. Reliability level corresponded to p<0.05. This study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation 18-15-00011.

Waist circumference, body weight and BMI in subgroup with normal hopelessness range in the group of patients with MetS were significantly higher (figure 1).

We were able to establish a negative relationship between the waist circumference, body weight and BMI with suicide risk in schizophrenia patients. It can be assumed that adipose tissue can play a “protective” role in the suicidal behavior of schizophrenia patients.

The majority of homicides in society are not associated with mental illness, however there is an established association between homicide and schizophrenia. Homicide perpetrated by mentally disordered offenders is a leading reason for admission to secure forensic psychiatric hospitals.

To investigate the clinical characteristics of those with a history of completed homicide in the CMH Dundrum.

This study was a cross sectional study of a cohort of patients in the Central Mental Hospital who had completed homicide (n=63).

A total of 136 patients were included, 46.3% (n=63) of whom had committed homicide. Mean age of homicide perpetrators at admission was 34.6 years old (median 33.4, s.d. = 9.72). The most common diagnosis was schizophrenia (n=40, 63.5%). 73.0% (n=46) had a history of substance misuse. 36.5% (n=23) had a diagnosis of a personality disorder, including traits only. The most common victim type was a family member (n=32, 50.8%). Patients with a history of homicide had better scores on dynamic risk of violence (F=8.553, p=0.004), programme completion (F=8.258, p=0.005) and recovery (F=3.666, p=0.058) compared to non-homicide offenders, however they also had significantly longer mean length of stay, 12.7 years v 7.5 years (F=9.634,p=0.002).

Homicide perpetrators with a mental illness constitute a significant portion of the forensic mental health population and a high number of these offences were against family members. A history of homicide among forensic in-patients is associated with a longer length of stay which has implications for service development into the future.

Conventional psychiatric services are not always acceptable to indigenous communities and people.

We used qualitative methodology to explore a successful collaboration of psychiatrists and addiction medicine specialists with indigenous communities in Maine, USA, in North America, comparing these results to previously unsuccessful collaborations. We wanted to delineate what leads to success.

We used constant comparative, iterative methodology within a constructivist, grounded theory approach to generate differences to discuss.

Successful strategies address the highly relational approach to defining the self of the indigenous communities, a collectivist mindset in which the needs of the group can supersede the needs of the individual, a reliance upon stories for transmission of knowledge and culture, and a commitment to a biopsychosocial and spiritual approach, which, in North America, is often symbolized by the metaphor of the Four Cardinal Directions. Successful psychiatrists working in these communities needed to share more personal details than what they are usually accustomed to provide. They acknowledged local culture and spirituality and worked with traditional knowledge holders to create collaborative approaches. As part of this, the use of a narrative approach worked best in which the psychiatrist worked within the stories and beliefs of the community which required taking the time in dialogue to learn those stories and beliefs.

We addressed the challenges of consulting to tribal-based treatment programs, of modifying usual counseling techniques such as motivational interviewing to an indigenous population. We propose that these sorts of participatory-action-based approaches go far to improve service delivery to indigenous people and reduce health disparities.

Previous study has identified increased antithrombin III (ATIII) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), supporting ATIII as a potential biomarker for depression diagnosis.

This study aimed to reveal the alteration of ATIII after occipital repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and illuminate its power to evaluate and predict the curative effects in MDD treatment.

A total of 90 MDD patients were recruited and further intervened with rTMS in occipital for individualized, standard or sham treatment for five days. Those of 74 patients underwent entire detection, including clinical assessments, blood collection and protein measurement.

After treatment, decreased ATIII were detected in both the individualized and the standard group (p=0.000 and 0.001, respectively) instead of the sham one. Especially, the reduction in ATIII in the individualized group was associated with improvements in several neuropsychological assessments. Besides, ATIII at baseline in the standard group and after the individualized rTMS showed high performance to evaluate or predict the response to the 5-day treatment (AUC=0.771, 95%CI, 0.571-0.971; AUC=0.875, 95%CI, 0.714-1.000, respectively) and the remission in follow-up (AUC=0.736, 95%CI, 0.529-0.943; AUC=0.828, 95%CI, 0.656-1.000, respectively). Furthermore, both baseline ATIII and change in ATIII involved in the prediction of 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale in the follow-up study with significant predictive values (p=0.0240 and 0.0233, respectively).

This study detected a reduction in ATIII after occipital rTMS, further revealed the relationships between change in ATIII and therapeutic response, and ultimately provided evidence for the potential of ATIII as a biomarker for the evaluation and prediction of antidepressive effect.

No significant relationships.

The life changes and limitations associated with Covid-19 clearly have serious psychological implications. The life of adolescents has also changed significantly in many areas: study, communication with peers, contact with family, etc. and not all adolescents have adapted to these changes equally easily.

Study adolescents’ perception of Covid-19, describe the effect of self-isolation on adolescent emotional well-being, and examine changes in the family system through the eyes of a teenager.

The study involved two groups of adolescents: the first (G1) - 174 students of a Moscow school and the second (G2) - 39 adolescents hospitalized in a children’s psychiatric clinic in connection with suicidal actions. Teenagers filled out the author’s questionnaire, Short Health Anxiety Inventory (Salkovskis), Analysis of Family Anxiety (Eidemiller, Yustickis), Prohibition on the expression of feelings (Kholmogorova).

Participants in G2 significantly more often than G1 reported that their functioning worsened (it became more difficult to study - 72% versus 51%; more difficult to communicate - 76% versus 41%, more conflicts with family members - 49% versus 25%). G2 demonstrated a significantly higher level of family anxiety (M = 17.3 and M = 12.1 p<0.01), a more pronounced prohibition on expressions of negative emotions (M = 37.2 and M = 21.3 p<0.01). The level of anxiety (for one’s own health, well-being of relatives and financial stability) is also significantly higher in G2.

Many adolescents in self-isolation need the support of relatives and the help of specialists. For a number of teenagers, self-isolation has become a crisis situation.

Self-disorders (SDs) have been described as a core feature of schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. Previous studies conducted on heterogeneous clinical adult and adolescents samples demonstrated that SDs aggregate selectively in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders compared to other disorders.

To examine the specificity of SDs for schizophrenia spectrum disorders in adolescent inpatient sample.

Fifty-five adolescent inpatients admitted to the Child Psychiatry Unit at the Sapienza University in Rome were assessed for psychopathology using Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL), Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS/SOPS),Examination of Anomalous Self-Experiences (EASE), Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), Calgary depression scale for schizophrenia (CDSS)

Patients, aged 14-18 years, were divided in four diagnostic groups: schizophrenia spectrum disorders (5 pts.), mood disorders (19 pts.), anxiety disorders (27 pts.) and other disorders (4 pts.). Frequency of self-disorders was different among the 4 groups. Including patients schizotypal personality disorder in the schizophrenia-spectrum disorder group, the difference is still significant. Mann-Whitney U test shows no differences between EOP and UHR patients in SD. Furthermore, correlations between EASE total score and Calgary and MASC total scores were significant.

Our results confirm the specificity of SDs for schizophrenia spectrum disorders and also the belonging of schizotypal personality disorder to schizophrenia-spectrum.