Physical activity has been associated with improved sleep health, yet the specific impact on individuals with depressive disorders remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the relationship between regular physical exercise and sleep duration in individuals diagnosed with a depressive disorder, utilizing data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Understanding this relationship could inform integrative approaches to managing depressive symptoms and improving overall sleep health in this population.

• - To analyze the impact of regular physical exercise on sleep duration among individuals with a depressive disorder.

• - To assess the potential role of physical exercise in mitigating inadequate and prolonged sleep patterns within this population.

Data from the BRFSS for the years 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 were analyzed to explore the relationship between physical exercise and sleep duration in individuals with depressive disorders. The study included 518,214 participants who reported having a depressive disorder. Of these, 342,276 (weighted 68.5%) reported engaging in physical exercise within the past 30 days. Sleep duration was categorized, and regression analysis was used to assess the association between recent physical exercise and sleep duration.

The analysis indicated that individuals with a depressive disorder who engaged in physical exercise in the past 30 days were less likely to experience inadequate sleep (6-7 hours, Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.83, p < 0.05) and more likely to achieve adequate sleep (7-9 hours, OR = 1.18, p < 0.001) compared to those who did not exercise. They were slightly less likely to have prolonged sleep (9-12 hours, OR = 0.9, p < 0.05). No significant associations were found for very inadequate sleep (<6 hours, OR = 1.34) and very prolonged sleep (>12 hours, OR = 0.6) with physical exercise (p > 0.05).

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Regular physical exercise appears to be associated with better sleep outcomes in individuals with depressive disorders, particularly in promoting adequate sleep duration (7-9 hours). Exercise was linked to a reduced likelihood of inadequate sleep (6-7 hours) and a slight decrease in prolonged sleep (9-12 hours). However, no significant associations were found for very short (<6 hours) or very prolonged (>12 hours) sleep durations. These findings highlight the potential role of physical exercise in managing sleep health within this population. Incorporating regular physical activity into treatment plans for depression may improve sleep quality and contribute to better overall health outcomes. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and long-term effects of exercise on sleep patterns in those with depressive disorders.

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Currently, we see an increase in the identification and diagnosis of girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) over the years, but where are these girls, now adult women, in the Brazilian population? There are barriers that delay and prevent early diagnosis and intervention in women with ASD, such as active attempts to camouflage or mask the signs of ASD in challenges related to social situations. It is known that people with ASD have high rates of depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, which are exacerbated by difficulties in accessing treatment, professional, and family support. In this sense, obtaining the correct diagnosis and treatment for women with ASD is a challenge, as the measures developed and validated are primarily based on male samples and may not be sensitive to the female autism phenotype. With this in mind, the use of screening protocols is a tool that could minimize these impacts, improve quality of life, and drastically change the referral pathways for adult women with ASD.

To present the results of the use of the Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition (GQ-ASC) protocol.

The screening questionnaire, Girls Questionnaire for Autism Spectrum Condition (GQ-ASC), developed by Brown et al., 2020, was used. In this study, a freely translated version was used, as there is no cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese. The questionnaire was sent via an online form, where participants who accepted the Informed Consent Form had access to the GQ-ASC. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under protocol 65890317.9.0000.0065. The questionnaire consists of 21 items, assessed on a 4-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Agree, 4=Strongly Agree) that evaluate specific clinical characteristics of ASD presentation in adult females across five dimensions: imagination and play, camouflage, sensory sensitivity, socialization, and interests. At the end, the scores are summed, with a total score above 56 indicating a high level of autistic traits, with 80% sensitivity in the author’s studies.

31 women with self-reported ASD diagnoses responded to the questionnaire. The average age was 24.09 years, 80.64% identified as white, 61.29% reported incomplete higher education, and 22.58% postgraduate education, 25.80% identified as bisexual, and 25.80% as heterosexual. For the GQ-ASC questionnaire, 83.87% of the participants scored above 56, with an average final score of 64.12 and a standard deviation of 7.95.

The results of the pilot study demonstrated that the final score of the GQ-ASC corroborates the self-reported diagnosis of ASD in adult women. The GQ-ASC can be considered a screening tool for this population, requiring cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese and validation so that more research and refinement of this tool can improve the quality of life for these women.

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Parkinson’s Disease is associated with depigmentation of the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, with specific pathophysiological alterations. It is characterized by tremor at rest, bradykinesia, postural instability and rigidity. But there are also other comorbid psychiatric disorders that accompany it, such as cognitive impairment, psychotic symptoms (hallucinations and delusions), mood disorders and sleep disorders, among others.

The main objective of this work is to review the current scientific evidence on the management of depression in Parkinson’s Disease.

The case of a 75-year-old man with a neurological history and a diagnosis of depression with a poor evolution is presented. A detailed search was performed on UpToDate using the search terms “Parkinson’s Disease” and “Depression”.

This is a 70-year-old man with a history of Parkinson’s disease and comorbid depression with a poor evolution. A multitude of therapeutic options have been tried, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants and an intensive psychotherapeutic approach. Despite what has been described, the expected improvement is not obtained and, given the difficulties in the treatment of his Parkinson’s Disease, an update is necessary according to the scientific evidence collected.

According to the scientific evidence consulted, among the antidepressants most studied in Parkinson’s Disease are SSRIs, SNRIs and tricyclic antidepressants. The choice of antidepressant treatment will depend on the patient’s main symptoms and the risk-benefit assessment of starting treatment. The importance of cognitive-behavioral treatment is also highlighted.

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders seen in PD. Depressive symptoms in PD are associated with increased motor disability and decreased quality of life. It is estimated that up to 50% of patients have depressive symptoms.

In conclusion, the approach to depression in Parkinson’s Disease must be multidisciplinary and comprehensive, with both psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment.

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Attachment styles, developed through early life interactions, influence how individuals perceive relationships and manage stress. Medical students often exhibit insecure attachment styles, which are linked to increased psychological distress.

The primary aim of this study is to explore the extent to which resilience influences the connection between attachment styles and general psychological well-being among medical students.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at New Giza University in Cairo, Egypt, and involved 437 medical students. Participants completed self-report surveys measuring attachment styles, resilience, and psychological distress. The survey instruments included the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) for attachment styles, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) for psychological distress (where a lower GHQ-12 score indicates less psychological distress), and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) for resilience. Participants were grouped into four attachment styles: secure (SA), fearful avoidant (FA), anxious preoccupied (AP), and dismissive avoidant (DA).

The sample’s mean age was 20.32 years (SD = 2.09). Females comprised 69.6% of the cohort, and single students made up 80.1% of the whole cohort. The distribution of attachment styles across females and males differed significantly (p < 0.0001, χ² = 25.7), with DA being more prevalent in males compared to females (28.6% and 13.2%, respectively). GHQ-12 median scores were similar between genders (p = 0.23), while CD-RISC-10 scores differed (p = 0.002), with males having a higher median (28).

Median scores of GHQ-12 and CD-RISC-10 differed significantly across groups of attachment styles (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002, respectively). AP and FA had the highest GHQ-12 medians (15), while AP had the lowest CD-RISC-10 median (25).

A negative correlation between CD-RISC-10 and GHQ-12 scores was significant in the whole cohort (p < 0.0001, r = -0.3227), with FA showing the strongest correlation (p < 0.0001, r = -0.3292, CI: -0.4714 to -0.1704) and other groups showing similar reuslts (figures 1, 2 and 3).

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The findings underscore the critical role of resilience in buffering against the psychological impacts of insecure attachment among medical students. Approaches targeting resilience enhancement could serve as a valuable intervention target to mitigate psychological distress and improve well-being in this high-risk attachment styles. Future research is recommended to develop and test resilience-focused interventions tailored to medical students with insecure attachment styles, which may help reduce burnout and promote mental health in medical training environments.

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Chronic medical conditions are increasingly recognized as significant contributors to suicide risk, especially in patients without prior psychiatric diagnoses (Østergaard et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2024). This case examines the psychiatric impact in a 65-year-old male admitted to general surgery for abdominal pain, who subsequently underwent an ileocolectomy for suspected gastrointestinal malignancy.

To explore the psychiatric impact of medical morbidity on suicide risk, emphasizing recent findings suggesting heightened attention for patients without a psychiatric history.

The patient, with no prior psychiatric history, was observed by liaison psychiatry after verbalizing suicide ideation without intent or plan. The ideation was associated with worsening mood, particularly over the past week. Emotional distress escalated after perceived medical setbacks and was compounded by familial dynamics, particularly the wife’s expressed anxiety. A diagnosis of adjustment disorder with depressive symptoms was considered, with initial treatment involving mirtazapine and psychosocial support.

The case reflects evidence supporting the idea that suicide risk may follow a dose-response pattern based on the disability burden in patients without prior psychiatric history (Østergaard et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2024). This suggests clinicians may need to be particularly vigilant in medically ill patients without a psychiatric background, as their suicide risk may increase as disability burdens mount – contrary to the understandable and maybe more intuitive focus on those with established psychiatric diagnoses.

This case highlights the importance of thorough suicide risk evaluation in patients without psychiatric histories, particularly following a major medical diagnosis. While suicide risk remains high in psychiatric patients, clinicians must be equally or even more vigilant with medically ill patients without psychiatric histories. Psychiatric care should be integrated early, with attention to the timing of suicide risk, the disability burden, and psychosocial stressors. This highlights the need for careful monitoring and early intervention, particularly in the acute phase following medical complications, where risk evaluation may be more nuanced.

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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the declaration of a global emergency. The pervasive fear of contagion has transformed daily life practices, and lockdown measures globally implemented to mitigate virus transmission have led to a spectrum of adverse psychological effects, including anxiety, sadness, frustration, disorientation, and potential for post-traumatic stress disorder, significantly affecting mental health.

This study aims to evaluate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being of trainee teachers.

A descriptive analysis was conducted on a cohort of 370 Moroccan trainee teachers, with a mean age of 28.30 ± 5.99 years. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire designed to assess the presence and extent of psychological distress, along with sociodemographic and professional characteristics, during the lockdown.

The findings revealed that 65.1% of the confined trainees experienced obsessive tendencies, and 40% reported that their daily activities were restricted, affecting their normal life pursuits. Furthermore, 68.3% expressed moderate to high stress levels due to various factors, such as financial and professional concerns, potential loss of family members, or personal hospitalization. Half of the trainees expressed concern for their future prospects and feelings of ennui during these unprecedented times.

The findings reveal the enduring psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on trainee teachers, with significant stress and psychological disorders noted. This emphasizes the critical need for targeted mental health support and proactive resilience-building within educational systems, not only aiding recovery but also preparing educators for future pandemics.

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Work-related mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in professions involving direct communication and care, such as healthcare. Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a critical role in prevention, health promotion, and the management of emergency situations. The mental and emotional well-being of healthcare professionals in PHC is essential for maintaining high levels of performance and work effectiveness. However, there is limited research on the psychosocial conditions of healthcare staff in PHC settings, particularly regarding anxiety, stress, depression, and psychological distress.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of anxiety, stress, depression, and psychological distress among medical and nursing staff working in primary healthcare units in Peloponnese. Additionally, the study aims to examine the associations between these mental health indicators and various individual and professional characteristics, such as age, gender, and professional role.

An online survey was conducted to gather data from a final sample of 103 healthcare professionals. A questionnaire was constructed ad hoc and comprised two well-established measurement tools. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess anxiety, stress, and depression, while the K6+ was used as a self-report measure to evaluate psychological distress.

The results demonstrated that the participants exhibited generally low levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. As indicated by the DASS-21 scale, approximately 75% of respondents reported minimal to no anxiety, with only 7.8% reporting severe anxiety. Similarly, 75% of respondents indicated minimal to no stress, with only 4% reporting severe stress. Regarding depressive symptoms, 76% of participants exhibited minimal to no depressive symptoms, while only 4% demonstrated severe depressive symptoms. However, approximately 20% of the sample exhibited signs of psychological distress, which may indicate a significant mental health concern. Significant correlations were found through statistical analysis: older employees exhibited lower levels of anxiety, while nursing staff demonstrated higher levels of anxiety compared to medical staff. Additionally, women reported higher anxiety levels than their male colleagues.

In conclusion, while anxiety, stress, and depression levels are generally low among healthcare professionals, a notable portion of the workforce is at risk of serious psychological distress. These findings indicate the need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for younger staff, nurses, and female employees, to ensure the well-being of healthcare professionals and maintain the efficacy of primary healthcare services.

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The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on the world’s emotional health, and knowledge is limited about the efficacy of traditional interventions in this context. The TelePSI Project, initiated by the Hospital de Clınicas de Porto Alegre in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Health, aimed to provide online

mental health care to essential services professionals during the pandemic. Single session of enhanced psychoeducation (EP) is an innovative strategy proposed by TelePSI, suggesting lifestyle changes based on individual risk and protective factors or physical, emotional, psychological, and well-being.

Single-session interventions are an effective strategy for reducing emotional distress. Enhanced psychoeducation, which includes empathic listening, risk stratification, symptom monitoring, and habit modification is particularly suitable for single-session interventions. We investigated predictors of response to an online enhanced psychoeducation intervention among essential service professionals during the pandemic in Brazil.

The TelePSI Project, financed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, was a nationwide initiative that served more than 3,300 individuals in various psychotherapeutic modalities. Data were collected from April 2020 to December 2021. We included all participants with high levels of emotional distress who received single-session interventions

Final sample 460 individuals (89.1% women, 81.1% health professionals). After 1 month, 300 participants were reassessed. Overuse of social media, use of social networks to contact family and friends, playing video games, smoking, drinking alcohol, and spending time with pets were associated with less improvement in symptoms, whereas playing an instrument and previous psychological treatment were associated with greater symptom improvement. This highlights the impact of lifestyle factors on the efficacy of single-session interventions.

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Online EP with support videos, as proposed by TelePSI, appears to be an effective intervention strategy for healthcare professionals with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and irritability. Although a significant proporion of the participants improved, some variables were associated with less improvement, such as spending time with pets, tobacco use, alcohol use, and playing video games. In this study, we set out to analyze variables associated with participant improvement because, by evaluating these factors, we can better understand this new model of psychoeducation, which represents a promising alternative for individuals during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the intervention should be explored beyond the context of the pandemic and social isolation. Further research on TelePSI is forthcoming, including a comparison of intervention arms

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Older adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) can be treated with augmentation or switched to a different drug.

We aimed to identify factors that moderate the effectiveness of these strategies on treatment outcomes to guide the selection of the optimal strategy for each patient.

We analyzed data from 742 older adults with TRD in the Outcomes of Treatment-Resistant Depression in Older Adults (OPTIMUM) clinical trial. All participants were randomized to one of two treatment strategies, which were augmentation with aripiprazole, bupropion, or lithium; or switching to bupropion or nortriptyline. Treatment outcomes were change in MADRS scores and remission after 10 weeks. Age, burden of comorbid physical illness, number of adequate previous antidepressant trials, presence of executive cognitive impairment, and clinically relevant comorbid anxiety were examined as potential moderators of the effect of the two treatment strategies (augmentation vs. switching) on treatment outcomes.

Overall, augmentation produced more improvement in MADRS scores and produced a higher rate of remission than switching. For change in MADRS scores after 10 weeks of treatment, the number of adequate previous antidepressant trials was the only significant moderator of the superiority of augmentation over switching (b = -1.6, t = -2.1, p = 0.033, 95%CI [-3.0,-0.1]). There were no significant moderators for remission.

Older patients with TRD with less than three previous antidepressant trials benefit more from augmentation than from switching. Future studies validating this finding with different drugs in more diverse samples can facilitate their application in real world settings.

H. Kim Grant / Research support from: Dr. Kim reports grant support from the PSI foundation (R23-21). She is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (Chisholm Memorial Fellowship)., J. Karp: None Declared, H. Lavretsky Grant / Research support from: Dr. Lavretsky received support from grants (K24 AT009198, R01 AT008383, and R01 MH114981) from the NIH., D. Blumberger Grant / Research support from: Dr. Blumberger reports grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Temerty family through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation during the conduct of the study; nonfinancial support from Magventure (in-kind equipment support for investigator-initiated research); grants from Brainsway (principal investigator of an investigator-initiated study and site principal investigator for sponsored clinical trials), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Brain Canada Foundation, Campbell Family Research Institute, and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute outside the submitted work; received medication supplies for an investigator-initiated trial from Indivior; and has participated in advisory boards for Janssen and Welcony., P. Brown Grant / Research support from: Dr. Brown received additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health OPTIMUM NEURO grant (5R01MH114980)., A. Flint Grant / Research support from: Dr. Flint has received grant support from the US National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Brain Canada, the Ontario Brain Institute, and Alzheimer’s Association., E. Lenard: None Declared, P. Miller: None Declared, C. Reynolds Shareolder of: Dr. Reynolds receives payment from the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry as Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and royalty income for intellectual property as co-inventor of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index., S. Roose: None Declared, E. Lenze Grant / Research support from: Dr. Lenze received additional support from the Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research at Washington University School of Medicine, as well as the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences grant (UL1TR002345) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)., B. Mulsant Grant / Research support from: Dr. Mulsant received additional support from the Labatt Family Chair in Biology of Depression in Late-Life Adults at the University of Toronto. He holds and receives support from the Labatt Family Chair in Biology of Depression in Late-Life Adults at the University of Toronto. He currently receives or has received during the past three years research support from Brain Canada, the CAMH Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH); Capital Solution Design LLC (software used in a study funded by CAMH Foundation), and HAPPYneuron (software used in a study funded by Brain Canada).

Schizophrenia is often characterized by chronic progression and frequent relapses. However, recent evidence suggests that many patients can achieve symptoms remission and functional recovery through integrated pharmacological and psychosocial interventions. Despite treatment advances, up to 34% of patients are resistant to standard antipsychotic treatments, with clozapine being the gold standard for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). However, up to 60% of TRS patients may not respond adequately to clozapine due to its adverse effects and lack of compliance. Recently, the use of two long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics has emerged as a potential strategy for managing TRS, particularly in patients with poor adherence to oral therapies.

The objective is to provide clinical insights into this novel pharmacological approach consisting in the administration of two LAI antipsychotics in patients with treatment resistant schizophrenia.

This case report describes the clinical management of a 62-year-old woman with a 20-year history of treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia, characterized by multiple hospitalizations, delusions, auditory hallucinations, disorganized behavior, and non-adherence to oral medications.

Due to the patient’s poor response to prior treatments, including clozapine, a novel therapeutic strategy was adopted during her hospitalization in March 2023. Two LAI antipsychotics, haloperidol decanoate (100 mg/28 days) and aripiprazole (400 mg/28 days), were administered alternately to optimize symptom control while minimizing adverse effects. Over 8 weeks, the patient demonstrated significant improvements in psychotic symptoms, mood, and functioning. Importantly, adherence to treatment improved.

This case highlights the potential efficacy and safety of combining two LAI antipsychotics in TRS patients, particularly those with poor adherence to oral therapies. The alternating administration of haloperidol and aripiprazole may exploit the synergistic effects of first- and second-generation antipsychotics, offering a promising alternative for managing complex cases of schizophrenia. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and establish guidelines for dual LAI use in TRS patients.

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Recently it was highlighted that individuals not only vary in their beliefs but also in the manner of their thinking, and this diversity can significantly predict various crucial psychological outcomes.

This research addresses the underexplored relationship between cognitive styles and psychosocial factors like hope, subjective well-being, coping and social support, specifically in Kosovo. These variables have not been investigated in Kosovo before, making this study the first of its kind.

Its cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 490 students aged 15 to 23 (Mage=19.06; SD=4.17). Participants completed the instruments below: Adult Hope Scale ; Brief COPE Scale ; Oslo 3-item Social Support Scale; WHO-5 Well-Being Index ; Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Cognitive Reflection Test . Data processing was done with SPSS 27.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019.

Significant negative correlations were observed between Cognitive Reflection Test scores and gender (r = -.197, p < 0.00), Adult Hope Scale score (r = -.173, p < 0.00), WHO-5 Well-being Index (r = -.098, p < 0.04) and Emotion–Focused Coping (r = -.125, p < 0.01). However, no significant correlations were found with Social Support, Problem-Focused-Coping, or Dysfunctional Coping (all p > 0.05). The correlational analysis, suggested that individuals with higher analytical thinking tendencies are more likely to be male, have lower levels of hope, employ less emotion-focused coping strategies and reported lower subjective well-being.

The study emphasized that psychosocial factors are intricate, influenced by diverse elements. While cognitive abilities, as measured by the Cognitive Reflection Test, played a role in some aspects of these factors, they didn’t fully explain their complexity. Therefore, the research suggests that further investigation is needed to grasp the underlying mechanisms and implications of these correlations in a Kosovo context.

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There can be a considerable mental health burden to living with diabetes. Health behaviours are modifiable factors that influence mental health in the general population. However, despite the centrality of health behaviours to diabetes management, there are significant gaps in our understanding of their longitudinal impact on mental health in people with diabetes.

This scoping review aimed to synthesise the longitudinal evidence from observational and intervention research on the impact of health behaviours on mental health and related psychological factors in people with type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

PubMed, PsychINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycArticles were searched for intervention and observational studies examining the effect of health-promoting, health-risk, or diabetes-specific health behaviours on aspects of mental health, diabetes distress, and quality of life, in people with all types of diabetes. Abstracts, titles, and full texts were screened by two independent reviewers.

In total, 100 relevant studies were identified, including 29 observational studies and 71 intervention studies. Studies had a mean follow-up time of 12.9 ± 17.8 months. The health behaviours investigated in the included studies were adherence, alcohol, carbohydrate-counting, diet, diet and exercise combined, exercise, fasting, medical visits, sleep, self-monitoring blood glucose, smoking, and weight. The review identified knowledge gaps surrounding diabetes-specific behaviours, behaviour interactions/clusters, sleep, sedentary behaviour, screen-time, gestational diabetes, mood and ecologically valid and objective measurements. Exercise was the most freqently investigated health behaviour and also the most likely to be found to have a mental health promoting impact.

Findings suggest that health-promoting behaviours influence mental health in people with diabetes. There is less conclusive evidence regarding the impact of health-risk or diabetes-specific health behaviours. In particular, a broad range of physical activities may improve mental health and wellbeing in people with diabetes.

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Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) is a developmental disorder that includes social communication challenges, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and intellectual incapacity. The specific etiology of ASD is unknown. However, it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. ASD has been linked to copy number variation (CNV), which alters chromosome structure at the submicroscopic level. 16p11.2 deletion is one of the most commonly documented cytogenetic causes of ASD, with an estimated incidence of 0.5% among ASD patients. (Ju et al. 2021; Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 15, 718720.)

We investigated to explain the hereditary characteristics of a case of ASD that included intellectual disability and dysmorphic facial traits.

Our patient is 20 months old and applied to our clinic accompanied by his parents due to speech delay and with the story of forgetting a few words he had learned around 1 year old. When we evaluate it from a developmental perspective, he held his head at the 10th month, babbled at the 8th month, sat without support 13 the month, crawled at the 15th month, walked at the 17th month, said his first words at the age of one, but he has regression history around 1 year and 4 months old, and not completed his toilet training yet. At 18 months old, a genetic screening was conducted due to brachycephalic facial structure, prominent forehead ridge and protrusion in the frontal area, mild midface hypoplasia, hypertelorism (interocular distance of 2.9 cm), slightly slanted eye sockets, synophrys, anteverted nostrils, a small nose with a deeply set nasal bridge, mild prognathism, and deeply set, posteriorly rotated ears. The genetic screening revealed a 597.84 kb microdeletion in the short arm of chromosome 16(16p11.2) through CGH array analysis

During our examinations, it was observed that the child is generally passive, does not sufficiently use verbal and non-verbal communication, has inadequate eye contact, and responds inconsistently to their name. Based on the developmental tests and our evaluation, the child was found to be significantly behind in developmental milestones, leading to a consideration of autism and cognitive delay. It was recommended that the child begin special education.

The deletion of 16p11.2 may lead to developmental disorders and poor socio-cognitive performance by disrupting long-range prefrontal synchronization. This is supported by ASD-associated CNV and impaired macroscale connectivity. (Bertero et al. 2018; Brain, 141(7), 2055-2065) Deletions of 16q11.2 are associated with higher rates of psychopathology relative to familial controls, emphasizing the need for early identification, diagnosis, and intervention (Niarchou et al,2019; Translational psychiatry; 9(1), 8)

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Representative surveys have shown a decline in alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents over the last years. The rapid spread of adolescents’ activities in digital space may have contributed to these changes. However, there is still considerable scope for examining the relationship between activities in digital space and substance use behaviour of adolescents.

The study aims to assess the association between adolescents’ alcohol use, cigarette smoking and their activities in digital space. The respective associations are controlled for adolescents’ subjective well-being as a putative confounder related to both substance use and digital activities.

Data from the 2022 Czech part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study were used. Only 15-year-old respondents were analysed (N=4263, 50.7% boys). To measure substance use, data on the frequency of alcohol use and cigarette smoking in the past 30 days were used. Digital activities were measured by data on typical daily free time spent on social media and computer gaming. To control for subjective well-being the WHO-5 scale was used. Pairwise associations between substance use, social media use, and computer gaming were examined using Spearman rank correlation coefficients (rho). Ordinal logistic regression models were used to adjust the respective associations for gender and psychological well-being.

Significant pairwise associations were found between time spent on social media and both frequency of alcohol use (rho = 0.181, P<0.05) and cigarette smoking (rho = 0.191, P<0.05). In contrast, computer gaming was not significantly correlated with either alcohol use or cigarette smoking (rho = -0.015 and rho = -0.014, respectively; P>0.30). Poor subjective well-being was a significant risk factor for substance use and time spent on social media. Controlling for adolescents’ well-being did not significantly attenuate the former relationship between the substance use and social media use.

The results suggest that among adolescents, different forms of digital activity have markedly different associations with substance use. While increased time spent on social media was significantly associated with higher frequency of substance use, no such association was found for computer gaming. Future research will focus on whether the relationship between specific digital activities and substance use can be explained by other factors related to mental health.

The study was supported by the OP Johannes Amos Comenius (CZ.02.01.01/00/22_008/0004583).

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Consensual non-monogamous relationships (CNM) are characterized by a diversity of approaches to intimate relationships, diverging from the traditional monogamous model and exploring new possibilities. CNM relationships include forms such as polyamory, open relationships, and swinging. There are no official and systematic epidemiological data on CNM relationships in Italy; however, these relationships have recently gained more visibility due to social media, support groups, and open discussions about relationship diversity that are slowly emerging in a country whose culture is traditionally influenced by Catholicism and conservative social norms.

Most research focuses on discrimination against individuals involved in CNM, while the factors underlying people’s engagement in such relationships are overlooked. This study aims to investigate predictors of willingness to engage and actual engagement in CNM among Italian emerging adults. Specifically, based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991), we examined the role of perceived social norms and perceived behavioral control, as well as other predictors already tested in previous research.

Participants completed an online questionnaire examining factors such as gender, sexual orientation, willingness to engage in CNM relationships (WECNM; Moors et al., 2015; 6 items), avoidant and anxious attachment style (ECR-S; Wei et al., 2007; 12 items), erotophilia (ATP; Johnson et al., 2015; 5 items), social norms (PSN; custom scale, 4 items), perceived behavioral control in CNM relationships (PBC; custom scale, 2 items). Data were analyzed using SPSS, applying multiple linear regression.

The sample consists of 667 emerging adults (Mage = 23.29; age range: 18 – 30) with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. Of these, 535 participants are involved in monogamous relationships, 65 in polyamorous, and 67 in open relationships. In line with our hypotheses, results show that social norms, perceived behavioral control, non-heterosexual orientation, and cisgender male identity are significant predictors of both the willingness to engage in and the commitment to consensual non-monogamous relationships. Avoidant attachment style, as well as erotophilia, predict the predisposition but not the actual commitment to CNM.

The results contribute to a deeper understanding of CNM relationships in the Italian context by identifying some individual and social factors related to openness and involvement in CNM relationships. This provides preliminary evidence of the utility of the Theory of Planned Behavior in understanding this type of relationship. Moreover, the significant number of individuals involved or interested underscores the importance of considering relationship diversity in future research and social policies, with the aim of promoting greater acceptance and inclusion.

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In the present era, technology and medicine have become deeply intertwined, forming inseparable scientific disciplines. The mobile phone has become an omnipresent device, serving functions such as financial management, job organization, social networking, and internet access. While its benefits are undeniable, there is growing evidence of its potential pathological effects. One of the most recently identified issues is nomophobia—a term combining “no mobile,” “phone,” and “phobia,” which refers to the fear or anxiety of being without one’s mobile phone.

Nomophobia is considered a situational phobia of the contemporary era. Its symptoms include excessive reliance on mobile phones and pervasive anxiety about losing internet connectivity. Related conditions include “Ringxiety” and “phantom vibration syndrome,” where individuals perceive false notifications from their devices.

This study aims to assess the relationship between eating disorders (ED) and nomophobia. Additionally, it seeks to analyze the psychopathological components of nomophobia and evaluate the characteristics of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q), currently used for its assessment.

A questionnaire was administered at the Study and Care Unit for ED in Bologna, Italy, between January 2023 and May 2024. Alongside tests evaluating the social and psychopathological characteristics of the outpatients (including the STAI-Y for anxiety assessment), the Italian version of the NMP-Q was employed.

The study included 104 patients (97 females and 7 males) with an average age of 21.8 years (range 18-44). The results showed that 100% of the subjects exhibited symptoms of nomophobia, with 21.3% displaying severe nomophobia. Among these, 94.4% tested positive for state anxiety, and 100% for clinically significant trait anxiety. This suggests that nomophobia may reflect not only current anxiety symptoms but also an anxious trait, indicating a predisposition to heightened reactivity and anxiety in response to environmental stimuli.

The data highlight the alarming pervasiveness of internet addiction in contemporary society, with nomophobia being a significant manifestation. Given its substantial consequences, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of this condition and its underlying psychosocial determinants. This will enhance our knowledge and aid in developing more effective prevention strategies. However, a paradox arises: if nearly everyone is affected by nomophobia, it challenges the traditional definition of a disease. Further research into the NMP-Q test’s structure and specificity is necessary, as high prevalence rates may question its current measurement validity.

None Declared

Mobile phone addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by the inability to function in daily life without a smartphone, most often with unlimited access to the internet. “Phone addicts” perceive their mobile phone as the most important tool for daily contact with others.

The aim of our study was to examine internet and mobile phone addiction in individuals aged 15-50 years.

The study involved 107 participants who regularly use mobile phones and access the internet. The participants completed an online survey as part of the study. The Kimberly Young test was used to assess internet addiction. The test consisted of 7 questions with “yes” or “no” responses. A score of ≥4 points was considered indicative of addiction. To assess mobile phone addiction, a test consisting of 10 questions was used. The questions concerned attitudes towards SMS messages, phone calls, mobile network operator promotions, and mobile phone use. Each question had 3 possible answers. Providing answers marked with point “c” to 5 or more questions was considered indicative of mobile phone addiction. The only inclusion criteria were: being over 14 years old and owning a mobile phone with internet access.

The study involved 71 women, accounting for 66.4% of the respondents, and 36 men, accounting for 33.6% of the respondents. The age of the participants ranged from 16 to 50 years, with the average age being approximately 22.8 years. Among the study participants, 35.5% had higher education, 43.9% had secondary education, and 20.6% had primary education. 54.2% of the respondents lived in urban areas, while 45.8% lived in rural areas.

The questionnaire included a question regarding the amount of time spent online each day. According to the respondents’ answers, the average time spent online was approximately 358 minutes. The next question concerned the time spent on phone calls or text messages. The average time spent on this was approximately 75 minutes.

The results of the study indicated that 20 individuals, or 18.7% of the respondents, were addicted to the internet. Six individuals, or 5.6%, were addicted to their phones. Two respondents, or 1.9%, were addicted to both the internet and their phones. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistica software.

A statistically significant correlation was found between the degree of mobile phone addiction and the amount of time spent using the phone. The longer the time spent on the phone, the greater the degree of mobile phone addiction.

Age significantly affects the degree of internet addiction. Among older individuals, the level of internet addiction is lower. The amount of time spent using the internet does not affect the degree of addiction. As the duration of mobile phone use increases, the intensity of mobile phone addiction also increases. Age does not affect the degree of mobile phone addiction.

None Declared

Recent research highlights the importance of technological solutions in delaying cognitive decline and improving life quality for at-risk individuals, emphasizing the need for innovative, tech-based approaches in dementia prevention (Johnson et al.,2023; Smith et al.,2023). Exercogs® is an innovative tool designed to tackle the global challenge of dementia by addressing modifiable risk factors (Livingston et al.,2020). Developed through a clinic-academia partnership, it integrates physical exercise, cognitive skills, and social interaction into a single activity for dementia prevention programs.

This scientific study aims to: 1) Creating and validating 4 Exercogs® (using gamification) for an augmented reality platform; 2) Validating a dementia prevention program that generates health benefits using Exercogs®.

1. 1. Research and Planning: assessment of seniors’ needs; survey of market solutions;

2. 2. Ideation and Concept Development: definition of therapeutic objectives; selection of stimulus types; idealization of game scenarios, cognitive, and motor areas;

3. 3. Design and Prototyping: programming video games; implementation of gamification techniques;

4. 4. Testing and Evaluation: testing the prototypes and interaction mechanics with a group of users; usability testing.;

5. 5. Scientific Validation: experimental study with pre and post-test assessment, with a sample of 204 subjects aged ≥ 65 years old.

6. 6. Maintenance and Improvement: the solution is being used in pilot studies in different institutions in Portugal for evaluation and continuous improvement.

Exercogs® consists of 4 games that target key areas of healthy and pathological ageing, focusing on cognitive (attention, memory, executive functions), physical (mobility, coordination, balance) and social (general social skills) domains. Each game adapts to users’ abilities with different difficulty levels and is designed for group play to enhance social interaction, crucial for mental health. Utilizing gamification and augmented reality for engagement, scientific validation showed significant improvements in cognitive, affective, social, functional domains, and quality of life, with marked statistical significance in all areas assessed.

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Notable health benefits were observed among users, particularly in cognitive function and quality of life. These findings indicate the potential effectiveness of Exercogs® in dementia prevention programs. The alliance between the clinic and academia is crucial for solving the challenges of longevity and creating technological solutions that respond to new health needs. The use of technologies in health intervention generates high levels of adherence and motivation among older adults, as well as among health professionals. Exercogs® are a promising technological solution that uses gamification with clinical support to prevent dementia!

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This knowledge exchange program was designed to enhance the clinical training of a Cambodian psychiatrist in general psychiatry and addiction care. Conducted between July 1, 2024, and August 30, 2024, the program involved immersive clinical experiences in the Netherlands and South Africa. The exchange facilitated engagement with leading mental health institutions, offering valuable insights into advanced psychiatric practices and addiction care models.

The primary objectives of the program were to improve clinical competencies in diagnosing and managing psychiatric and addiction disorders, to gain exposure to multidisciplinary and community-based care models, and to develop cultural competence in adapting psychiatric practices to low-resource settings like Cambodia. These goals were pursued through a combination of clinical visits and participatory learning activities.

The psychiatrist participated in clinical visits and hands-on learning at Radboud University Medical Center and Pro Persona in the Netherlands, as well as Rustenburg Addiction Care in South Africa. These experiences included observing advanced treatments and participating in community-based psychiatric care programs. The program’s structure combined hands-on training and multidisciplinary teamwork to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

The program yielded significant improvements in the psychiatrist’s ability to manage complex addiction cases and implement community-based care. Additionally, the experience fostered greater cultural competence, enabling the application of psychiatric practices suited to the Cambodian context. The collaboration also promoted potential future psychiatric training initiatives and international partnerships.

The knowledge exchange program was successful in enhancing the psychiatrist’s clinical skills and cultural awareness. It underscored the importance of international collaboration in psychiatry and addiction care, providing a model for how mental health professionals from low-income countries can benefit from exposure to global best practices and community-based care strategies.

None Declared

Psychiatric assessment of psychotic disorders has traditionally relied on categorical classification systems, but there is a shift towards a dimensional approach in DSM-5 and ICD-11. Schizophrenia is increasingly viewed as a spectrum disorder, with genetic studies indicating shared risk factors among schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder. However, there is currently no widely used transdiagnostic dimensional assessment tool in clinical practice. At Semmelweis University we have developed a scale which takes into account four major symptom groups (catatonia, affective-, positive and negative symptoms) and several important “specifiers” (disorganisation, bipolarity, prodromal symptoms, childhood onset, etc.). Clinicians should assess their patients with CPAN based on the long-term clinical presentation, contrary to PANSS and other cross-sectional tools, since our theory is that long-term traits represent underlying “biology” in a more precise manner than the rapidly changing status of patients, and therefore should show higher correlation with biomarkers like genetic and imaging data.

We aimed to test the clinical usability of CPAN and its alignment with DSM-5 diagnostic categories and medication correlations in outpatient settings. Additionally, we planned a validation process to assess the tool’s validity, interrater reliability, and test-retest reliability.

In our pilot study, six clinicians assessed 104 outpatient patients using CPAN, analyzing DSM-5 diagnoses and medications. Patients were clustered into four groups based on leading symptoms. In the validation study, 100 inpatients with severe psychotic symptoms will be assessed three times by two raters—one from the clinical team and one independent. We will compare CPAN’s validity to PANSS results and assess test-retest reliability with three assessments.

The pilot study demonstrated that CPAN is user-friendly, taking 1-2 minutes for familiar clinicians to complete. Four symptom clusters were identified: 1) schizophrenia with catatonic symptoms, 2) schizophrenia without catatonic symptoms, 3) schizoaffective disorder with negative symptoms, and 4) schizoaffective disorder without negative symptoms/bipolar disorder. Prescription patterns were correlated with symptom groups, but detailed analysis was limited due to the small sample size. Validation results are pending.

CPAN is a practical tool for assessing long-term symptom presentation in patients with psychotic disorders. Widespread use of this scale could provide valuable real-life data linking symptoms to medication use and clinical outcomes. The ongoing validation study will further establish the scale’s validity and reliability

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