Psychiatric disorders,such as anxiety,depression,bipolar disorder and schizophrenia,remain major global health challenges. Although prevalence has not recently increased, mental health care struggles with early diagnosis, real-time monitoring and personalized treatment. Traditional methods, relying on self-reports and clinical assessments,often miss the dynamic nature of these conditions.AI and wearable technology offer a new approach, enabling continuous data collection and real-time analysis to improve early detection and optimize patient care

This study aims to assess the role of AI-driven wearables in diagnosing,monitoring and managing psychiatric disorders by:

Evaluating AI’s effectiveness in predicting psychiatric episodes using wearable sensor data

Exploring clinical applications to improve patient outcomes

Identifying challenges and ethical considerations in the broader use of this technology in mental healthcare

A systematic review of studies(2018-2023)on AI and wearable technology in psychiatry was conducted using PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar.Studies were selected based on their focus on AI-driven wearables for predicting or managing psychiatric conditions.These devices typically captured physiological and behavioral data,such as heart rate variability,sleep patterns and movement.The accuracy of AI algorithms in predicting psychiatric episodes was compared to traditional methods,with statistical analysis used to assess outcomes

The review showed that AI-driven wearable devices significantly improved early detection and prediction of psychiatric episodes,with accuracy rates over 80% for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.Wearables,combined with AI algorithms, effectively monitored physiological data like heart rate and sleep patterns,providing real-time insights for personalized, timely interventions.For example,changes in sleep and activity levels,alongside heart rate variability,strongly predicted depressive episodes.In patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder,AI detected mood swings early by analyzing behavioral data from wearables,enabling stabilization.Wearables also helped monitor medication adherence and reduced relapse rates in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia by identifying early signs of psychotic episodes

AI-driven wearable technology has the potential to transform psychiatric care by enabling continuous monitoring and personalized interventions.These tools enhance early detection and prediction of psychiatric episodes,offering a more dynamic approach than traditional methods.However,challenges such as data privacy, ethical concerns and the lack of regulatory frameworks must be addressed before widespread clinical use.Further research is needed to refine AI algorithms,validate the long-term effectiveness of wearables and ensure patient safety through regulations and privacy protections

None Declared

Although mental health problems are common in the workplace, discrimination against mental health is still prominent. Characteristics of one’s own occupation can influence aspects of stigma and attitudes to mental health problems in the workplace context, but there are limited studies examining differences in them between occupational groups.

We investigated occupational differences in mental health stigma, and attitudes to both mental and physical health in the workplace.

Data from the British Social Attitudes 2015 survey were used. Logistic regression models were conducted to investigate associations between occupational categories and stigma as measured by desire for social distance, as well as attitudes towards mental and physical health in the workplace. Occupational categories were based on the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification. Measures for attitudes to mental and physical health in the workplace include whether paid work is good for mental and physical health, how soon one should return to work following depression, whether work can help speed recovery from depression, whether one’s medical history should affect their promotion, including depression, schizophrenia and diabetes. Desire for social distance from people with depression and schizophrenia was measures using unlabelled vignettes.

We found occupational differences in attitudes towards mental and physical health in the workplace, but not in levels of stigma. People in lower supervisory and technical (group 4), semi-routine and routine (group 5) occupations were more likely to have negative attitudes towards mental and physical health in the workplace compared to managerial and professional occupations (group 1). Both occupation groups were less likely than group 1 to believe that paid work is good for mental health (group 4: odds ratio (OR) = 0.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.24-0.61; group 5: OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.24-0.49). They were also less likely to believe that people with depression should return to work when they can do some or most of the job (group 4: OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48-0.94; group 5: OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.41-0.66). People in group 5 were less likely to believe that paid work is good for physical health (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.89) and that having schizophrenia should not affect promotion at work (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62-0.97) than group 1.

Our study reinforced the importance of job characteristics on attitudes to mental health in the workplace. First, employers need to invest more in improving their employees’ well-being. Second, governments should provide more support and resources for small companies to help them develop mental health policies and practices. Third, modifications need to be made to improve job control for employees and to ensure enough reasonable adjustments can be made.

G. Cheung: None Declared, A. Ronaldson: None Declared, C. Henderson Consultant of: C.H. has received consulting fees from Lundbeck and educational speaker fees from Janssen.

Selective reporting of outcome data (SOR) refers to trialists selecting results for publication based on the results of a subset of the initially measured outcomes. SOR for specific, potentially very profitable, treatments, particularly in key junctures such as in the period leading to or immediately preceding approval, has not been examined.

We examined the prevalence and types of SOR for three of the most prominent psychedelic drugs, either approved by regulators or considered very close to approval: esketamine, psilocybin and MDMA.

We used a publicly available inception cohort (https://osf.io/yfv9n) of intervention trials of psychedelic drugs that were registered on clinicaltrials.gov by March 2023. We selected randomized trials in participants with symptoms, a diagnosis or risk of mental disorders. Trials had to assess the efficacy of esketamine, psilocybin or MDMA, alone or in combination with other treatments, compared to any control or active intervention, and include at least one efficacy outcome.

We identified 98 randomized trials, 56 of which had a clinicaltrials.gov status of completed, terminated or unknown as of July 2024. Sixteen of 56 (28.5%) had no publication available as well as no results posted on clinicaltrials.gov. Of these sixteen, seven were described as completed in the registry (three had a completion date in 2022, two in 2023). Another 8 trials we described as unknown, with anticipated completion dates ranging from 2021 to 2023. For 29 trials (51%) we could identify peer-reviewed publications. Five other trials had only been published as conference posters or company press-releases. Of the 29 trials matched with publications, the primary outcome measure had been changed in 2 (7%), with an outcome initially registered as secondary upgraded to primary. There were changes regarding the timepoint of assessment for the primary outcome in 7 trials (24%): in 4 trials the timepoint had been changed, while in 3 trials, the publication only reported on a subset of the timepoints registered for the primary outcome.

Selective reporting and non-reporting of study results are present in trials of the most prominent psychedelic drugs, but given the scarce information contained in clinical trial registries, they are difficult to assess. Full access to all time-stamped versions of trial protocols and statistical analysis plans would be necessary to gauge the extent and types of SOR, including changes to the analysis method.

None Declared

Loneliness can manifest in various aspects of life, including personal and professional contexts. Although most of studies on loneliness are focused on general loneliness without the specification on any context, the study of workplace loneliness has garnered increased attention in recent years and researchers explore how loneliness in professional settings affects labor satisfaction, productivity and mental health of workers. However, few studies have directly compared workplace and non-workplace loneliness, particularly in terms of their prevalence, agreement with each other, risk factors, and consequences

The aim of this study is to (1) evaluate prevalences and concordance between workplace and non-workplace loneliness, (2) compare sociodemographic risk factors between workplace and non-workplace loneliness, (3) compare working conditions-related risk factors between the two contexts of loneliness, and (4) compare their impact on absenteeism, depression, anxiety and substance use disorder.er.

A representative sample of the employee residing in Spain (n=5400) was surveyed using computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI). Logistic regression models were constructed to compare the effects of risk factors for workplace and non-workplace loneliness (including sociodemographic factors, and factors related to working conditions), as well as the impact of workplace and non-workplace loneliness on absenteeism, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.

40,7% of active workers report experiencing workplace loneliness, while 42.0% report non-workplace loneliness. The level of concordance between both types of loneliness is low (k=0.36). Both types are more prevalent among younger workers and migrated people. Other sociodemographic risk factors (being female, non-married, and non-heterosexual) were significantly associated with non-workplace loneliness. Meanwhile, risk factors related to working conditions -particularly working under stress and labor precariousness- were associated with both types of loneliness, which showed an independent impact on absenteeism, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.

Most of social determinants of workplace loneliness are rooted in the work environment, indicating that effective interventions should focus on addressing labor conditions and precariousness to improve both workplace and non-workplace loneliness and their impacts on absenteeism and mental health.

None Declared

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Psychosocial factors play a significant role in the pathogenesis of CVD. Social isolation and loneliness, two important aspects of social determinants, have been shown to be associated with adverse health outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether social isolation and loneliness increase the risk of CVD and exacerbate CVD development.

This study aims to investigate 1) whether social isolation and loneliness are associated with CVD; 2) whether the associations between social isolation and loneliness and CVD are consistent with causal effects; and 3) whether social isolation exacerbates CVD development.

We capitalized on a large sample of individual-level data from the UK Biobank. Participants’ levels of social isolation and loneliness were assessed via questionnaires. 6 cardiovascular diseases (atrial fibrillation, heart failure, hypertension, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke) were included by linking hospital admission data and death registry records. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of social isolation and loneliness with the risk of CVD. Additionally, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to estimate the causal relationships between social isolation, loneliness, and CVD. Finally, we evaluated the impact of social isolation on the clinical outcomes of myocardial infarction in mice. We determined infarct size using histology and heart function using echocardiography.

During a median follow-up of 12.6 years, after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors, most isolated group was associated with an increased risk of 4 out of 6 cardiovascular diseases compared to the least isolated group: heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, and hypertension. Loneliness increased the risk of all 6 cardiovascular diseases. Two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis showed that fewer leisure or social activities was associated with an increased risk of stroke (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00-1.02). Loneliness was associated with an increased risk of heart failure (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.13-2.57), myocardial infarction (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.04), and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.00; 95% CI 0.99-1.00). Further, compared to group-housed mice, socially isolated mice showed significantly reduced cardiac ejection function, increased myocardial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte apoptosis after myocardial infarction.

Potential causal relationships were identified between genetic liability to social isolation, loneliness and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Social isolation may exacerbate the progression of myocardial infarction. The results of this study emphasize the adverse impact of social disconnections on the incidence and development of cardiovascular diseases.

None Declared

In Spain, involuntary admission due to mental disorder requires judicial authorization, which can be prior or, in cases of urgency, immediately subsequent. The courts routinely request an independent medical expert opinion in these cases.

Our aim was to determine the current results of these evaluations and the characteristics of the patients assessed.

Retrospective study from January 1 to June 30, 2023 in the city of Barcelona. The source of information were the case records at the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Catalonia. The inclusion criteria were: psychiatric involuntary admission, urgent, and assessment by the forensic doctor assigned to the courts. Sociodemographic, clinical and forensic data were collected.

In the 181 days between January 1 and June 30, 2023, 1,151 forensic medical assessments of urgent hospitalizations were recorded in Barcelona (on average 6.4 per day). Of these, 849 (73.8%) were included. In all of them, the forensic medical report concluded that hospitalization was rightly indicated. The admissions were carried out in 14 different health centers. The psychiatric acute inpatient wards of the city’s main general hospitals received the vast majority of cases. The patients were mostly men (n=483; 56.9%). The average age was 38.2 years (s.d. 16.99), with no differences between sexes. 13.5% (n=115) were minors, with female predominance (n=79; 68.7%). 6.9% (n=59) were 65 years of age or older, also with a female predominance (n=39; 66.1%). In minors, affective disorders (n=37; 32.7%) or eating behavior disorders (n=32; 28.3%) stood out, while in the group from 18 to 65 years of age the main diagnostic group were psychotic disorders (n =491; 73.1%). The latter were also the majority after 65 years of age (n=35; 59.3%), followed by affective disorders (n=16; 27.1%). Globally, psychotic disorders were the most frequent diagnostic group for both men (n=346; 71,9%) and women (n=188; 51,8%). Affective or eating behaviour disorders accounted for 35,8% of women (n=130) and 18,3% of men (n=88).

The forensic assessment of the medical indication of urgent involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations coincides with the clinical assessment. Patients with this measure show differential characteristics according to age in terms of gender and diagnosis. More men are involuntarily admitted than women for most of the adult stage, while the reverse is true at both extremes of the lifespan. Also, involuntarily admitted women show a higher frequency of mood or eating behaviour disorders than men.

None Declared

Violence is a major global health concern among patients with schizophrenia. However, the triggers of violent behavior remain unclear. In previous studies, familial risk factors are believed to be associated with mental disorders and violence. The relationship between parental bonding or childhood adversity and psychopathologic behavior (such as violence) has rarely been evaluated.

The study aimed to explore the relationship between violent behavior and childhood experience and to determine the role of the early child-parent bond in violence risk in patients with schizophrenia.

The study enrolled 287 patients with schizophrenia and 100 healthy controls. Patients were divided into 3 groups: patients with homicidal history (Group A), patients with violent behavior and without homicidal history (Group B) and patients without violent behavior (Group C). Childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ), parental bonding instrument (PBI) and modified overt aggression scale (MOAS) were used to explore the violent behavior and childhood experience. All individuals participated voluntarily and provided informed consent. This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Academy of Forensic Science.

The findings indicated the proportion of males to be higher in the patient groups than in the healthy controls, especially in the group with homicidal history. Patients had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse, emotional abuse and emotional neglect than the healthy controls. The emotional abuse and emotional neglect were found to be positively and negatively related to MOAS scores. Maternal over protection was found to be negatively related to the MOAS scores. On the CTQ subscales, emotional neglect was significantly associated with violence risk (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.04–1.22). On the PBI subscales, maternal and paternal care (0.84, 0.74–0.94 and 1.30, 1.13–1.49) and over protection (1.18, 1.07–1.29 and 0.87, 0.81-0.95) were found to be significantly associated with violence risk. Maternal and paternal over protection were significantly associated with homicide risk (0.87, 0.78-0.97 and 1.10, 1.01-1.20).

The schizophrenia patients with violence might suffer lower paternal care and emotional abuse during the childhood. In terms of violence in schizophrenia patients, paternal over protection and maternal care might be a protective factor and emotional neglect, maternal over protection and paternal care might be a risk factor. In terms of homicide in schizophrenia patients, paternal over protection might be a risk factor and maternal over protection might be a protective factor. Therefore, childhood trauma and parental care and over protection could be a potential reference indicator for assessing violence risk in patients with schizophrenia.

X. Ling: None Declared, S. Wang: None Declared, N. Li: None Declared, Q. Zhang: None Declared, H. Li Grant / Research support from: This study was supported by National Key R & D Program of China [grant number 2022YFC3302001], National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 81801881], Science and Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality [grant numbers 20DZ1200300, 21DZ2270800, 19DZ2292700].

Individuals in contact with the criminal justice system are at higher risk of suicide than the general population (Carter et al. EClinicalMedicine 2022, 44, 101266). Research to date has concentrated on the prison population with little evidence on the risk of suicide and self-harm for those defendants within the Court system including those referred to the Court Mental Health Liaison and Diversion Services. Court Mental Health Liaison and Diversion services were developed in England to support vulnerable people when they first come into contact with the criminal justice system.

The main aim of the study was to analyse the existing service data to examine rates of self-harm behavior and suicide ideation of those defendants presenting to the Court Mental Health Liaison and Diversion Services across five Magistrates Courts (lower courts) in London, England. In addition, a further aim was to establish if risk factors such as mental illness and substance misuse but also other vulnerabilities such as neurodevelopmental disorders are associated with the risk for self-harm behaviour or suicide along with demographic factors of age, gender and ethnicity.

The study analysed service level data of five London Magistrates’ Courts covering a timeframe from September 2015 to April 2017. During this time 9088 attendees were referred to the Court Mental Health & Liaison Diversion service covering the five courts. Attendees were screened for current risk of suicide ideation and self-harm behaviour as part of the mental health assessment. Data examined was from the National Health Service (NHS) minimum mental health data set which reflects current clinical and custody records and is obtained from frontline court and health service staff.

An overall rate of 14.2% for self-harm behaviour and/or suicide ideation was found for attendees presenting to five London Court Liaison and Diversion Services over a 20-month time frame. Aside from autism and bipolar affective disorder, the current large study showed a significant association between self-harm behaviour and suicide ideation with several mental disorders. The study found no significant differences for risk of self-harm behaviour and suicide ideation relating to gender or ethnicity.

This group of defendants presented with high levels of severe mental illness, substance and alcohol misuse and neurodevelopmental disorder which increased the individual vulnerability to express suicidal ideation as has been found in smaller studies. The wider criminal justice services need to examine the current approach to screening for risk of suicide ideation and self-harm behaviour given the high rates of completed suicide within the prison population compared to the general population.

J. McCarthy Grant / Research support from: £674,000, E. Chaplin Grant / Research support from: £674,000, C. Allely: None Declared, A. Forrester Grant / Research support from: £674,000.

Forensic psychiatry transcends legal and cultural boundaries across Europe, but specialization and training remain inconsistent. With freedom of movement in most European countries, psychiatrists accredited in one country can practice in others if they meet language requirements. Therefore, harmonizing psychiatric education and practice is crucial and aligns with the European Federation of Psychiatry Trainees (EFPT)’s goals.

This study aims to map the current state of forensic psychiatry education across Europe, focusing on its recognition as a specialty on its own or subspecialty, training structure, and financial implications. It also assesses whether general adult psychiatry (GAP) and child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) trainees receive adequate forensic psychiatry education, identifying gaps and variations across countries.

Data was collected via an online survey distributed to European National Trainee Association (NTA) representatives in the EFPT through Google Forms in August 2024. Responses from non-European countries and incomplete entries were excluded. The final dataset was analyzed using SPSS 24.

A total of 29 participants, including 24 GAP trainees (82.8%), 2 CAP trainees (6.9%), and 3 specialists (10.3%), from 20 European countries responded to the survey. Forensic psychiatry was recognized either as a specialty or subspecialty in 13 counctries (65%) with 20 (69%) of participants confirming its recognition. 38% reported forensic training lasts less than 1 year or lacks a formal program. Financial support varied as well, with some countries offering full subsidies, while others required trainees to cover costs. Forensic psychiatry was included in the training of 66.7% of GAP trainee and 50% of CAP trainees, though the depth of exposure differed. Notable gaps were found particularly in risk assessment, expert witness training, and competency evaluations.

This study reveals significant variation in the recognition, structure, and delivery of forensic psychiatry training across Europe. While some countries offer well-defined programs, discrepancies in accessibility and comprehensiveness persist. These findings highlight the need for standardized curricula to ensure consistent training. Enhancing forensic psychiatry education is crucial for preparing future psychiatrists and ensuring high-quality psychiatric contributions in legal contexts and harmonization of forensic training across Europe.

None Declared

Climate change and pollution are deeply interconnected phenomena that pose significant risks to overall health, given their proven impact on the functionality of various human organs and systems. With increasing urbanization, global toxicity is expected to rise in the near future. It is therefore crucial to understand how environmental pollution affects mental health, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas.

This systematic literature review aims to explore the biological mechanisms linking exposure to environmental pollutants, climate change, and the onset and/or exacerbation of severe mental disorders.

A search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and APA PsycInfo databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies on humans and animal models examining the association between environmental pollutants, climate change, and mental disorders were included. A total of 48 articles were considered, comprising studies on humans (16 studies) and animal models (31 studies), along with one article that included both models.

Human studies revealed that exposure to particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM10) increases the risk of depression and psychotic relapses through mechanisms involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In animal models, pollution was shown to impact brain function by activating inflammatory responses, causing oxidative stress, damaging the hippocampus, and dysregulating neurotransmitters. Additionally, one study highlighted that climate change is associated with mood disorders by inducing changes in gene expression and psychophysical adaptation responses.

The findings indicate that environmental pollutants and climate change can affect human mental health through complex biological pathways. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing prevention and intervention strategies. The One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is crucial for addressing the challenges posed by climate change and pollution.

None Declared

Migration, whether legal or illegal, is a growing phenomenon in Tunisia and can bring significant mental health challenges. Migrants often experience a decompensation of pre-existing psychiatric disorders, the development of new mental health issues, or travel driven by a delusion, known as “pathological travel.” These concerns emphasize the need for specialized psychiatric and social care for this vulnerable group, who endure considerable stress throughout their migration. However the quality of care can also depend on the support from their home countries, where stigma and identification issues with consulates can limit their access to help.

To study the different psychiatric pathologies observed among this population and to determine the number of cases of pathological travel.

It’s a retrospective study. We reviewed the files of all patients who were hospitalized in the Avicenne Psychiatric Department of Razi Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023.

We identified 19 patients and found 17 files. There were 11 men and 6 women, with an average age of 33 years (ranging from 20 to 54 years). The majority have a university-level education (52%) and with a history of psychiatric illness (58%). In total, 41.2% were from the Maghreb, 41.2% from Africa, 11.7% from Europe, and 5.9% from the Americas. The causes of migration to Tunisia were, for economic reasons (29%), for studies (11%), for seeking treatment for a pre-existing psychiatric condition (11%), marriage to a Tunisian partner (11%) and as part of a pathological travel (34%). In 35% of cases, the migration was clandestine and illegal. The reason for hospitalization was behavioral disorder in 64.8%, incoherent speech in 29.4% and suicide attempt in 5.8%. Among our patients, 28% have bipolar disorder, 17% have schizophrenia, 11% have brief psychotic disorder, 5% have depression, 5% have schizoaffective disorder, 5% have delusional disorder, and 5% alcohol use disorder. The diagnoses for the rest of patients were unspecified. In terms of social support we were able to contact the families in 62% of the cases. We succeeded in getting a response from the consulate of the native country in 17% and we collaborated with an International Organization in 5%.

Our study shows the complex psychiatric needs of migrants in Tunisia, with a range of mental health disorders, including cases of pathological travel. Economic reasons and clandestine migration were common factors. Despite efforts, social support remains limited, with minimal consular and organizational collaboration, economic challenges, emphasizing the need for stronger international and social support systems.

None Declared

Nefashot, meaning “Souls” and “People” in Hebrew, is an initiative dedicated to promoting mental health awareness through cultural and artistic expressions, fostering inclusive dialogue. Art serves as a critical tool in this mission, using its visual language to make difficult conversations possible and amplify voices that are often unheard.

The “Nomadic souls” project aims to raise awareness about the intersection of migration and mental health through the presentation of high-quality contemporary art in exhibitions, curated by professional curators and researchers. By showcasing diverse artistic perspectives, it seeks to foster deeper understanding and dialogue around these critical issues.

This project is a collaboration between Nefashot, the art initiative KAKDELART, and curators Vera Gailis and Anna Smoliarova, who together launched a call for Israeli artists with diverse immigrant backgrounds under the theme “Nomadic Souls.” The call invited artworks exploring the connection between migration and mental health. So far, the project has produced two exhibitions: “Being Singular/Plural,” which centered on the concept of belonging, and “A Semiotics of the Start,” which delved into the experience of language acquisition. Each exhibition was accompanied by events like literature readings, artist networking, and pop-up photo exhibitions, fostering community engagement and inclusivity.

The project made significant strides in building collaborations and laying the foundation for a platform that facilitated discussions on migration and mental health within both immigrant and local communities. It successfully increased public awareness of these issues and established sustainable partnerships that continued to support the community. Community engagement was central to the project. The exhibitions and related events actively involved migrants as participants, artists, and audience members. Collaborations with the city’s youth department for immigrant assistance were crucial, including co-funding an event that attracted a relevant and engaged audience. Beyond the exhibitions’ objecthood, the project addressed deeper issues such as suicide, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, an academic webinar with immigration professionals was held, focusing on the second exhibition catalog, further broadening the project’s impact and reach.

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The Nefashot initiative highlights the power of art and community collaboration in addressing complex mental health issues related to migration. By fostering dialogue and partnerships, the project has expanded its reach, connecting both local and migrant communities in meaningful ways. The ongoing and future exhibitions aim to continue this momentum, establishing a lasting platform for dialogue, collaboration, and support.

None Declared

Evidence suggests that immigrants and minorities with mental distress underuse mental health services compared with the majority population. Such under-utilization, combined with other socio-cultural factors, can impede recovery from mental illness. The population of Canada is becoming increasingly diverse, primarily due to record levels of immigration. These immigrants come from a variety of traditions including Muslim, Christian, and Jewish backgrounds. For such immigrants, their religious beliefs, practices and activities are often central to their lives and influence important decisions regarding health and well-being. These changing demographics have prompted calls for more research and action regarding the mental health service experience of religious immigrants.

The objective of this study was to identify and understand self-identified barriers to mental health service utilization among religious immigrants, including eliciting experiences within the mental health care system.

To meet these aims, we employed a qualitative community-based approach, conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with 58 first- or second-generation immigrants to Canada who identified as people of religious faith, comprising Christians, Muslims and Jews. All participants had used a mental health service in recent years, and they reported a variety of mental disorders, mostly depression and anxiety. Interviews were transcribed and data was analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.

Analysis revealed three core barriers to service utilizations. First, participants often reported that some people in their social circle (such as parents and clergy) held stigmatizing views of mental illness, including sceptical views about the reality of mental illness. This contributed to self-stigma, inhibited disclosure and delayed help-seeking. Second, participants stated that service providers typically had a very limited understanding of the cultural and religious context of their lives, and sometimes conveyed a dismissive or ignorant attitude towards their deeply-held religious beliefs and practices. This negatively affected service utilization and the development of a therapeutic alliance. Third, some participants noted that they (and other members of their communities) lacked knowledge about mental illness, available treatments, and effective therapies, meaning they were unaware of potential services and supports.

The results suggest an urgent need for a multi-pronged approach to better engage religious minorities with mental distress. On the clinical side, there is a need for more religious and cultural competence training for Canadian clinicians. On the community side, culturally-appropriate anti-stigma and mental health literacy interventions may need to be co-created and implemented in partnership with different immigrant communities in Canada.

None Declared

In Italy, in 2000, the estimated annual economic burden of schizophrenia was 25.000 € per patient, of which 30% were direct costs and 70% indirect costs (Tarricone et al., 2000). Yet, a steep growth has been observed throughout the years: a study showed a yearly expenditure of 41.290 € per patient in 2020 (Latorre et al., 2022).

The aim of this study was to better characterize the association between direct costs and clinical and psychosocial variables in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

A total of 276 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders receiving treatment from the Community Mental Health Centers of Brescia (Italy) were included in the study: for each participant socio-demographic, clinical and functional characteristics were assessed, and data related to the use of services in 2022 (then converted to costs) were collected. Clinical and functional characteristics were assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scale, the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) scale and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Correlations between the included variables were performed using SPSS v28; values of p <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Our analyses identified a direct healthcare expenditure of 16477.23 € per patient per year. A positive correlation was observed between higher costs and higher scores at the CGI-S (p<0.001), the PANSS total (p<0.001) and all the PANSS subscales (all p<0.001). Moreover, a negative correlation between higher costs and age of onset (p=0.010) and PSP total score (p<0.001), were observed.

An earlier age of onset, a more severe clinical presentation and a worse psychosocial functioning are associated to a higher expenditure in terms of direct costs associated to use of services in SSD. These results prompt to the implementation of interventions that aim at improving not only clinical aspects, but also functional ones: a full functional recovery would not only benefit patients, but also lead to a lower impact of SSD on healthcare systems. One limitation of the present study is that the estimation of the costs was based on a direct analysis of costs related to the use of services, therefore excluding indirect costs. Future studies should include data on pharmacological treatments, comorbidities and other clinical variables central to the disorder, such as cognition.

None Declared

The connection between well-being and various sociopsychological factors such as age, gender, education level, and more is a growing and significant area of interest in today’s studies.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between sociodemographic factors, life satisfaction, levels of anxiety, and religiosity. To achieve this goal, the study explored whether religiosity has an effect on anxiety and life satisfaction on the one hand, and whether sociodemographic variables influence the centrality of religion in participants’ lives on the other.

To ensure honest responses, the surveys were filled out anonymously. Statistical analyses were conducted using the SPSS program, applying Pearson Correlation and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine if there was a correlation between sociodemographic data and questionnaire scores.

In the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) of total STAI-G scores and religiosity, a significance level of 0.010 was observed, while the Post-Hoc Test suggested that this significance may be found between atheist participants and those who identified with a religion other than Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, with a value of 0.019. Additionally, there is a strong significant correlation of 0.018 between participants’ native language and total CRS-10 scores, which may imply that native language, encompassing important factors like cultural background, can influence participants’ religious beliefs and practices. Lastly, a significant correlation of 0.041 was found between alcohol consumption and total CRS-10 scores. This correlation could indicate that religious participants are more likely to consume less alcohol compared to non-religious participants, possibly due to their religious beliefs.

This study highlights the importance of examining the connections between sociodemographic factors, life satisfaction, anxiety, and religiosity in relation to mental well-being. The findings aim to provide useful guidance for the evolution of interventions that focus on and enhance well-being and continuity, while emphasizing the quality of life experienced by patients from diverse cultures and backgrounds.

None Declared

Decision paralysis, defined as the inability to make decisions due to overwhelming options or uncertainty, is an often overlooked symptom of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Individuals with ADHD frequently struggle with executive dysfunction, making it difficult to prioritize tasks, evaluate choices, and make timely decisions. Despite its significance, decision paralysis remains under-researched, particularly in terms of its impact on daily functioning and quality of life.

This study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of decision paralysis in adults with ADHD, explore its relationship with executive dysfunction, and analyze its impact on various life outcomes such as career performance, interpersonal relationships, and overall well-being.

A total of 50 adults diagnosed with ADHD participated in this study. Self-report measures, including the Decision-Making Competence (DMC) scale and the ADHD Executive Dysfunction Questionnaire (AEDQ), were administered to assess participants’ decision-making difficulties, indecision, and executive functioning. Additional data were collected on life satisfaction, perceived stress levels, and the degree of daily functional impairment due to decision paralysis.

The results indicate that 82% of participants reported frequent difficulties with decision-making, with 68% indicating that decision paralysis significantly affected their work performance. Decision paralysis was strongly correlated with executive dysfunction scores and was a significant predictor of reduced life satisfaction and increased perceived stress. Additionally, 74% of participants reported that indecision contributed to delays or avoidance in making important life choices, such as career changes or financial decisions, leading to long-term dissatisfaction. Notably, 58% of participants experienced decision paralysis at least once a week, with 35% reporting daily occurrences. Furthermore, 61% of participants indicated that decision paralysis led to missed opportunities in both personal and professional contexts, contributing to feelings of regret and frustration.

This study highlights the widespread impact of decision paralysis in adults with ADHD, significantly affecting both personal and professional domains. The strong correlation between decision paralysis and executive dysfunction suggests that addressing this symptom could be critical in improving quality of life for individuals with ADHD. Further research is needed to explore the development of specific interventions targeting decision paralysis.

None Declared

Caregiving to individuals with schizophrenia is intensive, complex, and long lasting. In developing countries, the primary caregivers are family members who rarely receive adequate preparation for their role. The diversity and intensity of caregiving roles also may result in caregiver strain and burden. Interaction with nature even in form of hearing sounds have been found to reduce stress markers. Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) can result in restorative effects such as increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and decreased stress.

To assess and compare the effect of combined use of nature-based VR and nature-based sounds to nature-based sounds only on physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) in caregivers of individuals having schizophrenia.

Sixty caregivers (aged more than 18 years) of inpatients with schizophrenia as per Diagnostic & Statistical Manual (DSM-5) will be recruited with consecutive sampling. Caregivers should have been staying with patient for at least previous 1 year and have been staying in the ward for previous 7 days for at least 12 hours/day. Individuals with hearing or visual deficits, history of having received treatment for mental illness/epilepsy, or taking sleeping pills/sedatives/hypnotics/cough syrup currently would be excluded. Paid caregiver and those not willing to provide written informed consent would be excluded from the study. Data collection tools will include a semi-structured proforma for mentioning the socio demographic details, checklist for observing physiological parameters (Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Oxygen Saturation, and Blood Pressure), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), Subjective stress on Visual analogue scale (VAS), User Satisfaction Evaluation Questionnaire (USEQ) and VR Experience Questionnaire (VEQ). Participants would be divided randomly into two groups with group 1 (n=30) individuals receiving only nature-based sounds intervention and those in group 2 (n=30) would receive combined nature-based VR and nature-based sounds intervention.

Primary outcome will be change in physiological parameters using repeated measures ANOVA. Additional outcomes like acceptability and feasibility of the intervention will also be reported as descriptive data. Pearson’s correlation will be done between scale scores and change in physiological parameters in different groups based upon nature of intervention, illness based or gender based.

The study provides insight into the utility of upcoming VR interventions to cater the needs of caregivers to individuals with schizophrenia in moderating the stress levels.

None Declared

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is marked by physical and cognitive fatigue, as well as increased susceptibility to fatigue. While the precise causes of CFS remain unclear, there is growing interest in the role of the stress response system in its development.

Given that early adverse experiences might affect one’s ability to handle stress effectively, the aim of this study was to examine whether such early life events could predispose patients with CFS to higher self-reported stress levels when confronted with psychosocial stressor.

76 patients with CFS and 45 healthy controls (HC) underwent the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) to induce stress. Subjective stress levels were assessed before, during and after the task. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) was used to retrospectively evaluate abusive and neglectful experiences in childhood

Patients with CFS reported significantly higher levels of subjective stress at all stages of the MAST compared to HC (main effect of group; p<0.0001). Additionally, CFS patients had higher CTQ scores than HC (p=0.04). Within patients, higher levels of childhood trauma was associated with higher levels of self-reported stress (p = 0.0047) throughout the MAST. The results of the link are visualized in the attached figure.

Image 1:

Patients with CFS experience heightened stress levels during a validated stress-inducing task compared to HC. Furthermore, a history of greater childhood abuse and neglect is associated with increased stress levels later in life, potentially contributing to the development of CFS.

None Declared

Social deficits are a significant impairment in adult ASD, leading to difficulties in socio-emotional cognition, communication, and relationships. Effective social skills interventions are crucial during the transition to adulthood. The UCLA PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) for young adults is a prominent and well-researched intervention, implemented in over eighty countries and translated into numerous languages. This program includes concurrent sessions for young adults and their parents, aiming to improve social skills and reduce ASD-related social issues

The current study aimed to test the effectiveness of a culturally adapted Persian -translated version of PEERS® for young adults with ASD without intellectual disabilities.

Three psychiatrists and two psychologists underwent PEERS® training and translated the manual into Farsi, adapting it culturally for Iran. Twenty-four young adults with ASD and their parents participated in the study, randomly assigned to a treatment group or a control group. Inclusion criteria were males aged 18-30 years with an ASD diagnosis, predominant social difficulties, motivation to participate, and a family member acting as a social coach. Exclusion criteria included intellectual disability, major psychiatric conditions, and significant verbal or literacy difficulties.

Participants attended 16 weekly 90-minute group sessions, covering topics like conversations, humor, electronic communication, dating etiquette, conflict management, and bullying. Sessions were led by a PEERS-certified psychologist and an assistant behavioral coach. Weekly meetings were held to align session content and address potential issues.

The culturally adapted Persian -translated version of PEERS® was perceived as beneficial by young adults with ASD and their caregivers, improving social skills and quality of life. However, quantitative measures did not show significant changes, indicating a need for further refinement and investigation to achieve measurable improvements in social functioning.

While qualitative feedback indicates that both young adults with ASD and their caregivers found the caregiver-assisted social skills intervention to be beneficial in improving social skills and overall quality of life, the quantitative measures did not show significant changes. This suggests that while the intervention may have positive perceptual impacts, further refinement and investigation are needed to achieve measurable improvements in social functioning.

None Declared

Negative symptoms in CHR-P people are generally not responsive to treatments and commonly related to poorer functional outcome. However, less research attention has been dedicated to Persistent Negative Symptoms (PNS), defined as clinically stable negative symptoms of moderate severity evident for at least 6 months.

This study aims to (a) determine the prevalence of PNS in a sample of young people at CHR-P; (b) investigate any association of PNS with functioning and clinical features; (c) examine longitudinal course of PNS across 2 years of follow-up and changes in PNS severity levels with specialized treatments.

One Hundred Eighty CHR-P participants were recruited and were divided into CHR-P/PNS + and CHR-P/PNS− subgroups according to the presence/absence of PNS. The clinical assessments were based on the PANSS and the GAF and were conducted at baseline and every 12 months during the follow-up. Association of PNS with sociodemopgraphic, clinical, psychopathological and treatment variables were examined using linear regression analysis.

Twenty four participants showed PNS at entry. Of them, 21 concluded the 2-year follow-up period. At baseline, the CHR-P/PNS + participants showed more educational and employment deficits, and more social and functioning impairment. During the follow-up, the CHR-P/PNS + subgroup had a significant longitudinal decrease in negative symptoms, which was specifically related to antidepressant treatment. CHR-P/PNS + subjects also showed a higher incidence of new hospitalization and a lower functional recovery over time.

Our findings support that the persistence of negative symptoms in CHR-P people is longitudinally related to worse daily functioning and more severe clinical conditions that are at higher risk of hospitalization and are less responsive to specialized treatments.

None Declared