Facial emotion recognition is a fundamental component in social interaction. Facial emotion recognition is disturbed both in women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and in those with a history of childhood trauma. PMDD affects up to 5% of women of childbearing age, exert influence on women’s recognition of emotions, and on the emotion recognition processing. Women with PMDD are more likely to have a history of childhood trauma.

To explore whether there is a link between a history of trauma and the perception of emotions in women with PMDD. We hypothesize that women with PMDD and a history of childhood trauma will show larger deficits in emotion recognition compared to women with PMDD but without a history of childhood trauma.

Data were derived from a sample of forty women diagnosed with PMDD (18-30 y.o., right handed, educational level >9y., regular cycle duration), who have visited Mental Health Centre of Rethymno (participants completed the Premenstrual Syndrome Questionnaire). The participants completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), which measures five types of maltreatment experiences. Three types are related to abuse (physical, sexual and emotional) and two to physical and emotional neglect. The Emotion Recognition Task (ERT) was also administered. ERT is a computer-generated paradigm for measuring the recognition of six basic facial emotional expressions: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. During this test, video clips of increasing length are presented.

The majority of the participants (82.5%) reported a history of maltreatment during childhood. Women without trauma, when they completed the ERT did not show any significant emotion dysregulation. On the contrary, maltreated women, especially physically or sexually abused, had a distorted perception of emotions expressed on adult faces. Happiness is less detected, whereas fear and anger are recognized more rapidly and at a lower intensity compared to women not exposed to childhood trauma. The higher the score in abuse, the higher the emotion dysregulation is.

The main conclusion of this study contributes to the current knowledge on the link between the long-term effects of childhood trauma both to PMDD and to emotion dysregulation. Women with PMDD are more likely to have a history of childhood trauma, which is associated with poorer performance in facial emotion recognition. Trauma, however, is a treatable factor with. Therefore, interventions targeting both to heal trauma and to promote adaptive emotion regulation strategies, could be encouraged to improve the capability of women with a history of childhood trauma to challenge premenstrual symptoms.

None Declared

Minority groups in terms of sexual orientation are exposed to specific stressors, unlike the stressors of the general population. Discrimination, stigma, prejudice and violence are more common in minority groups in terms of sexual orientation than heterosexuals, and they affect mental health negatively. Minority stress factors such as perceived discrimination, self-stigmatization and internalized homophobia have negative effects on mental health.

External and internal minority stressors, which are associated with social anxiety like many mental illnesses, are also associated with self-esteem and quality of life. Minority stress factors should also be well understood in order to understand the consequences they cause. In this study, it was aimed to examine the relationship between discrimination and internalized homophobia experienced in gay and bisexual men with social anxiety, self-esteem and quality of life.

85 participants who defined themselves as gay or bisexual man were included in the study.The study is cross-sectional and descriptive, and the participants were reached by the snowball method.Sociodemographic and clinical data form, including the experienced discrimination questions prepared by the researcher, Internalized Homophobia Scale, Libowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form Turkish Version (Whoqol-bref Tr) has been applied.The relationship between experienced discrimination in the sample and internalized homophobia; social anxiety, self-esteem and quality of life were examined separately.

It was found a significant relationship between experienced discrimination and social anxiety levels, an inverse relationship was found with self-esteem. A same-way relationship was found between internalized homophobia and social anxiety levels, while an inverse relationship was found with self-esteem. Experienced discrimination and internalized homophobia were both found to be inversely related to quality of life.

In our study, it was found and discussed that experienced discrimination in gay and bisexual men was positively related to the level of social anxiety, and negatively related to self-esteem and quality of life;similarly there was a positive relationship between the level of internalized homophobia and the level of social anxiety, and a negative relationship between self-esteem and quality of life.When these results are evaluated, it is understood that discrimination experiences and negative mental consequences should be taken into account when evaluating homosexual and bisexual men who are minorities in terms of sexual orientation in mental health clinics and practices, psychological support process, preventive mental health practices and policies to be developed.

None Declared

The study was designed to determine the prevalence of drug abuse and its perceived effect on the mnetal health and academic performance of secondary school students in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of drug abuse and its perceived effects on the mental health and academic performance of secondary schools student in Bauchi state. The specific objectives are:

1. 1. To determine the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students in Bauchi metropolis.

2. 2. To identify the perceived drugs commonly abused by students in secondary schools.

3. 3. To investigate perceived reasons secondary school students abuse drug in Bauchi metropolis.

4. 4. To investigate the perceived negative effect of drug abuse on the mental health and school performance of the students in secondary schools of Bauchi metropolis.

The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive design. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 26 Secondary Schools in Bauchi state. The schools have a combined population of 11,439 students. The instrument for Data collection was a WHO Youth Drug Survey (WHOYDSQ) and drug abuse screening test (DAST) adapted questionnaire and a sample size of 399 was obtained using Yamane formula. The reliability of the instrument was established using a test and re-test. Data generated analysed using frequency distribution tables, cross tabulation and chi square.

Out of 399 copies of the questionnaire distributed, 372 were correctly filled and analyzed. Majority (80%) of the respondents were between 18-20 years. More than half, 208 respondents (55.9%) reported to have used drug for non-medical reasons once or more in the past one year. The commonest substances abused were codeine, cough syrup, cannabis and tramadol. More than half of the users of each of the substances take it occasionally. Among the respondents, 42.8% who used psychoactive substances were introduced to the substance by their friends. Major reasons for using psychoactive substance include reduction of stress (37.1%), out of curiosity (28%) and memory improvement and retention (26.6%). There was significant difference (p < 0.05) in the academic performance of the respondents that abuse drug and those that do not.

In conclusion the prevalence of substance abuse among Secondary School students was high (55.9%) as such government, parents, teachers, stakeholders and the community leaders needs to join hands to fight and address the problem.

None Declared

Data from community samples have shown that the risk of negative outcomes during the transition to adulthood is greater for those who engage in substance use. Alcohol use is common among young adults in the U.S., with 82% using in the past year and 34% engaging in havy episodic drinking . Marijuana is the second most widely used substance among young adults and regular use has been connected to an increased risk of anxiety and depression, and linked to both psychoses and poorer outcomes in people diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The goal of the current study is to understand the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the likelihood of frequent marijuana and alcohol use among a sample of low-income young adults (N=182) in the U.S.

Some original ACE study items were examined, such as types of child maltreatment. Additional items were added, including time spent in foster care as a child, involvement in a serious accident, experienced a serious injury, violent death of a family member or friend, and witnessed a serious injury or death. Frequent alcohol and marijuana use was defined as once a week or more in the past 30 days. Logistic regression models were developed to understand the magnitude of the contribution of each individual factor on the frequent use of both alcohol and marijuana. Separate models were developed to predict marijuana use and alcohol use.

The participants’ mean age was 20.5. The majority of the sample identified as Black (59%) or White (34%). A little more than half (53%) identified as female. Thirty percent reported using alcohol and 35% reported using marijuana at least once a week in the past 30 days.

The logistic regression model predicting frequent alcohol use showed several significant independent variables. Time in foster care (OR=2.88), childhood sexual abuse (OR=2.59), and childhood emotional abuse (OR=4.01) were all significant. Additionally, having a close family or friend who died violently (OR=6.63) and witnessing a serious injury or death (OR=2.92) were statistically significant.

The model predicting frequent marijuana use showed similar significant independent variables. Time in foster care (OR=3.48), childhood physical abuse (OR=3.67), childhood emotional abuse (OR=9.65), and having a close family member or friend who died violently (OR=4.99) all significantly increased the odds of marijuana use.

Study results show the sustained negative impact of both child maltreatment and out-of-home placement. While less studied than other forms of maltreatment, emotional abuse was predictive of both alcohol and marijuana use. Youth who experienced violence in their community also showed a greater likelihood of alcohol and marijuana use. These results highlight the importance of identifying and addressing child maltreatment. Efforts to prevent and address substance use in young adults should take experiences of violence and abuse into account.

None Declared

The significant psychological burdens posed by cannabis use on adolescents and young adults, make them a target for interventions to enhance their health literacy regarding patterns of cannabis use (dose and frequency) that lead to higher health risks. Critically incorporating this information is known as health literacy (HL). Within the Cahly project we have designed a psychoeducational intervention to enhance HL regarding cannabis use among students aged 15-25 years old.

Explore the efficacy of the intervention in improving HL among the students.

Prospective, randomised controlled trial with a duration of 1-month. 50 high-school centers and universities located in Barcelona were offered to participate. In those accepting, students were randomised to the experimental (received the intervention) or control groups (did not receive it). Both groups completed a baseline questionnaire on: HL, HL on cannabis use, substance use in the previous year and in the previous month, as well as sociodemgraphic data. These questions were repeated after one month of entering the study. In the present stage, we will present the baseline HL level (means, %), and the comparison among groups for the follow-up measures (using either Pearson’s Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate, group mean comparisons utilized either the Student’s t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test,).

300 students have so far finalised the study. Baseline results indicate low levels of general health literacy, and lower knowledge regarding HL on cannabis, with a predominance of use of informal sources of information. Those receiving the intervention improve significantly their knowledge regarding the patterns of cannabis use that lead to higher risks. However, the intervention did not affect their patterns of substance use.

We propose an innovative intervention aiming to disseminate a definition of cannabis risky use among a vulnerable population such as youth. Preliminary results are promising.

None Declared

Individuals with first-episode bipolar disorder (FEBD) may have language abnormalities and sub-threshold formal thought disorder (FTD). Natural language processing (NLP) methods that have been shown to assess FTD in psychosis can be used in the early stages of bipolar disorder (BD).

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between FEBD and healthy controls (HC) utilizing NLP methods.

Speech samples were collected from 20 FEBD and 20 HC while describing eight Thematic Apperception Test images. The manually transcribed text was then processed using word2vec to generate vectors. The semantic similarity between words was computed utilizing a moving window method to windows ranging in size from 5 to 10. Finally, the average, variance, maximum, and minimum of these similarities were calculated.

All mean similarities (windows of 5 to 10) were significantly higher in FEBD (p< .001, p=0.001, p=0.002, p=0.002, p=0.003, and p=0.004, respectively). Additionally, all variances of similarities were highly significant and were increased in FEBD (all p values< .001). Regarding maximum values, except for the window of 5, all of the remaining windows were significantly higher in FEBD (all p values <.05.).

Our findings indicate that semantic similarity increased in the FEBD group compared to HC. Overall, NLP methods offer an easily applicable approach for assessing FTD in FEBD and discriminating between FEBD and HC.

None Declared

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by a wide range of symptoms, for which many interventions have been proposed. Although the literature contains numerous meta-analyses (MAs) and network meta-analyses (NMAs) summarizing this evidence, the large volume and variability of information can make it difficult to apply in daily clinical practice, guide researchers, or inform the development of clinical guidelines.

To offer a freely accessible platform, developed within the U-REACH framework, providing updates on the latest therapeutic strategies for BD in terms of efficacy and safety, aligned with patient preferences. Informed by a living umbrella review, the platform aims to grade the current evidence to support informed decision-making.

We conducted an umbrella review by searching PubMed, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane database up to December 31, 2023, for (N)MAs of randomized controlled trials investigating interventions for BD. Each association was assessed using the GRADE. Effect sizes were standardized into equivalent standardized mean differences (eSMD), with eSMD>0 indicating clinically positive effects and eSMD<0 indicating clinically negative effects. The results are made available on an open-access online platform. Users can filter data by age group, BD stage, intervention, effect size, outcome, comparison, type of meta-analysis, GRADE evidence level, and (N)MA quality. For any filter combination, users can visualize key interventions, outcomes, and a forest plot with eSMD. The database will be regularly updated. Additionally, a preference-based tool allows users to rank safety outcomes by importance (0-10) and the system will recommend medications based on these preferences.

From the 4,352 records retrieved, we included 71 (N)MAs evaluating the effects of pharmacological (n=87), brain stimulation (n=13), psychosocial (n=8), and circadian rhythm-based therapies (n=3), on 132 efficacy (n=85) and safety (n=47) outcomes. For the preference-based tool, we included 10 first-line interventions for at least one mood state of BD (aripiprazole, asenapine, cariprazine, lamotrigine, lithium, lurasidone, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, valproate) and 15 safety outcomes based on clinical judgment (e.g., akathisia, weight increase, QTc prolongation, insomnia), resulting in 150 potential combinations.

This platform represents a pioneering approach to delivering the most complete evidence on interventions for BD. With its regular updates, it provides clinicians and researchers with a freely accessible resource to guide treatment decisions based on efficacy, safety, and patient preferences. This tool aims to support the development of future guidelines, facilitate ongoing professional education, and ultimately improve the quality of care for individuals with BD.

None Declared

Research on temperament in individuals with familial high risk for psychosis (FHR-P) and bipolar disorder (FHR-BD) suggests that specific temperament patterns may mirror characteristics of the associated disorders. Terms such as schizotaxia and cyclotaxia describe these patterns: schizotaxia is linked to traits such as cognitive disorganization and social withdrawal seen in those at risk for psychosis, while cyclotaxia involves emotional instability and reactivity associated with bipolar disorder.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between temperament traits associated with psychosis and bipolar disorder as suggested in the concept of schizotaxia and cyclotaxia.

We recruited a total of 94 participants, comprising 29 people at familial high risk for psychosis (FHR-P), 41 people at familial high risk for bipolar disorder (FHR-BD), and 24 controls (HC). Participants from familial high-risk groups were identified through patient records or outpatient settings at Dokuz Eylül University. Several self-report measures are selected to investigate the temperament traits of schizotypy and cyclothymia. Those measures listed as; the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scale, Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-auto questionnaire version (TEMPS-A), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS). One-way ANOVA is used to analyze the data using Jamovi Version 2.6.2.0.

FHR-P individuals, but not FHR-BD, had significantly higher scores of depressive(p<.001), cyclothymic (p=.005) and anxious(p=.002) temperament than HC in TEMPS-A subscales. Both familial groups had significantly higher scores in activation(p=.001) but not in inhibition in BIS/BAS. Moreover, they had worse sleep quality indicated by significantly higher PSQI (p=.014) scores. BIS scores and SPQ total scores do not significantly differ across groups however, FHR-P had significantly higher scores in negative subscores(p=.032) of SPQ than HC.

Our findings show significant differences in the FHR-P group across most temperament scores, indicating a greater vulnerability to schizotypal and cyclothymic traits. This may result from various factors, such as participants being recruited from outpatient psychiatric settings. Both familial groups also demonstrated lower educational levels and premorbid IQ scores on the WAIS, with more pronounced differences in the FHR-P group compared to the FHR-BD group. Additionally, the unequal sample sizes among the groups could affect the results. Therefore, further research is needed to account for the influence of common psychiatric conditions associated with participants’ help-seeking behaviour and to ensure better educational matching with healthy controls.

None Declared

People with bipolar disorder (BD) have an increased risk of premature mortality, and the respiratory mortality rate is higher than those of the general population. However, the evidence on respiratory disease in this population has not been meta-analyzed.

To systematically review and meta-analyze the frequency of respiratory diseases in patients with BD and to compare prevalence and Odds Ratio (OR) with the general population.

A systematic literature search was conducted in Pubmed, PsycINFO, Scielo and Scopus from inception to June 2, 2023, and a snowball search of reference and citation lists was conducted. Inclusion criteria were studies reporting diagnoses of respiratory diseases (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, lung cancer and tuberculosis) in people with BD according to operationalized criteria and where possible, control group. This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and MOOSE reporting guidelines. A pair of reviewers independently extracted data using a predefined data extraction form and a senior co-author was consulted in cases of disagreement. The risk of bias and methodological quality was assessed using the adapted Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Of the 2,158 articles screened, 20 including 962,352 people with BD and 37,340,405 control group, met the inclusion criteria (see Figure 1). Prevalence and OR of respiratory disease in people with BD was the main outcome as percentage point estimates with corresponding 95% CIs. In people with BD, the prevalence of COPD was 9.14% (95%CI: 6.61%-12.5%), asthma 6.4% (95%CI: 4.56%-8.91%), pneumonia 2.78% (95%CI: 2.51%-3.08%) and lung cancer 0.44% (95%CI:0.23%-0.84%) (see Figure 2). Compared to the general population (see Figure 3), people with BD had significantly higher rates of COPD (OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.40-2.14), showing an increased rate in younger and female patients; asthma (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.25-2.94), with a greater rate in younger patients; and pneumonia (OR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.33-5.99).

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In the first meta-analysis on the topic, BD was associated with an increased risk of respiratory illness versus the general population. In COPD and asthma, young people and women are at particular risk. Prevention programs are urgently needed.

None Declared

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic illness affecting approximately 2-3% adults worldwide. Mood stabilizers, such as lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, and lamotrigine are mainstays of the treatment. Despite their benefits, mood stabilizers carry a risk of side effects, which can lead to treatment discontinuation and non-adherence rates ranging from 10 to 60% in BD patients (Dols et al. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2013; 28, 287-296). Dermatologic side effects, also known as cutaneous adverse drug reactions, are particularly distressing, often impacting patients’ self-esteem and social interactions, and contributing to non-compliance. These reactions can range in severity from mild rashes, acneiform eruptions, hair loss and psoriasis to severe, life-threatening conditions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (Mitkov et al. Psychosomatics 2014; 55, 1-20).

Despite the well-documented association between mood stabilizers and dermatologic adverse effects (AE), the overall prevalence of these reactions across mood stabilizers remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims (1) to estimate the prevalence of dermatologic AE associated with mood stabilizer (lithium, valproate, carbamazepine and lamotrigine) use in patients with BD, and (2) to summarize the available evidence on the onset and timing of these reactions.

We searched Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO from 1970 onward for studies on dermatologic AEs in BD patients treated with lithium, valproate, carbamazepine, or lamotrigine (CRD42022357268). Study selection, data extraction, and bias risk assessment were performed by two reviewers. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence rates for dermatologic AEs.

The initial database searches yielded 5,354 studies. 47 articles were deemed relevant and included in this systematic review. Study designs included 16 randomized controlled trials, 10 non-randomized open-label trials, 12 cohort studies, and 9 cross-sectional studies.

Lithium was associated with acneiform eruptions in 4.4% (95% CI: 1.0-17.0%), rash in 1.8% (95% CI: 0.7-4.8%), and hair loss in 1.7% (95% CI: 0.4%-6.4%) of patients. For valproate, hair loss was observed in 4.6% of patients (95% CI: 3.0-6.7%) and rash in 2.9% (95% CI: 1.6-5.3%). Carbamazepine was associated with rash in 6.0% of patients (95% CI: 4.4-7.6%), but severe reactions such as SJS and TEN were not reported. Lamotrigine had the highest rash prevalence with 9.2% (95% CI: 7.2-11.8%), while severe reactions were rare (0.04%, 95% CI: 0.00-0.63%).

Mood stabilizers showed varying levels of dermatologic AEs, but severe reactions were rare. Future studies should explore factors influencing these outcomes, their impact on quality of life and treatment participation, and potential management strategies.

None Declared

This abstract explores the integration of phenomenology and neuroscience in understanding and managing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through Exchange and Development Therapy (EDT). EDT, developed by Professor Gilbert Lelord, focuses on restoring impaired functions in children with autism through principles of calm, receptiveness, and reciprocity.

This study investigates the similarities between EDT principles and phenomenological concepts like intersubjectivity, intercorporeality, and intentionality, aiming to demonstrate the value of phenomenology in understanding autism.

The research involved a two-part approach:

1. 1. Theoretical argumentation, explaining EDT principles and relevant phenomenological concepts in autism.

2. 2. Phenomenological analysis of autobiographies of individuals with autism to identify recurring themes and align them with EDT principles.

The study revealed a significant convergence between EDT principles and phenomenological concepts. Calmness in EDT aligns with intercorporeality, receptiveness with intentionality, and reciprocity with intersubjectivity. This convergence suggests that phenomenology is crucial for understanding the lived experiences of individuals with autism, which can inform and enhance neuroscience-based therapeutic approaches.

The integration of phenomenology and neuroscience offers a promising avenue for developing more effective and compassionate autism therapies. By incorporating the subjective experiences of individuals with autism, therapists can tailor interventions that resonate with their unique phenomenological worlds, leading to improved therapeutic outcomes. This research advocates for a more holistic and individualized approach to autism treatment, highlighting the indispensable role of phenomenology in contemporary psychiatry.

S. Bora Grant / Research support from: International Exchange Award from the Renewing Phenomenological Psychopathology funded by the Wellcome Trust

Mental health is one of the fundamental personal values of every human being. Thus its protection should be one of the primary obligations of every state. To ensure common standards in aforementioned matter, it is necessary to exist an universal (supranational) grounds and rules for the protection of mental health, as well as the protection of people with mental disorders rights. Especially that, mental disorders are found all over the world, and in an age of globalisation and migration, borders are only a legal construct. In the Western European axionormative order, one of the factors shaping common normative standards is European Union law.

The aim of this study is to identify the norms of European Union primary law from which the right to mental health protection can be derived (directly or indirectly), with a subsequent assessment of their adequacy.

The study is based on a dogmatic analysis of the primary legislation of the European Union (i.a. the founding Treaties or the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU - CFR) with analysis of the relevant literature of the subject and jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

No provision of EU primary law explicitly statutes a ‘right to mental health protection’. Currently, this right can be derived indirectly from norms relating to its particular aspects - e.g. the protection of mental integrity (Article 3 of CFR or Article 165(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - TFEU), the removal of threats to mental health (Article 168(1) TFEU) or the prohibition of discrimination on grounds of disability (Article 10 TFEU).

The current regulations are incomplete and therefore inadequate. The protection of mental integrity or the fight against discrimination are necessary for mental health (well-being) of entities, but do not fully cover the latter concept. The strengthening of the legal position of people with mental disorders requires the introduction into EU legislation of a comprehensive regulation that statutes the right to mental health protection, together with mechanisms for its enforcement against state authorities.

None Declared

In clinical studies on psychosis prediction, small sample sizes have been a persistent issue. Most studies rely on limited data, lack cross-validation, and use poor model strategies, leading to overfitting and overestimated accuracy. This challenge also affects traditional studies, where recruiting few participants introduces biases. Data harmonization is another hurdle, especially in speech analysis, which is crucial in psychiatry for conditions like psychosis, aphasia, and PTSD, but suffers from inconsistent methodologies across databases.

Our goal was to develop an method using Large Language Models (LLMs) to create diverse, synthetic speech datasets, addressing these challenges: 1. Develop an evolutionary system for optimizing high-quality speech data generation. 2. Incorporate contrastive learning for improved model decision boundaries. 3. Provide a methodology for training classification models and conducting cross-cultural studies. 4. Create a large-scale, diverse database of synthetic psychiatric speech samples.

Our findings suggest that this approach could significantly benefit psychiatric research by addressing the challenges of small sample sizes and data inconsistency. The method shows promise for creating more reliable and generalizable predictive models, which could lead to advancements in mental health care practices. The system’s flexibility indicates potential applications beyond our case study, possibly extending to other areas where data scarcity has impeded progress.

None Declared

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to significant advancements in various fields, including mental health applications. As AI technologies like ChatGPT continue to evolve, questions have arisen about whether AI can eventually develop a true personality, and what implications this might have for fields such as psychology and psychiatry. Isaac Asimov’s ideas about AI and the Turing test have gained renewed attention, yet these frameworks do not address the core psychological components such as empathy, emotion, and personal interaction—key elements in therapeutic settings.

This article explores whether AI could develop a personality and replace human therapists in psychological counseling and psychiatry. Specifically, it aims to evaluate AI’s current capabilities in providing emotional and psychological support and to address whether AI can evolve to meet therapeutic practice’s deeper, human-centered requirements.

The analysis is based on reviewing current AI applications in mental health, such as AI-based therapy platforms for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which provide symptom management tools and promote adaptive coping strategies. These applications were compared to the human therapist’s role, focusing on emotional interaction, empathy, and the therapeutic relationship. Additionally, the philosophical and psychiatric aspects of personality formation in both humans and AI were examined.

AI systems have made progress in simulating therapeutic techniques, providing guidance, and mimicking emotional responses. They can support symptom relief and enhance coping strategies, especially in areas where human therapists are scarce. However, AI’s ability to engage with deeper aspects of the therapeutic process, such as emotional empathy and personal connection, remains limited. AI lacks subjective experience, emotional depth, and self-awareness—essential factors for forming a genuine personality.

While AI has the potential to augment clinical practice, it cannot replace the human element in therapy. The development of AI-based tools is valuable for symptom management, but psychotherapy is inherently rooted in human connection, intuition, and emotional engagement—qualities AI does not possess. For AI to truly replace human therapists or develop a personality, significant advancements in consciousness and emotional cognition would be required, which remain speculative at this stage. Thus, AI will likely continue to serve as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for human therapists in the foreseeable future.

None Declared

Emerging evidence on the bidirectional connection between gastrointestinal microbiota and brain, through the gut-brain axis, and its influence on mental disorders makes the gut microbiota a potential target for novel therapeutic approaches.

We aim to study and synthetize the current data about the influence of gut microbiome on psychiatric disorders.

Our literature research focused on some of the most significative English-written articles published in the last decade.

Most of the relevant literature suggests that the presence of a healthy and diverse gut microbiota is essential to normal cognitive and emotional processing. Also, it has been shown that consumption of probiotics can modify the functional activity of the areas in the brain that are implicated in cognitive functions.

The literature also supports that stress can change gut permeability as well as the composition of gut microbiota resulting in a pro-inflammatory profile of cytokines produced by gut microbiota. Besides, gut microbes can modulate the stress response and the level of anxiety through alterations in serotonin signaling.

It has been also demonstrated that in animal models of depression the composition of gut microbiota was changed. On the other hand, other studies demonstrated certain probiotics can attenuate depressive symptoms in rodent models.

Regarding eating disorders, Anorexia Nervosa seems to have impact on the gut microbiota balance through restrictive diets and the abrupt change in diet during nutritional rehabilitation. The use of prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics or faecal transplantation looks promising as important novel adjuvant treatments.

The effect of gut microbiota on several mental disorders is supported by a increased volume of experimental data.

However, research in this field is still unfolding and more studies should be performed to apply new techniques focusing on gut-brain axis in clinical practice.

None Declared

Functional neurological disorders (FND), also referred to as conversion disorder or psychogenic neurological disorders, are one of the most common and disabling conditions in the neurology practice field, with very limited treatment options. FNDs present with sensory and/or motor symptoms that can mimic other neurological conditions, but appear to be related to recognizable psychological factors and are thought to occur via mechanisms other than those related to identifiable structural neuropathology. This condition has very limited treatment options, but there is preliminary evidence that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) might be effective in a growing number of psychiatric disorders, including FNDs.

We aim to review the current literature regarding the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of functional neurological disorders.

We search PubMed with the following keywords: psychedelics, functional neurological disorder and conversion disorder.

Only nine studies were published, between 1954 and 1967, reporting the use of psychedelics in the treatment of FNDs, with a total of 22 patients, of which 69% (n = 18) were found to have made at least some recovery, though the included studies were of low quality, often lacking control groups and valid outcome measures.

There is a lack of evidence for the efficacy of PTA on the treatment of FNDs. Nevertheless, the discussion remains, as several abnormalities of the default mode network activity (DMN) have been reported in patients with FND and many of the proposed therapeutic benefits of psychedelics have been theorized to relate to their action on the DMN.

None Declared

Depression is a major concern in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), with a prevalence of approximately 20-40%. It has been linked to worsened outcomes, including mortality and significant declines in physical and social functioning. Understanding the relationship between depression and hemodynamic as well as lipid metabolism parameters in CHF patients can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of these worsened outcomes.

This study aims to evaluate the correlation between depression and central hemodynamic and lipid metabolism parameters in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

The study involved 80 patients with CHF II-III NYHA classes caused by chronic coronary artery disease. They were divided into two groups: 20 without signs of depression and 60 with depression, as diagnosed using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Hamilton’s Depression Scale. Hemodynamic parameters were assessed using echocardiography (EchoCG), and lipid levels were measured in blood plasma. Statistical analyses were performed using t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests, and correlation coefficients to determine relationships between variables.

Depressive symptoms were prevalent in 71.6% of the CHF patients, with severe depression observed in 3.3%. Significant correlations were found between depression severity and blood pressure, triglyceride levels (r = 0.7, p < 0.05), and key echocardiographic measures such as left atrium diameter (r = 0.57, p < 0.05), end-diastolic size (r = 0.53, p < 0.05), and ejection fraction (r = -0.29, p < 0.05). Additionally, situational anxiety was significantly correlated with serum urea levels (r = 0.42, p < 0.05), triglycerides (r = 0.91, p < 0.05), and echocardiographic parameters.

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Patients with CHF and depression exhibit more severe central hemodynamic and lipid metabolism disorders than those without depression. These findings suggest that addressing depression in CHF management may mitigate some of the adverse effects on cardiovascular health.

None Declared

The field of psychiatry is going through a rapid transformation as a result of the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which are providing novel opportunities for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders. AI can deliver more precise and personalized mental health care by utilizing machine learning algorithms, natural language processing (NLP), and neuroimaging analysis. This paper investigates the current applications of AI in psychiatry, its prospective benefits, and the challenges that must be overcome in order to effectively integrate AI into clinical practice.

To investigate contemporary advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) applications in psychiatry, emphasizing enhancements in diagnostic precision, therapeutic personalization, and ethical considerations for integration into clinical practice.

A thorough examination of AI applications in psychiatry was performed, encompassing AI utilization for psychiatric diagnosis, digital mental health therapies, neuroimaging analysis, and suicide risk assessment.

Artificial intelligence demonstrated considerable potential in enhancing diagnostic precision, especially via technologies such as natural language processing for evaluating speech and text, and machine learning algorithms for assessing brain imaging. AI-driven chatbots and virtual therapists shown effectiveness in administering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and facilitating continuous mental health care. Predictive algorithms for suicide risk and digital phenotyping instruments present opportunities for early intervention. Nonetheless, obstacles including algorithmic bias, data security issues, and the necessity for human oversight were identified as barriers to full implementation.

Artificial intelligence possesses revolutionary potential in psychiatry, facilitating earlier diagnoses, more individualized treatment strategies, and continuous monitoring of mental health disorders. For AI to be included into standard psychiatric care, continuous efforts are required to guarantee ethical implementation, mitigate algorithmic bias, and preserve the vital human connection in psychiatric therapy. Collaboration among AI engineers, physicians, and ethicists will be essential to fully leverage AI’s potential while ensuring the safety of patients.

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Social media has significantly changed the way we communicate, interact, and access mental health information for both the public and practitioners. Research indicates that rising rates of suicidal behaviors among adolescents may be linked to increased screen time on social media (Balt et al., 2023). Excessive use of online social networks can exacerbate self-harm and suicidal thoughts in vulnerable young people (Memon et al., 2018). Given Emergency Mental Health Professionals are most often in contact with suicidal patients, we developed a survey to gain a deeper understanding of their practices and attitudes toward social media platforms.

We aim to explore social media usage patterns among mental health practitioners in Singapore’s sole psychiatric emergency department, assess their views on the impact of social media as a mental health resource, and evaluate whether they believe suicide posts on social media should be treated with the same seriousness as traditional suicide notes.

The authors surveyed 58 mental health professionals - psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and pharmacists - who worked during 2023-2024. The survey, consisting of 19 multiple-choice questions, assessed attitudes toward mental health-related internet technologies and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of social media, based on a previous scientific paper titled “The Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health Care”. Responses were measured on a Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). SPSS 16.0 was used to analyze correlations between demographics and attitudes toward social media as a mental health resource.

Of the practitioners, 58.6% viewed social media’s impact on mental health as negative. Notably, 32.4% of those with less than one year of experience held this view, compared to just 8.8% of those with 6 to 9 years of experience. A significant negative correlation was found between actively following mental health content on social media and the belief that social media increases suicide risk among vulnerable individuals (P = 0.003, R = -0.389). However, years of work experience did not significantly correlate with this belief (P = 0.213).

The study finds that while mental health professionals generally view social media negatively, those who engage with mental health content online are less likely to associate it with increased suicide risk. Our limited literature review found no similar studies, and we aim to provide new insights into how familiarity with mental health content influences professional attitudes. Expanding the research beyond Emergency Department practitioners could reveal how demographic factors shape opinions on social media.

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Increasing access to short, evidence-based psychotherapies is essential for responding to the rapid increase of demand. This can be achieved only by implementing scalable digital solutions. The Finnish guided self-help (F-GSH) is a digitally supported treatment based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It was implemented in 2020 onward as part of the national First Line Therapies initiative to face the increased demand and shortage of therapists in primary health care.

We describe the implementation and preliminary results of the Finnish Guided Self-Help (F-GSH) of GSH for depression and anxiety in adults.

Description of the digitally supported F-GSH and therapist training using e-learning platform. We report preliminary outcomes from F-GSH for depression (n=766) and anxiety (n=1043). As outcomes we report self-reported depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms measured at the beginning and end of the F- GSH treatment, patient and employee satisfaction, and proportion of patients in need of further treatment after F-GSH. Results are gathered from a wide geopraphical area covering 12 well-being counties.

The training program includes a 5-7 hours online training. A multiple-choice exam must be passed at the end course to gain certification. The training can be enhanced locally by skills workshops, to refine abilities, discuss specific GSH programs and patient groups, or address local implementation issues. In August 2024 more than 2700 employees had undergone the F-GSH training. The symptom severity changes during the treatment in our sample were as follows: Depression program the mean PHQ-9 for depression were at the beginning and end of the treatment 15.4 (SD 5.4)- 11.2(6.0) and for anxiety symptoms GAD-7 10.3(4.7)-7.9(4.8). Respectively, for during the treatment program targeted for anxiety symptoms the GAD-7 levels were 12.25(4.8)- 8.8(5.0) and for PHQ-9 12.43(5.5)- 9.1(5.6). Worsening of the symptoms were reported for 0-2% of the patients. Further treatment needed 38% of patients after F-GSH for depression and After F-GSH 38% of patients had no need for any further treatment.

E-learning platform forms a scalable and acceptable solution for training large number of professionals on a short time period at low cost for an evidence based treatment model. The symptoms reductions during the digitally supported F-GSH for depression and anxiety were comparable with previously reported in other studies, and comparable with longer CBT treatments. The F-GSH seems to be acceptable for the patients and employees. Also, the symptoms seem to ameliorate clinically significantly during the treatment.

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