Body dysmorphic disorder is a diagnostic entity within the somatoform disorders of the obsessive-compulsive spectrum according to the DSM-V. Its prevalence is between 0.7% and 2.5%, being more frequent in men and usually beginning in adolescence or early adulthood. Its central symptom is cognitive distortions regarding appearance, with concern about imaginary physical defects, slight or even invisible to others and in some cases close to a delusional condition.

To delve deeper into the clinical aspects and nosological conditions through the description of a clinical case.

This is a 16-year-old patient who was admitted three times to the Acute Psychiatric Unit of the Puerta de Hierro Hospital due to behavioral disorders in the context of dysmorphophobia with intense concern about the shape of his nose. The patient gradually abandoned his daily routines, stopped attending classes at school and isolated himself from his social circle.

He is the youngest of two sisters. He lives with his parents and sister. He had good academic results until the time of diagnosis.

The patient’s concern about his nose began at about age 15, coinciding with the diagnosis of leukemia of his mother, who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment. The patient reports that the symptoms have increased until causing significant functional limitation.

He says that his nose is very large and he doesn’t allow anyone to see it. He leaves the house wearing a mask, performs rituals of checking it for hours in front of the mirror and has even manipulated his nose with objects to try to deform it. He appears to have a delusional component with significant emotional and behavioural repercussions.

Several pharmacological treatments were started, including SSRIs (sertraline) and various antipsychotics (risperidone, pimozide and olanzapine), with little response in all cases. Psychotherapeutic treatment was carried out in a day hospital for adolescents, but this was also unsuccessful. Finally, he was involuntarily transferred to a Medium Stay Unit given the significant impact of the symptoms on his life, showing progressive improvement after several months of treatment.

The nosology of TDC has evolved: the DSM IV specified a delusional variant within the psychotic spectrum and a non-delusional one within the somatoform spectrum. The DSM V integrates it within the obsessive-compulsive spectrum. In order to assess a correct treatment, a continuum could be established between TDC and eating disorders. Both present similar symptoms: dissatisfaction and distortion with body image, need for continuous checking and concern about imperfections in perceived appearance. Given the chronicity of TDC and the tendency to abandon treatment in the first months, long-term follow-up by a multidisciplinary team is necessary, as well as psychoeducation and the establishment of a solid therapeutic alliance.

None Declared

The area of Sensory Integration has its origin in the 1960s, developed by the neuroscientist and occupational therapist Jean Ayres. Although the first studies focused on the relationship between learning problems and atypical sensory processing, today there are new applications in clinical practice. Sensory integration is defined as the neurological process responsible for organizing the sensations that one receives from one’s own body and from the environment, in order to respond and function adequately in relation to environmental demands.

This work has several objectives. On the one hand, review the concept of sensory integration, the definition and theoretical basis as well as the scientific evidence of this theory. On the other hand, review the use of sensory integration in psychiatric practice from the 1960s to the present day. Also, explain the experience of a child and adolescent psychiatry unit with the use of sensory integration as part of the treatment. Finally, new challenges, approaches and needs of psychiatry services will be considered for the implementation or improvement of this new work tool in a multidisciplinary team.

A bibliographic search has been carried out in the main sources of medical information such as pubmed, uptodate as well as in national and international journals. Likewise, the knowledge and clinical experience of the team has been reviewed.

In our clinical experience, the child and adolescent psychiatry device for intensive outpatient treatment where patients between 12 and 17 years of age with severe mental disorders attend, initially passed the sensory profile by occupational therapy to patients who presented behavioral or emotional symptoms. not consistent with the psychopathological examination. In view of the results and magnificent progress, this intervention began to be carried out systematically to the boys who joined the device. We present the case of a 15-year-old patient who attended the device due to emotional dysregulation and suicidal risk. During evolution, possible difficulties were seen in sensory integration that made it difficult for the patient to improve with psychiatric or psychological therapy alone. The patient was evaluated and treated by the team’s occupational therapist, specifically trained in sensory integration. It was evaluated with the sensory profile, with the results having a sensory sensitivity profile and auditory and tactile avoidance. The specific measures that were carried out were: sensory diet and environmental modifications.

Sensory integration is a therapy with sufficient clinical evidence to implement it in child and adolescent psychiatry services. Therapy should be performed by suitably trained and validated occupational therapists. This therapy must be included in a multidisciplinary approach to the patient and specific modifications that can be developed at home and at school are provided.

None Declared

Drug-induced movement disorders are a rare side effect of which some cases have been reported and published. It may be due to antidepressants, antipsychotics or other drugs. In these cases it is important to realize differential diagnosis, identify the medication that may have caused it and implement appropriate management to solve it.

To present the case of a 16-year-old adolescent diagnosed with major depressive disorder with movement disorders after treatment with escitalopram.

A literature review was conducted on movement disorders and treatment with antidepressants in child-adolescent population.

Our case is about a 16-year-old adolescent who is living with his family and he is studying at the high school. The patient has no personal psychiatric history and in his family only his father has an adaptive disorder treatment. The first time he comes to consultation, he said that in the last few weeks he has anxiety attacks in different environments and an increase in basal anxiety. He has been in a low mood for about two years with apathy, which has increased in recent weeks. He is diagnosed of major depressive disorder and we decided to continue with escitalopram 10 mg and chlorazepate dipotassium prescribed a week ago by his family doctor. After one month, he goes to the second consultation with difficulty in walking, stiffness and instability that is related to the introduction of treatment. In addition, he comments on mild improvement of anxiety and mood. Due to the timing of the onset of movement disorder and the onset of escitalopram, it is decided to suspend it. Chlorazepam dipotassium is maintained and short-term for evaluation of evolution. In the following consultation, no movement disorder symptoms are seen and the onset of another antidepressant with a different course of action is assessed.

Drug-induced movement disorders as in the case described are a rare side effect of which some cases have been reported and published. Different studies reveal the different behavior of antidepressants in the adult and child-adolescent population. In a meta-analysis on antidepressants and depression in the child-and-youth population (1), the results indicated that sertraline, escitalopram, duloxetine and fluoxetine could be considered as the first option although cases with associated extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) were reported. According to a study on the association of antipsychotics, antidepressants with movement disorders in children and adolescents (2), the risk-benefit profile of antipsychotic use should be considered as an adjuvant to reduce EPS. In addition, in a post-marketing study (3), a potentially harmful association was found between movement disorders and the use of antidepressants mirtazapine, vortioxetine, fluvoxamine, citalopram, paroxetine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine, among others.

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This case series examines five adolescents with both gender dysphoria and pervasive developmental conditions, highlighting the social, familial, and psychological challenges involved. The cases reveal how these conditions intersect, shaping identity, social interactions, and family dynamics. Findings suggest a trend toward isolation and virtual spaces for acceptance, with limited family support often exacerbating isolation. Integrated therapeutic approaches addressing both gender dysphoria and developmental conditions are recommended to improve mental health and self-acceptance.

To explore the diversity of gender dysphoria manifestations within pervasive developmental disorders.

We analysed five cases of adolescents from Professor Doctor Alexandru Obregia Clinical Hospital of Psychiatry in Bucharest, each diagnosed with both gender dysphoria and a pervasive developmental disorder. Each case highlights unique psychological and social factors influencing the adolescents’ identities and interactions. Patients were monitored over an average period of one year to observe developments and responses to therapeutic interventions.

The cases illustrate diverse expressions of gender dysphoria among adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders:

Case 1: 12-year-old with Asperger’s syndrome and gender dysphoria, with interests and social withdrawal shaped by online interactions, further isolating her.

Case 2: 15-year-old with severe depression and Asperger’s syndrome, marked by social withdrawal, a strong attachment to solitary pursuits, and an identity struggle.

Case 3: 16-year-old with significant gender dysphoria and past suicide attempts, feeling alienated with a strong focus on transitioning.

Case 4: 17-year-old facing gender dysphoria complicated by family resistance, social anxiety, and unresolved grief, destabilizing family acceptance.

Case 5: 15-year-old with major depression, social anxiety, and emergent gender dysphoria, poor medication response, and preference for solitude, indicating an uncertain prognosis.

This study explores whether pervasive developmental disorders and gender dysphoria coexist by chance, influence each other, or share a common cause. It examines whether atypical gender identity might lie dormant and what may trigger its expression. These cases highlight the complexity of treating gender dysphoria in adolescents with developmental disorders, suggesting that tailored support and therapy can improve psychosocial outcomes and self-acceptance.

None Declared

A 13 years old girl, who has always been an A* student, was brought to our Emergency Room, referred by her Psiquiatrist, to be hospitalized in our Unit.

During the first interview in the ER, the patient reported that she refused to eat food that had empty calories, which were essentially everything except water, and even water at times was an issue. She had a IMC of 16,57 kg/m2.

The objetive of this case is to try and explain how serious of a disorder anorexia nervosa can be, at times severe enough to distort completely the patients reality.

The following patient will be presented, doing a thorough systematic bibliography review.

The patient remains admitted to our unit. After more than one month and a half, since first being admitted, the patient has both verbalized wanting to end her life before gaining weight, as well as improved her disorder awareness.

At first, she was bluntly negative to eat any food, to a point to such extent, that feeding via nasogastric tube was necessary.

After daily interviews, along with many consultations, both with clinical psychology and psychiatry, using both cognitive behavioral psychotherapy and psychotrpic drugs; we achieved a slight improvement by eating half plates of both first and second plate, as well as dessert of a 1300-1500kcal diet.

Nonetheless, the patient still manifest up to this day, her willingness of not to eat and to end her life if its necessary to avoid eating.

Given the severity of the eating disorder suffered by the patient, social work was notified of the refferral to a long-term center specialized in eating disorders. The patient verbalized not wanting to got there, but recognized her disorder was getting more severe and the need for a long-term Unit.

None Declared

Oxidative stress, particularly through disruptions in glutathione metabolism and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), has been implicated in cortical thinning and other brain structural changes seen in psychosis. These changes may be more pronounced in the early psychosis spectrum, but this relationship remains underexplored.

This study investigated the relationships between key oxidative stress markers—reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), the GSH/GSSG ratio, and TAC—and cortical thickness in the cingulate, insula, and fronto-temporal brain regions.

A total of 57 youths on the early psychosis spectrum and 44 healthy controls participated, with a mean age of 15.51 years. There were no significant differences in age or sex between the groups. Cortical thickness was measured using MRI, and blood samples were analyzed for oxidative stress markers. Partial correlations were performed, controlling for total intracranial volume, age, and sex, to examine the relationships between oxidative stress markers and cortical thickness. A permutation analysis was then conducted to assess group differences in these associations.

In healthy individuals, a higher GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly associated with increased cortical thickness in the right insula (r = 0.50, p < 0.05). Conversely, in the early psychosis spectrum group, there was a consistent trend of negative correlations between TAC and cortical thickness, particularly in the left frontal cortex. Permutation analysis revealed significant group differences in the association between GSH and cortical thickness in both the left insula and left temporal regions (p < 0.05). Additionally, TAC showed significant differences in its relationship with cortical thickness in the left and right frontal regions (p = 0.01 and p < 0.05), indicating asymmetrical oxidative stress involvement across hemispheres in the early psychosis spectrum group compared to healthy controls.

These findings suggest that oxidative stress markers, particularly related to glutathione metabolism and TAC, are linked to regional cortical thickness variations. The results highlight distinct oxidative stress effects in the early psychosis spectrum compared to healthy individuals, emphasizing the potential role of oxidative stress markers as early indicators of neuroanatomical changes in psychosis.

R. Moreno-Comellas: None Declared, M. Ortuño: None Declared, I. Martínez: None Declared, F. Fesce: None Declared, E. de la Serna: None Declared, J. Castro-Fornieles: None Declared, I. Baeza: None Declared, G. Sugranyes Grant / Research support from: This study has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III «Health Research Fund»/ FEDER funds (PI2100330, FORT23/00002_SUGR_G6) and La Marató TV3 (grant number 202232-30-31).

Conduct problems (CP) in adolescents are associated not only with long-term personality and social development challenges, but also impose significant burdens on families, schools, and communities.

While numerous risk factors for CP have been identified in prior research, a comprehensive understanding of the underlying deficit mechanisms remains incomplete.

Utilizing data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study (N = 11,875), the largest longitudinal investigation of brain development and child health in the United States, we conducted a systematic analysis of the neural, cognitive, and environmental features linked to CP. The findings were further tested for generalizability across diverse cross-cultural datasets.

Our results propose a novel framework that accounts for cognitive deficits associated with CP, while also highlighting the interactions between biological and environmental factors in the development and potential remission of CP in adolescents.

These insights provide valuable directions for future research and intervention strategies targeting adolescent conduct problems.

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An estimated 10% of children in the United States carry a diagnosis of ADHD (Li et al. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6). Parents, caregivers, and children themselves utilize search engines to better understand their diagnosis and treatment options as well as discover other resources such as finding providers or support groups. Furthermore, evaluating search trends may elucidate individual and societal barriers towards accessing treatment. (Zhao et al. Adm Policy Ment Health 2022; 49 357–373)

This study examines Google search trends for the term “ADHD” from 2019 to 2023 to shed light on public interest and awareness patterns.

A Google Trends search was performed for the term “ADHD” in the global search database from 2019 to 2023. Weekly absolute search volumes were exported for each year. A one-way ANOVA calculation including Tukey HSD was conducted using Social Science Statistics’ calculator, which was cross referenced with AAT Bioquest’s calculator.

The ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences in the number of searches across the five different years. The f-ratio value is 689.19733. The p-value is < .00001. Post hoc comparisons using the Tukey HSD test indicated that search results differed significantly from among all years except between the years 2019 and 2020. The average number of searches steadily increased from M2019 = 278201.4839, SD2019=38184.594 and M2023 = 642020.8824, SD2023 =33099.9021. There is a relatively steady level of interest in the search term throughout the year with slight fluctuations. Seasonal trends were examined, showing an increased number of searches in February, October, and June, and decreased searches in December.

Both the overall and temporal trends described in this study have important clinical ramifications. The general increase in search trend frequency suggests increased awareness not due to a significant change in prevalence. The seasonal trends noted above suggest that the increased search frequency is related to school-related activities, particularly year-end exams in June, while the decrease in December may reflect the shift in focus from academics during the holiday break. This study highlights the importance of having evidence-based resources be accessible and understandable to the general public

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Social media has evolved into a primary arena for mental health discussions, with particular relevance to youth who engage extensively in online spaces. This study seeks to investigate how distinct language choices—specifically the terms “anxious” and “nervous”—influence the tone, themes, and context of discussions around anxiety.

By examining the frequency and context of these terms in social media posts, this study aims to shed light on how language affects the portrayal of anxiety and, potentially, the associated experiences. We hypothesize that understanding these differences can provide valuable insights into public perceptions especially with younger audiences.

We conducted a targeted search of X (formerly Twitter), focusing on posts that included either the term “anxious” or “nervous,” filtered for English-language content to ensure relevance to a broader audience. The top 100 tweets containing each term were then subjected to a sentiment analysis to assess the emotional tone of the content. Additionally, a word cloud generator was used to identify the most frequently associated terms, with connecting words excluded to maintain clarity in theme identification.

Posts containing the term “anxious” often reflected intense personal distress, introspection, and struggles with internal emotions. The most commonly associated terms included “feel” (mentioned 19 times), “god” (16), “like” (15), “can” (14), “don’t” (14), and “stressed” (8), each of which underscored the personal and often existential nature of these expressions. The frequent presence of terms such as “always,” “day,” “got,” “walk,” “hate,” and “sad” further emphasized the internalized and enduring aspects of anxiety, suggesting more persistent or generalized anxiety concerns.

On the other hand, posts containing the term “nervous” were more likely to relate to situational anxiety, external circumstances, or performance-based fears. The most frequently appearing words alongside “nervous” included “system” (15 mentions), “can” (13), “just” (9), “like” (8), and “people” (7), indicating that these posts often referenced responses to specific events or temporary stressors. Notably, terms like “first,” “lot,” “making,” “now,” and “video” suggest that individuals using “nervous” may be describing anxiety linked to immediate, often identifiable stressors, as opposed to the more generalized or chronic anxiety depicted in “anxious” posts.

This study underscores the significance of linguistic nuances in mental health conversations on social media and highlights how the choice of words—such as “anxious” versus “nervous”—can shift both the perceived and intended meaning of these discussions. By understanding these subtle differences, mental health professionals, educators, and content creators can develop resources and messaging that are more attuned to the experiences and language of youth.

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Emotional dysregulation is an unhealthy emotional response to stimuli and a common reason for adolescent hospitalization. Linked to disorders like depression, borderline personality disorder, childhood trauma, and eating disorders, understanding its underlying causes may improve outcomes and prevent relapse.

The aim of this study is to characterize emotional dysregulation among adolescent impatient.

Our study involves inpatients (16-24 years) hospitalized at our Transitional Psychiatric ward in Ancona (Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy). The used rating scale were: Temperament Evaluation in Memphis, Pisa and San Diego (TEMPS-M), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 (BIS-11), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), Aggression Questionnaire (AQ). Descriptive analysis, simple and multivariate linear regression analysis were conducted.

97 adolescent patients were admitted from February 2022 to March 2023. The mean age of the sample is 17.3±1.9. The mean score to the BPRS is 43.9±10.3. The 70.7% (n=70) of the sample are females and the 79.8% (n=79) lives with their parents. Disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorders are the prevalent disorders in the sample (32.3%, n=32). The 21.1% (n=21) was diagnosed with depression, the 13.2% (n=13) with bipolar disorder and the 9.1% (n=9) with psychosis. According to the DERS, patients with emotional dysregulation are the 82,2% (n=37) of the sample. The 25.3% (n=24) of the sample could be classified as alexithymic. The most represented temperaments in the sample are the dysthymic 24.4% (n=11) and cyclothymic 22.2% (n=10). The mean score of the DERS is 122.33±29.5, the mean score of the TAS-20 is 58.9±166 and the mean score of the AQ is 78.7±30.1, the mean score of the BIS-11 is 65.2±19.1. A simple linear regression between DERS and AQ (R=0.536, R2=0.287, F(1)=15.284, p<0.001), TAS-20 (R=0.502, R2=0.252, F(1)=12.819, p=0.001) and BIS-11 (R=0.534, R2=0.285, F(1)=15.128, p<0.001) was observed. A multivariate linear regression was observed between the DERS (R=0.917, R2=0.842, F(1)=25.708, p<0.001) and the subscale about physical aggressivity of the AQ (β=2.065, p=0.008), the dysthymic subscale of the TEMPS (β=1.87, p<0.001), the hostility subscale of the AQ (β=-3.321, p<0.001), the subscale about difficulty identifying feelings of the TAS-20 (β=1.598, p=0.001), the total score of the AQ (β=0.5, p=0.006) and the subscale about cognitive impulsivity of the BIS-11 (β=1.024, p=0.047).

The results suggest a link between emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, aggression, and alexithymia. Notably, emotional dysregulation appears in those with a dysthymic temperament, marked by high aggression, difficulty identifying feelings, cognitive impulsivity and low hostility. Further research is needed to explore these findings and develop treatment strategies.

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) varies in presentation and associated comorbidity conditions. Diagnosis and treatment is often challenging, highlighting the need for individualized approaches in managing ADHD. Optimal therapy includes a combination of different methods such as psychological interventions and pharmacotherapy. Pharmacogenetics allows for a more personalized and effective treatment plan, which can reduce empirical prescribing of medication, meaning less side effects, faster treatment response and achieving remission. Altogether, this leads to improved compliance and outcomes.

In our opinion this is an interesting case study which explores the challenging presentation, medical management, and treatment of a patient with ADHD and its comorbidity.

We present a male subject, age 14, who met DSM- V criteria for ADHD at the age of 8. The treatment effects of conventional approaches with psychosocial interventions and individual psychotherapy as well as child and parental psychoeducation had not proven sufficient, so pharmacotherapy was added to the treatment strategy. He was initially introduced to methylphenidate therapy and developed side effects in the form of depressive symptoms and motor tics. Regression of side effects occurred when the drug was discontinued. Impulsive and aggressive behaviors became severe so antipsychotics were prescribed, which resulted in improvement of behaviour. Attention and concentration disturbances remained, however. During this period, the subject experienced a growth spurt, gained in body weight and his laboratory findings showed high liver enzymes. We conducted a multidisciplinary approach that included a complete examination by a geneticist, an endocrinologist, and a cardiologist. EEG and psychological testing were performed. Due to a lack of progress in socio-emotional functioning, genotyping analyses of CYP2D6, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, ABCG2, 5-HTTLPR, DAT1 VNTR was performed.

The pharmacogenetic findings suggested a higher activity of the CYP2D6 enzyme than normal. Significantly reduced and weak transport function of protein ABCB1 was observed. Atomoxetine is not a substrate for ABCB1, so the introduction of atomoxetine is planned after the stabilization of liver enzymes.

Various treatment strategies can help ameliorate ADHD symptoms. Finding an effective medication and dosage for a given child with ADHD can be a complex process. Although pharmacogenetic testing is not a standard procedure in child and adolescent psychiatry, it can have an impact on the management of treatment-resistant symptoms and medication-related side effects. The potential for pharmacogenetics to enhance treatment precision remains a promising area for future research in psychiatry.

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Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) individuals are at increased risk of diagnosis with mental disorders, including suicidality and suicidal gestures (Anderson & Ford. Nursing Inquiry 2022; 29). Patients’ psychological distress may be secondary to gender dysphoria; however, the evidence may be unclear.

The goal of this review was to compile current evidence to assess a relationship between gender dysphoria and suicidal ideation, suicidal attempt, and self-harming behavior.

A literature review on PubMed databases was conducted using the search terms “transgender,” “gender non-conforming “suicidality,” “self-harm,” “suicidal gestures,” “child,” “adolescent,” and “youth” in various permutations to assess recent evidence on suicidality and suicidal gestures among TGNC children and adolescents. We also reviewed relationships between gender-dysphoria, social support as a protective factor, and suicidality and/or suicidal gestures among TGNC youths.

A study conducted across 19 states in the United States and large urban school districts found that within the last year, 43.9% of transgender students reported they have seriously considered attempting suicide compared to 20.3% in cis-females and 11.0% cis-males, 39.3% of transgender students reported having a suicide plan compared to <16.0% of cisgender students, and 16.5% of transgender students reported having a suicide attempt requiring medical treatment compared to <2.5% of cisgender students (Garthe et al. Transgend Health 2022; 7 416-422). Another study conducted across three different US cities found higher levels of suicidal ideation and behavior among TGNC youths, compared to their cisgender counterparts (Johns et al. MMWR 2019; 68, 67–71). Also, chosen name use was associated with less suicidal ideation, behavior, and depressive symptoms (Russel et al, J Adolesc Health 2018; 63 503–505). Additionally, a surveillance analysis concluded that TGNC youths reported experiencing higher levels of emotional distress, bullying victimization, risk behaviors (substance use and sexual behavior), and lower levels of protective factors such as internal assets, family connectedness, and feeling safe in their community (Eisenberg et al. J Adolesc Health 2017;61 521–526)

Further research needs to be conducted regarding the relationship between gender dysphoria and suicidality, and the presence of suicidal gestures. However, the current data suggests decreased depressive symptoms, as well as suicidal ideation and behavior associated with increased chosen name usage.

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Numerous studies have revealed the association between deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and brain inflammation due to immune system response to congenital or perinatal human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

The aim of study was to examine the impact of neuroinflammation caused by CMV infection on the development of ADHD in prematurely born children.

The medical records of 126 prematurely born children aged 7-11 were retrospectively analyzed. Participants were divided into two groups, the observed population of 56 children with ADHD and the control group without ADHD. Three parameters were observed, C-reactive protein (CRP) as an indicator of inflammation, IgM antibodies to CMV for etiological diagnosis of CMV infection and cranial ultrasound findings for the confirmation of structural changes in the brain.

Statistical analysis of our data showed the association between the onset of ADHD and the presence of congenital/perinatal CMV infection in prematurely born children (p<0.01). Nevertheless, these two variables had a very low positive correlation (phi coefficient 0.07173). The results did not show the association between elevated levels of CRP and presence of ADHD in prematurely born children (p>0.01), which confirmed that not every inflammation, regardless of the cause, was associated with ADHD. The analysis also confirmed the positive correlation between the variables listed in pairs: elevated levels of CRP and positive IgM on CMV, elevated levels of CRP and altered ultrasound neuroimaging findings, as well as positive IgM on CMV and altered ultrasound neuroimaging findings. All of these correlations speak in favor of the CMV caused neuroinflammation as etiopathogenetic basis in ADHD.

In our sample CMV-induced neuroinflammation was associated with the development of ADHD in prematurely born children.

None Declared

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental conditions that often co-occur, leading to complex clinical presentations. While ASD is characterized by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors, ADHD is marked by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The comorbidity between these conditions is increasingly recognized, yet their combined impact on diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes remains underexplored.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and nature of the comorbidity between ASD and ADHD. We also seek to identify the shared and distinct cognitive, behavioral, and developmental features, and assess the implications of this overlap for clinical practice, especially in diagnosis and treatment planning.

A systematic literature review was conducted, examining peer-reviewed studies published in the last 10 years. Key databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus were searched for studies involving ASD and ADHD comorbidity in children and adolescents. Data on prevalence rates, diagnostic criteria, symptom overlap, and treatment approaches were extracted and analyzed.

The findings confirm a high prevalence of comorbidity between ASD and ADHD, with estimates ranging from 30% to 50% in pediatric populations. Shared symptoms, particularly inattention and executive dysfunction, often complicate differential diagnosis. Children with both ASD and ADHD tend to exhibit more severe social and cognitive impairments, and have a higher risk for anxiety, mood disorders, and academic challenges. The results suggest that overlapping symptoms may delay or complicate accurate diagnosis, affecting treatment efficacy.

The comorbidity of ASD and ADHD presents unique challenges for clinicians and families. Early identification of both conditions is crucial for tailored interventions. A multidisciplinary approach, combining behavioral, cognitive, and pharmacological treatments, appears to be the most effective. Further research is needed to develop clearer diagnostic criteria and targeted therapeutic strategies to address the specific needs of individuals with this comorbid profile.

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Nature based interventions are becoming more popular in mental health prevention and treatment. Blue therapies are rarely known because of limited access and high costs. The poster presents the results of research on the level of the hardiness and resilience of high sea cruises participants. The study involved 123 people, including 65 girls and 58 boys, and 55 young adults, including 15 women and 39 men.

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of blue intervention on the level of the hardiness and resilience of high sea cruises participants.

Pre-posttest study with questionnaires issued on the first and last day of each cruise. Dispositional Resilience Scale (Bartone et. al., 1989) was used to measure mental hardiness, commitment, openness to challenges and a sense of control of participants. EEA Resilience Scale (Maltby et. al., 2015) was used to measure ecological and engineering resilience and adaptive capacity of partifcipants.

The results show a statistically significant increase in hardiness level. There was also a significant increase in commitment, openness to challenges and a sense of control of participants, which are measured by subscales of the DRS. Significant increase of ecological resilience and adaptive capacity has been noted.

Hardiness and resilience are key protective factors for mental health. Blue interventions can be effetcive ways of mental wellbeing improvement.

None Declared

Extreme preterm birth (<28 weeks) is a significant risk factor for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants but also for heightened psychological stress in parents, both of these impacting on parent-child bonding style. Abnormal parent-child bonding may impact, in turn, on child’s emotional development. Longer stays at NICUs, with their stressful environment and caregiving demands, alongside psychosocial factors and perinatal complications can exacerbate parental emotional stress.

(i) To compare, around birthtime, levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in parents of extremely preterm newborns (EPTN) compared to parents of born-at-term healthy control (HC) newborns; (ii) to assess, in parents of EPTN, longitudinal changes in levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms from birth up to 40 postmenstrual weeks (40PMW), and their association with demographic, clinical and environmental risk factors; (iii) to assess, in parents of EPTN, the impact of NICU-related stress and psychosocial / family context on levels of symptoms; and (iv) to examine, in parents of EPTN, the association between levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and parent-child bonding quality around hospital discharge.

Observational, longitudinal, prospective, 24-month follow-up study. We recruited a cohort of n=150 EPTN and n=50 HC (the PeriStress-PremTEA cohort) in two tertiary hospitals in Spain. Of those, parents of n=70 EPTN and n=42 HC successfully completed, around birthtime (and at 40 PMW in EPTN) the STAI state & trait, BDI, PBQ, MSPSS and PPS at NICU questionnaires. We also gathered demographic, clinical and obstetric data from all patient & HC families. We compared, in EPTN vs HC, parental symptom levels around birth. Using logistic regression, we assessed, in EPTN, the association between demographic/perinatal variables, parental symptom levels around birth time and parent-child bonding quality at discharge.

Both fathers and mothers of EPTN showed higher anxiety and depressive symptom levels than those of HC (all p<.01). In EPTN, parental symptom levels around birth time were highly correlated with PSS NICU scores (p<.01). Levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in mothers of EPTN predicted parent-child bonding quality at discharge, above and beyond other potential risk factors, as did level of depressive symptoms in fathers of EPTN (p<.01).

Our findings support the need to establish screening and longitudinal monitoring programs of psychopathology in parents of EPTN, both for mothers and fathers of these children, and even more so in higher-risk subgroups, such as those with higher perception of NICU-related stress.

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Jacobsen syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11 (11q23.3qter), affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 births. It is associated with physical and developmental abnormalities, including pre- and postnatal growth retardation, facial dysmorphism, and multiple congenital malformations. Intellectual disability and psychomotor retardation are also common, with 97% of individuals presenting with varying degrees of cognitive impairment. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and, in rare cases, severe psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, may complicate the clinical picture. JS management is complex, often requiring multidisciplinary care. Partial trisomy 10q is a rare chromosomal disorder, with around 40 reported cases worldwide. It is characterized by distinctive facial features, minor physical anomalies, and possible cardiac or renal malformations, with severity depending on the duplicated region.

The aim of this case report is to present a 13-year-old female with Jacobsen syndrome and Partial Trisomy 10q Syndrome who was diagnosed with ASD and intellectual disability (ID) who later developed psychotic symptoms.

The patient, a 13-year-old girl, was diagnosed with Jacobsen syndrome and Partial Trisomy 10q Syndrome following a neurological evaluation conducted at two months of age. Medical records were reviewed from her initial assessments to recent follow-ups.

The patient has ASD and ID, with poor verbal communication, repetitive behaviours, and social isolation. A notable regression in both language and behaviour was observed after the age of 10, coinciding with her school integration. Neuroimaging showed ventriculomegaly and loss of white matter, but no active demyelination or epileptic features were found. Due to impaired attention, we suspected ADHD, and started her on methylphenidate, later changing it to atomoxetine with poor response. Due to patient’s very limited speech, mental state examination was difficult. We observed that she was anxious, had hearing phenomena, and was talking in jargon, so we suspected psychotic symptoms in the form of auditory hallucinations. Treatment with Aripiprazole was initiated at doses of up to 7 mg daily, with a good response. Aripiprazole also helped to reduce social withdrawal and improve attention. Currently, the patient is maintained on a stable dose of Aripiprazole, alongside behavioural therapies and educational support.

This case highlights the complexity of managing young people with neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with genetic syndromes, especially when poor language and speech skills are associated. Future research is needed to better understand the neuropsychiatric implications of JS Partial Trisomy 10q Syndrome and optimize treatment strategies for these patients.

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Potters Bar Clinic, CAMHS LSU, Elysium Healthcare, collaborates with external physical exercise therapy provider Psychesoma. Psychesoma operates within two CAMHS Low Secure wards. Psychesoma works with patients who have mental health problems, ASD, and learning disabilities. Psychesoma offer person-centred group and individual sessions aiming to improve young peoples’ mood state, wellbeing, and health through Physical exercise therapy.

We study the influence of physical exercise intervention in positive well-being, psychological distress, and fatigue measures in young people receiving mental health treatment under section 3 of the MHA in a LSU environment.

The Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (SEES; McAuley & Courneya, 1994) is a measure of global psychological responses to exercise stimuli and is a standardised measures used in previous similar research. The SEES assesses three general categories of subjective responses to exercise stimuli: positive well-being, psychological distress, and fatigue. Each sub-scale includes 4 emotion statements, with 12 statements in total. Young people are required to rate the degree to which they feel each emotion in the present moment on a Likert-type scale (1; ‘Not at all’ – 7; ‘Very much so’).

This measure is completed pre- and post- Psychesoma sessions. The data was collected by Psychesoma trainers between December 2022 and November 2023. The measure was completed 63 times in total by 11 young people. On the positive wellbeing sub-scale, the cohort had a mean pre-session score of 11.63, and a mean post-session score of 17.23, representing a 5.31 point increase in positive wellbeing. On the psychological distress sub-scale, the cohort had a mean pre-session score of 9.18 and a mean post-session score of 7.06, representing a 2.21 point decrease in psychological distress. On the fatigue sub-scale, the cohort had a mean pre-session score of 14.73 and a mean post-session score of 10.69, representing a 3.68 point decrease in fatigue

Data indicated that young people experience an increase in positive wellbeing and a decrease in psychological distress and fatigue immediately following Psychesoma sessions. Further research in place to explore the long term duration of these effects.

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Children with mild intellectual disability (MID) face specific challenges threatening their development, particular their mental health. They face a heightened risk of psychopathology (Buckley et al. ANZJP 2020; 54 970–984). This heightened susceptibility is theorized to be shaped by a complex interplay of diverse socio-demographic factors experienced by these children, collectively known as social determinants of mental health (SDOMH), include ethnicity, socioeconomic status, household conditions, family dynamics, and neighborhood deprivation (Allen et al. IJP 2014; 26 392–407).

This study examined the collective and unique role of diverse social determinants of mental health (SDOMH) associated with mental health problems (MHP) for children with MID, compared to peers with and without MHP.

Combining microdata from Statistics Netherlands, municipality data from The Hague and mental health care records, this population-based case-control study included four groups aged 0-17 years (Mage = 10.6, 35.6% female). Two groups of children receiving outpatient mental health care for MHP with MID (n=505) and without MID (n=2,767), each with a matched control group from the general population (n=2,525 and n=13,835, respectively), were studied. Through multivariate logistic regression analyses, both MHP groups were compared to their control group and each other to examine the likelihood of a particular SDOMH associated with receiving mental health care for MHP in children with and without MID.

Children with MID receiving mental health care showed significant differences in multiple domains compared to their control group and to children receiving mental health care without MID. In the multivariate model, they were less likely to have European-born mothers, more likely to have parents with moderate or low education levels, and tended to live in smaller, single-parent, lower-income households. Similar, though less deviant, patterns were observed for children without MID receiving mental health care compared to the general population, except for parental education. Additionally, children without MID were more likely than their controls to reside in densely populated areas with lower neighborhood education levels.

Our study highlights that diverse SDOMH are associated with the likelihood of receiving care for MHP in children. Moreover, children with MID face disproportionate disadvantages, particularly regarding low parental education and household income. Thus, interventions should not only target the child but also their family and environmental context.

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The institution of child fostering aims to protect minors who lack a secure family environment. In Greece, the implementation of Law 4538/2018 and the Anynet electronic system sought to de-institutionalize minors. This paper, based on a doctoral thesis, investigates the law’s impact and identifies best practices in child fostering.

This study aims to evaluate the implementation of Law 4538/2018 in Greece and the Anynet electronic system, focusing on their impact on de-institutionalizing minors. Additionally, it seeks to identify best practices in the foster care system and their application in child protection settings.

A mixed-method approach was used. The first part involved a quantitative study targeting Directors of Child Protection Frameworks across Greece and foster parents. The second part employed a qualitative case study method, using semi-structured interviews with social workers from four selected Child Protection Frameworks recognized as examples of best practices

The research revealed that, despite the introduction of Law 4538/2018, foster care in Greece remains underutilized, especially for adolescents. Long-term fostering is the most common form, with most children aged four to six. Contact with biological parents is limited, often leading to adoption. Social workers lack sufficient training and familiarity with Anynet, impacting foster placements. However, child protection frameworks that applied specialized strategies for difficult cases saw fewer placement failures. A Unified Foster Care Protocol could standardize and improve foster care practices nationwide.

Though Law 4538/2018 and Anynet are steps forward, Greece’s foster care system is still underdeveloped, with minimal increases in placements. Targeted case management and better social worker training are essential for success. Implementing a Unified Foster Care Protocol could enhance consistency and improve outcomes for fostered children.

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