Theory of Mind is defined as the ability to understand mental states of other people, and is notoriously impaired in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A growing body of evidence suggests an impairment of Theory of Mind in several other psychopathological disorders. However, only few studies have assessed Theory of Mind in patients with Anxiety Disorders (AD), addressing only patients with Social Anxiety Disorder.

We aimed to investigate the differences in Theory of Mind between patients with AD and Healthy Controls (HC).

We enrolled 35 patients admitted in the Psychiatric Unit of Careggi with diagnosis of AD and 31 HC. We administered them: Zung Anxiety Scale (ZSAS), Empathy Quotient (EQ), Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RMET), and Faux Pas test (FP). A t-test for independent samples was performed to assess between-group differences.

Zung total scores proved to be significantly higher in patients (t(60)=4.375, p<0.001), while Empathy Quotient total scores (t(61)=-3.325, p=0.002), detection of faux pas in Faux Pas test (t(61)=-4.957, p<0.001), RMET total scores (t(63)=-2.269, p=0.031) were significantly higher in healthy controls.

Such preliminary data suggest impairment of Theory of Mind and Empathy in patients with AD as compared to HC. This could be linked to the development and maintenance of anxiety symptoms in patients with AD, making Theory of Mind a potential target in psychotherapy of AD.

No significant relationships.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with reduced attention, inhibition, decrease of processing speed. The impact of a new peptide antagonist of central cholecystokinin-1 receptors (GB-115) on cognitive processes in patients with GAD is reported.

To research the cognitive effects of GB-115 in patients with GAD.

25 patients with GAD in ICD-10 (mean age 35,76±8,55 years) treated with GB-115 in clinically relevant dose (6 mg/d) were enrolled to the study. The evaluation of cognitive functions was conducted at background, Day 3, Day 7, Day 14 and Day 21. The laboratory test toolkit included reaction time test, Shulte-Platonov tables, attention tests (using hardware and software complex “NeuroSoft-PsychoTest”). Statistical significance was ascertained by Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Speed of reaction time increased on the Day 7 (418,17±61,49 msec, p≤0,01), the Day 14 (422,25±70,69 msec, p≤0,01) and the Day 21 of treatment (406,5±52,79 msec, p≤0,01) in comparison with background (449,19±64,91). Attention parameters improved on the Day 3 (305,95±45,31 msec, p≤0,05) and the Day 21 of treatment (300,14±47,74 msec, p≤0,05) in comparison with the background (316,41±42,35 msec). Decrease of time in performance of tables of Shulte-Platonov was also observed on the Day 7 (59,40±13,71 sec, p≤0,01), the Day 14 (57,88±12,82 sec, p≤0,01) and the Day 21 (53,40±13,19 sec, p≤0,01) in comparison with the background (68,84±16,78 sec).

GB-115 revealed cognitive effects such as an increase of processing speed and improvement of different aspects of attention (attentional resource allocation, attention span and switching) after the Day 7 of treatment.

No significant relationships.

Mental symptoms are the first manifestations of hyperthyroidism. They include anxiety, dysphoria, irritability, emotional lability, sleep disorders, intellectual dysfunction, mania or depression. Anxiety is the main symptom and requires more detailed study.

The objective was to determine symptomatology of anxiety in patients with hyperthyroidism and compare with euthyroid patients.

The study included 56 patients with hyperthyroidism (high free T3 and free T4, suppressed TSH) and 32 euthyroid patients (normal free T3, free T4 and TSH) of the control group. For psychiatric assessment State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI], Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HAM-D], and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale [HAM-A] were used.

Total scores obtained from STAI, HAM-D and HAM-A were significantly greater in the hyperthyroidism group than that of the euthyroid group (p<0.05). The level of state anxiety in patients with hyperthyroidism was 51.39 ± 0.95 (high level) compared with 41.59 ± 2.41 (moderate level) in the control group. The level of trait anxiety in patients with hyperthyroidism was 46.86 ± 0.69 (high level), and 44.16 ± 2.17 (moderate level) in the control group. Psychomotor agitation (HAM-D # 9), psychic anxiety (HAM-D # 10), insomnia (HAM-A # 4) and weight loss (HAM-D # 16) were typical for patients with hyperthyroidism, while in the control group predominate the feelings of fatigue, weakness and loss of interest in working (HAM-D # 7).

The prevalence of anxiety in patients with hyperthyroidism is significantly more frequent compared to euthyroid patients. Anxiety and other psychiatric symptoms should be considered by both endocrinologists and psychiatrists.

No significant relationships.

Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent forms of mental illness, with antidepressants frequently used to treat them. Unfortunately, prescription of antidepressant medication is often inexact and relies on a long trial-and-error process.

Using machine Learning (ML) algorithms on readily obtainable clinical and demographic data of individuals diagnosed with depression with anxiety symptoms, we hypothesized that we will be able to derive models which will enable a more accurate treatment selection, focusing on relief from anxiety symptoms.

Patients’ data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (START*D) were filtered to include only those who have considerable anxiety symptoms. We then analyzed these patients’ response patterns, focusing on their anxious symptomology. Then, feature selection algorithms were applied to select the most predictive features for anxiety relief. Finally, we trained three ML models for three antidepressants: citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, using a training set of participants, and validated them on naïve validation and test datasets. These ML models were then compiled to create a predictive algorithm.

Validating the algorithm on the validation and test sets, our algorithm achieved a balanced accuracy of 64.8% (p<0.001), 79.2% (p<0.001) and 78.03% (p<0.001) for citalopram, sertraline and venlafaxine, respectively.

Our findings support applying ML to accumulating data to achieve an improvement in the treatment of mood disorders. The algorithm we developed may be used as a tool to aid in the choice of antidepressant medication, specifically for depressed patients who exhibit prominent anxiety symptoms.

Dekel Taliaz is the founder and CEO of Taliaz and reports stock ownership in Taliaz. Amit Spinrad and Roni Zoller serve as data scientists in Taliaz.

Psychological interventions including group analysis (Leichsenring et al., 2015, Beutel et al., 2008) are effective with patients having somatoform disorders.

To reveal differences in dynamics of pathological bodily sensations, quality of life, illness representation in patients with somatoform disorders undergoing group analysis and psychoeducation program.

100 patients with somatoform disorders (undifferentiated somatoform disorder – 42, somatization disorder – 10, somatoform autonomic disfunction – 36, persistent somatoform pain disorder and other SD – 12) were randomly assigned randomized to psychoeducation intervention and to the group analysis psychotherapy. Before and after treatment they filled Screening for somatoforms symptoms (Rief, Hiller, 2003), Illness Perception Questionnaire - Revised (Moss-Morris et al., 2002), Cognitions About Body And Health Questionnaire (Rief et al., 1998), Scale for the Assessment of Illness Behaviour (Rief et al., 2003), Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnairie-18 (Ritsner et al., 2005).

In both conditions decrease in complaints was the most in patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder and the least in somatoform autonomic disfunction (F=6.19, p<.01, η²=.17). In patients with somatization disorder there was the most increase in quality of life in leisure time, beliefs about intolerance to bodily sensations, rechecking the diagnosis (F=3.32-4.87, p<.05, η²=.10-.14). Decrease in beliefs about bodily weakness, illness consequences was the most prominent in patients with somatization disorder undergoing group therapy (F=2.90-4.46, p<.05, η²=.09-.13).

Patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder demonstrate most clinical improvement in interventions while patients with somatization disorder – the most psychological improvement. Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-013-00799.

Research is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-013-00799.

The impact of psychiatric patients on their primary caregivers is important. Outcome of different psychiatric disorders may also depends open the mental health of their caregivers. Therefore assessment of the prevalence and severity of Anxiety and depressive disorders may help to improve the wellbeing the caregivers as well as their sufferers.

To assess the prevalence and severity of Anxiety and Depression among primary caregivers of psychiatric outpatients. To correlate the psychiatric diagnosis according to ICD-10, of the patients with their caregivers anxiety and depression.

The study was carried out in private Psychiatric Hospital with primary caregivers of psychiatric outpatients. One hundred and eighty consecutive and consenting participants were selected. Besides, applying semi-structured preform, designed for this purpose, anxiety and depression levels of these individuals were assessed using the locally validated version of HOSPITAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION SCALE (HADS). For the diagnostic categorization ICD-10 of WHO was used. Data was tabulated and analyzed using SPPS 17 version.

Among the 180 caregivers, between the age range of 18 to 92 years, 44% were found to be suffering from anxiety, and 68.56% were suffering from depressive disorders. Anxiety and Depression (combined) existed among 74.85% of the caregivers of psychiatric outpatients. Frequency of depressive disorder was found higher among the brothers (19.08%) as caregivers, followed by mother (18.32%), relatives (16.03%), and in spouses (15.26%).

Caregivers of psychiatric patients, especially females, are more vulnerable to anxiety and depression irrespective of the type of their patients’ illness.

No significant relationships.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, neurodegenerative, and immune-mediated disease that affects the central nervous system. Usually co-occurs with difficulties in emotional regulation and psychopathology. Anxiety is one of the most common psychiatric manifestations in patients with MS. Nonetheless, empirical evidences on the joint predictive effect of MS clinical conditions and emotion regulation processes on the development of anxiety in MS patients are scarce.

This preliminary study aimed to explore whether fatigue, physical disability (MS clinical conditions) and a low compassionate attitude (maladaptive emotion regulation process based on self-judgment, over-identification, and isolation) predict anxiety symptoms in MS patients.

A convenience sample of 107 patients with MS diagnosis and without other neurological disorders was used in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Anxiety Subscale of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales-21, the Analogic Fatigue Scale, the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, and the Self-judgment, Isolation and Over-identification Subscales of the Self-Compassion Scale.

All potential predictors showed significant correlations with anxiety symptoms and predicted this symptomatology through simple linear regressions. Therefore, they were selected as covariates of the multiple linear regression model, which explained 32% of the variance of anxiety symptoms. This model revealed that fatigue, physical disability, and low compassionate attitude are significant predictors.

The results support the relevance of psychological interventions for MS patients to implement effective strategies to regulate anxiety associated with fatigue and physical disability. Helping patients to adopt a more compassionate attitude toward the self can reduce their anxiety.

No significant relationships.

Somatoform disorders, previously diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10, are shifting towards somatic symptom disorder in DSM-V and bodily distress disorder in ICD-11.

Before using the current criteria, because the new diagnostic entities can identify a larger pool of patients with various physical complaints and diagnoses, it is essential to consider the physical and psychiatric comorbidities that have an important role in deciding the pharmacological treatment.

We conducted a retrospective observational study on a group of 169 patients previously diagnosed with a type of somatoform disorder and hospitalized between January 2015 - January 2021 in a psychiatric emergency hospital in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Male:female ratio was 1:1.41. The mean age was 52.35±13.3 years, the mean period of hospitalization was 12±5.39 days. 54% of patients lived in urban areas, and almost half of them were married. Most patients were not professionally active and did not receive a superior education. Most patients had one hospitalization and had at least one physical and one psychiatric comorbidity. The most frequent somatic comorbidities were: cardiovascular, metabolic, rheumatological, gastrointestinal, endocrinological, and neurological, and the most frequent psychiatric ones were: depressive, personality, anxiety, neurocognitive, and substance use disorders. The most frequent type of somatoform disorders were: undifferentiated somatoform disorder and somatization disorder. Regarding psychiatric treatment, antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, anticonvulsants, and hypnotics were used. No correlations were observed between the presence of depressive or anxiety disorders and somatic comorbidities.

ICD and DSM need to clarify diagnostic criteria and develop therapeutical guidelines for this type of patient.

No significant relationships.

There is suggestive evidence that Obssesive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by impaired neuropsychological functions that are also influenced by clinical variables. Several studies show that these neuropsychological deficits could be potential endophenotype markers.

The present study aimed to examine neuropsychological patterns in OCD patients and several clinical variables before and after a follow-up of 10 years.

This study examined 44 outpatients with OCD. Cognitive performance and clinical data of these patients were documented before and after a follow-up of 10 years. A neuropsychological battery was administered and scored to them including Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure, the Digit-span test, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. As well, several clinical variables were also assessed including sociodemographic variables, general intelligence measured by Progressive Raven’s matrices, Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Finally, data was analyzed using t-Student and Pearson’s correlation.

In general, the pattern of neuropsychological dysfunction in patients with OCD remains unchanged during the follow-up period, except for some specific variables. Low scores on some verbal memory tasks were associated with severity of OCD, and nonverbal memory was influenced by depressive symptoms in the first evaluation, while, after the follow-up, as obsessive and affective symptoms improve, there’s no significant change in the neuropsychological pattern.

Despite the influence of some clinical and sociodemographic variables on the neuropsychological performance in OCD patients, cognitive dysfunction remains unchanged after a follow-up period of 10 year. These results suggest that cognitive deficits could be considered as a trait marker for the disorder.

No significant relationships.

While several studies have assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sexuality and sexual behavior in the general population, very few studies have assessed sexuality in patients recovered from Sars-Cov 2 infection.

The objectives of our study were to assess factors associated with sexuality dysfunction in women recovered from covid-19.

This is a case-control study.

The women in the case group have been infected with Sars-Cov 2, and cured for one to two months at the time of the study, women in the control group have not been infected with Sars-Cov 2. We assessed depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexuality in both groups using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), the Post traumatic stress disorder Checklist Scale (PCLS) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

In total, we recruited 30 women in the case group and 30 women in the control group. An FSFI score <26.55 and corresponding to impaired sexual function was found in 63.33% of women in the case group versus 53.33% of women in the control group (p=0.009). Factors influencing sexual activity were depression (OR = 17.86, CI95% = [1.1-290.12]) and PTSD (OR = 18.51, CI95% = [1.43-240.30]).

Depression and PTSD are significantly associated with sexual dysfunction in women recovered from COVID-19, even in mild or pauci-symptomatic clinical forms.

No significant relationships.

Family members caregivers (FMCs) of patients with severe psychiatric disorders (SMPD) are subjected to a complex system of fatigue and stress. FMCs can be subjected to a care burden defined as “Family Burnout”. Caring of family members of patients affected by psychiatric disorder suffered an additional burden during the pandemic period.

To investigate the stress, burnout and compassion fatigue in FMCs during the pandemic vs non-pandemic period.

In our observational study we recruited family members (FMCs) of SMPDs (DSM-5). The severity was assessed with BPRS > 31; from March 2021 to July 2021 (T1), in 66 FMCs (38 females, 28 men) that completed following questionnaires: CBI (Caregiver Burden Inventory), ProQOL (compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (burnout and secondary trauma) subscales]. These data (T1) were compared with the scores obtained in the same family members in 2019 (T0) in a pre-pandemic period.

ProQOL data /T1) have a higher total score than those observed in a previous study (T0). They show a lower main score in Compassion Satisfaction (CS) subscale [T1 vs T0; 34.27 vs 38.89 (p < .00.5). CS subscale T0 vs T1= 34.84% vs 12.12%). High levels of burnout were found in 28.79% (T1) vs 13.64% (T0) of FMCs group. Similar results showed in the Secondary Trauma subscale and CBI with higher scores in T1 vs T0.

The comparative mean results (2019 vs 2021) showed that in the same group of FMCs, the mean values obtained with same scales were higher during the lockdown. During health crisis, FMCs of psychiatric patients are subjected to high levels of stress.

No significant relationships.

Vaccination is an effective way to control the infection. COVID-19 is a new disease, and so is the vaccine against it.

The aim of the study was to investigate psychological characteristics associated with attitude towards vaccination.

An online survey was used (N=1336) (31.03.2020–9.02.2021). Respondents completed COPE, «Moral dilemmas» (30 Green’s Dilemmas, 10 of each type) and decided which strategy to stop the pandemic they found the effective (vaccination, herb immunity, innovative treatment or simply waiting until it fades away on its own). The study analyzed groups of those who see the benefits of vaccination and those who do not consider vaccination as a way to solve the problem of coronavirus.

«Vaccination» attitude is more typical for men, for younger people and is also associated with assessment of COVID-19 as a dangerous disease (61% versus 21% for «vaccination» and «no vaccination» groups respectively), more diligent compliance with anti-epidemic rules (3,7 and 2,9 mean number of protection methods used), at the same time, the “vaccination” group responds about the less inconvenience associated with restrictions during the pandemic. This social attitude is associated with «need for creativity» and constructive coping: «planning», «concentration on emotions», the use of instrumental and emotional social support. There is a difference in personal moral choices (3,6 versus 2,9 for «vaccination» and «no vaccination» groups respectively), that demonstrated that positive attitude towards vaccination signifies an active personal position.

Positive attitude towards vaccination is associated with a proactive personal position and involvement in social interaction using interpersonal coping strategies.

No significant relationships.

During Covid-19 pandemic schools in Greece were closed and distance education instituted.

To find out whether the pandemic circumstances and the catholic internet access affected the time students spend on web activities other than educational duties.

Our sample consisted of 1213 parents with children from 4th, 5th, and 6th elementary school grades. They were collected with snowball sampling through internet, and they filled closed ended questions anonymous questionary.

During the pandemic the amount of time that children spent on the internet for purposes other than school obligations (social media, videogames, videos) was increasing by the time. On holidays and weekends this time was further increased. Parents mentioned reduced sleep time, reduced interest in hobbies and activities, as well as in person social communication with friends and loss of interest for school and educational matters. Children spend a lot of time on internet activities and sometimes they use it to avoid loneliness and negative situations. According to parents if their child doesn’t spend its preferrable time on the internet, get anxious, irritable, and sad. Often the child hides the time of internet use. Children from families with low socioeconomic, educational level, family income are more vulnerable to develop internet problematic use.

Social isolation, school closures, distance education, cancellation of after school activities and the facile internet access increased problematic internet use. This use is associated with behavioural, emotional and psychosocial problems. It is important to give information and implement educational programs for parents about how to control internet use of their children.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new form of trauma, which is impacting on the mental health of the general population. However, the effects of this new trauma are variable, being mediated by individual factors such as the levels of resilience and the coping strategies.

The aims of the present study are: 1) describe the levels of resilience and the type of coping strategies adopted by the Italian general adult population during the first wave of the pandemic; 2) evaluate the protective role of coping strategies and resilience on the levels of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.

An online survey has been developed, which includes several validated self-reported questionnaires for the evaluation of participants’ mental health condition, coping strategies and levels of resilience. The main outcome measure is the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).

The finale sample consists of 20,720 participants, more than half reported low levels of resilience, which were not associated with age or gender. The levels of resilience did not differ among the general population, patients with pre-existing mental disorders and those infected by COVID-19. People with low levels of resilience rarely used adaptive coping strategies. The levels of resilience did not have any influence on stress, depressive or anxiety symptoms.

The presence of low levels of resilience in the general population may be the missing link between the pandemic and increasing concerns on mental health problems. This could be important for the development of ad-hoc supportive and preventive psychosocial interventions.

No significant relationships.

Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidence-based supported employment program that helps people with severe mental illness to achieve steady meaningful employment in competitive mainstream jobs. Employment specialists are an integral part of IPS service delivery. The primary goal of an employment specialist is to help IPS users obtain competitive employment by providing targeted job development and ongoing support to workers and employers for as long as it is required.

This study aims to investigate the impact of the covid-19 restrictions on the delivery of IPS services in Northern Norway and how this may have affected the employment specialists’ perception their work environment.

We conducted four phases of a longitudinal work environment panel survey with the IPS employment specialists in Northern Norway. Phase 1: January-February 2020 (pre-covid), phase 2: June-July 2020 (during covid) and phase 3: October-November 2020 (during covid) were not related to covid and collected data on fourteen work environment indicators. Phase 4: October 2020 was a covid specific survey and collected data about the impact of covid-19 restrictions on IPS service delivery.

Employment specialists perceived that they had less collaborative engagement with clinical teams and employers after covid-19 restrictions were introduced. This was accompanied by a significant decline in four of the employment specialists’ work environment indicators.

The covid-19 restrictions appear to have created obstacles for IPS service delivery in Northern Norway. These challenges may have negatively impacted the employment specialists’ perception of their work environment, creating job dissatisfaction and potentially increasing employee attrition.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional worries and challenges to people’s lives, with potential implications for psychological well-being.

To understand which worries and life changes have affected most the Portuguese general population during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyse which contents are associated with higher levels of repetitive negative thinking/RNT and psychological distress/PD.

In September-December 2020, 413 Portuguese adults (69.2% female; Mean age= 31.02±14.272) were asked one open questions, with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic period: “what was your biggest worry?”; the answers were independently categorized by two researchers. Participants also filled the validated Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire.

The most prevalent worries were about: 1) fear of contamination (oneself and others-48.7%; 2) physical and mental health and well-being (self and others)-27.2%; 3) studies and profession-13.3%; 4) uncertainty about the future-7.7%; 5) economic-financial issues-6.5%; 6) miscellaneous-3.3%; 7) no worries-0.7%. Participants who had worries of the theme 4 had the highest RNT and PD mean scores, followed by themes 3 and 5, and then themes 2 and 1. These thematic groups significantly (p<.01) differ between each other (except 3-5) and from the other groups. RNT was a significant predictor of PD (R2=37.0%, β=.609, p<.001).

People who worry about the future uncertainties, occupational activities and finances should be systematically assessed with regard to their levels of anxiety, depression and stress and they can learn to deal with the RNT as a way to reduce their psychological suffering in times of pandemic.

No significant relationships.

Identifying a feasible model of chronic schizophrenia would be valuable for studying the possible underlying mechanism and to investigate emerging treatments. Our hypothesis starts from the observation that combining ketamine with isolation could result in long-lasting neuro-psychological deficits and schizophrenia-like features; thus, it could probably be used as the first model of chronic schizophrenia that emphasizes the characteristic of having a multifactorial etiology

creation of a complex animal model capable of exhibiting the multifactorial origin and manifestation of schizophrenia.

we investigated the effects of ketamine administration combined with isolation in inducing schizophrenia-like symptoms in male albino rats and the brain reactive oxygen species levels.

Our results showed that the number of lines crossings in the open field test, the number of open arm entries in the elevated plus maze, and the spontaneous alternations percentage in the Y-maze were significantly lower in the ketamine + isolation group compared to both the control and ketamine + social housing group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ketamine + isolation intervention significantly increased the MDA levels and decreased the GPx levels both in the hippocampus and the cortex of the rats. In addition, our premise of creating a model capable of exhibiting both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia was also based on adding the aripiprazole treatment to a group of rats

combining ketamine with isolation could result in long-lasting neuro-psychological deficits and schizophrenia-like features

No significant relationships.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disabilities causing major social, communication, and behavioural challenges. Although causative roles of altered genes and environment are recognized, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

We carried out a longitudinal analysis of morphological correlates of synaptic plasticity in the cortex with an array of neuro-behavioural tests in Tsc2 loss-of-function ASD rats with persistent mTORC1 hyperactivity.

Dendritic spine density and morphology with astroglial response were analysed along with behavioural tests in 45 d.o., 90 d.o. and 12 m.o. age groups maintained under standard or enriched conditions.

We report a higher density of spines, with a bigger proportion of thin spines in 90 d. o. Tsc2+/- rats, while under enrichment the spine density in 12 m.o groups was lower. In behavioural tests, rats under enrichment showed higher activity in open arms and anogenital contact tests in the second and third age groups. They also showed enhanced self-grooming. Total distance travelled in the open field by Tsc2+/- rats was less in the first and second age groups. Confocal imaging showed an increase in pS6 expression in second and third Tsc2+/- groups, implying mTORC1 hyperactivity.

Our results show that the environment may have differential neuro-behavioural impacts in rats with unleashed mTORC1, in agreement with the two-hit mechanisms of the underlying neuro-behavioural effects in this model. Although the results of the morphometric analysis suggest a causal link between behavioural changes with altered synaptic plasticity, the mechanisms and involved signalling remain to be defined.

No significant relationships.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been reported as a worldwide emergency. Due to the extensiveness of spread and death, it has been declared as a pandemic.

To highlight how COVID-19 pandemic psycho-emotional affects the medical staff of a frontline University Hospital in the “battle” with new coronavirus.

We employed a cross-sectional survey of 71 resident doctors from a frontline Hospital after a one-year pandemic and analyzed the prevalence and associated factors with work-related psychological distress among our study group.

Out of the hospital resident doctors, 71 participated and completed the questionnaire, offering an overall response rate of 100%. The majority of participants were women (86% - 61). The average age was 29 years. Most respondents were unmarried. A total of 67% of participants were non-smokers, 5% stated that they occasionally consumed alcohol, none of them used drugs. As a result of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data, aspects related to anxiety (21.12% - 15), exhaustion (15.49% - 11), and depression (11.26% - 8) are highlighted. In our study, no people were identified who would reach extreme exhaustion in the work process, due to good resilience and due to a well thought out program of work and rest during the pandemic.

The psychological pressure at work, as well as the one felt after limiting and restricting mobility for shorter or longer periods, had an impact on the psycho-emotional state of health care workers, requiring further psychological reassessments and psychological support.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on both physical and mental health of people around the world.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the number and characteristics of people seeking emergency psychiatric help during combined psychosocial stressful events in March 2020.

Data for 3927 patients seeking emergency psychiatric help were collected and analyzed for the months preceding, during and after lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic and concomitant earthquake that took place on 22nd March 2020 in Zagreb, and compared with the same months of 2019.

A significant decrease in both the number of visits and admissions to the hospital was found for the month of lockdown. There was a significant decrease in the number of out-patients visits and day hospital admissions. Compared with other months, more women and younger patients sought help. There was a significant rise in the number of patients presenting with suicidal thoughts, as well as a larger percentage of involuntary admissions.

Overall less people sought psychiatric help in the face of an unpredictable acute threat, which was interpreted in the light of prioritizing fear of infection over mental health issues. Alternatively, it is possible that people threatened with immediate danger mobilize short- term compensatory psychological resources which help deal with or put off mental illness. This research was conducted as part of the project of the Croatian Science Foundation CORONA-04-2086 Life in the time of COVID-19-social implications on the security and well-being of vulnerable groups in the European context.

No significant relationships.