The scope of this presentation is to investigate the possible relationship between a delayed sleep phase and the timing of other activities, like meals and other disturbances of eating habits.

The literature will be reviewed and preliminary data from own research regarding these associations will be presented.

The delayed sleep phase has been shown to occur in many children and in around 80% of adults with ADHD (Van Veen ea, accepted for publication, 2009). Adult patients with ADHD who get up relatively too early according to their biological clock, tend to skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast is associated with binge eating in the afternoon; both binge eating and skipping breakfast are associated with overweight and obesity. According to the literature, the prevalence of ADHD and sleepproblems is increased in obese patients; the higher the BMI, the higher the chance of ADHD.

ADHD and the very frequently comorbid delayed sleep phase disorder may be associated with a delayed timing of meals that may lead to overweight and obesity.

Self-harm among prisoners is a common phenomenon. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) among Greek male prisoners, record their motives and determine independent risk factors.

A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was administered to 173 male prisoners in the Chalkida prison, Greece. The questionnaire included items on self-harm/SIB, demographic parameters, childhood history, family history, physical and mental disease, lifestyle and smoking habits, alcohol dependence (CAGE questionnaire), illicit substance use, aggression (Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire [BPAQ] and Lifetime History of Aggression [LTHA]), impulsivity (Barrat Impulsivity Scale-11) and suicidal ideation (Spectrum of Suicidal Behavior Scale). Univariate nonparametric statistics and multivariate ordinal logistic regression were performed.

Of all the participants, 49.4% (95% CI: 41.5–57.3%) disclosed self-harm (direct or indirect). The prevalence of SIB was equal to 34.8% (95% CI: 27.5–42.6%). Most frequently, SIB coexisted with indirect self-harm (80.7%). The most common underlying motives were to obtain emotional release (31.6%) and to release anger (21.1%). At the univariate analysis, SIB was positively associated with a host of closely related factors: low education, physical/sexual abuse in childhood, parental neglect, parental divorce, alcoholism in family, psychiatric condition in family, recidivism, age, sentence already served, impulsivity, aggression, alcohol dependence, self-reported diagnosed psychiatric condition and illicit substance use. Childhood variables were particularly associated with the presence of diagnosed psychiatric condition. At the multivariate analysis, however, only three parameters were proven independent risk factors: self-reported diagnosed psychiatric condition, illicit substance use and aggression (BPAQ scale).

The prevalence of SIB is particularly high. Psychiatric condition, illicit substance use and aggression seem to be the most meaningful risk factors; childhood events seem only to act indirectly.

To describe symptom expression and functional outcome in psychotic disorders in relation with temperament traits assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) in a population-based sample.

As part of the 31-year follow-up survey of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, TCI temperament items were filled in by 4349 members of the cohort. In individuals with psychotic disorders, also positive and negative symptoms and outcome variables were assessed in a 35-year follow-up. Information of TCI and outcomes were available for altogether 41 individuals with psychosis.

Reward dependence (RD) (rho = −0.45) and Persistence (P) (rho = −0.52) were significantly correlated with Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) negative symptoms. Higher P scores predicted higher social and occupational functioning (as measured by Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale [SOFAS]), and higher Harm avoidance (HA) predicted a higher likelihood of being on a disability pension.

Results indicate that understanding of personality dimensions support better understanding of outcome and symptom expressions in psychotic disorders.

Alterations of biological rhythms are well recognized to play a crucial role in the origin and maintenance of depression, but little is known about the profile of circadian rhythms at a premorbid age in adult depressed patients. The present study was aimed at investigating the association, if any, of depressive disorders with biological and behavioural rhythm modifications both at the time of observation and at an earlier age than the clinical onset of depression. The hypothesis was that such modifications could be an early biological index of vulnerability to the illness.

One hundred and seventy-eight patients affected by DSM-IV Major Depressive Disorder were examined/observed, compared to a group of 178 matched healthy subjects. All the included subjects were asked to fill in a retrospective questionnaire reporting time of awakening and falling asleep and time of subjective peaks of appetite, energy and cognitive function during “Adolescence” (12–15 years), “Youth” (16–20 years) and “Present condition” periods.

An advance of awakening time by about 20 minutes during “Adolescence” was reported in the depressed subjects as compared to the controls. Awakening is also reported as significantly (P < 0.001) advanced by about 36 minutes during “Youth” in depressed patients, while time of falling asleep at the same age in the patients group shows 19 minutes delay. Regarding “Present condition” an advance of awakening time (33 minutes) in depressed patients was reported, in association with a delay of the subjective peak of cognitive functioning (62 minutes).

Depressed patients show clear-cut differences in sleep pattern as compared to controls, consisting in a constant and significant advance of awakening time, while the time of sleep onset never reaches any statistical difference between the groups throughout ages.

The results are consistent with the hypothesis that early alterations of the general circadian profile can contribute to the onset of adult life Major Depressive Disorders.

The purpose of this study was to examine psychometric properties of the Czech language version of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) [2].

653 non-clinical participants and 162 adolescent psychiatric inpatients completed Czech versions of the A-DES and the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), and provided further information (data regarding demographic variables, diagnoses, further psychopathology).

The Czech A-DES has very good internal consistency, test-retest reliability and a good validity, though its predictive power is limited. The ADES scores significantly correlate with the measure of somatoform dissociation, a presence of clinician-observed dissociative symptoms, reported traumatic experiences, self injurious behavior, and polysymptomatic diagnostic picture. A-DES scores were significantly higher in ADHD group, but not in a group with a diagnosis of a dissociative disorder.

The authors stress that all adolescent psychiatric patients who show more complex behavioral disturbances, have histories of trauma, show self-injurious behaviors or have ADHD diagnosis should be screened for dissociation.

Both sleep and motor activity have a bidirectional relationship with depression. The existing literature on motor activity during therapeutic sleep deprivation in depressed patients is inconsistent and fragmentary. In the present study we measured motor activity continuously during 40 hours of sleep deprivation in depressed patients.

Thirty-four inpatients suffering from a major depression (DSM-IV) underwent sleep deprivation with a continuous waking period of 40 hours. Motor activity of the patients was continuously recorded using an actigraph on the non-dominant wrist. The effect of sleep deprivation was assessed by the Hamilton Depression Scale (six-item version), thus separating the group into responders and non-responders to sleep deprivation.

We found no significant differences in motor activity between responders and non-responders on the day before sleep deprivation. During the night, responders to sleep deprivation exhibited a higher motor activity and less periods of rest. On the day after sleep deprivation, responders exhibited a higher activity, too.

Motor activity levels differ between the two groups, thus giving more insight into possible mechanisms of action of the therapeutic sleep deprivation. We suggest that higher motor activity during the night prevents naps and leads to better response to sleep deprivation.

International best-practice guidelines for the management of first-episode psychosis have recommended the provision of psychoeducation for multifamily groups. While there is ample evidence of their efficacy in multiepisode psychosis, there is a paucity of evidence supporting this approach specifically for first-episode psychosis. We sought to determine whether a six-week caregiver psychoeducation programme geared specifically at first-episode psychosis improves caregiver knowledge and attitudes.

Caregivers of people with first-episode psychosis completed a 23-item adapted version of the self-report Family Questionnaire (KQ) and a 17-item adapted version of the self-report Drug Attitudes Inventory (DAI) before and after the six-week DETECT Information and Support Course (DISC). Using a Generalised Linear Repeated Measures Model, we analyzed the differences in proportions of correct answers before and after the programme.

Over a 24-month study period, 31 caregivers (13 higher socioeconomic; 13 lower socioeconomic; five unspecified socioeconomic; 19 female; 12 male) participated in the DISC programme and completed inventories before and after the course. Knowledge of psychosis and specific knowledge of medication treatment improved among caregivers overall (p < .01; effect sizes 0.78 and 0.94 respectively). There were no significant gender or socioeconomic differences in any improvement.

This study confirms that caregiver psychoeducation specifically for first-episode psychosis directly improves knowledge of the illness overall and, in particular, knowledge of medication. Gender is not a factor in this, while the lack of any socioeconomic differences dispels the myth that patients in lower socioeconomic groups are disadvantaged because their caregivers know less.

To measure symptomatic and functional remission in patients treated with risperidone long-acting injectable (RLAI).

Stable patients with psychotic disorders requiring medication change were switched to open-label RLAI in the switch to risperidone microspheres (StoRMi) trial. In this post-hoc analysis of the trial extension, follow-up was ≤18 months. Symptomatic remission was based on improvement in positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) scores and global remission (best outcome) was based on symptomatic remission, functional level, and mental-health quality of life. Predictive factors were evaluated.

Among 529 patients from seven European countries, mean participation duration was 358.7 ± 232.4 days, with 18 months completed by 39.9% of patients. Symptomatic remission lasting ≥6 months occurred at some point during treatment in 33% of patients; predictors included comorbid disease, country, baseline symptom severity, baseline functioning, type of antipsychotic before switching, and duration of untreated psychosis. Best outcome occurred in 21% of patients; predictors included baseline symptom severity, baseline functioning, country, schizophrenia type, and early positive treatment course.

One in three patients with stable schizophrenia switching to RLAI experienced symptomatic remission, with combined symptomatic, functional, and quality-of-life remission in one in five patients. Symptomatic remission was predicted by better baseline symptom severity and country of origin, with a significantly greater likelihood of remission occurring among patients in Estonia/Slovenia compared with Portugal. Relapse was predicted by higher mode doses of RLAI, additional use of psychoactive medications, male gender, and country of origin, with relapse occurring most frequently in France and least frequently in Portugal. RLAI dose, additional use of psychoactive medications, and country of origin predicted best outcome, with best outcome occurring most frequently in Estonia/Slovenia and least frequently in Portugal.

Adolescent depression has been shown to have a range of adverse outcomes. We used longitudinal data to investigate subsequent higher education in former depressed adolescents.

A Swedish population-based investigation of depression in 16–17-year-olds was followed up in national registers 15 years later. Adolescents with depression (n = 361, 78% females) were compared to a group of non-depressed peers of the same age (n = 248, 77% females). The main outcome was graduation from higher education by age 30.

The adolescent with depression were less likely than their non-depressed peers to have graduated from higher education by age 30, both regarding females (27.7% vs. 36.4%, p < .05) and males (12.7% vs. 28.6%, p < .05). After adjustment for early school performance, socioeconomic status and maternal education, the decreased likelihood of subsequent graduation from higher education remained for depressed males (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.08–0.93) but not for depressed females (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.58–1.49).

Contrary to what previous research has suggested, adolescent depression and its consequences might be particularly destructive to subsequent higher education in males.

The present open study investigates the feasibility of Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) in groups solely composed of bipolar patients of various subtypes. MBCT has been mostly evaluated with remitted unipolar depressed patients and little is known about this treatment in bipolar disorder.

Bipolar outpatients (type I, II and NOS) were included and evaluated for depressive and hypomanic symptoms, as well as mindfulness skills before and after MBCT. Patients’ expectations before the program, perceived benefit after completion and frequency of mindfulness practice were also recorded.

Of 23 included patients, 15 attended at least four MBCT sessions. Most participants reported having durably, moderately to very much benefited from the program, although mindfulness practice decreased over time. Whereas no significant increase of mindfulness skills was detected during the trial, change of mindfulness skills was significantly associated with change of depressive symptoms between pre- and post-MBCT assessments.

MBCT is feasible and well perceived among bipolar patients. Larger and randomized controlled studies are required to further evaluate its efficacy, in particular regarding depressive and (hypo)manic relapse prevention. The mediating role of mindfulness on clinical outcome needs further examination and efforts should be provided to enhance the persistence of meditation practice with time.

It is to estimate the trend of suicide rate changes during the past three decades in China and try to identify its social and economic correlates.

Official data of suicide rates and economic indexes during 1982–2005 from Shandong Province of China were analyzed. The suicide data were categorized for the rural / urban location and gender, and the economic indexes include GDP, GDP per capita, rural income, and urban income, all adjusted for inflation.

We found a significant increase of economic development and decrease of suicide rates over the past decades under study. The suicide rate decrease is correlated with the tremendous growth of economy.

The unusual decrease of Chinese suicide rates in the past decades is accounted for within the Chinese cultural contexts and maybe by the Strain Theory of Suicide.