Suicide seasonality with a peak incidence in spring or early summer has been consistently reported. Although a quite robust finding this spring peak of suicides is poorly understood. The effect of climate parameters such as sunlight, temperature, humidity etc. on hormones and neurotransmitters such as serotonin has been hypothesized to explain the seasonal variation in suicide.

To examine the amplitude of suicide seasonality in relation to sunlight duration and serotonergic medication.

By using Swedish Registers we gathered information including forensic data on antidepressive medication for 11,845 suicides during 1992 to 2003. Moreover, data for sunlight duration for the same period for all Swedish counties was obtained from the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. The presence of suicide seasonality was estimated with a Poisson regression variant, in three groups, as defined by tertiles of sunlight duration.

In regions with low sunlight duration no statistically significant seasonality pattern was found for men independently of medication. In regions with middle or high sunlight duration an increased amplitude of seasonality was observed among men treated with SSRIs in a dose dependent pattern. Such a pattern was not observed among suicide victims on other antidepressant medication or those without an antidepressant. Women on the other hand showed a seasonal variation in suicide only in regions with low sunlight duration.

Suicide seasonality amplitude increases with higher sunlight duration especially in men treated with SSRIs. In women, the highest suicide seasonality was observed in regions with the lowest sunshine duration.

To analyze the quality of life (QoL) of war veterans in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to analyze the interrelationship of certain segments of the quality of life and intensity of symptoms of PTSD and to analyze the interrelation of individual segments of the quality of life and overall functionality of the war veterans with PTSD.

The paper analyzed the 60 war veterans who were treated at the Department for Psychiatry Tuzla, in the period March-August, 2007, and who were diagnosed with PTSD. The control group comprised of the 60 war veterans employed as active military personnel in the Army of BH, who were not on the screening test showed that they have PTSD and who were not psychiatric treated. QoL was assessed with standardized scale The Manchester brief assessment of the QoL, and the level of severity of PTSD symptoms and the presence of PTSD at the time of the interview was assessed with Harvard trauma questionnaire, combined versions for Bosnia and Herzegovina and for Croatia.

The results of this survey indicate that the war veterans with PTSD had significantly worse QoL across all domains, as measured in almost total in relation to veterans who do not have PTSD. All individual symptoms and clusters of PTSD symptoms were negatively correlated with self-assessment of all segments of the QoL of war veterans.

The war veterans in post-war BH with PTSD had significantly worse QoL across all domains, related to veterans without PTSD.

Criminality is common among patients with severe mental disorders and/or substance use disorders (SUDs).

To study the incidence of imprisonment among psychiatric inpatients along with their diagnoses patterns and survival.

This is a nationwide register based study of all psychiatric inpatients admitted in Iceland between 1983 and 2007. The database contained information on discharge diagnoses, imprisonment and cause of death when relevant. Cumulative incidence of imprisonment was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Using a nested case-control (1:3) design, survival was analysed with Cox-proportional hazard ratio model. Controls were similar regarding age, year of admission and discharge diagnoses. All analyses were done separately for men and women.

Men admitted at ages between 18 and 30 had 21% cumulative incidence of incarceration over a 20-year period. For women the corresponding figure was 6%. Most common discharge diagnoses of those serving a sentence in prison were SUD and/or personality disorder. Among men, adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for risk of death was 2.0 (95%-confidence interval (CI): 1.5–2.6) and for women 1.3 (95%-CI: 0.5–3.5).

Imprisonment is common among psychiatric inpatients. This group represents individuals with long-term problems and specific treatment needs. Mortality was significantly increased for men while there were to few women in the cohort to establish meaningful HR for risk of death.

Deficits in social cognition, especially in Theory of Mind (ToM) and empathy, may contribute in poor social functioning of patients with bipolar disorder (BD).

Previous studies have found impaired empathy in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder using self-report measures of empathy. However, evidence on the neuropsychological processes that underlie empathic abilities in BD is scarce.

The aim of the study was to assess empathy and ToM abilities in euthymic BD using both self-report and neuropsychological measures.

Fifty-seven euthymic BD patients and 53 healthy control subjects completed the Empathy Quotient, a self-report measure of empathy. A multi-level battery of ToM tasks was applied in all study participants, including First order false beliefs stories, Hinting task and Faux Pas Recognition Test (FP). Besides the ability to recognize Faux Pas, three specific components of ToM were assessed with FP: the affective ToM, the cognitive ToM, and the emotional perspective taking. The two groups were matched for gender, age and education.

Patients with BD reported significantly lower levels of empathy than healthy controls. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the First order false beliefs and Hinting task scores. Patients had significantly lower score than healthy controls in FP recognition and cognitive ToM. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in affective ToM and emotional perspective taking.

Deficits in higher order ToM were found in the euthymic BD. These deficits might have important contribution to empathy impairments found, using self-report scales.

Internet-based therapy typically involves the interaction between a consumer and therapist via the Internet and incorporates the use of a structured Web-based treatment program for consumers to access in conjunction with therapist assistance (usually by email. Over the past decade, Internet-based treatments have been found effective for a variety of physical health conditions and mental health disorders, such as headache, encopresis, tinnitus, depression, panic disorder, social phobia, GAD and posttraumatic stress disorder.

The purpose of this open study will be to test the efficacy of therapist-assisted internet 12 module 4 month long selfhelp program based on cognitive behavioral approach (IB-CBT) with the treatment as usual (TAU) for bipolar affective disorder patients who are medicated with thymostabilisers.

Participants who recruit from the patients of the Psychiatric clinic Olomouc at time of start the maintenance pharmacological phase of the treatment of bipolar affective disorder will be randomized to the TAU (treatment as usual) and IB-CBT (12 modules of internet based CBT+ TAU). All participants will complete a clinical diagnostic interview, and a set of questionnaires to assess affective symptoms at four time periods (start of the maintenance treatment period and at follow up: 6 month, 12 month and 24 month. The study will be done in open conditions.

The results from the start of the maintenance treatment period will be present.

The existence of age-normal are causes the special features of sexual dysfunction. At a young age (18-30 years) is characterized by the development and formation of the sexual function. It is for this age period is characterized by the influence of media on the psycho-emotional state - admass, and as a consequence, the development of psychogenic sexual dysfunctions. Propaganda regular and undying of male strength is cause the formation of personality conflict.

35 patients were examined in this age range. Analysis of the data revealed that most patients were observed ejaculation disorder, (which was associated with increased sexual arousal) and erectile dysfunction, due to a number of reasons (personal characteristics, the nature of psychological trauma).

At a young age, there is an active search for a regular sexual partner. Unsuccessful attempts to prove their sexual viability leads to the formation of non-adaptive systems of personality that was the cause of sexual dysfunction. Is aggravated sexual dysfunction picture of perfectionism. The emergence of sexual dysfunction was also due to misconceptions about the norm of sexual activity. Thus formed resistant obsessive fear of impotence. Patients in this group rarely share their problems in sexual life with a partner, because they fear for their dignity and fear seem weak, vulnerable.

The development of sexual dysfunction is largely determined by personality traits of the individual. Thus, in patients aged under 30 years at the base of sexual disorders lying psychogenic factor. The degree of which depends on the personality characteristics.

The inflammatory response system is important in the pathophysiology of depressive symptoms that are frequent side effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment. The functional rs1800795 IL-6 promoter SNP [-174 IL-6 (G > C)] has been described, with ‘CC’ genotype associated with lower synthesis of IL-6.

The present study was carried out to determine whether rs1800795 IL-6 polymorphism is associated with severity of depression developed during IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment.

We included 54 Caucasian patients receiving pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the prospective cohort study. Symptoms of depression (Montgomery - Åsberg Depression Rating Scale, MADRS, Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire - Revised, EPQ-R/N) were assessed before treatment, just after treatment and 24 weeks after treatment.

The mean MADRS ratings were higher in subjects with genotype ‘CC’ (p> 0.1). On the other hand, the BDI and EPQR/ N ratings were higher, and more stable in patients with ‘GG’ genotype (p> 0.1). Higher changes and the lowest values 24 weeks after the end of treatment were associated with ‘CC’ genotype (p< 0.05). The mean values were as follows (begin, end of treatment, 24 weeks after treatment): MADRS ‘CC’ (8.7, 11.3, 4.8), ‘GG’ (6.9, 11.1, 6.0); BDI ‘CC’ (6.9, 8.9, 3.2), ‘GG’ (8.4, 11.3, 6.2); EPQ-R/N ‘CC’ (8.3, 10.1, 7.3), ‘GG’ (10.4, 10.9, 9.2).

Genotype ‘CC’ of IL-6 rs1800795 polymorphism is associated with bigger differences in BDI and EPQ-R/N ratings during IFN-alpha and ribavirin treatment, and lower ratings after treatment.

Victimization is the behaviour of the victim in sexual violence that can be violent and non-violent. The aim of the study is to analyse anxiety in victimization in relation to mental disorders, stress and transition weaknesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) in the period 2001 -2010.

Experimental group consists of n= 75 females on psychiatric treatment. They are victims after the rape: non-violent victimization is committed by: persons with mental disorders, victimization by abuse of power and unclear victimization. N= 75 persons make the control group of females with violent victimization. The design of the study is longitudinal, multicentric study with these tests: GDL, EPQ, HAMD, and PIE. Intercorrelation was done statistically, as well as univariable and canonical discriminative analysis.

Violators are male (c2 = 29.970) significance P< 0.001), with broken family (c2 = 0.830), migration (c2 = 0.064), and heredity (c2 = 0.406) NS. Act over mental patient: 16.08% (2002) to 22.61% (2007), act of abuse of power: 2.12% (2001) to 3.55% (2008), and unclear rape acts: 0.88% (2004) to 1.74% (2007) and they are followed by fear in smaller extent. Violent victimization is shown by persons with the fear HAMD15: t-test= 11.01, HAMD19: t-test=13.91, and HAMD21: t-test=14.66.

Anxiety emerges in both non-violent and violent victimization with which it is more expressed. In non-violent victimization anxiety can result in mental disorders in adult period.

Experimental studies support a neurotrophic hypothesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Val66Met brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism on the white matter fibre tracts connecting hippocampus and amygdala with the prefrontal lobe in a sample of patients with MDD and healthy controls.

Thirty seven patients with MDD and 42 healthy volunteers were recruited. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 61 diffusion directions were obtained with MRI 3 Tesla scanner. Deterministic tractography was applied with ExploreDTI and Val66Met BDNF SNP (rs6265) was genotyped. Fibre tracts connecting the hippocampus and amygdala with the prefrontal lobe, namely uncinate fasciculus, fornix and cingulum were analysed.

A significant interaction was found in the uncinate fasciculus (UF) between BDNF alleles and diagnosis. Patients carrying the BDNF met-allele had smaller fractional anisotropy (FA) in the UF compared to those patients homozygous for valallele and compared to healthy subjects carrying the met-allele. A significant 3-way interaction was detected between region of the cingulum (dorsal, rostral and parahippocampal regions), brain hemisphere and BDNF genotype. Larger FA was detectable in the left rostral cingulum for met-allele carriers when compared to val/val alelle carriers.

We provide evidence for the importance of the neurotrophic involvement in limbic and prefrontal connections. The met-allele of the BDNF polymorphism seems to render subjects more vulnerable for dysfunctions associated with the UF, a tract known to be related to negative emotional-cognitive processing bias, declarative memory problems, and autonoetic self awareness.

From last March 2011 until now we have implemented in our Acute Mental Health Unit the Law 42/30-12-2010. This law regulates the existence of free-smoke places.

We have collected the data of the smokers patients that began the process of detoxification. We evaluated their level of dependence (Fargestrom's test), their motivation to smoke and the abstinence syndrome intensity. At three months of their hospital discharge we measured the abstinence from smoking in these patients.

A total of 31 patients were assessed, 22 out of them were treated with patches of nicotine (14 men, 8 women) age range 18 -57 years; 9 out of 31 smokers patients did not use substitutive treatment (6 men, 3 women) age range 22 - 48 years.

At three months, only 2 patients kept the tobacco abstinence (6.4%) and another patient more had reduced the consumption approximately to the half. Six month later only one of them kept abstinent.

We understand the necessary promotion and the prevention of the physical health in our patients, avoiding the consumption of toxic substances as far as possible. It is crucial to improve the efficacy of the interventions aimed at to quit tobacco consumption.

However, the abandon of an addiction should have a fundamentally voluntary character. The addictions in our patients are chronic and recurrent, and they should be approached from a longitudinal perspective including in its treatment plan.

Patients suffering from psychic disorders are characterized with postponed health-seeking. The aim of this study was to find out factors affecting the activity of health care seeking behavior (HCSB).

44 inpatients took part the study. Most of them were male (81%). Mean age was 39,0±12,3. Among patients 32% suffered from affective disorders, 68% - from neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders. Patients were divided into 2 groups with active - aHCSB (n= 32) and passive - pHCSB (n= 12).

Semi-structured were used to find out the anamnestic information. Coping-strategies (Lazarus) test, personality test and attitude towards disease test were used.

In aHCSB group the rate of married patients or patients having non-official relations was higher than in pHCSB group. Contact with psychiatrist prior to current episode of disease predicted aHCSB. Anxiety towards symptoms of disease resulted aHCSB. In aHCSB group neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders were more common and affective disorders, apathy and asthenia were less common than in pHCSB group. Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety was higher in aHCSB, while presence of agoraphobia resulted pHCSB. Higher degree of coping strategies (seeking of social support and planning of problem-solving) was present in aHCSB compared with pHCSB group. Patients from aHCSB group had higher exalted personality traits. Sensitive type of attitude towards disease was more common in pHCSB than aHCSB group.

Health care seeking behavior is affected with complex of factors. Knowledge of these factors can be used in prevention of passive health care seeking behavior.

There is scant data about mental disorders among nursing students from Nepal though it is reported high in other parts.

To measure prevalence of psychiatric problems and to determine common stressors among nursing students

This institute based prevalence study included all certificate and bachelor level nursing students of B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Nepal during 2011/12. After informed written consent, ‘semi-structured proforma’, ‘General Health Questionnaire 28’ and ‘Gurmeet Singh's Presumptive stressful life events scale’ were distributed to record sociodemographic/ clinical profiles and other relevant information; to screen psychiatric disorder and to study the stressors respectively. The ‘General Health Questionnaire 28’ gives ‘psychiatric caseness’ to subjects with score 4 or more.

Out of total 200 nursing students, 185 could be enrolled during study period. All subjects were female. They were studying in certificate and in BSc. nursing programs in different academic years. Majority were unmarried, less than 25 years of age, were from urban settings and from nuclear family. Among the enrolled subjects, ‘psychiatric caseness’ was present in 88 (47.57%) subjects, with cut off score of 4. The most common stressful events reported from the ‘Gurmeet Singh's Presumptive stressful life events scale’ were related to exam, study and accommodation to institute life, and average total score of the presumptive stress was 164.8 (minimum 0, maximum 706) in last year.

Many nursing students suffer from psychological problems and experience the stress, common stressor being related with nursing education.

To estimate the neuroticism and its relations towards psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) adolescents after the war 1992-1995.

The sample of 217 pupils (108 females and 109 males) aged 15.1±2.1 years divided in three groups from: Srebrenica (n= 69), Zvornik (n= 79), and Bijeljina (n= 69), who were exposed to the war catastrophes in the 1992-1995 war and became refugees and internally displaced persons during and after the war, were assessed on war traumatic events, PTSD presence, neuroticism, and its’ associations. Data collection took place in June 1999 in the adolescents’ schools, with the ethical aproval.

Srebrenica pupils were significantly more introverted. The prevalence of PTSD statistically significantly differed between groups: Srebrenica (73.9%), Zvornik (60.8%) and Bijeljina (47.6%)(Chi-square=9.854, df=2, p= 0.007). The PTSD prevalence, PTSD symptoms’ and social dysfunction were the most severe in Srebrenica, than in Zvornik and finally in Bijeljina group. In Srebrenica group neuroticism significantly associated with PTSD cluster symptoms and problems in social functioning. Adolescents with PTSD, in all three groups and in whole sample, were more nervous. Los of father significantly increased introversion of adolescents in all three groups, and decreased adolescent's sociability in Zvornik and Bijeljina.

Bosnia-Herzegovina refugee and internally displaced adolescents, suffer very frequently from PTSD 3.5 years after war. PTSD prevalence is highly reported and significantly differed between groups. PTSD associated positively with neuroticism and introversion. Los of father significantly increased adolescents’ introversion in all three groups, and it decreased adolescent's sociability in Zvornik and Bijeljina.