Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a disorder characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements, and vocalizations known as tics. While there are existing treatment options, there is a growing need for novel pharmacological approaches to manage the symptoms of TS effectively. This study delves into the emerging field of using cannabinoids as a potential treatment for Tourette’s syndrome.

The primary objectives of this review are to examine the current evidence base for the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, to assess the biological rationale supporting the use of cannabinoids in managing tic severity, to provide insights into the results of existing clinical trials involving cannabinoids and Tourette’s syndrome, and to draw conclusions regarding the potential efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments for TS.

Narrative review of the available scientific literature.

There is a strong biological rationale for how cannabinoids could impact tic severity. The endocannabinoid system plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including motor control and neurotransmitter release. Activation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain may modulate these processes, potentially reducing tics. While limited, two small randomized, placebo-controlled trials of THC have been conducted in TS patients. These trials suggested potential benefits of cannabis-derived agents in reducing tic frequency and severity. Self-report and examiner rating scales demonstrated significant improvements in tic symptoms. The trials indicated that THC treatment did not result in significant adverse effects in TS patients.

The exploration of cannabinoids as a treatment option for Tourette’s syndrome is promising but requires further investigation. The biological mechanisms through which cannabinoids may affect tic severity in TS are sound, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic option. Existing trials with THC have shown encouraging results, demonstrating a reduction in tics without significant adverse effects. However, the limited number of trials warrants caution in drawing definitive conclusions. Despite the promising findings, the overall efficacy and safety of cannabinoid-based treatments remain largely unknown. Further trials are essential to address dosing, active ingredients, optimal administration, and potential long-term effects. Clinical use should be approached with caution. While early evidence is encouraging, additional rigorous studies are needed to establish the safety and efficacy of cannabinoid-based treatments for this disorder.

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Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) offer advantages for schizophrenic patients compared to oral antipsychotics: less frequent dosing, lower relapse rates, better adherence, and lower healthcare costs. LAIs include paliperidone, aripiprazole, olanzapine, risperidone, and zuclopenthixol. Paliperidone palmitate is the only antipsychotic with two formulations with an administration interval longer than one month (3-monthly and 6-monthly), which could be better for the patient and help ensure treatment continuity, especially in cases of limited access to the health care system.

To assess the satisfaction of patients under treatment with 6-month paliperidone palmitate compared to other long-acting injectable antipsychotics with a higher frequency of administration.

We analyzed the satisfaction level of a sample of patients receiving treatment with LAIs at the Mental Health Center of El Escorial. All patients had a diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (according to DSM-5). Patients who met the inclusion criteria completed the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), a generic questionnaire of treatment satisfaction that measures four dimensions: side effects, treatment efficacy, comfort of use, and overall satisfaction. Other clinical and socio-demographic variables were collected, as well as the type of injectable, dose, and frequency of administration.

Data from approximately 30 patients will be analyzed and discussed later.

Less frequent administration of LAIs may result in greater patient satisfaction and be just as beneficial clinically. Treatment satisfaction is positively associated with an improvement in psychotic symptoms and seems to be related to better adherence.

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Mental pain is a transdiagnostic symptom, predictive of suicide and reported as a critical outcome by patients. A previous systematic review of epidemiological and clinical research has shown a lack of consensual definition of mental pain in clinical research and high heterogeneity across the different measurement instruments of mental pain. Up today there is no systematic review synthetizing all published biological investigations on mental pain.

This study aims to map the field of biological investigations of mental pain in human to identify what and how biomarkers are investigated with a meta-research approach, by providing a critical appraisal of the terms and definitions of mental pain, the studies’ hypotheses, the experimental paradigms used to induce or mimic mental pain and the measurement instruments used to measure mental pain.

We conducted a systematic review (compliant with PRISMA guidelines) of all primary research reporting to investigate candidate biomarkers of mental pain in human subjects as stated by the authors. We searched from inception to June 23rd, 2022, the 3 databases MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE. We extracted the study characteristics (e.g., year of publication, population, etc.), the terms used for meaning mental pain, the definition of mental pain, the method to induce mental pain and its rational, the hypotheses and aims, the measurement instruments of mental pain, the candidate biomarkers, and their method of investigation. We performed descriptive statistics of the sample’s characteristics and the extracted data, a qualitative analysis of the definitions, hypothesis, aims and experimental paradigms, and a data visualization linking candidate biomarkers, experimental paradigms, and their investigation methods.

The search retrieved 5685 papers of which we included 72 primary research publications constituting 78 distinct research studies. Only 37.5% of studies reported a definition of mental pain. 11.5% of studies did not show a measurement instrument of mental pain. The Cyberball (a social exclusion paradigm) was the most frequently used paradigm in experimental studies (62.7%). The cingulate cortex was the most frequently investigated biomarker category (15.3% of all candidate biomarkers), with fMRI as the most frequent investigation method (53.7% of all investigation methods).

The field of biological investigations on mental pain shows a marked heterogeneity of definitions, terms, hypotheses, experimental paradigms, and measurement instruments, with an over-representation of the construct of social pain and the Cyberball. These could compromise the comparison and combination of studies results in evidence synthesis and their translation into clinical practice.

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An example of the unification of the contrast between artistic creativity and discipline of science, Nikola Tesla engineer and physicist, was also a prolific inventor that contributed to the transformation of modern society. Having resurfaced in the mainstream culture as a mythical figure, he appears to be enjoying a renaissance of posthumous recognition and praise. Throughaccounts available directly from his autobiography and descriptions offered by those who worked with him, the existence of the inventor´s eccentricities appear to reveal the existence of mental health disorder.

The authors explore Tesla and the psychopathology that accompanied him throughout his periods of brilliance and as well as hardship.

The authors conducted a brief non-structured narrative literature review. The keywords used during the research, alone or in combination, included: Nikola Tesla, psychopathology and mental illness. The works consulted included: news articles, autobiographies and biographies. Of these, those that were written in the English language and deemed most pertinent to the explored theme were chosen for review in this work.

The popular image of the mad scientist, which describes a brilliant but solitary and eccentric individual focused on their work is one that could be applied to Tesla. Documents reveal that he suffered a nervous breakdown, as well as having symptoms that point to a probably presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder, of which included counting and cleanliness rituals, exacerbated by chronic insomnia.

There appears to be anecdotal evidence pointing to an eventual relationship between creative genius and mental pathology. Although not formally evidenced through the scientific literature, exploring the life and accomplishments of Tesla serve as a significant example of a spark of genius perhaps ignited by mental illness. Tesla demonstrated suffering associated with his symptoms especially when considering the end of his life. At the time, adequate mental health interventions and treatments were not widely available, with his diagnosis probably being considered the quirks of genius and not the symptoms of disease.

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Sleep related disorders affect around 30% of people all over the world, and evidence shows that 10% require therapeutic intervention. Insomnia represents the most common disturbance of sleep, defined as the experience of poor sleep for at least 1 month. Most of primary insomnia can be prevented by a proper lifestyle and sleep hygiene rules. Regardless, hypnotic drugs and widely prescribed, and most times, long-term used, which is not recommended because of its negative side effects.

Review the scientific evidence about effectiveness of plant extracts for insomnia, natural products with practically no side-effects, and thus be possible to reduce or even avoid the use of hypnotic drugs.

The Medline database through the Pubmed search engine was used with the following keywords: “insomnia” and “herbal compounds”.

Valerian activity on sleep disturbances has been attributed to the presence of isovaleric acids and valepotriates with reported calming action and GABA reuptake inhibition with sedative effects. Considering the data presented in the literature, despite controversial and conflicting, several studies showed that valerian (160-600mg/day) improved sleep quality and reduced sleep latency and duration; also valerian seems more effective for chronic insomnia than acute episodes.

Hop has different properties: calming, sleep inducing, gastric secretion stimulating and spasmolytic.

Increasing GABAergic activity seems to be the main mechanism of action, thus inhibiting the central nervous system and also has demonstrated binding affinities to some of the melatonin and serotonin receptor. It’s sedative characteristics have been confirmed in a clinical trial in association with valerian, where sleep latency and quality were improved. However, monotherapy studies showed no relevant effectiveness in sleep.

Kava Kava plant showed promising results, in rats and humans, with decrease sleep latency, better sleep quality and recuperation after sleep. However, raised concern about its potential of hepatotoxicity.

There is also promising evidence of the lavender efficacy for sleep disorders in a wide variety of populations and diseases, it was actually mentioned to be as effective as lorazepam in adults with anxiety and sleeping problems. With studies with dose of 80mg it was observed a reduction in sleep awakenings, sleep duration and overall sleep quality and anxiety.

There is a clear preference from the patient to natural compounds, and with almost nonexistent side effects, some herbal derivates are showed to have positive effectiveness in mild insomnia, but nonetheless much more studies on this field are needed.

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Psychosocial and mental health-related variables are crucial determinants of individuals’ lives in society and their roles within organizations, especially in educational institutions that are characterized by social complexities. In this regard, this research aims to determine the levels of emotional intelligence among teachers in educational institutions in the Department of Magdalena.

Determine the levels of emotional intelligence among teachers in educational institutions in the Department of Magdalena

Methodologically, it is situated within the empirical-analytical paradigm with a quantitative approach, using the descriptive method. A convenience sample of 179 teachers was used, and the TMMS-24 questionnaire was administered.

The results revealed that 37.7% of the teachers completely agree, and 30.9% strongly agree with the statement that they pay a lot of attention to their feelings. On the other hand, only 12.2% somewhat agree, and 1.2% strongly disagree with the statement that they normally worry about what they feel.

Additionally, 33.9% agree with the statement that they usually take time to think about their emotions, while 25.6% somewhat agree, and only 1.2% strongly disagree with the statement that it is worth paying attention to their emotions and mood. Furthermore, 6.4% agree, and 5.2% strongly agree with the statement that they let their feelings affect their thoughts.

As for thinking about their mood constantly, 16.7% strongly disagree, and 39.1% somewhat agree. Moreover, 6.9% strongly disagree, and 21.4% somewhat agree with the statement that they pay a lot of attention to what they feel.

Only 1.1% strongly disagree with being able to frequently define their feelings. and only 1.7% strongly disagree, and 10.2% somewhat agree with the expression “I often become aware of my feelings in different situations.” 34.1% strongly agree, and 26.6% completely agree with the statement “I can always tell how I feel.” Finally, 5.1% strongly disagree, and 19.4% somewhat agree with the statement “Sometimes I can tell what my emotions are.”

In conclusion, the study emphasizes in the importance of teachers’ emotional intelligence and its potential impact on their performance and students’ learning outcomes. It also highlights the need for intervention strategies to strengthen this psychosocial variable in educational institutions in the Department of Magdalena.

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Mental health in the deaf community is a complex issue. Challenges in diagnosis and treatment arise from a lack of experienced interpreters and difficulties in translating Sign Language to spoken language. Deaf individuals, due to auditory limitations, are more vulnerable to abuse, increasing their risk of mental health disorders, including bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). BPAD is a prevalent, debilitating condition with varied prevalence estimates. Managing it is tough due to its lifelong, unpredictable nature. A new approach called Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit aims to provide acute mental health care at home as an alternative to hospitalization.

To show the management of severe bipolar disorder with comorbidity from a Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit

A clinical case of bipolar disorder with deafness attended at the Psychiatric Home Hospitalization Unit of our hospital is presented.

A 24-year-old deaf woman borned in Pakistan and later moving to Catalonia, she faced educational challenges but ultimately completed her studies with sign language support. Afterward, she struggled to find suitable employment, and her family had a history of bipolar disorder.

She exhibited a sudden change in behavior, characterized by irritability, paranoia, and distrust. Communication was challenging due to her speech difficulties, but assessments using sign language and observation were conducted. Her physical examination was normal, but her speech was disorganized and pressured, suggesting possible auditory hallucinations and thought disturbances. She was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features.

During her initial hospitalization, she received lithium, olanzapine, clotiapine and benzodiacepines. After discharge, she continued treatment through a home hospitalization service during almost 4 month. During follow-up she presented a course with high affective instability, rapid cycling alternating brief periods of stability with other presenting manic and mixed features with high disorganization.

Due to the rapid cycling pattern Valproic acid was considered. Valproic acid was introduced up to 700 mg/d (97.1 mcg/mL). Treatment with lithium carbonate 800 mg/d (0.91 mEq/L) was maintained. Previous antipsychotic regimen was changed to quetiapine 400mg/d, olanzapine 5mg/d. Her condition improved significantly with the adjusted treatment regimen. She was discharged to an outpatient service.

Diagnosing and treating bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) in a deaf and mute patient posed unique challenges. The rapid mood cycling pattern and complexity of her case made treatment challenging. Family information and interpreter support were vital. Cultural factors were considered, and home hospitalization was crucial in managing symptoms that lasted over four months.

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In the year 2021, there was a notable increase in behaviors associated with anxiety, depression, and stress among school-aged children and adolescents, possibly attributed to the pervasive effects of social isolation and confinement measures.

This study conducted a thorough analysis of cases involving students aged 11 to 17 years who exhibited risk factors, anxious and depressive symptoms, and mood disturbances.

This study focused on students aged 11 to 17 years and employed a comprehensive approach to assess the impact of anxiety, depression, and stress. Cases were meticulously analyzed, and key categories were established to characterize the multifaceted challenges faced by the students. These categories included the availability of family support, utilization of psychopharmacological treatment, engagement in psychological therapies, participation in psychopedagogical interventions, and patterns of school absenteeism.

The analysis revealed a concerning prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress-related symptoms among the student population. Many students exhibited risk factors that warranted immediate attention, including social isolation, disrupted routines, and uncertainty about the future. Furthermore, a significant portion of students displayed anxious and depressive symptoms, often leading to altered mood and behavioral challenges. In the context of family support, it was apparent that students with robust familial backing tended to cope more effectively with the psychological strain induced by the pandemic. However, a noteworthy number of students lacked adequate family support systems, exacerbating their mental health struggles. Students in need of such interventions benefited significantly from their implementation, demonstrating improved emotional well-being and a reduction in symptom severity. Nonetheless, the accessibility of these services remained a concern, with disparities in access evident among different demographic groups. Psychopedagogical interventions played a pivotal role in addressing issues related to school absenteeism and facilitating a smoother transition to remote learning. Students who engaged in these interventions showed positive progress in terms of school attendance and academic performance.

The findings of this study underscore the urgency of a holistic approach to addressing anxiety, depression, and stress in school-aged children and adolescents. It is imperative that consultations with child and adolescent psychiatry specialists be conducted promptly and in a manner that considers the unique contextual factors influencing each student’s mental health. Moreover, efforts should be directed toward enhancing family support, expanding access to psychopharmacological treatment and psychological therapies, and promoting the implementation of psychopedagogical interventions.

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In recent years, the prescription of antidepressants for children has faced significant scrutiny due to studies suggesting an elevated risk of suicide among those treated with these medications. The primary objective of this study is to examine the causal connection between antidepressant use and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents.

In this article, we will examine the current research on this topic and discuss the current status of practical guidelines and recommendations for prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents.

We conducted a literature review using the Google Scholar database, employing keywords such as antidepressants, suicide, children, and adolescents.

The literature yielded conflicting data. While it has been established that SSRIs moderately elevate the risk of suicide ideation and attempts, with venlafaxine, paroxetine, and sertraline showing a higher risk compared to other SSRIs like fluoxetine and citalopram, several studies indicate that their use is linked to a noteworthy reduction in suicide rates among children and adolescents.

The existence of a definitive causal relationship between antidepressants and suicidality in children and adolescents is currently uncertain, and the underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood.

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Persistent depressive episodes and subsyndromic depressive symptoms frequently characterize mood alterations in bipolar disorder (BD) and negatively influence quality of life and suicide risk. BD patients with predominant depressive episodes generally show significantly higher treatment resistance rates. Although not specifically approved in Italy for bipolar depression, recently published observational data suggest that the cariprazine add-on may be a potential effective short-term treatment for resistant bipolar depression. Nevertheless data on long-term cariprazine treatment are lacking.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of long-term cariprazine augmentation in patients suffering from treatment-resistant bipolar depression.

30 resistant bipolar depressed patients, whose resistance was defined according to The CINP Guidelines on the Definition and Evidence-Based Interventions for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Disorder, were treated with cariprazine 1,5 -3 mg flexible dose for 4 weeks, added to previous mood stabilizing and/or antidepressant treatment. Psychopathology at time 0 and at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 weeks of treatment was evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and the Bipolar Depression Rating Scale (BDRS); safety and tolerability was measured by the UKU Side Effect Rating Scale. The drop-out rate was assessed throughout the study duration.

Cariprazine add-on was effective in the study sample but only during the first 4 weeks of treatment. Improvement in depression scores started from the first week, reaching about 40% mean HDRS score reduction at T4; a moderate ulterior decrease (-15%) was reached at T24 but was accompanied by a significant drop-out rate; anxiety symptoms improved (mean HARS score reduction 37% at T4) mainly during the first 4 weeks. The treatment was generally well tolerated. From week 4 to 24 we observed a near 70% drop-out rate (18 total drop-outs) with maximum drop-outs between weeks 4-8 (n=7) and 18-24 (n=7). Discontinuation causes were inefficacy (5/18); clinical worsening (10/18); side effects (3/18); hypomanic shift (2/18).

Despite the relatively small population examined and the observational design, our results suggest that cariprazine may represent an effective and safe short-term enhancement strategy in resistant bipolar depression. Long-term treatment, in this sample, did not lead to significant improvements and was burdened by a high drop-out rate, mainly due to inefficacy/clinical worsening. Further studies on larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings, both in short-term and in longer observations.

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Patients’ beliefs and attitudes about medications play a role in whether they adhere to their medications or not. Knowledge on how beliefs and attitudes about medications can be influenced is therefore important.

The current study aimed to assess whether patients’ perceived support from their therapists regarding use of medications was associated with their beliefs and attitudes about medications. Because non-adherence in patients with psychosis frequently results in relapses and emergencies, this knowledge may be very useful for therapists and patients.

This cross-sectional study included 310 patients diagnosed with psychosis from 31 clinical units in Norwegian mental health specialist care. We assessed beliefs about medications using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). BMQ-specific consists of two subscales, BMQ-necessity and BMQ-concerns. Higher score on the necessity subscale indicates stronger beliefs in the necessity of taking the medicine. Higher score on the concern subscale indicates stronger concerns about taking the medicine. We used a newly developed self-report questionnaire, MedSupport, to assess the patients’ perceived support from therapists in dealing with their medications. Higher score on the MedSupport means that the patient experienced more support with decisions related to medications. Linear mixed effect models were used to investigate possible associations of sociodemographic factors, clinical factors and patients’ perceptions of medication support with BMQ.

Patients’ perceptions of medication support from therapists were positively associated with positive beliefs towards medications, β = 0.20, 95% CI [0.04 to 0.35], p=0.012, and negatively associated with concerns about taking the medications, β = -0.31, 95% CI [-0.44 to -0.17], p < 0.001, when other relevant variables were taken into consideration.

The present study shows that therapists may affect patients’ beliefs and concerns about medications. Consequently, medication support may lead to improved adherence to medications prescribed.

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Hundreds of fires have been burning from coast to coast across the country since March 2023, putting Canada on track to experience the worst wildfire season ever. From East to West, provinces such as Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, and British Columbia have been particularly affected by large and uncontrollable wildfires.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of depression symptoms among residents of Alberta and Nova Scotia during the Canadian wildfires of 2023.

This study conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey for data collection. In the period between 14th May and 23rd June 2023, an online survey was administered using REDCap. Through the Text4Hope program, participants subscribe to receive supportive SMS messages daily. After the first message, participants were invited to complete an online questionnaire, containing demographic information, wildfire-related information, and responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depression assessment. SPSS version 25 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate regression analyses were employed.

A total of 298 respondents completed the online survey out of 1802 who accessed it, resulting in a response rate of 16.54 %. Most of the respondents were females (85.2%, 253), below 40 years of age (28.3%, 84), employed (63.6%, 189), and in a relationship (56.4%, 167). A historical depression diagnosis (OR = 3.15; 95% CI: 1.39–7.14) was a significant predictor of moderate to severe MDD in our study. While employment status did not significantly predict MDD, unemployed individuals were two times more likely to report moderate-to-severe symptoms of MDD than employed individuals (OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.06–5.67). Among the total sample population, the moderate to severe MDD prevalence was 50.4%, whereas it was 56.1% among those living in wildfire-affected areas.

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As a result of our study, the development of moderate to severe MDD symptoms during wildfire disasters was significantly associated with a history of depression diagnosis. Although employment status did not significantly predict MDD, unemployed individuals had a greater likelihood of experiencing moderate-to-severe symptoms than employed individuals. Further research is necessary to ascertain reliable predictors of mental health issues among those who have experienced disasters, as well as to offer appropriate interventions and treatment options to the communities and individuals who are most vulnerable.

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The final aim of the EXPERIENCE project is to enable individuals to record and share extended-personal realities in Virtual Reality (VR) - which entails the consideration of a person’s neurophysiological, psychological, and cognitive states. One prospective application is using this technology to aid in assessing symptoms of affective disorders.

The objective is to test the ability of a pre-designed VR environment to differentiate between individuals with depressive symptoms and healthy controls (HCs) via machine learning algorithms.

Conducted as a pilot study in Italy, we recruited 100 volunteers, comprising 50 HCs and 50 individuals with moderate depressive symptoms assessed via the PHQ-9. Through a 40–60-minute VR engagement, comprehensive data on cognitive (inc. cognitive flexibility, sustained attention, working memory, processing speed), behavioral (exploration, attentional bias), and physiological (heart-rate variability, skin conductance) variables was collected. Subsequently, an explainable artificial intelligence model (xAI) was trained on data from 80% of the sample and tested on the remaining 20% in terms of accuracy for between-group classification.

Following an iterative process that considered both the importance assigned to each variable in the different models and the theoretical relevance of these variables to depression the final model achieved an average accuracy of 71% (with individual trials ranging from 64.5% to 77.1%). Key predictors included exploratory behaviors and heart-rate variability during both exploration and cognitive tasks.

These results are comparable, however remain below the levels of accuracy achieved based on fMRI and DTI data alone (around 80%). Nonetheless, the EXPERIENCE system, slated for refinement beyond this pilot phase, shows potential in integrating multimodal data for evaluating affective disorder symptoms, aiming for a more objective screening and diagnostic approach at a lower cost.

The EXPERIENCE project is funded by the European Commission H2020 Framework Program, Grant No. 101017727.

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Individuals with schizophrenia are known to be at an increased risk of suicidal behavior (Sher & Kahn, 2019). However, the relationship between chronotype, which refers to an individual’s preference for sleep-wake patterns, and suicidal attempts in schizophrenia patients remains an area of interest and investigation.The relationship between chronotype and suicidal attempts in schizophrenia patients has not been extensively studied. However, research in other populations has shown that individuals with evening chronotypes, also known as “night owls,” may be at a higher risk of mental health issues, including depression and suicidal ideation (Verma et al., 2016). It is plausible to hypothesize that individuals with schizophrenia who have evening chronotypes may also be at an increased risk of suicidal attempts. Further research is needed to explore this relationship and its potential implications for clinical practice. In conclusion, the relationship between chronotype and suicidal attempts in schizophrenia patients is an area that requires further investigation.Early identification and intervention are crucial in preventing further suicidal attempts in this vulnerable population. Future research should focus on exploring the relationship between chronotype and suicidal attempts in schizophrenia patients to provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors contributing to suicide risk in this population.

This study investigates the relationship between chronotype and suicidal attempts in patients with schizophrenia.

The study was conducted cross-sectionally using quantitative research methods and using purposive sampling. The personal information form and scales used for data collection in this study, which was planned with patients hospitalized in the psychiatric ward and patients applying to the outpatient clinic, are based on self-report. The personal information form developed by the researcher by reviewing the literature, the Morningist-Evening Scale (SAM), the Suicide Probability Scale, the Suicidal Behavior Scale, the Positive Symptoms Rating Scale (SAPS) and the Negative Symptoms Rating Scale (SANS) were used as data collection tools. Participants signed an informed consent form before the interview.

Data extraction is still ongoing in detailed style by principal authors. A description of the studies and the key findings will be presented.

Reducing the risk of suicide in patients with schizophrenia is of vital importance. Awareness of the risks related to suicide may help reduce mortality rates in schizophrenia patients as in all patients. It is thought that the study’s results will be an important resource in knowing the risks related to suicide and determining the risk factors so that prevention studies can be initiated.

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Food insecurity has become a growing burden within a global context where climate change, catastrophes, wars, and insurgencies are increasingly prevalent. Several studies have reported an association between suicidal behaviors (i.e., suicide ideation, plans, and attempts) and food insecurity. This meta-analytic review for the first time, synthesized the available literature to determine the pooled prevalence of suicidal behaviors among individuals experiencing food insecurity, and examined the strength of their association.

To determine the pooled prevalence of suicidal behaviors among individuals experiencing food insecurity, and examine the strength of their association.

Databases (Ovid, PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL) were searched using the appropriate search term from inception to July 2022. Eligible studies reporting the number/prevalence of suicidal behaviors among individuals experiencing food insecurity or the association between food insecurity and suicidal behaviors were included. The pooled prevalence of suicidal behaviors was determined using the random-effects model. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022352858).

A total of 47 studies comprising 75,346 individuals having experienced food insecurity were included. The pooled prevalence was 22.3% for suicide ideation (95% CI: 14.7-29.9; I2=99.6%, p<0.001, k=18), 18.1% for suicide plans (95% CI: 7.0-29.1; I2=99.6%, p<0.001, k=4), 17.2% for suicide attempts (95% CI: 9.6-24.8; I2=99.9%, p<0.001, k=12), and 4.6% for unspecified suicidal behavior (95% CI: 2.8-6.4; I2=85.5%, p<0.001, k=5). There was a positive relationship between experiencing food insecurity and (i) suicide ideation (aOR=1.049 [95% CI: 1.046-1.052; I2=99.6%, p<0.001, k=31]), (ii) suicide plans (aOR=1.480 [95% CI: 1.465-1.496; I2=99.1%, p<0.001, k=5]), and (iii) unspecified suicide behaviors (aOR=1.133 [95% CI: 1.052-1.219; I2=53.0%, p=0.047, k=6]). However, a negative relationship was observed between experiencing food insecurity and suicide attempts (aOR=0.622 [95% CI: 0.617-0.627; I2 = 98.8%, p<0.001, k=15]). The continent and the countries income status where the study was conducted were the common cause of heterogeneity of the differences in the odds of the relationships between experiencing food insecurity and suicidal behaviors - with North America and high-income countries (HICs) having higher odds. For suicide attempts, all non HICs had a negative relationship with food insecurity.

There is a high prevalence of suicidal behaviors among individuals experiencing food insecurity. Initiatives to reduce food insecurity would likely be beneficial for mental wellbeing and to mitigate the risk of suicidal behaviors among population experiencing food insecurity.

The paradoxical finding of suicide attempts having a negative relationship with food insecurity warrants further research.

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Fear of childbirth is attracting growing interest because of its impact on the experience of pregnancy and on the progress of childbirth and it seems that some women are more susceptible to fear of childbirth than others are.

Our objective is to identify pregnancy factors that predict the fear of childbirth.

We approached 350 pregnant women consulting at the Gynecology-Obstetrics department of the Hedi Chaker University Hospital of Sfax. We collected their sociodemographic and clinical data. Fear of childbirth was assessed using the French version of the Traumatic Event Scale (TES), adapted to assess fear of childbirth.

The mean age of the participants was 28 years (16-41) and the mean gestational weak was 36.27. Half of the participants (53.7%) were nulliparous, and eight reported a history of infertility. The pregnancy was not planned in 61% of cases. As many as 67% of the participants had regular checkups, 50.3% had exaggerated somatic symptoms and 34.3% had pregnancy-related diseases.

The mean score for the TES was 48.73 ± 13.72.

We found a positive correlation between the TES score and nulliparity (p=0.01), gestational age ≥ 40 weeks (p=0.01), planned pregnancy (p=0.002), exaggerated somatic symptoms (p=0.03), and pregnancy-related diseases (p<0.001).

Identification of women at risk for fear of childbirth could help in preparing them before or during pregnancy to improve their childbirth experiences.

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In the UK there are 3500 individuals detained in medium secure forensic psychiatry units. Service users in such settings have complex and serious mental illness (SMI), often with co-morbid physical health problems and a life expectancy of at least 10 years shorter than the general population. They often have low levels of physical activity. There is little evidence about physical activity interventions for medium secure service users in the United Kingdom.

Our objective is to co-produce, with medium secure service users, the content and delivery of an intervention to increase physical activity. We shall assess feasibility, acceptability, and pilot data collection methods for outcomes relevant for a future randomised controlled trial.

This is a 30-month mixed-methods project that will follow the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework Developing and Evaluating Complex Interventions. The study has 4 phases. Phases 1-2 will gather information required to co-develop an evidence-based intervention in Phase 3. Phase 4 will assess the intervention in a feasibility study, evaluating and testing the intervention for a future pilot study.

Study settings: Two NHS Medium Secure In-Patient Psychiatric Hospitals in the UK.

This paper presents the preliminary findings from Phase 4 and also offers a highlight into the results from the Women’s Services from both study sites. A total of thirty-three service users from both study sites participated in Phase 4 of the study and twenty-six completed the physical activity intervention, known as the IMPACT Intervention. Between both study sites, there were two Women’s Standard Medium Secure Services and one Women’s Enhanced Medium Secure Service, involved in this study. A total of nine female service users participated in Phase 4.

The preliminary findings of Phases 4 are allowing the team to move forward and evaluate the effect of the IMPACT Intervention.

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