Biography:

A Vishal has completed his MD Psychiatry from NTR University of Health Sciences Vijayawada. Now he is working as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Government Medical College Nizamabad, Telangana, India.

Abstract:

Objectives: To compare the clinical efficacy of the long-acting injectable antipsychotics with the oral antipsychotics in the first episode of schizophrenia. Background: Noncompliance is a major problem for patients with first episode schizophrenia. Long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI APs) should offer better efficacy and tolerability, compared to oral antipsychotics due to improved adherence and more stable pharmacokinetics. LAI APs have proved effective in first episode schizophrenia because they assure stable blood levels, leading to a reduction of the risk of relapse. Methods: Parameters were assessed at baseline and at three month intervals for two years in patients initiated on long-acting injection (LAI) (n=673) or a new oral antipsychotics (AP) (n=139 on risperidone and olanzapine) in Nizamabad. Hospitalization prior to therapy was assessed by a retrospective chart review. Results: At two years treatment retention and reduction in Clinical Global Impression Severity scores were significantly higher with LAI. Compared to the pre-switch period, LAI Aps patients had greater reductions in the number of hospitalizations at two years than oral AP patients. Conclusions: This study showed that, compared to oral antipsychotics, LAI APs was associated with better treatment retention, greater improvement in clinical symptoms and functioning, and greater reduction in hospital stays and days in hospital in patients with first episode schizophrenia.

Biography:

Mohd M Rahman has completed his graduation from Chittagong Medical College. Thereafter, he passed MSc (DU) from Dept. of Clinical Psychology, MD from Calcutta Medical College. He joined International movement Disorder Society (MDS), Indian Child Neurology Association and Bangladesh Society for Child Neurology Department and Disability (BSCNDD). He has received advanced training in Psychiatry from Chief Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. He is Fellow of the Cent Merry College and Hospital, UK. Presently, he is working as Psychologist North-East Medical College and Hospital, Sylhet. He worked in Clinical Psychology Department at Dhaka Community Hospital. He is the Director of Psychiatry Rehabilitation Council (PRC), Member of Bangladesh Association of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (BACAMH), Bangladesh Psychological Center (BPS), Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society (BCPS). He has more than 20 publications in different national and international journals.

Abstract:

Today’s children will drive growth and development in the society tomorrow. Helping these children reach their potential will benefit not only to them, but also all of us. However, mental health problems appearing in childhood or in adolescence, after 13% to 22% of children and adolescents Worldwide and account for a larger portion of global burden of disease. Positive social mental health is associated with a higher likelihood of completing school, positive relations, higher level of self-confidence, higher income potential and increased resilience. Developing countries continue to lag behind in prioritizing and providing children mental health services, despite urgent need. Such services development and delivery is hampered by a lack of government policy, inadequate funding and shortage of trained clinicians. This Presentation will acknowledge significant gap in children’s mental health services in developing countries and will highlight why we need to prioritize them badly. Mental health and welfare strategy will be discussed about how to create a mentally healthy learning environment, reduce stigma, and adopt anti-harassment, anti-bullying policy. Investing in early childhood development programs, mental health provisions in school, and linking with mental health agencies in the community would facilitate good mental health and the wellbeing of children. Improved mental health research and knowledge sharing across the country, and strengthening children’s mental health human resources would be a priority. Collectively, we pay a heavy price when mental disorders are not effectively prevented and treated in childhood. Early intervention and prevention offers the hope to avoid later adult mental health problems and improve personal wellbeing and productivity and investing in children from onset yields excellent returns.

Biography:

Shahrokh Makvnd Hosseini is an expert Psychotherapist and university Associate Professor of Psychology with more than 15 years experience in teaching and psychotherapy of patients. He has several published books and articles in the field of Mental Health and is Head of Psychological Disorders Health Center in Semnan City. He is also Chief Editor of Journal of Clinical Psychology and his previous positions have been: Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Education and Higher Education Administration, Member of the Board of University, Head of University Counseling Center etc.

Abstract:

Aim: Complementary therapies such as psycho-education has been in the focus of attention in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other chronic mental and medical illnesses. The main goal of the current research was to investigate effectiveness of the individual and family psycho-education of the bipolar one patients beside their typical psychiatric pharmaceutical treatments in the prevention of the likely recurrence of depression and maniac episodes, compared to an isolated psychiatric treatment. Methods: After checking the inclusion –exclusion criteria a total sample of 66 bipolar one disordered patients were selected by purposeful sampling method and divided randomly into three groups (individual psycho-education, family psycho-education and control groups). Depression and maniac symptoms were measured using the HAM-D and the YMRS instruments. Subjects of the all groups were filled two scales in the pretest, posttest and follow up stages. Finding: Data were extracted from scales and analyzed by a GLM: MANCOVA statistical analysis. Significantly differences were found between research groups in depression and mania scores. The depression and mania mean scores of the family psycho-education and individual psycho-education groups were significantly lower than control group in the posttest stage, whereas in the follow up stage the therapeutic effects was only stable in the family psycho-education regarding maniac symptoms. No other significant effect was evident. Results: It could be concluded that an individual psycho- education intervention could reduce the mania and depression symptoms in the BPD one patient under medication in short-term and not in the long-term. In contrast, the family psycho- education could reduce both depressive and maniac symptoms in the short-term and the therapeutic effects was stable in mania symptoms during time. In summary, the complementary family psycho- education can effectively prevent the recurrence of the likely mania episodes of the bipolar one patients under psychiatric treatment and is recommended for them.

Biography:

Małgorzata Dragan is an Associate Professor of Department of Clinical Child and Family Psychology at Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw. She is also Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist and a Board Member of European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.

Abstract:

Gender is a factor that carries profound implications for one’s well-being, being important risk factor for psychopathology. In general, women are more likely to suffer from mood disorders over their lifetime, while men are more likely to develop antisocial behaviors and substance abuse. Contemporary research shows that gender influences the development of abilities to regulate one’s own emotions and affects the extent and the way in which emotions are regulated; and emotion deregulation is considered important risk factor for emotional disorders. It is claimed that on the one hand regulation of the stress response systems might be different in women due to effects of sex steroids such as estrogen, but on the other the sex differences in vulnerability might be also influenced by different gender socialization (as indicated by e.g. greater female sensitivity to psychosocial stressors). In present study the attention was focused on general and specific difficulties in emotion regulation and the risk of various forms of psychopathology in a sample of 512 young women (18-25 years old), as heightened risk of psychopathology is observed particularly in young age. The major aim was to explore possible associations between difficulties in emotion regulation and different forms of psychopathology, i.e. general symptoms of psychopathology, post-traumatic symptoms and problem drinking. Results shows that problems in emotion regulation might constitute common risk factor for different forms of psychopathology in young women, and among them in particular limited access to emotion regulation strategies and impulse control difficulties.

Biography:

Joyceline Ntoh Yuh is a Feminist and Doctoral candidate in the University of Oldenburg, Germany. She holds an MA in Women and Gender Studies from the ISS Erasmus University Netherlands. Her research interest includes HIV/AIDS related issues, Psychology, Gender, Sexual and Reproductive health. Since 2006, she took keen interest in the field of HIV/AIDS where she researched on the impact of HIV on Agriculture affecting mostly women with the UN FAO Gender unit (Italy), mainstreaming HIV policies in UNFFE Uganda, HIV stigma and child bearing in Cameroon and currently facilitates workshops with MA students in the area of Gender, Migration and HIV/AIDS (Health). She is also a Reviewer in the Journal of AIDS Clinical Research & STD (USA) and works as a Volunteer in the AIDS Help NGO (AIDSHilfe), Germany.

Abstract:

Reports from Germany (2012/13) points a 70% increase in heterosexual transmission with about 40-50% from Sub Saharan Africa marking new diagnosis especially in women. HIV-related stigma among African women is rather complex using the intersectionality framework for analysis, which distinguishes the subjective experiences and realities of women's lives, not just as a single category stemming from a gender-based research critique. Meanwhile, HIV-stigma denotes the link between sero-status and negative behaviors toward people who are seropositive. Stigma thus reflects guilt, shame, denial, prejudice, discrediting, discrimination, stereotypes, denial, rejection and self-blame. African women are particularly vulnerable to stigma due to various factors often undermined or neglected. It is imperative to mention that women are generally susceptible to infection due to biological and other socio-cultural reasons, which eventually positions them into a high-risk category. Furthermore, women tend to be negatively perceived when infected and labeled promiscuous for transmitting the virus to their partners, without knowing the transmission dynamic. Stigma further constrains relationships within families and communities. This in the long-term results into secrecy affects infection status disclosure and seeking of the much-needed preventive services. This highlights the link between HIV and mental health because people living with HIV are prone to mental problems compared to others. Thus, their psychological and social wellbeing becomes essential just as their physical health. HIV-related stigma further complicates the overall wellbeing of these women in realizing their potentials in life, which tends to hamper their productivity and sense of purpose. The in-depth study of six women shows the dilemmas and challenges faced by seropositive women in the face of HIV, dealing with anxiety about disclosure, depression, social isolation, stress, fear and rejection. This convenient sample examines how psychological impact continues to affect sero-positive women negatively in living fulfilled lives while impacting on their unfulfilled sexual satisfactions due to continuous use of condoms and other related anxieties. At times, such insecurities become overwhelming, pushing them to neglect their self-esteem as women. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) here aims to gain deeper understanding from participants’ perspectives on how they manage to make opinions and viewpoints of their own experiences, events and social world (Smith et al, 2009). It is then vital to provide lived experiences and interpretations in its own terms than simply attributing to pre-existing theoretical preconceptions by getting details of each case than general claims.

Biography:

Anna Scandinaro is a third year Medical student at Penn State College of Medicine.

Abstract:

Primary care practitioners are often called upon to differentiate normal from abnormal irritability, but little education is provided to prepare them to do so. Assessing the mental health of a child is a challenging task. This study used appreciative inquiry to answer the question, “How do family medicine practitioners assess and treat irritability in school aged children?” To gain an initial perspective on how practitioners in Family Medicine (FM), Pediatrics (PED), and Psychiatry (PSY) evaluate and treat school-aged children, 17 volunteers participated in in-depth interviews. The participants in primary care expressed frustration over the lack of time and specialized knowledge they had to accurately assess children, even though they were often the first clinician consulted when problems arose. There were clear and sometimes contradictory differences between how practitioners with a general vs. specialized practice assessed mental health status in the clinic setting. In addition, input on treatment approaches revealed that medication prescription was more common in primary care and therapy preferred by the PSY participants. School referrals were common pathways to the FM and PED clinic, where practitioners often focused on assessing functional status to assess normal vs. abnormal irritability. Based on the initial assessment, FM and PED participants often referred the child to more specialized treatment, particularly when complex medication prescription was involved. They were also significantly less confident of their ability to evaluate mental health status, while child and adolescent psychiatry participants were supportive of having more initial triage and possible treatment occur at the primary care level.

Biography:

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the association between the use of nitric oxide in the pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and the level of aggression in children with acyanotic congenital heart diseases and especially to evaluate the development rates of aggressive behaviors in ICU setting in patients with borderline PAH after correction of congenital heart surgery. Methods: The study was performed with data of 327 patients with acyanotic congenital heart diseases and underwent open heart surgery between January1984-February1995. The design of the study was retrospective and observational. All the patients in this case were given nitric oxide in a controlled manner. The patients were observed before surgery to have aggressive behavior. All patients were evaluated with observational methods. They were classified according to the mean pulmonary artery pressure and level of the surgery. Chi-square, ANOVA tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The patients were analyzed before coming to ICU before the surgery by observational method. The patients were observed in the field of nitric oxide was detected in 94.8% of patients with PAH and 17.2% of no PAH patients after giving them nitric oxide A negative association was detected between mean pulmonary arterial pressure and body weight for age and z scores of weight (p<0.001 for all). Z scores of weight and height were significantly decreased in patients with PAH in contrast to no PAH group (p<0.001, p<0.01 respectively). There was no statistical difference between no PAH and borderline PAH groups according to this study and relative body weight formula, however z scores of weight in borderline PAH group were decreased compared with no PAH group (p<0.001). The use of nitric oxide in ICU setting finds an important role. The use of nitric oxide showed that the aggression level after the surgery was less as compared before the surgery. Conclusion: A positive association was detected between the use of nitric oxide in ICU setting and the degrees of PAH and level pulmonary hypertension in children with a cyanotic congenital heart disease with open heart surgery. There should be more study in this field and the proper experimental study should be done to further evaluate this study.

Biography:

Alexandrino-Silva Clóvis Junior is Graduate in Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Fundação do ABC, São Paulo, Brazil (2003), and underwent Medical Residency in Psychiatry at the same institution. He got his Doctorate degree from the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (2012). Currently, he is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Old Age Research Group (PROTER) from the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo. He was also Coordinator of the Psychiatric Emergencies Service of the Santo André Hospital Center, Research Doctor and Collaborator of the Disciplines of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine of Fundação do ABC and Medical Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo. He holds a specialist title in Psychiatry and professional competence certificate in psychogeriatric obtained from the Brazilian Association of Psychiatry.

Abstract:

Objective: To examine the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms (CES-D≥13) and their correlates in an elderly population-based study in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A random sample of 2,673 subjects aged 60 years or more were interviewed, and 2,501 individuals were eligible for the analysis of the frequency of depressive symptoms. The results were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals values were obtained using univariate logistic regression. Results: We observed a prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms in 42.98% of the sample (95% CI=41.05-44.93). The main correlates of clinically significant depressive symptoms were: being female (OR 2.087, CI 1.76-2.47); belonging to the oldest age group (≥80 years) [OR 1.333, CI 1.01-1.74]; being divorced/single (OR 1.607, CI 1.3-1.97) or widowed (OR 1.465, CI=1.21-1.77); and family history of depression (OR 1.82, CI 1.42-2.32). Stroke was the clinical comorbidity that presented the highest odds (OR 2.554, CI 1.9-3.43) for the development of clinically significant depressive symptoms, although other cerebrovascular diseases were also associated with the development of depression. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms (GAI≥13) increased the odds of clinically significant depressive symptoms by almost twenty-fold (OR 19.544, CI 14.75-25.9). Dissatisfaction with the appearance of teeth also associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR 2.147, CI 1.78-2.58). Interestingly, current alcohol consumption was associated with a lower chance of presenting clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR 0.745, CI 0.63-0.87), and this association was maintained for subjects who consumed more than 2 drinks per day (OR 0.484, CI 0.33 -0.7) or more than five drinks per occasion (OR 0.491, CI 0.31-0.77). The elderly who did not practice physical activity were more likely to present clinically significant depressive symptoms (OR 1.663, CI 1.36-2.03), and the higher the weekly frequency of hours practiced, the lower was the chance of presenting depressive symptoms (2-5 hours/week: OR 0.591, CI 0.44-0.79; 6-7 hours/week: OR 0.51, CI 0.31-0.83; and 8 hours or more/week: OR 0.411, CI 0.24-0.7). Conclusions: Sociodemographic characteristics, family history of depression and cerebrovascular diseases were associated with greater odds of presenting clinically significant depressive symptoms. The inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and the presentation of depressive symptoms needs to be better investigated. Physical activity seems to play an important role in preventing depression in the elderly.

Biography:

Mili Kakadia has been a student of Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, India from August 2011 and graduated in MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine; Bachelor of Surgery) in March 2017. She is now preparing for USMLE step 2 to pursue residency in USA.

Abstract:

Tobacco consumption has been an addiction in India since time immemorial. Bhavnagar is a city with tobacco chewing rates higher than most cities in India. Considering the enormous health complications associated with tobacco use, it is of utmost importance to understand the factors leading to its use and to plan strategies to reduce its intake. Report of this study reviews the tobacco chewing practice in different age groups, reason of starting, any awareness about its health related adverse consequences, any attempt of quitting, total monthly expenditure on tobacco etc. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Vadva, an urban slum settlement in Bhavnagar city (Gujarat, India). The area represents the low socio-economic group and inhabits diverse ethnicities. The information was collected on a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire determining the frequency of use, knowledge and attitude regarding chewing tobacco. Among the population studied, out of 150 respondents, 108 respondents (72%) were chewing tobacco in some form. Tobacco use in urban slums of Bhavnagar city is almost thrice than the rest of India (25.9%) but higher among lower social economic group. The fact that women are also chewing tobacco is a matter of concern. More than three-fourth of the tobacco chewers started chewing due to peer pressure. More than 95% of the tobacco chewers were aware of the harmful effects due to tobacco chewing. About three-fourth of the tobacco chewers continue to chew tobacco as they are now addicted to it. More than 43% of the tobacco chewers agreed that this habit of theirs puts an economic burden on them pulling them below poverty line. Tobacco control therefore should be a top priority amongst the substance abuses in Bhavnagar.

Biography:

Meng Zi Jie Aaron is a graduate of Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine from the National University of Singapore. He is currently a Senior Resident of the local Psychiatry Residency Programme and is in his final year of training at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital. He has undergone rotations in most fields of Psychiatry, including Adult General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychogeriatric, Addiction Medicine, Consultation and Liason Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry.

Abstract:

Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) is an interesting psychiatric condition which is characterised by a preoccupation that one emits body odour, which is not perceived by others. While anecdotally described as a discrete condition, its phenomenological overlap between anxiety and psychotic disorders poses a challenge in diagnostic classification. We present a case of a 19 year old Chinese Male who was referred through his gastroenterologist for having a fixed persistent belief of having an offensive body odour, which seemingly worsened after his mother had passed away. He was found to have significant anxiety and coped with safety behaviours which had become maladaptive with time. His excessive worries were also associated with psychotic symptoms of referential delusions and olfactory hallucinations related to flatulence. As in our case, the clinical picture of ORS may cross both anxiety and psychotic symptoms and warrants further review in the latest diagnostic classification manual.

Biography:

Ali Mahmood Khan has completed his Medical School from Ziauddin University in Pakistan. After completing his degree, he came to USA and cleared all his USMLE exams, along with working as an extern at different prestigious hospitals in New York. In 2018, he matched for residency in Psychiatry at University of Texas (Rio Grande Valley). He has over 14 months of clinical experience in Psychiatry and has managed to publish 17 articles in this field. Currently, he continues to work as a Research Intern at Kings County Hospital Center.

Abstract:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common behavioral disorder among adolescents and children. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) are the first pharmacological choice for this condition due to mild adverse effect profile. This systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy of SSRI for OCD in adolescents and children. Search terms were entered into PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL and Google Scholar. The included studies were randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SSRIs conducted in populations of children and adolescents younger than 18 years. Change from baseline CY-BOCS, end-treatment CY-BOCS with respective SD and response and remission rates were collected for continuous and dichotomous outcome assessment, respectively. Cochrane RevMan software was used for meta-analyses, providing Forest plots where applicable. SSRIs were superior to placebo with a small effect size. There was no additional benefit of combination treatment over CBT alone, but CBT added substantial benefit to SSRI monotherapy. Fluoxetine and Sertraline appear to be superior to Fluvoxamine. The results of current systematic review and meta-analysis support the existing NICE guidelines for choosing CBT as the first line of treatment and substituting it with SSRI depending on patient preference. Adding CBT to current SSRI treatment is effective for non-responders and partial responders, but adding SSRI to ongoing CBT does not prove beneficial. The SSRIs have different effectiveness and their relative efficacy remains to be investigated.

Biography:

Despoina Drivakou is a Psychologist, trained in Systemic Approach Psychotherapy. She earned her MSc from the Medical School of Thessaloniki in Epidemiology and Public Health and continued her studies as a PhD candidate in Psychology of Health. She is a Psychologist and has private practice in Thessaloniki, working with couples, families and individuals. She is an academic staff member of QMU- Department in Thessaloniki and is Instructor of “Health and Welfare” and “Public Health Practices”. She treats people with dementia in a care home for elderly people. The areas of trauma, PTSD, ADHD and quality of life for elderly people are her scientific and clinical interests. She is a member of the Systemic Company of Northern Greece and ELPSE. She is the Founder and President of the NGO EP7A that aims to provide awareness on health education to people.

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of 25(OH) D levels with anxiety and depression symptoms in elderly individuals. Depression and anxiety are common in elderly individuals. Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is common in the elderly. However, a limited number of studies has analysed the association between vitamin D levels and anxiety/depression prevalence in elderly population. Methods: Data were collected from 130 elderly individuals (N=130, 60-98 years) attending the Κ.Α.P.I of East Prefecture of Thessaloniki, from October 2015 to November 2017. Blood samples were collected during the winter periods and vitamin D levels were measured. The psychological state of the participants was assessed with the STAI, which comprises two scales: S-Anxiety and T-Anxiety. Furthermore, symptoms of depression were assessed with the CES-D scale, a useful tool for detection of this clinical entity independent of the psychological wellness. The indicated value index for the presence of depression in Greek population is greater than 9.03. The statistical data processing was carried out using the SPSS. Results: Data from 130 individuals were analysed. They were classified as vitamin D sufficient (25(OH) D >30 ng/ml), insufficient (25(OH) D: 21-29 ng/ml), deficient (25(OH) D < 20 ng/ml) and severely deficient (25(OH) D <10 ng/ml). 67.7% of the participants (n=88) were either insufficient or deficient and 5.4% of the participants (n=7) were found to suffer from severe vitamin D deficiency. 80% (n=71 of participants) of the insufficient/deficient cohort were suffering from anxiety or depression while either anxiety or depression symptoms was present in half of the participants that were vitamin D sufficient. All individuals (n=7) that suffered from both anxiety and depression were vitamin D severely deficient. Conclusions: Both anxiety and depression are common in elderly individuals. Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency may be an additional factor that promotes these conditions.

Biography:

Esheref Haxhiu is a PhD candidate in Psychology at The University of Warsaw, Poland. He has completed his Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Sheffield University. He has completed his Bachelor’s at The University of Pristina. Previously, he has worked as a high school Teacher of Psychology in Kosovo.

Abstract:

Background & Aim: The Difficulties in Emotional Regulation Scale (DERS) is a 36-item self-report scale, designed to assess multiple aspects of emotional dysregulation. These aspects include: an acceptance of emotional responses, difficulties engaging in goals-directed behavior, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional awareness, limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and the lack of emotional clarity. The DERS is a new and promising scale, and the previous findings suggest that it has good psychometric properties. The purpose of the present study is to make the Albanian population adapt the DERS scale. Methods: Two independent professional translators have translated the scale from the English version into Albanian, and then the back translation was done from another third translator. After completing the translation process, a sample of 340 high school students (n=340), age 18-19, fulfilled the questionnaire twice in a two-week period. Results: The results reveal that the Albanian version of DERS has good psychometric properties. The internal consistency of the scale in both study phases was shown to be high (α ≥0.85), as well the test-retest reliability (r=0.85). Conclusions: The Albanian version of DERS is a reliable scale for measuring the difficulties in emotional regulation for the respective population.