20^th Euro Congress on Psychiatrists and Psychologists August 07-08 , 2017 Rome, Italy

Biography:

Einat kaufman is an Cognitive Psychotherapist, expert in trauma, grief and bereavement (Master in psychology, Psy candidates in psychology). She works in a private clinic as a therapist and a counselling to security forces at the government of Israel. Take part in several missions as first aid psychosocial all over the world after disasters.

Abstract:

The purpose of this workshop is to present a working model that helps the therapist to provide a fast and focused psychological first help to the citizen at the scene of disaster and emergency. In the recent years, I found myself working in an increasingly dangerous environment, taking quick decisions and detect necessary actions for the patient in the field, and often place myself in actual danger, or mentally and physically. My desire to work in the heat of disaster occurrence encourages me to try many tools that have helped me at the therapeutic level; some tools were adopted and some of them were built by the needs on the field. I based this model on my experience and my work in Israel - with security and civil institutions, Liberia - working with mental health and social workers after the Ebola crisis and civil war and Ecuador by working with citizens, therapists and security institutions after the earthquake. As a therapist specializing in grief and bereavement which operates mainly on the cognitive approach, I felt confident to reach the surface and take action. And then I realized that I should adapt the tools to the rapid rhythm and changing realities on the field. Therefore, I decided to build a formula of tools that will help the therapist in the field and maximize the opportunity (sometimes is unique) to assist people affected by the disaster. I found that a combination of several steps can make a difference for the patient to cope the new reality which includes: 1) Ventilation: exploring the traumatic event. 2) Information: get focused on the narrative and find a way to organize the information. 3) Organization: reorganization of the trauma and build a new i.e. re-conceptualize. 4) Self-care: search for an initial solution and creating a toolbox for coping and adaptation the new reality. In conclusion, emergencies and disasters happen suddenly. They invite the patient to readjust to the new unwanted and forced reality. On the other hand, they invite and challenge the therapist to address the problem targeted in a rapid way to help, adjust and normalize this new reality. In my view, this model may help bridge that gap.

Biography:

Yacov Rofe is a professor of psychology and former chair of the Interdisciplinary Department of Social Sciences at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan, Israel. He taught for the Department of Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and was a visiting professor at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey.He has published many articles in leading academic journals of psychology, including a theory entitled “Stress and Affiliation: a Utility Theory”, published by Psychological Review in 1984. An additional influential article, published in Review of General Psychology, 2008, is a review that refutes the existence of repression and the Freudian Unconscious.

Abstract:

Biography:

Paolo Scapellato graduated in Psychology at the University of Bologna in 1998 and then specialized in Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy at the Skinner Institute in Rome. He is active in psychotherapy privately in Macerata, where he lives, and since 2006 is a Contract Professor of Clinical Psychology and Fundamentals of Clinical Investigation at the European University of Rome. He is Professor and Supervisor of the School of Specialization in Psychotherapy of the Skinner Institute in Rome and Naples.In Macerata, he is President of the Association of psychologists and pedagogues “Praxis” since 2002 and technical consultant for the Court. He is the author of numerous national and international publications and books  Attacchi di panico e ansia acuta, supporto psicologico di base” (Giunti ed., 2017), Fondamenti di Investigazione Clinica (Editori Riuniti, 2014) e Prevenzione e trattamento delle dipendenze (Editori Riuniti, 2014).

Abstract:

For many years now, all over the world, the life-saving Basic Life Support and Defibrillation (BLS-D) is considered the most common protocol of intervention, thanks to which deaths and damage caused by cardiac arrest have lowered remarkably. The success of this first aid technique, in terms of outcomes and dissemination is attributable to the simplicity of the intervention and to the fact that anybody, including untrained individuals, can learn it and use it. The principle that every human being can, essentially, save the life of another human being has been a real revolution, not only in the medical field, but also from a social point of view. However, the same revolution did not take place in the field of psychological well-being. According to the World Health Organization, mental pain is a worrying health emergency, showing impressive, steadily increasing figures (World Health Organization, 2001; 2013). The panic attack, specifically, is an increasingly frequent phenomenon in the population and, despite it isn’t considered as a real disease, it is often associated with many mental disorders, further aggravating the clinical picture.  Providing first aid to somebody who is experiencing a panic attack in its acute phase is a very strong and intense situation. It’s scary, and it makes somebody feel completely disarmed and helpless sometimes. Moreover, without a proper training, the help provided may be ineffective or even counterproductive. That’s why the BPS (Basic Psychological Support®) was designed, as an intervention protocol for rescuers based on scientific evidence and consisting in simple procedures and behaviors aimed at the early management of panic attack and of acute anxiety, waiting of specialist rescue operations. A protocol designed for everyone, easy to learn and easy to use that aims to provide to the citizens of some skills which are simple but with a very strong social impact, and that represent a real innovation in the field of international psychology.

Biography:

Flavia Maria Margaritelli, she is a president of Association Health and Safety Observatory, teacher trainer, consultant Hr Safety & Health in the workplace for over 10 years, has her expertise in Evaluation work-related stress risk for companies and public administration, technical expert in managing anxiety, operating personal and social skills.

Abstract:

Background: In the crisis framework faced by many areas of Italy and Europe, the main resource available for revitalizing the socio-economic fabric is represented by human capital. Life skills, in the suffering contexts of the structural crisis, as many authors show, are the fundamental skills to implement for troubleshooting. In a systemic, interactionism and ecological perspective of the study of resilience, this paper describes the possibility of stimulating life and soft skills in a deep industrial crisis area, characterized by unemployment and population decline, in which the negative bias limits the population vision.

Objective: The Resilience Festival (years 2015 and 2016), an experiment developed by “ProPositivo (propositional)” association in Marghine, a West-Center region of Sardinia, has favored projects that are stimulating institutions and citizens in the research and formulation of new resilient solutions about the production, consumption and sociability side.

Methods: The Festival has allowed the emergence of life skills among the participants such as creativity-Innovation, team work, decision making, conflict management, change ability, stress tolerance, goal setting. There were observed, through a multidisciplinary methodological approach based on positive psychology, the economy of sharing, the direct participation of artistsand researchers, the use of experiential learning techniques (ethnographic tourism, workshops, coach surfing, emotional and physical theater), the skills in the collective creation of an itinerant artistic theatrical performance, attended by the population and meticulously documented in digital format.

Conclusions: The social experiment of the Resilience Festival is an ongoing process that starts with interesting results, and tends to lay the foundation, in 2017, for further applied research through qualitative and quantitative insights that can allow a careful evaluation of the experience.

Biography:

Flavia Maria Margaritelli, she is a president of Association Health and Safety Observatory, teacher trainer, consultant Hr Safety & Health in the workplace for over 10 years, has her expertise in Evaluation work-related stress risk for companies and public administration, technical expert in managing anxiety, operating personal and social skills.

Abstract:

Background: In the crisis framework faced by many areas of Italy and Europe, the main resource available for revitalizing the socio-economic fabric is represented by human capital. Life skills, in the suffering contexts of the structural crisis, as many authors show, are the fundamental skills to implement for troubleshooting. In a systemic, interactionism and ecological perspective of the study of resilience, this paper describes the possibility of stimulating life and soft skills in a deep industrial crisis area, characterized by unemployment and population decline, in which the negative bias limits the population vision.

Objective: The Resilience Festival (years 2015 and 2016), an experiment developed by “ProPositivo (propositional)” association in Marghine, a West-Center region of Sardinia, has favored projects that are stimulating institutions and citizens in the research and formulation of new resilient solutions about the production, consumption and sociability side.

Methods: The Festival has allowed the emergence of life skills among the participants such as creativity-Innovation, team work, decision making, conflict management, change ability, stress tolerance, goal setting. There were observed, through a multidisciplinary methodological approach based on positive psychology, the economy of sharing, the direct participation of artistsand researchers, the use of experiential learning techniques (ethnographic tourism, workshops, coach surfing, emotional and physical theater), the skills in the collective creation of an itinerant artistic theatrical performance, attended by the population and meticulously documented in digital format.

Conclusions: The social experiment of the Resilience Festival is an ongoing process that starts with interesting results, and tends to lay the foundation, in 2017, for further applied research through qualitative and quantitative insights that can allow a careful evaluation of the experience.

Biography:

Adsson Magalhaes is a Psychologist, and Behavior Analyst. He received Master’s in Neuroscience and Behavior and PhD from Institute of Psychology of University of São Paulo, Brazil. During 2016, he was an exchange student at Stockholm University, studying the Borg Scales with Prof. Elisabet Borg. For the last five years, he has been dedicated to study Psychophysics, Perception, Clinical Psychology, Behavior Analysis and Autism. 

Abstract:

The Borg CR scales^® are Category-Ratio scales with verbal anchors placed in agreement with the numerical scale so as to obtain ratio data. The scales were first developed to assess physical exertion and have been widely applied in physiology, ergonomy, physiotherapy, etc. We aimed to study the use of the Borg CR100 Scale (centiMax®, cM) to assess depressive symptoms. In an online survey, 32 symptoms of depression were scaled in centiMax and compared to the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Here we analyzed the answers from 100 students of Psychology (50 Brazilians-BR and 50 Swedes-SE). The Swedish average BDI was 14.0 (“Mild depression”), compared to 26.1 cM (a moderately Strong perception or feeling), and the Brazilian was 13.3, on BDI and 20.4 cM. The SE-Pearson correlation between CR100 and BDI was 0.754 (p<0.001) and BR-correlation r=0.824 (p<0.001), which implies that the CR100 can be used to assess depression. More importantly, with ratio data the true relationships among feelings can be studied. In this sample of healthy participants, “Tiredness or Fatigue”, was given the highest rating (m = 43.9 cM-SE), for example perceived as about twice as strong as “Guilt” (m=21.8 cM-SE) and approximately four times as strong as “Punishment Feelings” (m=11.6 cM-SE). The results show that the Borg CR100 Scale is valid to assess depressive symptoms and also provides data with more possibilities of using the scores than the BDI, for example in symptom profiles for individuals (Fig. 1) or for groups. With Borg’s range model, both intra- and inter-symptom comparisons, within and between single individuals as well as groups, are possible.

Biography:

Maya Libben is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the Psychopathology Lifespan and Neuropsychology (PLAN) Laboratory at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Her research focuses on the use of cutting-edge methodological platforms to advance neuropsychological treatment and rehabilitation protocols. Most recently, she has focused on the use of eye-tracking techniques to advance our understanding of the attentional deficits underlining hemispatial neglect and develop new rehabilitation protocols. Her research has been supported by grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation. In addition to her research, she is a practicing Clinical Psychologist, providing psychotherapeutic and neuropsychological assessment services to members of the community. 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Hemispatial neglect is defined as a failure to report, respond, or orient to stimuli on the contralesional side of space. Despite affecting up to two-thirds of right-hemisphere stroke patients, neglect is a relatively poorly understood phenomenon. Of importance to rehabilitation and clinical outcome studies is the differentiation between viewer-centered or egocentric neglect, and stimulus-centered or allocentric neglect. The current study aimed to a) develop a novel method of assessing neglect subtypes using eye-tracking technology; b) investigate specific patterns of attention associated with each subtype; and c) determine the relationship between neglect subtype and functional outcome.

Methodology: Twenty acute stroke patients and twenty matched controls were administered comprehensive neuropsychological assessment batteries, a traditional pencil-and-paper assessment of neglect subtype a novel eye-tracking measure of neglect subtype and a functional outcome measure.

Findings: The eye-tracking measure was more sensitive in identifying neglect subtype in patients than the traditional pencil-and-paper test. The eye-tracking measure also demonstrated adequate specificity, with control participants scoring as normal. Classification of neglect subtype based on eye-tracking performance was a significant predictor of functional outcome above and beyond neuropsychological test performance and traditional tests of neglect. Analysis of early (automatic) vs. late (controlled) eye movement data suggest that early mechanisms of attention remain intact among neglect patients, and that deficits lie in later controlled stages of attention.

Conclusion & Significance: The current results have significant implications for methods of assessing hemispatial neglect to better predict long-term prognosis. Results indicating deficits in controlled mechanisms of attention will be fundamental in directing rehabilitative treatment for individuals suffering from both ego and allocentric neglect.

Biography:

Simona Trifu is a MD Psychiatrist. She is a Professor in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest; Lecturer at Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila" Bucharest. She has a Doctoral Degree in Psychology and in Medicine. She is a full time Member of International Psychoanalytical Association. She pursued Master’s Degree in Public Health Management. She has published 10 books and is also the author of many articles presented in several international scientific worldwide conferences.

Abstract:

Motivation: The ability of self-organization and decision-making in life provides the control, the self-control and self-confidence. In assuming the tutor role, one must accomplish the maternalization and paternalization functions, but also of ensuring the accomplishment of maternal and paternal roles. To determine the creative abilities or the systematized delirium as a solution for the failure settlement in the adaptation to socio-cultural environment felt traumatic.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were psychological assessment of the current profile and psychical personality structure to understand the functioning patterns and testing the psychic capacity and the limits between reality and imagination, ensuring the success in the labor of therapeutic process, having a starting prognosis.

Hypothesis: In the case of patient T, the difficulties she face can be caused by the depression onset or possibly by the adaptation disorder with anxiety on a pattern of dysfunctional attachment.

Instruments: Anamnesis, clinical interview, drawing the life map, clinical scales were used to assess the patient. The combined application of PANSS scale aims at leading to a better differential diagnosis between the depressive colors versus the onset of a major psychic disorder. The complex investigation of personality also implied the administration of a Lusher projective test, with the tree test, face test, and family test.

Results: The case study highlighted the fissure of the ego that is immature and the existence of mental non-development, to which family, social and environmental factors contributed negatively. In this adolescence period, the patient tries to lean on the defense mechanisms that fail, having a deficient psycho affective structure since primitive childhood.

Conclusions: This case study aims at connecting the heredity data, the structuring in psycho-affective development from the period of primitive evolution phases of early childhood, in psychic health or in the etiology of a possible personality disharmony.

Biography:

Kay Chang is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Macau. She actively applies the scientist–practitioner framework in both her academic and clinical work since her graduation from the California School of Professional Psychology, Alameda. She is an US licensed Clinical Psychologist and an UK chartered Clinical Psychologist who has a noticeably diverse experience base by having practiced in US, China, Hong Kong and Macau. She also volunteers for going consultations in abuse cases and disaster trauma work. Her research interests include the applied aspects of Positive Psychology, Medical Anthropology, professional development issues, addictive behaviors, creativity factors and resilient capacities.

Abstract:

Giving birth is an undeniably defining moment of every mother and the postnatal care, in one form or the other, is a crucial adjustment period for women of cross cultures. Yet, the psychosocial factors that add on the demands of new mothers and their self-evaluations are lesser known. This ethnic-specific study investigated the relationships among body image dissatisfaction, postpartum depression, marital satisfaction and objectified body consciousness perceived by women after childbirth within one to six months in Macau. Data from 70 mothers were collected locally from two clinics and one hospital. Results showed a prevalence rate of postpartum depression of 18.6% among these understudied mothers. Both body image dissatisfaction and marital satisfaction were found to contribute to postpartum depression. Body surveillance and body shame were positive predictors of body image dissatisfaction. Furthermore, significant discrepancies in body mass index and body image dissatisfaction suggest a considerable level of body image distortion. Clinical implications of this study for psychiatric and psychological service providers are discussed.

Biography:

Erez Yaakobi is an expert in attachment theory, ostracism and terror management theory and conducts research examining their effects on psychological outcomes including health and wellbeing. He has published peer review papers in leading journals and written three books on these topics. He is a Senior Lecturer and teaches psychological research methods and statistical courses at several academic institutions, leads academic programs, and is an Organizational Psychologist serving as a Consultant for organizations in public and private sectors.

Abstract:

Ostracism is known to cause psychological distress. Studies have indicated that immediate distress is resistant to individual differences and situational factors, but delayed reactions are more sensitive to moderation. Because attachment orientation is inextricably tied to rejection and inclusion, we hypothesized that attachment orientation would moderate both immediate and delayed ostracism effects and that recalling an attachment event compatible with a person’s attachment internal working model would moderate the distress of a laboratory ostracism experience. In two experiments, 158 individualistic (secular Jewish) and 190 collectivistic (ultra-Orthodox Jewish) participants played Cyberball with two other ostensible in-group players. Distress was measured immediately after the game and 30 minutes later. The results showed that less anxious and more avoidant individualistic but not collectivistic participants were less distressed by ostracism. After the delay, recall of an attachment event compatible with the participants’ internal working model eliminated distress in both individualistic and collectivistic ostracized participants as measured on the needs satisfaction scale. Among individualistic participants, avoidants, who are known to avoid meaningful attachments, were less distressed by ostracism; anxious participants, who seek proximity, were more distressed. Recalling a compatible attachment event may be a mechanism that reduces individuals’ perceptions of threats to their fundamental needs.

Biography:

Hirokazu Osada is a Professor at Department of Psychology, Senshu University, Japan. As a certified Clinical Psychologist, he has a long professional career of conducting early intervention/family intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and ADHD. He also applied brief psychotherapy (solution focused brief therapy) especially for adolescents with ASD. As a researcher, he has mainly used an epidemiological method for screening target disorders in general population. Also, he has been using qualitative approach, when he conducts research for generating hypothesis in his target population. His other interest is focused on Trans-cultural Psychiatry.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Callous-Unemotional Traits (CU traits) have been adopted as one of the specified features under Conduct Disorder (CD) in DSM-5. CD is directly related to antisocial behaviors including delinquency. If CU traits could be detected in early life stages, we could prevent children from antisocial behaviors.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: I conducted national survey for screening CU traits among Japanese children and adolescents by using the Japanese version of the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits (JICU). A total of 4088 students (average age was 12.5 years old (SD=1.56), 2125 boys and 1963 girls) participated in this research.

Findings: Cronbach’s alpha calculated by using all the 24 questions was 0.74, which indicated the JICU had acceptable reliability. Average total scores of the JICU was 26.5 (SD=7.91), which was almost the same score reported by Kumsta (2012) among UK sample. I found a certain level of reliability and validity of the JICU. Using 80 percentile score of the JICU as a cut-off for CU traits, 795 students were considered as having CU traits. I found there were no cultural differences between Japanese and American or European children and adolescents, who had presented with CU traits in the previous research.

Conclusion & Significance: We could adopt the previous American and/or European evidence based practices to prevent Japanese children and adolescents with CU traits from antisocial behaviors in the future.

Biography:

Victoria Zakopoulou is an Associate Professor at the Department of Speech and Language Therapy of the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus. She holds a PhD in Special Education, and MS and Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology from the University of Ioannina. Her Postdoctoral Research has been carried out in the University Hospital of Ioannina (Pediatrics Clinic). Her research interests lie in the field of Learning Difficulties, with emphasis in Early Developmental Dyslexia. She is the Head of the Laboratory of New Approaches in Communication Disorders. She is a member of scientific committees and participates actively in the design and realization of scientific, research and corporate projects. She is the author of several research articles and has participated in several National and EU funded research projects.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The Specific Developmental Dyslexia (SDD) is related to 3-12% of the student population and manifested by a diversity of symptoms in the process of reading and writing acquisition. It is characterized by various interactions of dysfunctions of biological, neurophysiological, cognitive and psychomotor factors. Early detection of SDD at the preschool age is becoming more urgent as it contributes in reducing or preventing multiple negative impacts on later school age. Aiming in this study, to create and implement appropriate individualized early intervention models, early diagnosis procedures were designed, applied, and analyzed through a correlation model of the following factors: cognitive (memory, attention, perception), psychomotor (laterality, spatiotemporal orientation), linguistic (emerging literacy), socio-emotional (internalized and executive behavior).

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The survey was applied to a sample of 20 infants from 4.6 to 6.0 years, and was completed in the following stages: a) implementation of four preschool diagnostic tools identifying infants at risk for early onset of SDD; b) investigation of main precursors factors; c) figuration of SDD customized profiles; c) design of intervention plans adjusted to the specific needs of each infant, implementing two structured intervention methods.

Findings: Through multivariate analysis models, a total of 12 infants’ diagnostic key SDD profiles were emerged, in a distinct multifaceted complexity. According to the classification and the combined manifest of difficulties, appropriately tailored individual intervention programs were designed and implemented on 10 infants for a period of 8 months.

Conclusion & Significance: Though the current research was attempted to be stressed, the necessity as well as the possibility of developing, at the preschool age: i) safe, individualized diagnostic profiles of SDD and, ii) effective interventions models, well-suited individual specific needs.

Biography:

Jacqueline A Hinds is a certified Emotional Intelligence Coach (CEIC) and Leadership Consultant. She has worked within the National Healthcare Service for over 10 years; in two of the largest merged healthcare organisations in UK and Europe. From 2006–2010 she was the Leadership Development Consultant pre-and post merge of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and from 2010–2015 she was Education Academy Training Manager pre-and post merge of Barts Health NHS Trust. She is now Chair of the Society of Emotional Intelligence, UK Chapter and an independent Consultant working on various coaching assignments, women’s empowerment programmes, personal and leadership development projects in the community.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Leading transformation in healthcare has tremendous advantage in improving the services, patient experience and care within the National Health Service (NHS). It also bears the scars and, has had a significant impact on staff undergoing the transformation and, in a large majority of cases, impairing their duty of care to the patients and services under their care. The concept of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in healthcare, although not referred to or identified as an integral part of the healthcare infrastructure, is interwoven into everything that is delivered as part of a service provision. In fact, EI is crucial throughout all levels of employees within healthcare and not just senior managers or leaders; the knowledge of EI enables individuals to understand their emotions, emotional meanings and to reflectively regulate these emotions whilst transitioning through change initiatives and periods of significant and sometimes, rapid transformation. Not all healthcare transformational projects have been successful in the past, some have been more transactional and results driven, which has led to employees feeling pressured and disturbed about the changes that were taking place and often, being emotionally unstable or stressed because of the changes at that juncture. Experiences within two of the largest merged healthcare organisations in the UK, has brought forth a cornucopia of knowledge and experience around leading transformational change in the healthcare and the role of emotional intelligence. Experiences in effective transformational change and, the fallout of transactional change initiatives, has resulted over the years in a significant rise in organisations requesting external consultants to deliver conflict resolution and more recently, anger management training within their establishments. The presentation will highlight some examples of where emotional intelligence has made a significant contribution to leading smoother transformation initiatives within the healthcare.

Biography:

Hulya Kok is a Doctoral Student in Nursing and a Research Assistant at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Eskisehir Osmangazi University. She holds a Master’s degree in Psyciatric Nursing from the Gazi University.

Abstract:

Objective: Organized as descriptive research, the present study aimed to investigate the internalized stigma, self-esteem and perceived social support levels in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients who were followed at a psychiatry polyclinic.

Method: The study was conducted with 162 schizophrenias and 200 bipolar disorder patients who applied for treatment at two state hospitals and one university hospital. Data for the study were collected using patient information forms, the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale (ISMIS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).

Results: The ISMIS mean scores showed statistically significant differences based on the diagnoses of the patients, awareness of the diagnosis, suicide attempts and regular psychiatric care among the patients (p<0.05). The ISMIS mean scores of patients with the diagnosis of schizophrenia were significantly higher than those of the bipolar disorder patients (p<0.05). The ISMIS mean scores of the patients who did not know their diagnoses, who attempted suicide and who did not attend follow-ups regularly were higher (p<0.05) There was a positive correlation between the ISMIS and RSES scores of the patients (r=0.671; p=0.000). In contrast, there was a negative correlation between the ISMIS and MSPSS scores (r=-0,411; p=0.000).

Conclusion: The less self-esteem and perceived social support that the patients had, the greater the internalized stigma was. Thus, planning and conducting initiatives to increase self-esteem and social support for patients have become significant. 

Biography:

Prof. Yuping Cao, got the Ph.D degree in Psychiatry and mental Health in 2006. Since joining the Central South University, she has been involved with studies related to psychotherapy, and got several national grants about psychotherapy. She was edit-in-chief of two books on psychotherapy and psychological intervention, and modulated and normalized the ten kinds of psychotherapy methods in China firstly, which was founded by Ministry of Science and Technology of China. 

Prof. Yalin Zhang got the Ph.D degree in Psychiatry and mental Health in 1998. Since joining the Central South University, he has been involved with studies on psychotherapy, and got several national grants about psychotherapy. He worked as a deputy dean of department of psychiatry in 1995-2011. He was edit-in-chief of ten books on  psychotherapy and psychological intervention, and modulated and normalized the ten kinds of psychotherapy methods in China firstly.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The psycho-counseling and psychotherapy have been developed in China since two decades, and the practitioners are growing. However, these practitioners’ professional backgrounds have not been well studied previously. This paper is set to explore their professional backgrounds nationwide in China.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional nationwide survey. Multi-stage sampling by regions and cities combined with cross-control quota sampling by disciplines was used, and then face-to-face interview was conducted. According to the administrative divisions by Chinese government, the whole China was divided into 6 regions. In each region, the sampling cities were divided into 3 city-level. And the sampling disciplines included three, which were health-care system, educational system and other department practitioners. A quota sample of 200 practitioners was selected from each region. Each discipline covered one third of sampling both in each region and each city-level. 

Findings:  A total of 1232 practitioners were interviewed face-to-face. 70.4% was female and 29.6% was male. The mean age was 37.0±8.4 years (range from 21 to 80 years). As to educational level, 68.8% of all the practitioners were with undergraduate degree, 31.0% with graduate or postgraduate degree, only 0.2% with high school level. As to professional background, 49.6% of the practitioners were with psychology, 36.0% with medicine, 17.5% with pedagogics, and 25% with other background such as law, finance, engineering, management, Chinese literature, nursing, IT, chemical, trading, tourism science, agriculture, sociology and nutriology, et al. Among non-psychologists, 61.7% of the practitioners learned psychological knowledge from the training class, 22.2% learned from the conference, 39.6% from refresher course, 27.7% from the supervisor, 19.6% from web-based training, and 51.4% learned by themselves. 

Conclusion & Significance:  Although the educational level of the practitioners of psycho-counseling and psychotherapy in China is not low, less than half of them were with background of psychology, and more than half of them learned by themselves. It suggested that the practitioners of psycho-counseling and psychotherapy in China need more normalized guideline and training.

Biography:

Dr Sapkota is Additional Professor and Head in the department of Psychiatry at B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal(BPKIHS). This University has adopted innovative medical education with integration of education and service adopting concepts of "Teaching Districts" for its students and quality service for the community

Abstract:

Background: Studies have shown that there is an association between anxiety and depression in mothers of children having intellectual disability with poor quality of life (QOL) in mothers of such children.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are: 1. To describe the clinico-socio-demographic profile of mothers of intellectually disabled children. 2. To investigate the relationship among anxiety and depression with quality of life in mothers with intellectually disabled children.

Materials & Method: Mothers (N=31) whose children's IQ score was below 70, were enrolled in to the study with their informed consent. Depression and anxiety disorders were diagnosed as per ICD 10. Severity of depression was measured with BDI and anxiety symptoms with STAI. WHOQOL-BREF was used to assess quality of life. The relationship among anxiety, depression and QOL were analyzed using diagonal matrix, ANOVA and Pearson correlation test.

Results: The mean age of participants was 50.23 (SD=6.11), BDI score was 13.65 (SD=11.301), STAI score was 53.90 (SD=15.821), and WHOQOL-BREF in all four domains was 290.90 (S.D=49.42). There was significant correlation between BDI and STAI (P=0.01, r:0.651) and the three domains of WHOQOL-BREF (P=0.01, r:0.821, 0.843, 0.635 respectively) scale except environment domain. Among the participants, 48.4% (ICD 10) had depression of varying degree along with 54.8% depression as per BDI cut off score. Anxiety disorder was seen in 22.6% as per ICD 10 but as per STAI, it was 53.90 (SD=15.821) which was statistically significant (p:0.01, r:-0.507). Depression when compared with no diagnosis persons has poor quality of life in WHOQOL-BREF physical domain (p:0.002) but when compared to anxiety or both, it was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that mothers of children having intellectual disability have high level of anxiety and depression which indeed had impact on quality of life. 

Biography:

Simona Trifu is a MD Psychiatrist. She is a Professor in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Bucharest; Lecturer at Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila" Bucharest. She has a Doctoral Degree in Psychology and in Medicine. She is a full time Member of International Psychoanalytical Association. She pursued Master’s Degree in Public Health Management. She has published 10 books and is also the author of many articles presented in several international scientific worldwide conferences.

Abstract:

Motivation: Making a differential diagnosis between schizoaffective disorder with major depressive episode and paranoid schizophrenia is difficult. It is difficult to make a clear difference in this case as the patient is at the threshold of neurotic versus psychotic, the intensity of ideation phenomenon being very high and specific to both disorders, it is required to assess life history information and history of the disorder as well as the emotional presence of the patient in the clinical interview.

Objective: In this case study, we suggest a comparison with specialty literature but also with evaluating a profile of the disorder, marked by a psychiatric illness in which the person shows both affective symptoms (depressive or maniac) and symptoms of schizophrenia (such as delusions, hallucinations).

Hypothesis: Highlighting the diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is difficult, symptoms of the patient are oscillating between paranoid elements (paranoid schizophrenia) and affective elements (schizoaffective disorder). These oscillations are based on a fragile ego structure with cognitive rigidity.

Results: The study outlines a personality profile immature-dependent, based on interpretativity, with passive-aggressive elements, sensitivism, sensitivity to rejection, psychotic operation (through the intensity of the feelings of date) and through psychotic elements manifested in the past (auditory hallucinations, as voices). Also, the basis of the transfer and counter transfer elements identified, the emotional resonance is low, with a risk of psychotic decompensation.

Conclusions: Depressive schizoaffective disorder is characterized by presence of both depressive symptoms and those of schizophrenia in the same period. Depressive symptoms include: depressed mood, reduced interest, sluggishness, low energy, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of despair. During the same episode are present symptoms of schizophrenia such as: hallucinations, delusions of control, state of hyper vigilance, delusions injury.

Biography:

Prasanna Jayatilake has his interest and practice in the branch of Applied Psychology on Mindfulness and its practical applications in counselling. He employs the Buddhist Concept of Mindfulness (BCM) in counselling, which is universal and highly effective technique to enhance consolidated therapeutic outcomes of clients. While himself being a mindfulness practitioner, he helps clients to identify the root causes of problems by bringing their awareness about the true nature of the existence and be mindful about it. The regular practice of mindfulness would bring the potential of the clients to a level that they would not shake in any challenging life situation. In his 22 years of practice as a Counsellor, he has witnessed a marked recovery of clients in the said process. His motive of research is to establish a “Mindfulness Counselling” model, to benefit the clients in a more effective manner.

Abstract:

Mindfulness has gained much attention and inspiration from professionals, psychologists, and psychiatrists across the world. Many attempts have been made to integrate mindfulness into therapeutic interventions with many efforts to test its efficacy. Mindfulness can be used to treat a wide range of mental conditions including chronic stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bipolar disorder, etc. Researchers suggest that mindfulness helps to make neurobiological changes inside the brain which help to repair the disturbed neural connections. Even though there are evidences of some successful integrations, research also suggest that the concept “mindfulness” used in the contemporary practice is “not complete” and rather “narrowed down” or “diluted”, with some evident weaknesses such as recurrent relapses. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the aforementioned “missing points”. It was revealed that there had been an “incompleteness” occurred in cognitive change (Right View) which is a prerequisite for mindfulness in accordance with original Buddhist texts. Consequently, with no Right View (the ability to understand the true nature of the existence), such relapses could invariably occur. Furthermore, in the most accepted definition for mindfulness by Prof. Kabat Zinn, no information was found for such a cognitive change. Accordingly, just by “paying attention” it is hard to expect a cognitive change to happen and it may result in incompleteness and relapses in therapeutic interventions. In contrast, the psychotherapies based on the original ideologies in Buddhist mindfulness, were successful at making the above-mentioned cognitive change. Subsequently, clients are guided to be mindful about the “true nature”, which can be mastered even in daily life events. With such gradual mindfulness practice, anyone would get a better understanding about themselves and the nature of their existence. Mastering mindfulness with changes in cognition would result in more consolidated therapeutic outcomes. Further research may be needed to test the efficacy of this novel approach to enhance mental wellness of mankind.

Biography:

Angel Jose Salvador Casanova is a Medical Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, Psychologist. She completed Master’s in Drug Dependencies at the Faculty of Medicine of the University Complutense of Madrid. She is also an Associate Professor in Faculty of Medicine of the University Complutense of Madrid and Clinical Head of PSICOMED. She has been Head of Service of Socio-Health Programs of the Government's delegation for the National Drug Plan, Madrid, Spain. 

Abstract:

Statement: The National Plan on Drugs of Spain (PNSD) is the axis in which centers and programs of attention to the drug addicts, acting from a Bio/Psycho/Social vision and endowed with multidisciplinary teams of professionals of diverse Disciplines (doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, etc.) work along. The PNSD incorporates general and specialized centers and services of the National Health System of Spain. The social fabric also intervenes through the devices that depend on the municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and self-help groups, complemented by duly accredited private resources. They have the following levels of care. Firstly, these resources have direct access being the gateway to the system. They can be derived to second level resources. Its accessibility and flexibility are maximum and its degree of exigency is low. Secondly, the therapeutic circuit is a good part of the process of assistance to the drug addicts. It includes the following resources: Specific Outpatient Centers for Drug Dependents (DAC). All of these resources may be appropriately derived from other resources at the same or other levels. At last, it is constituted by specific resources with a high level of specialization for the residential treatment of drug dependencies: Hospital Detoxification Units (UDH), Dual Pathology Unit, Therapeutic Communities (CT), to all the devices that form part of this level is accessed by referral centers or services with specialized treatment functions. Subsequently, these resources return the cases to the resources of the second level sent by the patient. Since 1985, the PNSD has been adjusting the care and reinsertion resources to the changes in the profiles of drug addicts and their needs.

Biography:

Yelda Kagnici, completed her bachelor degree in 1997, graduate degree in 1999 and doctorate degree in 2004 in Middle East Technical University, Guidance and Counseling Program. She worked as a counselor in METU Health Center between 1998 and 2000. Between 2001 and 2003 she worked as an intern counselor in Incarnate Word University Counseling Center, USA. Since 2004 she has been working as a faculty member in Guidance and Counseling program in Ege University. Her research interests are counselor training and supervision, multicultural counseling and adaptation of international students. 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Infertility is the inability to reproduce after twelve months or longer unprotected sexual relationship. Although infertility is not a life threatening illness, it is considered as a serious problem for both the individual and the society. At this point, the importance of examining attitudes towards infertility is critical. Negative attitudes towards infertility may postpone individual’s help-seeking behaviors. The aim of this study is to investigate university students attitudes towards infertility in terms of socio-demographic variables (gender, age, taking sexual health education, existence of an infertile individual in the social network, plans about having child and behaviors about health).

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The sample of the study was 9693 university students attending 21 universities in Turkey. Of the 9693 students, 51.6% (n=5002) were female, 48.4% (n=4691) were male. The data was collected by Attitudes toward Infertility Scale developed by researchers and Personal Information Form.

Findings: It was found that female students, students who had sexual health education, who have sexual relationship experience, who have an infertile individual in their social networks, who have child plans, who have high caffeine usage and who use alcohol regularly have more positive attitudes towards infertility. On the other hand, attitudes towards infidelity did not show significant differences in terms of age and cigarette usage.

Conclusion & Significance: When the results of the study were evaluated in general, it was seen that university student’s attitudes towards infertility were negative. The attitudes of students who have high caffeine and alcohols usage were high. It can be considered that these students are aware that their social habits are risky. Female student’s positive attitudes might be explained by their gender role. The results point out that in order to decrease university student’s negative attitudes towards infertility, there is a necessity to develop preventive programs in universities. 

Biography:

Bahar Baran, Assoc. Dr., Dokuz Eylül University, Department of Computer and Instructional Technology Education, Buca Izmir. She studies on the use of social media and multi-user virtual environments in education, educational video, multimedia and game development, the effect of computer games and internet on school bullying, multitasking with media, technology integration, information and computer literacy. She teaches multimedia design, distance education, research methods in educational technology.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: It is known that some factors associated with infertility have preventable characteristics and that young people's knowledge levels in this regard are inadequate, but very few studies focus on effective prevention studies on infertility. Nowadays, considering the households' utilization rates from technology and the Internet, it seems that young people have applied to websites as a primary source of information related to a health problem they have encountered. The aim of this research is to determine what university students want to learn about infertility and fertility and examine their views on the structure of the website.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The sample of the research consisted of 9693 university students who study in 21 public higher education programs in Turkey. 51.6% (n = 5002) were female and 48.4% (n = 4691) were male. The Needs Analysis Questionnaire developed by the researchers was used as data collection tool in the research.

Findings: According to the findings, among the topics that university students wanted to study about infertility and fertility, the first topics were "Misconceptions about infertility" (94.9%), "Misconceptions about sexual behaviors" (94.6%), "Factors affecting infertility" (92.8%), "Sexual health and reproductive health" (92.5%), "Sexually transmitted diseases" (92.7%). Moreover, 91.5% (n = 8871) of the university students proposed to use frequently asked questions and their answers, 89.2% stated that expert video should be included, 82.6% requested animations and simulations, 76.1% proposed different content according to sex and 66% proposed different designs according to sex.

Conclusion & Significance: The findings are similar to the contents of the program carried out in other countries in terms of the topics to be studied. It is suggested to take into account the opinions of the participants during the design of website

Biography:

Sawsan K Elgalad is Assistant Professor of Nursing at Psychiatric Nursing Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City. She has completed PhD in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The family is an important factor affecting the patient’s mental conditions and the course of recovery. Conversely, the patients also create enormous hardship for their family. Certain attributes of the family environment, like the expressed emotions, hardship in living, and attitude held by the family members toward their mentally ill are viewed as crucial to patients relapse.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: A socio-demographic and clinical data structured interview schedule, expressed emotion scale is used for assessing the expressed emotion components of family members, family attitude scale intends to measure the family emotional climate or "stress" within a relationship, and empathic attitude scale is measure of the support function of the family for the home cared patient. Hardships of family life scale is a measure of hardships in the living of the family caused by living with the patient.

Findings: Findings showed that family expressed emotion, family empathy, family attitude and hardship in living are risk factors for patients relapse. Among them hardship in living and family attitude were found to be statistically related to the incidence of relapse among schizophrenic patients. It can be noticed that family expressed emotion is significantly and positively correlated with family attitude, empathic attitude and Hardships of family life.

Conclusion & Significance: It has been found in the present study that the majority of the family caregivers had low expressed emotions. This indicates that positive emotions as support, compassion, acceptances are high among the studied family caregivers of schizophrenia patients who have relapsed. In spite of positive emotions, the patients are relapsing this is of course ridiculous as negative emotions have been known to cause relapse. This means that high negative expressed emotions, which have linked to frequency of relapse in schizophrenic patients in Western studies, are not seen in the present results