Simulated Public Speaking (SPS) test is sensitive to drugs that interfere with serotonin-mediated neurotransmission and is supposed to recruit neural systems involved in panic disorder. The study was aimed at evaluating the effects of escitalopram, the most selective serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor available, in SPS. Healthy males received, in a double-blind, randomized design, placebo (n=12), 10 (n=17) or 20 (n=14) mg of escitalopram two hours before the test. Behavioural, autonomic and neuroendocrine measures were assessed. Both doses of escitalopram did not produce any effect before or during the speech, but prolonged the fear induced by SPS. The test itself did not significantly change cortisol and prolactin levels, but under the higher dose of escitalopram, cortisol and prolactin increased immediately after SPS. This fear-enhancing effect of escitalopram agrees with previously reported results with less selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the receptor antagonist ritanserin, indicating that serotonin inhibits speaking fear.

Given the capacity of the adult brain to generate new neurons (a process called neurogenesis), adult neuronal stem cells have been proposed as an endogenous source of healthy cells for the treatment of certain neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is not completely understood to what extent this process is altered in neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington's Disease (HD). An increase in neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of HD patients has been previously reported. On the other hand, we and others found a dramatic decrease in neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus of the most studied HD transgenic mouse models, the R6/2 and R6/1 lines. We are now examining neurogenesis in a transgenic model that expresses the full-length huntingtin gene with 128 CAG repeats, the YAC128 mice. We are analysing how disease progression in the YAC128 model affects each stage of the neurogenic process (i.e., proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation) in the two neurogenic regions (SVZ and DG). Proliferation will be evaluated in end-stage, symptomatic, early-symptomatic and pre-symptomatic YAC128 mice by immunohistochemistry for a variety of exogenous and endogenous cell cycle markers. Cell survival, migration and differentiation will be assessed by immuno-labelling of immature and mature neurons. Since hippocampal neurogenesis is thought to be involved in cognitive processes, a reduction in it might contribute to the cognitive deficits and/or depression in HD. Furthermore, these results will ascertain how well the HD brain might sustain neuronal transplant therapies.

In the sample of 943 preschool children aged between 4 and 7 (where the arithmetic mean is 5.72 decimal years and standard deviation .882) the assessment questionnaire was used in order to get the description of children's behavior as seen by their parents. The questionnaire contained 36 items for assessing behavior.

The aim of the research was to determine which forms of behavior characterize preschool children and how behaviors are manifested with relation to sex and the age of a child. The research shows that certain forms of manifestable behavior, such as aggressiveness, vivacity, restlessness are more often manifested in boys, while in the case of girls latent forms of behavior are more often manifested. The results achieved show that a number of behaviors, mostly externalized, change and manifest less frequently under the educational impact while growing up.

The early screening of problems related to the mental health of children, especially of those referring to the behavior and emotional problems, enables timely detection and early disorder intervention.

Animals are considered to act as social substitute, allowing people with autism spectrums disorders (ASD), a cognitive disorder, with social withdrawal, first to establish bonds with them and second to extend these bonds to humans. However, clear scientific bases proving such effects are still lacking. As a first step, the present study describes the interactions between 190 subjects with ASD and their pets, and investigates the possible influence of the subject's age and of the pet species. On the one hand, parents reported that their 6-to-12 year-old children mainly interacted by physical contacts whereas adults with ASD mostly interacted with visual contact, both with dogs and cats. On the other hand, some environmental factors and pet characteristics seemed to modulate the relation described; for example, the relation between 6-to-9 year-old children with ASD and their dog seemed to be related to dog size and purchase origin. Such study could be considered as a first characterisation of the relation that subjects with ASD could develop with their pets and the basis for thoughts about what animals and how animals could potentially help developing cognitive or social skills in such children.

Spirituality and religiosity in the treatment of persons with mental disorders have a rich tradition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but in the last half century these dimensions were unjustifiably ignored. Working with a large number of difficult traumatized people during the war, we perceived that religious people coped more successfully with a variety of difficulties that have afflicted them, than those who were not religious. Psychiatrists, who had the sensitivity to indicate the religious needs of certain clients in indicated cases, used the spirituality and religiosity in the process of healing. Following the trail of such remarks a number of empiric researches were done, which confirmed the justification for this approach. In that way the spirituality and religiosity found their place in the educational programmes for professionals in the field of mental health and psychotherapeutic treatment of psychiatric patients. Thereby, we as mental health providers, established cooperation with certain religious institutions and religious officials in that field, and we arranged in the framework of hospital institution adequate rooms for spiritual and religious needs of patients, which received their equal place with other necessary facilities.

Many people who suffer from SCD experience debilitating bone pain crises, which often bring them to seek emergency care. The following is a case report of a 27 year old male patient who expressed suicidal ideation during a Sickle cell bone pain crisis. He went to the emergency room with intense pain in his right leg, which was not relieved by Ibuprofen. He has had several visits to the emergency room including three previous hospitalizations for sickle cell bone pain crisis management. In the emergency room he was treated with 50 mg of meperidine and re-hydrated with normal saline. After two hours, the emergency room physician discharged him. The patient felt he was not adequately treated and requested more pain relief, but was denied. At this point, he expressed suicidal ideation with a plan to shoot himself when he got home. As a result, psychiatric consult was requested. Upon psychiatric evaluation, he expressed to the psychiatrist that he didn't really plan to kill himself. The psychiatrist recommended hospitalization of the patient in the medical unit and aggressive pain management protocol. This is a case of a patient with SCD in bone pain crisis who expressed suicidal ideation as a cry for help. While this behavior from patients should not be encouraged, patients with documented SCD in bone pain crisis should be adequately treated. It is better to error on the side of treatment than risk negligence and sub-standard care.

Early internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems strongly predict later behaviour problems. We investigated cognitive correlates (executive functioning (EF), Theory of Mind (ToM), and verbal ability (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Task (PPVT) of internalizing and externalizing behaviour (assessed with Child Behaviour Checklist) in 229 3-to-6-year-old children. ToM and EF (r = .446, p < .001), ToM and PPVT (r = .308, p < .001), and EF and PPVT (r = .434, p < .001) were significantly related. Partial correlations, controlling for age, EF, and PPVT, showed that ToM was independently related to internalizing behaviour (r = -.125, p = .030), emotional reactivity (r = -.120, p = .035), anxious/depressed (r = -.141, p = -.016), and withdrawn/depressed (r = -.138, p = .018). Trends were observed for correlations between ToM and externalizing behaviour (r = -.105, p = .057) and aggression (r = -.087, p =.096), while the correlation with attention problems was significant (r = -.119, p = .036). Generalized Linear Models also showed significant differences on externalizing behaviour [Wald Chi-square = 17.8, p < .001] and aggression [Chi-square = 14.9, p = .001], between children with good and poor ToM-performance. In contrast, none of the EF-behaviour correlations remained significant after control for ToM and PPVT, and only the PPVT-withdrawn/depressed correlation remained significant after control for EF and ToM.

It is concluded that cognitive interventions for young children at an increased risk for continued behaviour problems might best be aimed at improving social cognitive abilities.

Childhood autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by impairments in social interactions, verbal and non-verbal communication and a pattern of stereotypical behaviours and interests. Contemporary studies show significant genetic and neurobiological factors in autism. Numerous authors described certain dysmorphic features, commonly occurring separately in autistic persons. These features are considered to be the potential indicator of early neurodevelopmental disorders.The aim of the study was to establish the dysmorphic features of the face in a group of autistic children and to compare the results to normal controls.We examined 30 children with childhood autism and 30 healthy controls.Criteria DSM-IV and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used in diagnosis. The photoanthropometric method followed the protocol established by Stengel-Rutkowski et al.

Statistical analysis was conducted with the use of ANOVA Kruskal-Wallis and U Mann Whitney tests, correlation analysis was made using χ2; test and Spearmann index. A level of p< 0,05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Dysmorphies of the ear as well as nose were found in the group of autistic children in comparison with the controls. In the examined group there was the correlation between the amount of dysmorphies and the presence of some somatic disorders in the first-degree relatives. The presence of these disorders showed also the connection with the scores in Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Besides there was a relationship between the amount of dysmorphies and the motor development of autistic children. The greater number of dysmorphies had a connection with delayed motor development and poor motor coordination.

Less can be more, much more. This brief four-stanza poem on “Silence” has served well as a focus in family psychotherapy addressing the changes in relationships between child and parent: inherent trust, perceived betrayal, attempts to heal, and communication. All parents and children at some time have felt or witnessed aspects of this poem. Poetry can be the catalyst for a deeper understanding of self, especially in the context of family. Poetry and poetry therapy permit the expression and analysis of powerful emotions and thoughts often too painful to vocalize.

Parental alienation syndrome is a process wherein children are alienated from the non-custodial parent by the custodial parent during, and even after, divorce processes. The poison used by the custodial parent can destroy all family relations among the non-custodial parent and these children. Classically, the eldest child turns away first and, like dominoes, the younger children follow. Years later, these children may argue that unconditional love never existed. It is the duty of the non-custodial parent to work with these children, however painful, such that they may move toward a more truthful and meaningful life. Poetry therapy can be utilized to address both cognitive and emotional aspects to loss, including the loss of children secondary to parental alienation syndrome.

Child and Adolescent psychopharmacology is a complex yet frequently necessary psychiatric intervention that requires the participation of the patient, the family, other caregivers, other health providers as well as physicians. Provision of up to date information about and education in the use of psychotropics is an essential component of good psychopharmacologic treatment. To date there have been no methods of addressing these needs within a collaborative care framework that meets the interests of all parties and optimizes the application of best available knowledge in the clinical care of child and adoelscents with mental disorders. MEDED (C) was developed by a group of pharmacists and child psychiatrists as an innovative tool to meet this need. It has been extensively evaluated in a variety of clinical settings in Canada with substantial positive results. This presentation will review the novel collaborative approach to pharmacotherapy that MEDED supports, the process of MEDED development, the contents of MEDED and research on its use to date. Clinicians and program directors will have the opportunity to learn how to obtain further information abot the use of this tool.