Several studies have reported limbic structures volume decrease in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, in PTSD the effect of therapy on brain structures has seldom been investigated. the aim of the study was to evaluate the grey matter (GM) loss in occupational related PTSD and to assess the volumetric differences between patients responding (R) and non-responding (NR) to psychotherapy.

Pre-EMDR MRI data of 21 train drives who did develop PTSD (S) and 22 who did not develop PTSD (NS) after person-under-the-train accidents were compared. Within S further comparisons were made between 10 R to Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and 5 NR. Data were analysed by optimised voxel-based morphometry as implemented in Statistical Parametric Mapping.

As compared to NS, S showed a significant GM volume reduction in precuneus, lingual gyrus, posterior cingulate and parahippocampal cortex. the R>NR comparison highlighted a significant GM reduction in NR in bilateral posterior cingulate, left middle frontal cortex and right parahippocampal, insular and temporal cortices.

Comparing two large groups of subjects significant GM volumetric reductions were found in PTSD in posterior limbic structures. NR showed, as compared to R, volume reduction in cortical structures including posterior cingulate and parahippocampal cortex. These latter two structures seem to be the hallmark for both PTSD diagnosis and therapy outcome prediction.

To introduce mindfulness pointing out its potentialities when applied in the psychopatology scope.

The authors had proceeded to a research on this third generation cognitive therapy through the bibliographical retraction, from scientific articles and publications. Trying and describing what he is one practical regular one of Mindfulness.

The practice of Mindfulness Practical of Mindfulness divulged in multiple publications, disclosing to be about a new generation of the Cognitive Therapy. It describes its possible clinical applicability in some psycopathologic features, with bigger emphasis in the disturbances of the anxiety. It is proceeded a summary revision from some conceptual boardings and more recent scientific studies.

Psicotherapeutic thechniques based in the practice of Mindfulness can be applied in clinical context complementing the cognitive theory based in the restructuring of the thought with the essential component of acceptance. However it would be very important to appear more randomized control trials that allow to prove its therapeutical effectiveness.

Panic disorder has an overall prevalence rate of 2.1% with higher rates in women. Usually, the treatment includes pharmacotherapy (SSRI) and cognitive-behavioral therapy. But two thirds of the patients have a chronic pattern of evolution, with exacerbations and remissions. That is why we looked for another form of psychotherapy to help patients improve their quality of life.

We evaluated 25 patients (17 female and 8 male), with the mean age of 27.8 years, for 48 weeks. They were treated with paroxetine 20 mg daily for 12 weeks and with weekly sessions of client-centered psychotherapy. They were evaluated with the Covi Anxiety Scale (CAS), the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale (PAS) and the CGIs (CGI-I and CHI-S).

At the beginning of the treatment the next mean values of the whole group were: CAS 12.9, PAS 50.4, CGI-S 5.3. after 12 weeks the mean values were: CAS 6.7, PAS 12.1 and the CGI-I 2. after 24 weeks the mean values were: CAS 4, PAS 4.3 and the CGI-I 1.3. at the end of the study the CGI-I was 1, the CAS 3 and the PAS was zero.

Client-centered psychotherapy is an useful approach in patients with panic disorder.

To evaluate the response to group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBGT) for panic disorder (PD) in patients with and without comorbid mood disorders (MD).

A total of 113 patients took part in 12 CBGT sessions for PD. the diagnoses of PD and comorbid MD (depression and/or dysthymia) were established using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Outcome measures were assessed by Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Hamilton-Anxiety and Panic Inventory. Remission was considered when CGI ≤ 2 and there was absence of panic attacks.

One-hundred patients (91%) completed the CBGT protocol and 37(32.7%) patients had PD with comorbid MD. at the end of the treatment, 41 (36.3%) patients met criteria for symptom remission. the remission rates were 47.4% in patients without MD versus 13.5% in patients presenting with comorbid MD (RR = 3.50; IC95%[1.5 to 8.19]; p < 0.001). both groups showed significant improvement on all clinical outcomes throughout treatment. A differential effect was identified between those with and those without comorbid MD both in the CGI (pgroup x time = 0.020) and in anticipatory anxiety (pgroup x time = 0.017).

Panic patients without MD improved better to CBGT than those with MD. Maybe more sessions regarding depression should be added to the protocol in this subgroup of patients with MD. However, given that there is a general reduction of PD symptoms in all patients, CBGT must not be excluded.

Outpatients aged 19-52 (n=16, 2 male and 14 female), who met ICD-10 criteria simultaneous for panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) and depressive episode mild severity were treated with venlafaxine in dose 75-150 mg/day (as monotherapy). the patients were evaluated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) at baseline and weekly during one month and over six months of continued therapy.

Baseline total HAM-A and HDRS scores were 23±7 and 24±5, accordingly. Clinical improvement was observed after about one week (HAM-A total: p< 0,01; HDRS total: p< 0,004). the reductions of total using scores from baseline to the end of week 4 were equivalent 78%. Percentage of patients free from panic attacks and depressive symptoms was 37%. after six months all the patients demonstrated panic-free and depressive-free status. the most frequent adverse events were nausea (6,2 %), somnolence (12,5%), which reduced to the end of week one.

The venlafaxine therapy of panic disorder comorbid with depression is associated with significant improvement after four weeks of treatment. There was no difference in response using the rates (HAM-A, HDRS).

Based on emotional intelligence (EI) Theory it was expected that EI component differences would likely be obtained on variables including problem-solving, happiness, stress-tolerance, self-actualization, interpersonal relationship. So the purpose of the current study was compare the emotional intelligence (EI) components in suicidal patients and non-clinical samples.

A total of 60 participants took part in this study, including 30 patients (12 male, 18 femal) who had recently (in the past three days) attempted suicide, and 30 non-clinical participants. Sampling was arranged so that there were no significant differences among groups in age, education, gender or marital status. All participants completed the bar-on EI questionnaire (90 item version). the bar-on EI questionnaire can measure the ability to understand, interprete, and control ones emotions.

Data were analyzed using t-test and Chi square formula.

Findings of the current study indicated significant differences among groups on the EI levels. the two groups were differentiated on problem-solving ( T=-2.316 df=58, p< .05 ), happiness ( T=-3.065 df=58, p< .05 ), stress-tolerance ( T=-2.011 df=58, p< .05 ), and self-actualization ( T=-2.579 df=58, p< .05 ).

The results of the current study are congruent with the other researchs in this field. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings, but the results imply that Ei education program may be relevant to reducing risk of suicidal behavior in young peoples.

To identify differences in personality traits (temperament and character) using Cloninger's typology according to the presence of physical illness (WONCA criteria).

404 subjects, without psychiatric pathology, from Asturias (Northern Spain) were included in the study [50% men; mean age (SD)= 40.5 (11.3)]. Assessments were made using an ad hoc interview (socio-demographic and clinical data), and the Spanish versions of the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview (DSM-IV criteria) (Sheehan et al., 1997), and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) (Cloninger et al., 1994).

154 (38.1%) subjects have at least one diagnosis of physical illness. Subjects with physical illness scored significantly higher in: i) temperament scales: harm avoindance (HA) (17.02 vs 15.76, t= -1.968; p= 0.050); fatigability and asthenia (HA4) (3.56 vs 2.82, t= -3.652; p< 0.000), ii) character scales: transpersonal (ST2) (3.91 vs 3.26, t= -2.900; p= 0.004). However, they scored significantly lower in: i) temperament scales: attachment (RD3) (5.18 vs 5.70, t= 2.346; p= 0.019), ii) character scales: responsibility (SD1) (5.57 vs 5.96, t= 1.984; p=0.048); purposeful (SD2) (5.43 vs 5.84, t= 2.092; p= 0.037); cooperativeness (C) (31.52 vs 33.26, t= 3.166; p< 0.000); social acceptance (C1) (6.50 vs 6.89, t= 2.536; p= 0.012); empathy (C2) (4.81 vs 5.18, t= 2.484; p= 0.013); compassion (C4) (7.44 vs 7.94, t= 2.190; p= 0.019); pure-hearted (C5) (6.55 vs 7.06, t= 3.225; p= 0.001). No other significant differences were found between the groups.

Our data suggest that physical illness might influence personality traits in non-psychiatric population.

The aim of this study was to examine the gender differences in the prevalence of somatoform disorders among a sample of Qatari patients who were visiting primary health care (PHC) centres and to investigate the severity of most frequent somatic symptoms in these patients.

The first stage of the study was conducted with the help of general practitioners (GPs), using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). the second stage was carried out by a psychiatrist using the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS). the survey was conducted among patients presenting to the primary health care centres over the period from January to July, 2007. 2320 subjects were approached and a total of 1689 patientsagreed to participate and responded to the questionnaire. among the screened Qatari patients, 404 patients, 211 males (52.2%) and 193 females (47.8%), were identified for clinical interview.

The prevalence rate of somatoform disorders among the total screened sample was 23.9%. the prevalence rate was slightly higher in women (24.2%) than in men (23.7%). Prolonged depressive reaction was significantly higher in women compared to men (p=0.003). There was a significant gender difference in certain psychiatric diagnostic categories such as depressive episode, recurrent depressive disorder, dysthymia and brief depressive reaction. Backache was the most common reported symptom in men, while headache was more common in women.

Prevalence of somatoform disorders was slightly higher in Qatari women than in men. There was a significant difference found between men and women in certain diagnosis categories and somatic symptoms.

The aim of this study was to asses the impact of different psychological and/or biological effects in the recovery from surgery.

The sample was composed of 42 patients waiting for a surgical intervention. Patients with cognitive impairment were removed from the sample. Prior to surgical intervention (48 to 72 hours), patients were administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (Millon, 1986) and salivary cortisol were measured 24 hours before surgery. Following surgical intervention, recovery was coded as good or poor accordingly to Moix et als criteria (1995). Dietary intake, resting and sleeping hours, as well as the existence of fever, perceived pain and related surgery complications were daily registered and controlled for.

The cortisol values were increased in patients with high score in Histrionic Scale (t = 2.10, p = 0.043). There was a significant relation between personality, cortisol and recovery. the patients with low score in Dependent Scale (t = 2.33, p = 0.029), Histrionic Scale ( t = 2.51, p = 0.020), Alcohol Dependence Scale (t = 2.01, p = 0.049), Drug Dependence Scale (t = 2.08, p = 0.050) and cortisol show better recovery from surgery.

The results of this study indicate that psychological factors and levels of cortisol may have a critical rol in post-operatory recovery. Taking these data into account, it seems necessary to assess psychopathology on a regular basis in all the patients waiting for surgically interventions.

Along last years psychiatric literature has shown an increased interest about Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis. Nevertheless, few studies in large samples has been developed in our country. This study is a part of a main research: Personality Disorders in Andalusian Community. Diagnostic evolution and its link with use of health services.

• • To study BPD diagnosis in Andalusian inpatients throughout the last 10 years.

• • To establish a predictive model analyzing the BPD diagnostic evolution.

The information has been obtained from the Basic Information Minimum Set: A record of admissions (with clinical and demographic variables) registered in the Andalusian population. We made an observational naturalistic study about the number of inpatients with BPD diagnosis, and an analytical study (Linear Regression) to determine the trend marked in the last years about evolution in the diagnosis of inpatients with Personality Disorders (PD).

The number of total psychiatric admissions was 99444 (64968 inpatients): 10755 records had a Personality Disorder (PD) diagnosis.The number of patients with BPD diagnosis has increased from 75 in 1995 to 340 in 2004 (11,8% to 26,13% over percentage of PD). the linear regression had a thread of 0,95, with a determination coefficient of 91,6% (standard error 0,34), with statistical significance (p = 0,00), establishing a prediction linear model about the increase of inpatients with BPD diagnosis.

1. 1. The number of inpatients with BPD diagnosis in Andalusia is increasing over last years.

2. 2. The model predicts a growing of BPD diagnosis along next years.

The goal of the study was to compare coping strategies and emotional intelligence of patients suffering from borderline personality disorder (B.P.D.) and those of normal subjects in Arak city (2007 - 2008).

40 patients (20 male and 20 female) with B.P.D. and 40 normal subjects (20 male and 20 female) participated in the study. All 80 subjects were assessed using the Millon clinical multiaxial - III, coping strategies questionnaire, and emotional quotient. the method of the research was case-control; data were analyzed by t-student test and regression.

The results showed that patients with B.P.D. mainly used ineffective coping strategies such as escape-avoidance strategy in comparison with the normal subjects. Additionally the patients with B.P.D. used positive reappraisal, planful problem solving, and seeking social support less than the normal subjects, and their emotional intelligence was low. There were no significant differences between the emotional intelligence and applying coping strategies of male and female patients. Furthermore the study showed that there is a positive correlation between the applying effective coping strategies and emotional intelligence.