Estimates for Romanian patients with dementia range from 200,000 to 300,000, but reports warn that actual numbers may be higher.

Based on our experience we inferred that specific personality changes may occur in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer (AD).

We tried to quantify such personality changes in MCI and AD patients.

We designed an observational study (n = 60 patients, aged 55+) with MCI (n = 30; 50% male; mean age ∼ 73) and moderate AD (n = 30; 43.3% male (n = 13); mean age ∼74). We “profiled” patient personality (Woodworth - Mathews questionnaire) and identified the most prominent features.

The most prominent feature in MCI was depression (80%, n = 24) followed by impulsive (26.7%, n = 8) and emotional (23.3%, n = 7) tendencies. Moderate AD patients exhibited less depression (43%, n = 13). Twice more AD patients exhibited paranoid tendencies (36.7%, n = 11) as compared to MCI patients (16.7%, n = 5); schizoid tendencies in moderate AD reached 23.3% (n = 7) vs. 0.03% (n = 1) in MCI patients. Hypochondria, obsessions, emotional instability and antisocial behavior were similar.

Different dominant personality features as noted in MCI (depressive, impulsive and emotional tendencies) and moderate AD (paranoid, schizoid tendencies) require personalized treatment. Some features (depressive, impulsive and emotional tendencies) tend to be accentuated in MCI (barely impaired self awareness). Aggravated paranoid or schizoid tendencies in AD may result from impaired awareness; however, altered control over previously “dormant” personality features should be considered.

BDP is a common diagnosis in hospitals and community settings, estimated at 20% and 11%, respectively. Nevertheless, the attitudes and skills of all mental health professionals regarding the treatment of these patients had hardly been studied.

Develop tools and use them to understand staff attitudes towards BDP patients.

1. (1) To develop two inventories for the measurement of cognitive and emotional attitudes towards borderline personality disorder (BPD) patients and their treatment;

2. (2) To use these tools to understand and compare attitudes of psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses toward BPD patients.

Two lists of items referring to cognitive and emotional attitudes towards BPD patients were formulated. Nurses, psychologists and psychiatrist (n = 57), working in public psychiatric institutions rated their level of agreement with each item. Both lists of attitudes yielded three factors (cognitive: required treatment, suicidal tendencies, and antagonistic judgment, and emotional: negative emotions, experienced difficulties in treatment, and empathy, respectively).

Psychologists scored lower than psychiatrists and nurses on antagonistic judgments. Nurses scored lower than psychiatrists and psychologists on empathy. Regression stepwise analyses on the three emotional attitudes separately showed that suicidal tendencies of BPD patients mainly explained negative emotions and difficulties in treating these patients. All groups were interested in learning more about the treatment of these patients.

Suicidal tendencies of BPD patients provoke antagonistic judgments among the three professions. Psychiatrists, psychologists and nurses hold distinctive cognitive and emotional attitudes towards these patients. Staff training programs regarding BDP patients should consider these differences and concerns.

Many patients with depression mention sudden short “mood swings” (MI) when asked. MI is distressing but little is known about its relationship to personality disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts.

To determine the relationship between mood instability (MI), neuroticism, and suicidal thoughts.

To deconstruct the concept of neuroticism to determine whether MI is an important component. To determine whether MI predicts suicidal thoughts.

129 patients with Major Depression were interviewed with the MINI diagnostic interview. They also completed the Eysenck Neuroticism Scale (ENS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Affective Lability Scale (ALS), Beck Suicide Scale (BSS) and 5 questions describing mood swings and its effects on behaviour.

In a regression analysis with the BSS as the dependent variable, with age and sex controlled, and all of the other variables entered, only the BDI (p < 0.001) and the ALS (p < 0.01) were significant predictors. In an exploratory factor analysis of the ENS, 3 main factors (53% of variance) emerged. 2 of the factors consisted of mild anxiety and depression symptoms. The third factor (16% variance) was a mood instability factor. The ALS and the ENS both correlated with the 5 questions describing mood swings, but the correlations with the ALS were stronger.

Mood Instability is the unique component of neuroticism. MI (ALS) predicts suicidal thoughts along with the broad concept of depression (BDI). In this model, neuroticism (ENS) is not a predictor.

A systematic review of studies related to the psychological characteristics of Sasang typology, a traditional Korean personalized medicine utilizing acupuncture and medical herbs, was conducted with the goal of delineating generalizable psychological profiles of each types using western academic traditions.

Journal articles were collected using 5 electronic database systems in the United States and Korea, and 21 peer reviewed research articles with psychometric inventories were included. Due to the heterogeneity of the studies, the present study sought to report the mutual relevance of the studies based on research results pertaining to the correlation between psychological assessment instruments.

Results of the review indicate that two super-factors of Eysenck, Extraversion and Neuroticism, serve as the foundation in regards to delineating personality constructs, such that the So-Yang type scored high on the Extraversion dimension and low on the Neuroticism dimension compared to the So-Eum type. Current studies with Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory also showed that the Novelty Seeking and the Harm Avoidance can be related to the So-Yang and the So-Eum type, respectively.

The present systematic review indicates that Neo-Confucianism-based Sasang typology shares similarities with the western psychological tradition. There is an urgent need to study similarities and differences between both of them in multiple perspectives including mechanism of action beneath the medical intervention. The Bio-psycho-social basis of the Sasang typology can guide us to the temperament-based personalized integrative medicine covering western orthodox and traditional oriental medicine.

The ability to tolerate uncertainty or ambiguity was first identified as a stable personality variable by Budner (1962) who defined it as an individual's propensity to view ambiguous situation as either threatening or desirable.

We tried to measure ambiguity tolerance of medical students and compare the scale according to age, major and medical speciality preference.

By a questionnaire designed by Budner(Budner Ambiguity Scale), we measured the ambiguity tolerance of 240students entering medical school.

Analysis of data showed significant difference between men and women (60.81, 63.24). We found no difference of ambiguity tolerance according to the other variables. Conclusion: These data show the higher degree of ambiguity intolerance among Iranian students compared to the levels reported by Budner (44–48). Proper education could lead to better understanding of own potentiality in the students. Ambiguity tolerance may be an important variable to assess and train so that students are better prepared for unstructured situations that promote thinking and parallel the complexities of the applied world.

Borderline Personality disorder is a well recognised syndrome. These patients show a clear emotional unstability, lack of control impulse, unpredictible auto and heteroaggresive behaviour, poor interpersonal realitionships and self image as well as brief psychotic episodes.The unspecific symtomatology and diagnostic difficulty derived from different nosographic frames makes their diagnosis and treatment a challenge. Through the analysis of their medical records we aim to know the age they sought specialized help, the symptomatology at first consultation, the treatment given and the outcome after years of therapy.

Systematic review of all BPD patient's medical records treated in our Unit with a particular reference to age and symptoms at the start of treatment and at present. Medical records from the Childhood and Adolescence Psychiatric Unit were also reviewed to determine the most prominent symptoms at that time.

We found that the vast majority of cases contacted the psychiatric services in their adolescence and early adulthood, probably in relation to demands of daily life at that age. The most relevant symptoms at onset of illness were depressive mood and anxiety. As time went on depressive symptoms were the main complaint. The clinical state remained fairly stable over time.

There is a clear early onset of symptoms, in particular, affective ones (depression and anxiety) being prominent in childhood and preadolescence. Also there is a stable psychopathology over time which keep the patients on long term follow ups. This medical demand seemed to diminish at their fifth decade.

It has become increasingly clear over the last few years that the most effective treatments for patients with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a combined psychological and pharmacological approach, aiming to improve the symptoms, feelings and behaviours that are so distressing and damaging to their lives. On this poster we try to show our daily therapeutic practice with these patients through a complete review of the BPD patient's medical records available in our outpatients psychiatric clinic.

Systematic review of all BPD patients medical records, treated in our clinic with a particular reference to pharmacological, psychotherapeutic or both approaches stating the type of intervention in each case.

We found a mostly mixed approach to treating BPD patients in our clinic as clinical guidelines and other literature recommends. Being critical of our practice, we have observed a prolonged use of medication despite evidence suggesting a sometimes limited benefit for acute and chronic symptoms.

Although psychotherapeutic interventions are widely used in our Clinic, it is doubtful that the most accepted psychotherapies mentioned earlier are the ones implemented (Kernberg, Linehan….)

The evidence from the literature and prescribing guidelines, suggests that some of the main approaches to treating BPD patients are specific psychotherapies. However, without belittling the benefit of these psychotherapies, we found that the use of psychopharmacological treatments helps too with alleviating acute and more chronic symptoms; maybe improving the likelihood of psychotherapeutic engagement.

Personality disorders (PD) are common in psychiatric services and can adversely affect the management and outcome of mental illnesses. Therefore assessment of the personality is an essential part of initial psychiatric examination. To diagnose a PD takes time and competence. A screening instrument in the diagnostic phase can be a solution.

The goal of the study was to provide clinicians a powerful screening tool for personality disorders that is ‘quick and dirty’.

Nine screening instruments were studied in a prospective, observational, test development study with a random sample of Dutch psychiatric outpatients, using the SCID-II as the gold standard. There were three short questionnaires (Standardized Assessment of Personality- Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), Iowa Personality Disorder Screen (IPDS), Short version of the SCID-II), three longer questionnaires (the SCID-II Personality Questionnaire, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-PD/C;) one short semi structured interview (Quick Personality Assessment Schedule (PAS-Q.) and two informant interviews (Standardised Assessment of personality (SAP), the Standardized Assessment of Personality- Abbreviated Scale for informants (SAPAS-INF)) involved.

The three short questionnaires and the semi structured interview were very useful for determining the presence/absence of PD. The other instruments can be used in particular situations for example to determine a specific PD or if the patient is not able to accomplish the test.

Before deciding which screening instrument for PD is the best for your practice, you have to consider psychometric values as well as practical circumstances.

Constitutional factors in mental health can be effective is the concept of personality types. Because the major segments of the population of students form community activist, according to mental health in this group of people is very important and vital.

This study investigated the relationship between type A personality and mental health is.

Descriptive research method is correlation. The study sample included 50 students of psychology Noor University city of Babol is the daughter of 25 people and 25 people will Psrtshkyl and randomly selected and two personality questionnaires and mental health a. Gold Leaf (GHQ) have responded.

Results using Pearson correlation and t test using T spss 18 software were analyzed.

Findings indicate that:

1. 1. Between personality types and mental health A significant relationship exists.

2. 2. Mean mental health of girls and boys there is no significant difference.

3. 3. Between type A personality and physical symptoms there is a significant relationship.

4. 4. Between type A personality and symptoms of anxiety and sleep disturbance is a significant correlation.

5. 5. Between type A personality and social function there is a significant relationship.

6. 6. Between type A personality and depressive symptoms are significantly related.

7. 7. Gender (boys and girls) and Type A Shkhsty are related.

According to research results between type A personality and mental health of a significant relationship exists. Number of participants who had type A mental health are lower than the number of participants who had personality and B are.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between self-disclosure and self-criticis, positive and negative life events, social support, and a number of well-being and distress variables.

Fifty-one adolescents suffering from emotional difficulties and 47 healthy adolescents participated in the study. The following questionnaires were administered to the subjects: Major Life Events Questionnaire, Minor Life Events Questionnaire, Self-Disclosure Questionnaire, Self-Criticism Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire, Depressive symptoms questionnaire, Mood questionnaire and demographic questionnaire.

The study group was characterized by a greater number of major negative life events, a lower level of social support, and a higher level of distress indexes. In the whole sample a positive relation was found between life events and the social network size, and also between positive life events and self-disclosure level and between it and satisfaction from social support. We also found a positive relationship between the negative life events and some of the distress indexes. In addition, there were gender differences in self-disclosure: the girls were more willing to disclose themselves to a close friend in comparison to the boys. A negative relationship was found between self-criticism and social network size. Moreover, self-criticism was related positively to suicidal tendency indexes and was negatively related to positive mood. Finally, a negative relationship was found between social support and some of the distress indexes.

The results of the study confirmed most of the research hypotheses. The theoretical and clinical implications of the study are discussed, as well its strengths and limitations.

The concept of alexithymia refers to problems in experiencing and regulating affects; clinical study as well as empirical research suggests that alexithymia is related to cold and socially inhibited interpersonal functioning. However, empirical studies frequently use only self report questionnaires.

This study investigates the relation between alexithymia and self-reported interpersonal problems. By using an interview measure of alexithymia next to a questionnaire, we want to avoid artificially high correlations due to shared method variance and thus get a clearer picture of the link between alexithymia and interpersonal style. We hypothesize that alexithymia will be related to a cold, but not to a dominant or submissive interpersonal style.

The Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) was administered by a trained researcher to 74 psychiatric inpatients, who also filled out the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-64). Dimensional affiliation and dominance scores of the IIP-64 were computed and Pearson correlations between TSIA, TAS-20 and IIP-64 dimensional scores were calculated.

As hypothesized, we observed no significant correlation between TSIA, TAS-20 and the dominance dimension of the IIP-64 and a significant correlation between the affiliation dimension and TSIA and TAS-20.

Our results support previous research and confirm that alexithymia is related to a cold interpersonal style. Since our findings converge for both measurements of alexithymia, the link between alexithymia and interpersonal style can not be explained by shared method variance. The measurement of only self-reported interpersonal problems is a limitation of this study.

To demonstrate how each BPD patient in therapy can be turned into an on-going research project by tracking progress (or lack thereof) of each patient through daily self-rating on 41 parameters. The author has treated 224 BPD patients, showing that characteristic BPD symptoms (such as high spikes of anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression, and psychosis) can be predictably eliminated by transforming personality through ‘Breakthrough Intimacy’ - closeness between committed couples far greater than their previous maximum experience, usually without drugs and often within 6 months.

Lifetrack therapy works with the patient and his/her partner in three-way teamwork, bringing them far closer than ever before, guided by their own daily self-rating on 41 parameters that allow accurate graphic tracking via Internet of subtle changes in their personalities and dynamic mental status during each therapy session. The therapist actively helps the couple to think, feel, and act in such ways that their closeness will increase, provoking and overcoming waves of symptom spikes (defense) until they disappear by exhaustion, as the couples undergo personality transformations.

42% of 224 patients (with or without partners) treated with borderline personality disorder reached a level of adjustment beyond their previous maximum level. Patients with partners (134) did 10 times better (66.4% vs 5.6%) than singles (90). 34% reached Stage-4 (complete transformation far beyond symptom elimination).

BPD should be treated with patients’ partners whenever possible, bringing them far closer than their previous maximum experience, guided by their own daily self-rating graphs.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important risk factor for the development of type-2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of the MetS in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

We aimed to compare the MetS prevalence in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) with control subjects followed in primary care from a similar region.

One-hundred thirty five BPD patients according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were compared to 1009 subjects from primary care. We used the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHBLI) criteria to determine the rate of MetS and of each individual MetS criterion. For comparison purposes we calculated age-standardized rates of the MetS and their 95%-confidence intervals (CI).

The age-standardized prevalence of MetS was more than double in patients with BPD compared to control subjects (23.3% vs. 10.6%, p < 0.05).

Within BPD patients, an increased rate of MetS was associated with higher BMI (Wald = 10.2; p = 0.004), age (Wald = 4.7; p = 0.03), treatment with second generation antipsychotics (quetiapine, olanzapine and clozapine) (Wald = 4.6; p = 0.032), dysthymia (Wald = 4.6; p = 0.031), panic disorder (Wald = 4.6; p = 0.032), benzodiazepine dependency (Wald = 5.9; p = 0.015), and binge-eating disorder (Wald = 5.4; p = 0.02).

Our results demonstrate an increased MetS rate, dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with BPD. Independent predictors of MetS in BPD patients require further study to inform targeted prevention efforts in this population. Cardiometabolic monitoring and careful screening for physical health conditions among people with BPD is warranted.

For quite a long time, borderline personality disorder (BPD) has been viewed as a chronic disorder and borderline patients as extremely difficult to treat. However, those views are changing and there is an increasing recognition that the BPD has a far more benign course than previously thought, but predictors of its outcome remain poorly explored.

The purpose of this study was to determine the most clinically relevant predictors of the outcome of BPD at the 18-month follow-up.

Borderline patients (n = 75) were compared to patients with other personality disorders (OPD) (n = 40). All subjects were assessed at baseline and 6, 12, and 18 months with a series of semi structured interviews (personality disorders, global functioning, mental disorders, life events, …) and self-report measures (alexithymia and impulsivity). Logistic regression was used to estimate hazard ratios.

At the 18-month follow up, 57 BPD patients and 22 with OPD have been evaluated, 45% of borderline subjects and 50% of the OPD subjects achieved remission. Low impulsivity, low alexithymia, good global functioning, and older age at onset of symptoms were found to be significant predictors of good outcome of BPD. Our clinical data suggest that life events and the quality of current relationships are determinant in the outcome of BPD.

45% of patients with BPD are likely to improve in 18-months. Specific factors, such as impulsivity, alexithymia, life events and quality of current relationships, determine the short-term outcome of this disorder.