Hypochondriac symptomatology in structure of schizophrenic spectrum disorders is form of mental pathology which threatens with serious social consequences for personality.

study of adaptive abilities and quality of life of patients suffering from schizophrenia and schizotypal disorder with hypochondriac symptomatology depending on clinical-dynamic features of course of the disease and constitution-morphologic characteristics.

clinical-psychopathological, clinical-dynamic, clinical-follow-up, therapeutic, anthropometric and statistical methods.

Hypochondriac symptomatology affects clinical components of adaptation (at the moment of examination in basic group 50,0% of patients were disabled persons with mental disease, and in comparison group – 32,0%; p<0.05) and social adaptation of patients (in the process of disease social status decreased in 53,3% of patients of basic group, in comparison group – in 36,0%; p<0.05). In basic group more often than in comparison group there were persons with introvert type of adaptation (40,0% and 24,0%, respectively; p<0.05) and with individual compensatory-adaptive defense like 'ecological niche” (30,0% and 8,0%, respectively; p<0.01). During investigation of socially-oriented internal adaptive reactions it was revealed that basic group and comparison group had statistically significant differences regarding number of patients with plastic type (0% and 18,0%, respectively; p<0.001), exaggerated type (68,3% and 46,0%, respectively; p<0.01) and with ignoring type of reaction (5,0% and 16,0%, respectively; p<0.05).

Hypochondriac symptomatology affects clinical and social adaptation preventing from appearance of socially-oriented internal adaptive reactions and promoting more 'immature” compensatory-adaptive defenses and adverse types of adaptation in patients suffering from schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Interaction of processes of self-stigmatization and rehospitalization in structure of paranoid schizophrenia studied insufficiently well.

Studying of clinical psychological mechanisms of a self-stigmatization phenomenon at patients with paranoid schizophrenia.

Separate out a role of an affective component as key-factor in formation of a self-stigmatization phenomenon. Define a role of compensation mechanisms in formation of "learned helplessness” style.

Retrospective analysis of frequency of hospitalization by information from epicrisis, semiformalized interview, PANSS, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.

The group of patients with an apathy abulia syndrome 65 % is prevailing. We had been found out valid connection between intensity of apathy abulia syndrome in structure of paranoid schizophrenia and frequency of hospitalization 0,60 (p <0,01).

Basis of the frustrating component at an apathy abulia syndrome is personal reaction to a clinical syndrome, which reflected, in the affective sphere of the patient in the depressive affect and the increasing hopelessness level.

With increase of negative symptomatology also increases tensity of adaptation mechanisms 0,88 (p<0,01). The prevailing negative symptomatology perhaps predispose to development of a rehospitalization phenomenon 0,53 (p<0,01).

Rehospitalization phenomenon is one of the main behavioral equivalents indicating to self-stigmatization process, fixing and reproducing the process intensifies apathy abulia syndrome.

Chronic hallucinatory psychosis is a clinical picture described by Ballet in 1912 which is characterized by the presence of mental automatism, chronic hallucinations and secondary delusions. This clinical entity, from the french school, has been neglected in current psychiatry.

The growing influence of international nosology has led to a progressive disuse of the concept of chronic hallucinatory psychosis and patients with such clinical condition have been classified under the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, according to the Anglo-Saxon current classifications. Taking into account that psychopathological features as well as the prognosis differ from schizophrenia (main differential diagnosis) it is important to be aware of this diagnosis in order to avoid a wrong diagnosis of schizophrenia in these patients.

The aim of this poster is to highlight the modernity of Ballet’s concept of chronic hallucinatory psychosis, which can be considered a valid clinical entity as it shows clinical features that differ from other psychoses particularly the schizophrenic.

We report a case of a 40-year-old woman who presented a psychotic disorder ten months ago whose clinical features resemble the classical description of chronic hallucinatory psychosis.

Very few recent studies on chronic hallucinatory psychosis have been carried out, which shows the loss of interest of modern psychiatry in this clinical entity. Further research in this field is needed in order to recognize the viability of this diagnosis and provide patients a better care and therapeutic management.

The gender asymmetry influence on process of pathomorphosis schizophorm symptoms.

To investigate the features of the gender role transformation on process of pathomorphosis schizophorm symptoms.

74 patients with paranoid schizophrenia. Retrospective analysis of medical records, PANSS, questionnaire S. Bem, standardized scale to asses anxiety and depression, questionnaire 'Auto – and hetero-aggression' E.P. Ilyin, correlation and factor analysis.

The paranoid schizophrenia was accompanied by the gender-role transformation: 44% of men had dominated femininity, 31% of female – masculinity. Men with dominating masculinity prevail negative psychopathological symptoms, correlated with masculinity(r=-0,827), auto-aggression(r=0,780) and depression(r=0,763), p≤0,05. Men with dominating femininity had hallucinatory-delusional syndrome, correlated with femininity(r=0,873), p≤0,05. Feminine women had predominantly paranoid and anxiety-depressive symptoms, correlated with auto-aggression(r=-0,870), anxiety(r=0,894), p≤0,05. Masculine women had personality disorders symptoms, correlated with femininity(r=0,994) p≤0,001.

In consequence of investigation the phenomenon of cross-gender accentuation in patients with paranoid schizophrenia was identified. Also, specific type of the gender-role accentuation influences on formation schizophorm complexes and contains affective component, which performs clinical psychological mechanism in definite structures. Men with masculine amplification demonstrated frequently negative psychopathological symptoms, correlated with high average of auto-aggression and depression and low average of masculinity. Men with feminine amplification had positive psychopathological symptoms such as delusion, hallucinations, Kandinsky-Clerambault's syndrome, correlated with feminine component. Women with feminine amplification had paranoid, anxiety-depressive and hypochondriac symptoms, were accompanied reduction of auto-aggression and increase of masculinity. Masculine women had predominantly personality disoders symptoms, correlated with femininity.

Desipte the effective symptomatic treatment of schizophrenia, poor functional outcomes are still a challenge. Neurocognition has been identified for a long time as a main background factor of these. According to the findings the neurocognitive aspects are not suitable to explain all the functional deficits of patients with schizophrenia. For this reason an other aspect of the cognition need to be investigated to understand our patients: the social cognition. The developement of social cognitive interventions has also recieved growing attention in schizophrenia research in the recent years.

We reviewed the literature and collected information about the theoretical background of social cognitive impairments and social cognitive treatments.

Our aim was to produce an integrative overview of the above mentioned theories and present new treatment possibilities.

PubMED suggested relevant studies, exploring the role of social cognitive impairments and efficacy of remediation programmes aimed at improving social cognition.

We got a comprehensive view of psychopathological, neuroanatomical and theoretical aspects. Our findings supported the determinig role of social cognitive impairments in schizophrenia and the importance of new treatment approaches. The overview revealed significant effects of treatments on ToM, emotional recognition, social perception and attributional style.

The social cognition is a notable field of the cognition in schizophrenia. Remediation programs are promising approaches to improve social functioning in schizophrenia, and probably a useful strategy for early treatment in psychosis, however according to our overview more researches are neccessary to elaborate definitional and methodological inaccuracies and eliminate uncertanity of effecacy.

The awareness of one's body constitutes a basic experience of Self which modulates the individual engagement in social interactions. Indeed, Interoception Sensitivity (IS), an index of individual ability to represent one’s own internal body states, is implicated in the autonomic regulation in interpersonal context. Schizophrenia deficits in Self-experience and awareness, which frequently entail anomalies in self-other relationship, capture the ever-growing attention of researchers. Nevertheless, IS and autonomic regulation of schizophrenic patients in social context are completely new and not yet investigated aspects of Schizophrenia.

To investigate whether Schizophrenia could be associated with lower IS and with a dysfunctional autonomic regulation during social interaction.

24 chronic schizophrenia patients, and a matched group of healthy controls, performed a Social and a Non-social task while respiratory sinus arrhythmia (an index of autonomic regulation) was measured. In the Social task participants viewed an experimenter performing a caress-like movement at different distances from their hand. In the Non-social task a metal stick was moved at the same distances from the participants’ hand. As measure of IS, a cardiac Mental Tacking Task was performed.

Comparing to controls, Schizophrenia patients presented lower IS, absence of relation between IS and autonomic regulation, and an anomalous autonomic regulation in social and non-social contexts.

Deficits in Self-experience, associated with Schizophrenia, could be extended to patients’ sensitivity to internal bodily signals. Moreover, the observed altered autonomic regulation will be part of interpersonal interaction deficit frequently associated to Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is an extreme mental health disturbance that affects person’s well-being and participation in everyday activities. Participation in meaningful everyday occupations is an important component of recovery from mental illness, the ultimate goal of mental health services. Participation restrictions of people with schizophrenia have been widely investigated through illness symptoms, cognition, and demographic data; however, the resulting explanations were incomplete. Recent studies suggest occurrence of sensory modulation (SM) disorder in schizophrenia that was found affecting everyday participation in other populations.

The study objectives were exploration of SM patterns of people with schizophrenia and their impact on participation in daily life.

The study aimed to compare SM patterns in schizophrenia to healthy population and to investigate their contribution to participation in everyday activities in addition to cognition and schizophrenia symptoms.

Forty nine in-patients with schizophrenia (study group) and 32 adults without mental illness (control group) comprised the study. They were assessed for their participation patterns, sensory modulation processes, cognitive functioning and symptoms severity.

Results indicate significant differences between the study groups in most measurements addressed: participation (diversity: t79=-6.5, p<.001; and satisfaction: t78.8=-2.29, p<.05), sensory modulation scores (t79=6.23, p<.001) and cognitive measurements (Z=-6.57, p<.005). The most contributive parameters for prediction of participation dimensions among people with schizophrenia were negative symptoms severity and general cognitive status (2.535,44<5.06; p<.05; 0.122 =0.3<0.41).

People with schizophrenia experience SM disorder with an under responsive tendency. However, the complex condition of schizophrenia dominates its influence on participation dimensions.

A 28 year old Malawian man, experiencing his first psychotic episode and subsequently diagnosed with Schizophrenia was also identified as having Alpha-Thalassaemia Zero Trait (ATZT). This poster will include the aetiology of his presentation, chromosomal basis of both illnesses and the possible link between psychosis and thalassaemia.

Case-report, Literature review and Discussion.

Mr. X was admitted via A&E after walking through a pane of glass and leaping from the roof of his home. He had a 3-year history of social withdrawal, religious obsession and increasingly bizarre behaviour. This progressively worsened the week prior to his admission. He refused to leave his house, became paranoid about being attacked, did not eat or drink, and walked around naked. He presented with paranoid, persecutory delusions, third person auditory hallucinations and poor insight. He was treated with Risperidone and recovered well.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report on Schizophrenia in a person with ATZT in the UK. We propose that ATZT may have been associated with the development of Schizophrenia. Our literature review revealed studies that suggested micro-deletions on Chromosome 16 increased the risk of Schizophrenia as well as ATZT. We hypothesise that the presence of one abnormality on Chromosome 16 increases the likelihood of other chromosomal abnormalities leading to the risk of developing Schizophrenia.

Further studies are required on the prevalence of schizophrenia in those with ATZT. We recommend increased awareness amongst clinicians about the potential risk of Schizophrenia associated with ATZT.

One of the current concerns in the research on schizophrenia is the relationship between social functioning and emotion recognition abilities, more specifically of the role that this can have, as a potential pathway for building subsequent psychosocial intervention methods.

To establish the precise role that the ability to recognize emotions has on social functioning in subjects with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.

To help develop psychotherapeutic intervention programs that will increase social functioning.

This paper analyzed a sample of subjects (N=31) with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia (according to the WHO ICD 10), who were selected based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. The following parameters were assessed: socio-demographic (gender, age of onset, level of education, family and professional status), social functioning (SFS scale) and the ability to identify emotions in the eyes (‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes’ test).

The ability of recognizing the emotion ‘anger’ is directly correlated with the ability to communicate and keep interpersonal relations (Spearman R = 0.310, p <0.05), the ability of independence/performance (Spearman R = 0.471, p <0.05), as well as the ability to relax (Spearman R = 0.456, p <0.05) and to engage in social activities (Spearman R = 0.473, p <0.05).

We noted that ‘anger’ is the only emotion that was correlated with social functioning. Anger must be understood beyond its negative connotation, also as a positive element, in the sense of positioning the individual in the society and of taking action in regard to personal needs.

Schizophrenia is not only a mental disorder but also has other components affecting the physical part of the body. Several studies have suggested that neuroinflammatory processes may play a role in schizophrenia pathogenesis, at least in a subgroup of patients.

This poster reported the preliminary results of a project aiming to find schizophrenia biomarkers. We present biological parameters and clinical variables of patients with schizophrenia according to the lab results and the clinical assessments.

Cross-sectional, naturalistic study. Inclusion criteria: DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia; age >17 years; and written informed consent given.

123 patients with schizophrenia. Mean age 40.75 (10.37), 67.5% males. There is relationship between homocysteine(oxidative stress) and psychopathology: PANSS [negative subscale 0.27 (p=0.003), general subscale 0.21 (p=0.028) and Marder factor 0.28 (p=0.003)], NSA [global score 0.24 (p=0.010), and some factors: communication 0.26 (p=0.005), affect 0.28 (p=0.002), motivation 0.30 (p=0.001) and motor retardation 0.27 (p=0.004)]; Functioning [(PSP total score -0.24 (p=0.011) and some PSP factors: work 0.30 (p=0.001), self-care 0.21 (p=0.022)]. However, there is no relationship between C-reactive protein(inflammation) and any clinical variable. On the other hand, there is relationship between: glucose and cognitive impairment; cholesterol and NSA motivation score, cognitive impairment and PSP (total score, self-care and work); triglycerides and HDRS (total score, melancholia factor and vitality factor), NSA motivation score and cognitive impairment.

The negative dimension of schizophrenia is associated with high homocysteine levels, which means an oxidative stress state. As well, a worse functioning level is associated with high homocysteine level.

D-aspartate (D-Asp) is an atypical amino acid that binds to and activates NMDARs. D-Asp occurs abundantly in the embryonic brain of mammals and rapidly decreases after birth, due to the activity of the enzyme D-Aspartate Oxidase (DDO). The agonistic activity of D-Asp on NMDARs and its neurodevelopmental occurrence make this D-amino acid a potential mediator for NMDAR-related alterations observed in schizophrenia. Consistently, substantial reduction of D-Asp was observed in post-mortem schizophrenia brains.

We evaluated the potential contribution of D-Asp as neurodevelopmental modulator of brain circuits and behaviors relevant to schizophrenia.

We analyzed DDO mRNA expression in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients. Moreover, we treated knockout mice for Ddo gene (Ddo-/-) with the NMDAR antagonist phencyclidine to evaluate their schizophrenia-relevant behaviors and circuits. Finally, we assessed cortico-hippocampal connectivity of these mice.

DDO mRNA detection was performed by quantitative PCR. Phencyclidine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviours were assessed through motor activity and prepulse inhibition paradigms. Resting-state and pharmacological fMRI were used to evaluate functional circuits and connectivity.

DDO mRNA expression is increased in frontal samples of schizophrenic patients. In mice, the absence of Ddo gene produces a significant reduction in phencyclidine-induced motor hyper-activity and prepulse inhibition deficit. Furthermore, increased levels of D-Asp in Ddo-/- animals significantly inhibit functional circuits activated by phencyclidine, and affect the development of cortico-hippocampal connectivity networks potentially involved in schizophrenia.

Our data suggest that D-Asp, through the regulation exerted by DDO, may have a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Rasd2 is a striatal GTP-binding protein that modulates Akt and mTOR signaling cascades, well known to be highly vulnerable pathways in psychiatric disorders.

We investigated the association of Rasd2 and its genetic variation with a series of prefronto-striatal phenotypes related to psychosis in rodents and humans.

We want to provide evidence that Rasd2 controls the vulnerability to schizophrenia-related behavior induced by psychothomimetic drugs in mice. Moreover, we aim to find genetic variations within the Rasd2 gene that influence a series of brain schizophrenia-related phenotypes in human.

Rasd2 knockout mice were employed to evaluate schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by psychotomimetic drugs like amphetamine and phencyclidine. Furthermore, we investigated if RASD2genetic variations in humans are associated with mRNA expression in post-mortem prefrontal cortex, as well as prefrontal and striatal grey matter volume and physiology during working memory as measured with MRI in healthy subjects. Finally, we assessed RASD2mRNA expression levels in post-mortem brains of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

We found that both psychotomimetics triggered greater vulnerability to motor stimulation and to prepulse inhibition deficits in Rasd2 mutants. In humans, we found that a genetic variation (rs6518956) within RASD2 predicts prefrontal mRNA expression as well as prefrontal grey matter volume and prefronto-striatal activity during working memory. Finally, we reported that RASD2 mRNA expression is slightly reduced in post-mortem prefrontal cortex of patients with schizophrenia.

Collectively, our data suggests that RASD2represents a gene of potential interest in psychiatric disorders for its ability to modulate prefronto-striatal phenotypes related to schizophrenia.

Schizophreniais a psychiatric disorder with multiple causes, including genetic, immune, environmental causes of various kinds, which all increase the vulnerability andpredisposition to the disorder. Among them stand out prenatal infections, thusbeing a preventable risk potential factor in our daily clinical practice.

To analyze the relation between prenatal infecions andschizophrenia.

Review of the subject and recent articles on schizophreniain Psychiatric guides and magazines.

After analyzing several studies, it have shown that prenatal infections, where the nervous system is not yet fully developed, may be a risk factorfor the development of schizophreniain adults, in relation with genetically predisposed individuals. Infections such as influenza, especiallyduring the first quarter of gestation;rubella, toxoplasma and herpes simplex virus-type 2 are related topotencially increase risk of suffer schizophrenia.

Prenatal infections, especially in the firstquarter and the periconceptional period, constitute a risk factor inindividuals with vulnerability to develop schizophrenia. Awareness andprevention is important in the pregnant population of the influence of theseinfections on the possible origin of psychotic episodes.

The study was undertaken to estimate an effectivenessof art therapy and psychoeducational programs in an integrated system of the rehabilitation ofpatients with schizophrenia.

It was conductedcomprehensive examination of 142 women with an established diagnosis ofschizophrenia in the period of stabilization.

According to the leading psychopathological syndrome allthe patients were divided into 4 clinical groups: apathy abulia syndrome, paranoid hallucinatory syndrome, depressiveparanoid, and paranoid syndrome.

Anintegrated system of the rehabilitation including the methods of art therapy and psychoeducational programconcluding various information modules, cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, training interactions, problem-oriented discussions.

The present study demonstrated the rapid reduction of psychiatricsymptoms, normalization of emotional state, stabilization of the behavior ofpatients, improvement of cognitive results, improvement of psychophysicalactivity, expanding of contacts, restoration of usual driving mode on thebackground of art therapy and psychoeducational approaches.

The criteria were used to estimate the effectiveness:stability of remission, rates of hospitalization, quality of life, level ofanxiety, improvement of the mental state.

Pica is an eating disorder characterized by eating of nonnutritive materials. It has been reported in different population, from certain ethnic groups, children, pregnant woman or organic disorders (eg. mineral deficiency) to psychiatric patients, including psychotic.

To describe a patient who ingest nonfood substances and its relationship with delusions.

X is a 26 year-old male with Paranoid Schizophrenia who came into the psychiatric emergency service because of an acute exacerbation of his mental illness, presenting auditory hallucinations and delusional mysticism. Draws our attention the presence of an aberrant eating behavior ingesting animals, lime, earth and leaves. The patient was hospitalized in the Impatient Psychiatric Unit for examination and treatment.

Several medical tests were performed and the only finding was an idiopathic eosinophilia, considered secondary to pica. He referred that the ingested items provided him from energy and better sight, as an explanation for his eating behavior. No suicidal ideation was objectified. Neuroleptic treatment was prescribed and behavioral and psychotic symptoms improved progressively.

The etiology of pica is unknown. Schizophrenic motivation for deliberate foreign body ingestion is a poorly understood phenomenon. In the case presented, the ingestions seems to be secondary to delusional beliefs that these objects contains properties that the patient lacks, not obeying to suicidal behavior and objectifying parallel remission of the pica and delusional activity. Further research is needed to clarify the etiology and mechanisms of this disorder, as it can lead to serious medical consequences (eg. metal poisoning, parasitosis, intestinal obstruction).

Schizoaffective disorder (SAD) is one of the most challenging concepts with unclear boundaries and remains difficult for clinicians due to its instability over time.

we aimed to set the socio demographic and clinical profile of patients treated for SAD and to identify factors influencing the change in the diagnosis from SAD to another mental illness.

we have analyzed 50 patients followed for at least 10 years and diagnosed as SAD on the basis of DSM-IV criteria.

The first SAD crisis was severe in 40,8% of cases. Almost half of the patients had a pre morbid personality (48%). At the first hospitalization, diagnoses were as follow: in 32% of cases: Schizophrenia, in 28% of cases: SAD, in 26% of cases: a mood disorder. The schizoaffective disorder diagnosis was rectified in 2 cases. More than 4 years are required to change the diagnosis. A complete remission was observed in 40% of cases during intervals, as the evolution of SAD is cyclical. The prognosis was considered good in the majority of cases. The change of the diagnosis is correlated to the age of the onset of the disorder (p = 0,046), the quality of intervals (p = 0,01), the quality of the professional insertion (p = 0,018) and the prognosis (p = 0,003).

The heterogeneity of patients with schizoaffective disorder and the absence of operational criteria in the definition of the pathology lead to the incapacity to set SAD clear diagnostic criteria.

Considerable evidence shows that a patient who is involved in determining the treatment approach is most likely to comply with treatment.The aim of this study was to identify until point the clinicians talk about the neuroleptic medication(NM) and assess patients' beliefs about treatment.

In this cross sectional study we use a convenience sample of patients with schizophrenia attending in the mental health departments of three general hospitals in Lisbon great area. Data is being collected through individual interviews. We have applied clinical and socio-demographic questionnaire and additional measures to assess symptom severity, treatment adherence and attitudes towards medication.

Thirty eight subjects with schizophrenia met the inclusion criteria and were interviewed. Variables of interest focused on experience of communication between doctor and patient about medication side effects, therapeutic alliance, treatment adherence and beliefs about medicines.71% of patients reported that doctors did not talk about how to deal with side effects of medication and 65%think that neuroleptic drugs have more side effects compared to other drugs.55.3% of patients think that if the clinicians had more time with patients, prescribing fewer drugs.

The clinical-patient communication is one of most important factors in rehabilitation outcome. For this reason, it is important for the patient that the doctor clarifies all your doubts and beliefs about NM in order to promote recovery. The clinical-patient communication can help the patient to identify and manage any side effects and contribute to the development of effective strategies to prevent relapses. Results suggest that forming a strong clinical-patient communication may enhance rehabilitation among persons with schizophrenia.