Sensitization of cytochrome P-450 system to action of alcohol can become a significant problem of psychopharmacotherapy. M-chlor-benzhydrylurea – Galodif® is an efficient anticonvulsant. We investigated effect of Galodif on activity of the liver cytochrome P450 system of alcoholics from two different ethnic groups.

As a test-drug antipirine was used. 68 patients (from Russian and Tatar ethnic groups) were examined. The concentration of test-drug antipirine in saliva was determined by spectrophotometry assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were counted by model-independent method of statistical moments by K. Yamaoka: period of half-elimination (T1/2, h), total clearance (Cl t, ml/min), middle time of residual drug in organism (MRT, h), middle time of elimination (MET, h), area under the pharmacokinetic curve (AUC, mkgh/ml).

Clinical monitoring provides a possibility to considerably optimize the process of treatment of alcoholic patients. We observed, that T1/2 of drug kinetic was 8,81±5,23 before treatment and 4,37±2,31* after treatment with Galodif; Clt: 113,42±38,67 and 137,37±54,00; MRT: 11,44±5,43 and 3,69±0,60* (p<0.05); MET: 6,03±2,10 and 4,64±1,83* (p<0.05); AUC: 7,05±5,74 and 6,39±2,18, respectively. Galodif causes reduction of period of half-elimination, significant decrease of middle time of residual drug in organism and middle elimination time. Drug pharmacokinetics parameters in alcoholic patients from Tatar ethnic group were as follows: T1/2: 11,19±2,95 and 2,57±0,69*; Clt: 71,108±11,58 and 116,23±9,40*; MRT: 8,66±1,13 and 2,60±0,46*; MET (h) 5,71±0,57 and 3,68±0,49*; AUC: 11,58±1,71 and 7,30±1,04*, respectively.

These data suggest that the individual sensitivity of organism to the drug is caused not only by biochemical, but also by anthropo-morpho-physiological polymorphism.

Depression is the most prevalent mental health condition with high morbidity and mortality. rTMS is an alternative treatment of acute depression validated in controlled trials. rTMS was approved by FDA for treatment of unipolar non-psychotic depression in patients who have failed one adequate antidepressant trial (Lisanby, 2009). Maintenance application of rTMS in depression remains under – researched.

To investigate published evidence of maintenance rTMS in unipolar and bipolar depression.

Systematic review of maintenance rTMS studies in unipolar and bipolar depression was conducted. An electronic search was carried out including The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (1988-2014), EMBASE (1974-2014), and Psych Lit (1980-2014). References of selected articles were searched manually. English-language case reports, case series, cohort studies and controlled trials were selected. Studies reporting maintenance rTMS equal or less then 3 month were excluded.

8 case reports, 5 case series, 1 retrospective cohort study and 4 prospective open-label studies were critically appraised. No RCTs were available. Most patients reported had prolonged treatment-resistant depression. Considerable heterogeneity in maintenance rTMS frequency and parameters was observed. All studies reported short-term prolongation of remission period or preservation of acute treatment gains. Few rTMS studies reported longer-term maintenance treatment.

rTMS appears to be a viable well-tolerated option for maintenance treatment of unipolar and bipolar depression either as monotherapy or as an adjunct to maintenance pharmacotherapy. Absence of consistent stimulation parameters makes it difficult to discuss rTMS relapse prevention effectiveness in systematic way. Large sample long-term sham control studies are needed.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for drug-resistant depression. However, long-term effects of such therapy on cognitive functions have not been adequately studied.

The aim of the study was to estimate short-term and long-term effects of ECT on cognitive functions in patients with drug-resistant depression.

Thirty seven patients were included (10 male, 27 female), aged 34-75 years. Cognitive assessments were performed before, immediately after completion of 6-12 sessions of the ECT, and 3 months thereafter, using Benton Visual Retention Test, Digit Span of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Color Reading Interference (Stroop test), Verbal fluency test, Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (ROCF).

Immediately after ECT, a significant worsening was noted in memory (most elements of RAVLT) and in verbal fluency. However, 3 months after ECT, the indices of both RAVLT and verbal fluency significantly improved compared to baseline, and also, these of Benton and ROCF were significantly better than before ECT. The results of Digit Span (WAIS), Stroop and TMT were not affected by the treatment.

The results suggest that the negative effects of ECT on cognitive functions are transient. After three months, the indices of memory, verbal fluency as well as Benton and ROCF were significantly better than those before the treatment. Therefore, in addition to antidepressant effect in drug-resistant depression, electroconvulsive therapy, in a long-term perspective, may also exert a favorable influence on some cognitive functions.

The limitations of the available treatment options for psychiatric disorders have spurred interest in different therapeutic methods. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has been researched as a surgical therapeutic approach for treatment resistant patients with psychiatric disorders such as Depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Gilles la Tourette syndrome, Addiction and Anorexia Nervosa.

To review the current existing evidence base for DBS in the different psychiatric and neuropsychiatric disorders.

A literature review was performed through MEDLINE/PsycINFO, using the following keywords: ”DBS”, ‘Deep-brain Stimulation”, ‘Psychiatry”, ‘Disorder”, ‘Depression”, ‘Obsessive Compulsive Disorder”, ‘Addiction”, ‘Anorexia”, ‘Alcohol”, ‘Heroin”, ‘Gilles la Tourette”, “PTSD". All relevant papers published until the 30^th of September 2014, were selected.

A growing body of evidence seems to demonstrate that DBS is effective as a therapeutic approach for treatment-resistant Depression and OCD. Newer fields of research in DBS include Addiction (Alcohol, Heroin, Cocaine), Gilles la Tourette syndrome and, more recently even, Anorexia Nervosa. Regarding Addiction, there are few studies, with small patient samples, and with mixed results regarding clinical improvement. Existing evidence for Anorexia Nervosa is also scarce, but seems to demonstrate positives results in terms of effectiveness. Concerning Gilles la Tourette syndrome, there is a somewhat larger evidence base pointing to clinical improvement following DBS. Research in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is currently under way.

DBS is developing to become a valid therapeutic option for the treatment of some refractory psychiatric disorders. More clinical experience and scientific evidence is necessary to improve its effectiveness.

ECT is an effective and safe treatment for severe psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorders, bipolar mania and depression and acute exacerbations of schizophrenia according to clinical guidelines. However, an overall decline in the use of ECT utilization has been reported worldwide and concerns have been raised that ECT is being underused in some countries.

To describe temporal trends in ECT utilization rates in european countries

A systematic review was conducted of studies which reported on ECT temporal trends in european countries in the last 25 years

Results

There had been a decrease in the useof ECT in recent years in Europe. However, recent publications suggest that its use may be stabilizing or even rebounding.

Large variations in worldwide ECT utilization have been described (Leiknes et al. 2012) and concerns have been raised that ECT is being underused in some countries (with some patients being deprived of the most effective treatments available) While overused in certain locations (Smith et al. 1985).

To describe ECT utilization rates in European countries and to examine barriers difficulting its accesibility to ECT in Europe

A systematic review was conducted of studies which reported on ECT utilization rates in european countries in the last 25 years

Wide variations in the use of ECT have also been reported among neighbouring countries and even among different regions within the same country. Lack of human and material resources, economic and legal restrictions, lack of agreement between psychiatrists and social prejudices against ECT might be behind these variations.

Action is needed that ensures a more uniform access to ECT. Health education campaigns, clinical practice guidelines development and implementation and ECT training courses promotion could contribute toward this.

Despite its high prevalence, the validated treatment for ADHD is chronic administration of psychostimulants, which is associated with side effects and occasionally not tolerated. Deep TMS using special coil designs for targeting neural networks linked with neuropsychiatric disorders, may become a viable alternative.

Comparison of rTMS treatment using deep, figure-8 and sham coils on ADHD symptoms.

In the current randomized, sham-controlled study, adult ADHD patients received 15 daily sessions of high-frequency rTMS directed to the right prefrontal cortex (rPFC), using either deep, figure-8, or a sham coil. ADHD symptoms and cognitive alterations were assessed using the CAARS-INV, self–report questionnaires and performance tests. Additionally, the stop signal task (SST) combined with EEG measures was used to asses behavioural inhibition and ERPs. EEG responses to an inhibitory protocol of paired TMS pulses over the rPFC were measured before and after treatments. A healthy control group was evaluated at baseline for comparison.

Several ADHD symptoms were improved in patients that received dTMS but not standard figure-8 or sham treatment (p=0.007, CAARS; p=0.014, SST). Differences between ADHD patients and healthy controls were demonstrated in ERPs during the SST, and in response to single and paired TMS pulses. The lower amplitudes of ERPs in patients correlated with ADHD symptoms and behavioural inhibition measures.

Repeated stimulation of deep areas in the rPFC has therapeutic potential, where rPFC excitability is impaired in ADHD patients. Ongoing analysis attempts to establish the neurophysiological measures as predictors and biomarkers for effectiveness of dTMS treatment.

The efficiency DCASNS method to restore cognitive function in patients with organic amnestic syndrome.

Three patients with clinical organic amnestic syndrome resulting of brain damage (poisoning, alcohol and trauma) held inpatient treatment for at least 12 months in the neurology or psychiatry department without a significantly improvement.

Determine of the effectiveness of the DCASNS method to restore cognitive functions.

DCASNS method implemented using an electrical pulse generator that delivers the spatially-distributed field of the carefully-controlled current pulses in the nervous structures of the neck (Kublanov V.S., 2008). This allow to control of autonomic regulation activity (by stellatis ganglion) and stimulate stem neural centers. Patients were assessed using the clinical method, neuropsychological scales: Frontal Assessment Batter? (FAB), Montreal Cognitive Assessmnet (MCA), Mini-Mental State (MMSE), MRI, EEG, Heart rate variability (HRV).

The initial clinical state of the patients was severe, with structural damage on MRI and low rates of neuropsychological tests. As a result of seven DCASNS procedures improved significantly neuropsychological assessments: FAB (from 5,7±3,1 to 12±4,0); MCA (from 11,3±3,0 to 16,3±4,0); MMSE (from 15,3±6,2 to 21,3±8,3). EEG comparison analysis showed an increase in power of Alpha waves and power reduction of Delta waves on all leads. HRV comparison analysis showed an increase total power and the change in autonomic balance.

DCASNS method can be used for the effectiveness treatment of cognitive dysfunctions resulting organic lesions of the central nervous system.

Major depression affects 1.5%-19% general population. High use of healthcare services and increase in morbidity and mortality are common consequences. Despite of appropriate pharmacological treatment, 30-40% of patients don't achieve significant improvement. TRD refers to no remission after two adequate trials of antidepressants: these patients qualify for ECT.

Our Mood Disorder Unit treats about 600 patients/year, 4% undergo ECT for TRD.

Ongoing, retrospective, observational study on 73 TRD patients treated with ECT 2/week, considering acute and late responsiveness 1 and 12 months later.

Sample of 52 (71.22%) patients with Recurrent Major Depression and 21 (28.78%) with Bipolar Disorder, collecting epidemiological and clinical data. Clinical course assessment through weekly Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD); follow-up evaluation after 12 months, with telephone interviews.

73 inpatients, 26(35.62%) males, 47(64.38%) females with 4.31±3.43 previous episodes; mean age 59.42±11.60 years. Average duration of reference episode 52.71±39.42 weeks with HRSD initial score 30.16±4.76. Each patient was treated with 6.92±2.90 ECT applications. 64(87.67%) patients responded to treatment (50% reduction of HRSD initial score), 33(45.21%) achieved remission (HRSD≤8); 18(24.66%) patients maintained 12-months remission.

Our experience strengthens pivotal role of ECT in TRD. Each patient had long-lasting, severe episode under 1 year-long unsuccessful pharmacological therapy. ECT managed to quickly ameliorate their clinical course. We didn't record any adverse event. ECT showed similar relapse rates compared to conventional pharmacological treatment. This procedure requires further studies about long-term outcome.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a common psychiatric disorder. Although DBT has been proven effective, in the treatment of this disorder, many patients suffering from BPD are resistant to taking part in group psychotherapy, a core aspect of DBT. With Internet use ever rising, online DBT could be an alternative effective treatment for these group of patients.

Understand the barriers in receiving DBT in patients with personality disorder and understand how online DBT could be helpful in improving these patients' symptoms

Use online DBT as an alternative method for patients who do not have access to live DBT

We gave the participants the opportunity to choose the online format or the live sessions for Managing Powerful Emotions program at Personality Disorders Service at Queen's university. On each session, patients were provided with information on a topic, homework sheets and feedback from the therapist. All the participants were assessed by using 'self assessment questionnaire' and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS).

The DERS scores among these two groups were not significantly different before the treatment. Statistical analysis showed that both online and live DBT significantly reduced DERS scores in all 6 categories and there was no significant differences in amount of the changes in the scores in the 2 groups.

Despite the proven efficacy of psychotherapy, there are some barriers, including being resistant to taking part in live sessions, long wait-lists and transportation. With Internet use rising, delivering online psychotherapy might be an alternative method.

Psoriasis is a disease which may have direct impact on the psychological and social aspects, particularly due to its visibility. To date, we are unaware of any study showing relationship between psoriasis and psychological parameters such as psychological vulnerability and coping strategies.

to evaluate the effects of psoriasis on some psychological parameters in an Iranian population.

Patients having histopathologically confirmed psoriasis for at least 6 months attending the Clinic of Razi Hospital and evaluated by PASI,CISS,IPQ-R

There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

PASI score as a representing factor of skin involvement has limited role in predicting effect of psoriasis on mental status and illness perception of psoriatic patients. Psychological vulnerability of patients is the main predicting factor of illness perception and coping strategies

There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

to evaluate the effects of psoriasis on some psychological parameters in an Iranian population. There were 101 females and 99 males with the mean age of 43.2 (±16.32). The mean PASI Score was 6.58 ± 6.04. Diffuse skin involvement was the commonest form of disease (133 patients, 66.5%). the highest score for Illness perception belongs to those with genitalia involvement (185.2, worst illness perception) and the lowest score for Illness perception belong to those with nail involvement (168.2). Consistently, the lowest score of facing with the problems (CISS: approach strategy to disease) belongs to those with hand involvement (50.5) whereas the highest score belongs to those with genitalia involvement (60.4). There was significant correlation between psychological vulnerability vs. Illness perception score as well as psychological vulnerability vs. coping strategies score. Surprisingly, PASI score had insignificant relationship with illness perception, coping strategies or psychological vulnerability score.

The concept of trauma has been one of the pillars of psychoanalytic thinking ever since the time of Freud's research into the origins of hysteria. In the years to follow, different aspects regarding the role of trauma in the development of personality and self have been presented. We will describe a case study of a woman who suffers from schizophrenia and our joint venture in face of a traumatic event which took place in our ward.

a cross sectional analysis through theoretical, clinical and cinematic aspects of trauma, disassociation, psychosis and psychotherapy.

1. 1. Exploring the cinematic motifs of trauma in the film The Fisher King by Teri Gilliam.

2. 2. Analyzing these motifs and outlining implications for a therapeutic dyad who withstands a traumatic event in the closed ward.

Through parallel analysis of the film and the case study we describe the development of the traumatic response in the therapeutic dyad in face of a traumatic event.

The cinematic motifs which are used to describe the traumatic response are present and have an effect on the therapeutic process. Analyzing their presentation seems to clarify possible obstacles that challenge the therapist in treating a patient who suffered from trauma.

The unique therapeutic situation in which the therapeutic dyad goes through a traumatic event amplifies the different traumatic responses and their collision. Clarifying the obstacles which embark in psychotherapy with a patient who suffers from a traumatic response can aid the therapist in developing coping strategies.

Cognitive bias modification (CBM) interventions are strongly advocated in research and clinical practice.

We aimed to examine the efficiency of CBM for clinically relevant outcomes, along with study quality, publication bias and potential moderators.

We conducted two meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of CBM interventions for clinically relevant outcomes, one for patients with mental health problems and one for all populations. We included randomized controlled trials of CBM interventions, which reported clinically relevant outcomes assessed with standardized instruments. We examined the quality of the trials, as well as possible publication bias and possible moderators.

We identified 49 trials and grouped outcomes into anxiety and depression. ESs were small considering all the samples, and mostly non-significant for patient samples. ESs became non-significant when outliers were excluded and after adjustment for publication bias. The quality of the RCTs was sub-optimal. Publication year was consistently negatively associated with ESs. More sessions were associated with smaller ES, as were the absence of participant compensation and, respectively, the non-exclusively laboratory based delivery of the intervention. The quality of the RCTs was not optimal and quality was negatively associated to outcomes for depression and general anxiety.

Our results indicate that CBM may have small effects on mental health problems, but it is also very well possible that there are no significant effects. Research in this field is hampered by small and low-quality research, and by risk of publication bias, and much of the positive outcomes is driven by extreme outliers.

There are many studies supporting the efficacy of trauma focused EMDR in the treatment of PTSD and other anxiety disorders. But most of them included only people younger than 70 years. Older people often suffer from intellectual decline. Been proved that EMDR is effective in people with intellectual impairment (Mevissen. L et all, 2012), but the people who participated in these studies did not relate to the older age group.

Old people are often faced with loss, death of a spouse, friends, relatives. Inaddition, the known so-called 'domino effect' when a new trauma can reactivate old traumatic experiences, and the fact that older people inrelation to the characteristics of their memory can suddenly reactivate traumatic experiences related to the events of their youth.

Explore the possibility of using EMDR in the treatment of elderly people with a history of psychological trauma.

The study involved 26 women aged 70-85 years who received treatment in the in-patient department of our hospital. They had cognitive impairment from mild to moderate (for MoCA-test) and a history of psychological trauma. The Doctor used bilateral stimulation (mainly tapping) and 8-phase EMDR protocol, developed by F. Shapiro.

All patients showed a decrease anxiety, improve sleep, and decrease in the number of somatic complaints.

EMDR is highly effective in the elderly.

Art therapy means treatment and healing of mental disturbance through an artistic mediated through which the client can reveal itself and helps the therapist to analyze what he has offered and take another step towards the methods of treatment.

Therefore, in this study, with a proactive approach to examine the effects of art therapy on housewives general health, anxiety and self-efficiency in Tehran.

In order that twenty-one housewives in West of Tehran area were selected randomly using a cluster sampling method and they were divided into three groups of seven subjects each. Each three groups responded general health, Sherer general self-efficacy and Beck anxiety tests before and after applying the Independent variable (art therapy). Twelve art therapy, sessions per a week for 90 minutes each session was held. To describe data, we used a tree diagram, central indices such as mean and standard deviation, and we used t test for statistical analyzing of research hypotheses.

According to the results, art therapy has significant influence on general health and its components in the housewives (5/44) . Art therapy significantly reduces the housewives anxiety (5/89). Art therapy significantly increase the housewives efficiency (3/73) .

Art therapy can be effective when used in treating anxiety, promote general health and self-efficacy.

Headache is a common complaint among adolescents and is associated with several comorbid conditions particularly anxiety and depression. Transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy (TCBT) is an alternative approach to third wave CBT. It attempts to address multiple diagnoses at the same time while focusing on shared pathology and common processes (McEvoy et al., 2009).

To develop a group transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy intervention module for adolescents with comorbid headache and anxiety disorder and to evaluate the module in terms of feasibility, acceptance and efficacy.

A TCBT intervention module for headache and anxiety disorder for use with adolescents was developed. Fifteen adolescents diagnosed with comorbid headache and anxiety disorder were recruited from the outpatient psychiatric clinic at AIIMS, New Delhi. Baseline, mid-and post- intervention assessments was done on Youth Self Report, M.I.N.I KID, Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule, STAI – Y, CDI – 2, Headache Diary, Headache Impact Test (HIT) and Global Assessment Scale for Children (CGAS). TCBT was carried out over a period of 12 weeks with one group session per week for each of the three groups.

85% participants showed clinically significant improvement as rated on scores on STAI-Y, HIT and CGAS. Qualitative interpretation of headache diary showed significant decrease in the frequency, intensity and duration of headache for all participants.

TCBT module was found to be feasible, acceptable and efficacious leading to significant symptom reduction.

Possible benefits of TCBT as pertaining to the Indian context along with barriers are further discussed.

The present pilot study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 7-week mindfulness-based intervention program (MBI-p), as a part of a RCT of larger scale. The MBI-p was developed by the Early Psychosis Studies and Intervention (EPSI) team in Hong Kong designated for patients with early psychotic disorders. In particular, the objective was to investigate the effects of MBI-p on depressive and anxiety symptoms associated with psychosis.

An uncontrolled design was used. Nine participants with psychotic disorders received MBI-p were assessed at baseline and post-treatment on outcomes of symptom severity (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS), depression and anxiety (Calgary Depression Scale, CDS, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, DASS), and mindfulness skills (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ).

Significant improvements were found on the PANSS total score (P<.01), PANSS general symptom subscore (P<.01), CDS total score and DASS 21 depression subscore (P=0.05), accompanied by the improvements of mindfulness skills (FFMQ-observing subscore P<.01).

These pilot results indicated initial effectiveness of a group intervention based on mindfulness principles for patients with early psychosis. Significance in various measures despite small sample revealed a potentially robust effect of improving patients’ mood condition. It provides the foundation for future studies of larger scale and implementation of a promising and cost-efficient treatment option.

Schizophrenia can impair functioning and have serious individual and societal impact. Non-adherence rate to anti-psychotics is high due to side effects, raising the importance of adjuvant therapy. Artistic creation can help the patients expressing their illness experience and finding some order in their chaotic psychotic world.

To determine the differential effects of group art therapy on clinical symptoms and cognitive functions.

1. - Techniques taken from both art therapy and art expression provided as 24 group therapy sessions (2 sessions per week).

1. - Symptoms severity measured by the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS)

2. - Executive functions and set shifting measured by Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST)

3. - Visual attention and task switching measured by the Trail making test

1. - Post treatment results showed significant decrease in PANSS sub-scales (positive p < 0.0001, negative p < 0.001, general p < 0.001, total p < 0.0001)

2. - Also significant increase in cognitive biases in WCST (number of categories) p < 0.05 and significant decrease in WCST (failure to maintain set) p < 0.01 and trail making B test (time spent p < 0.003 and number of errors p < 0.001)

Symptom severity and cognitive functions in stable schizophrenia can improve when art expression and therapy are provided.