The Korean Basketball League(KBL) holds an annual draft to allow teams to select new players, mostly graduates from the elite college basketball teams even though some are from high school teams. In sports games, many factors might influence the success of an athlete. In addition to possessing excellent physical and technical factors, success in a sports game is also influenced by remarkable psychological factors. Several studies reported that elite sports players can control their anxiety during competition, which may lead to better performance. In particular, the temperament and characteristics of players have been regarded as crucial determinants of the player’s performance and goal. In this regard, numerous studies suggest that personality is considered to be an important predictor of long-term success in professional sports

Based on previous reports and studies, we hypothesized that physical status, temperament and characteristics, and neurocognitive functions of basketball players could predict the result of KBL draft selection. Especially, temperament and characteristics were associated with the result of KBL selection. The basketball performances including average scores and average rebound were associated with emotional perception and mental rotation.

We recruited the number of 44 college elite basketball players(KBL selection, n=17; Non-KBL selection, n=27), and the number of 35 age-matched healthy comparison subjects who major in sports education in college. All participants were assessed with the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI), Sports Anxiety Scales(SAS), Beck Depression Inventory(BDI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Trail Making Test(TMT), and Computerized Neuro-cognitive Test(CNT) for Emotional Perception and Mental Rotation.

Current results showed that physical status, temperament and characteristics, and Neurocognitive functions of college basketball players could predict the KBL draft selection. Among temperament and characteristics, novelty seeking and reward dependence were associated with KBL draft selection. The basketball performances including average scores and average rebound were associated with emotional perception and mental rotation.

In order to be a good basketball player for a long time, it was confirmed that temperamental factors and Neurocognitive factors were very closely related. Furthermore, it is also judged that these results can be used as basic data to predict potential professional basketball players.

None Declared

The bidirectional relationship between the effects of sleep and exercise is often underappreciated. We aim to explore the bidirectional relationship of sleep and exercise. We further discuss the prominence of poor sleep in both the athletic and general population and understand the underlying mechanisms of interdependencies between the two. The goal is to illuminate practical implications to improve both areas and optimize physical and mental health.

• - To explore the bidirectional relationship between sleep and exercise

• - To understand how exercise can counterbalance the adverse metabolic consequences of sleep deprivation.

We conducted a systemic literature review from Pubmed, Scopus, and PsychINFO using the search terms: “(exercise) and (sleep),” “(exercise performance) and (sleep),” “(sleep quality) and (exercise).” We included original studies in English conducted on age groups 18 years and older.

Data from 31 studies shows that a significant number of athletes experience poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. 68.5% of Qatar Stars League soccer players and 61% of collegiate athletes in NCAA institutions report daytime fatigue several times a week. Most common causes include overtraining, hectic travel schedules, and sleeping in unfamiliar settings. Studies confirm athletes often sleep less before intense training or competitions. Sleep deficiency may lead to reduced muscular strength and endurance, mood changes, increased perceived effort, impaired cognitive processing, and diminished motor skills. Athletes averaging less than 8 hours of sleep nightly were 1.7 times more prone to injuries. Physiologically, sleep loss alters ventilation, plasma lactate concentration, hormone secretion, and inflammatory responses, hinders muscle glycogen restoration. Extended sleep restriction decreases testosterone levels, which influence muscle mass, energy, bone strength, and more. On the contrary, exercise may counter adverse metabolic impacts of sleep deprivation. High-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has shown to nullify negative metabolic effects of sleep deprivation, suggesting exercise’s protective potential.

Sleep and exercise are fundamental to maintaining physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The bidirectional, interdependent relationship can be best utilized by the providers to optimize overall well being. The critical impact of adequate sleep, particularly among athletes, is frequently underestimated. Poor sleep can detrimentally affect performance, amplify injury risks, and disrupt physiological functions, yet contemporary lifestyles often downplay its significance. It is important for healthcare professionals to emphasize a balanced approach to optimize these vital aspects. Continued research can offer strategies that benefit athletes and the broader populace, aiming to uplift daily life functionality.

None Declared

Despite the unclear nature of catatonia, the treatment response of catatonia to benzodiazepines is widely known for its typical, dramatic recovery. The neurobiological correlates of this phenomenon regarding specific receptors and neurotransmitters are unclear, as are the potential treatment options. This is important to consider when the most commonly recommended treatments of catatonia with Lorazepam or Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) are unavailable or unsuccessful. In this report, we describe a case of severe, malignant catatonia and psychosis mostly unresponsive to Lorazepam during two different hospitalizations, but with eventual return to baseline after successful treatment with Valproate.

• - To describe a unique case of malignant catatonia that was unresponsive to Lorazepam

• - To illustrate the potential utility of Valproate as an alternative treatment strategy for catatonia

This is a case report.

A 19-year-old Hispanic male presented to our hospital initially with family reports of severe and sudden depression with bizarre behavior. Prior to this admission, the patient had been discharged recently from another tertiary hospital following a 2-week admission for severe catatonia. Chart review from that admission scored the patient’s Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) at 16, which remained mostly unchanged after numerous additional intramuscular doses and standing oral doses of Lorazepam, with a reduction of BFCRS the next day of only 2. During the patient’s admission at our hospital, the patient endorsed bizarre, guilt-related delusions, and his catatonia was more severe and malignant with a BFCRS of 19, with tachycardia and diaphoresis. The patient was initially given a total of seven doses of a mix of intramuscular and oral Lorazepam (total 18mg), with a minimal 2-point reduction in BFCRS. As ECT was unavailable, Lorazepam was discontinued in favor of a trial of oral Valproate 500mg twice daily, and after his catatonia subsided (with a serum level of 60.8), he was started on oral Risperidone 0.5mg once at night, titrated up to 3mg twice daily, and eventually returned to baseline as confirmed by his family members.

The treatment of catatonia with Lorazepam is usually reliable and has been found to be up to 80% effective, but when the recommended use of benzodiazepines and ECT fail or are unavailable, there are few studies exploring the viability of alternative treatment options. With the use of Valproate, previous studies have shown it can treat even severe catatonia (KrÜger, J Neuropsychiatry 2001; 13:303-304), or can actually be its cause (Lauterbach, Neuropsychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Behavioral Neurology. 1998 Jul;11(3):157-163). As such, this case report highlights the importance of exploring alternative treatments for catatonia, including Valproate, in order to better tailor the management of this unique syndrome.

None Declared

The locus coeruleus (LC) innervates the cerebrovasculature and plays a crucial role in optimal regulation of cerebral blood flow. However, no human studies to date have examined links between these systems with widely available neuroimaging methods. We quantified associations between LC structural integrity and regional cortical perfusion and probed whether varying levels of plasma Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers (Aß42/40 ratio and ptau181) moderated these relationships.

64 dementia-free community-dwelling older adults (ages 55-87) recruited across two studies underwent structural and functional neuroimaging on the same MRI scanner. 3D-pCASL MRI measured regional cerebral blood flow in limbic and frontal cortical regions, while T1-FSE MRI quantified rostral LC-MRI contrast, a well-established proxy measure of LC structural integrity. A subset of participants underwent fasting blood draw to measure plasma AD biomarker concentrations (Aß42/40 ratio and ptau181). Multiple linear regression models examined associations between perfusion and LC integrity, with rostral LC-MRI contrast as predictor, regional CBF as outcome, and age and study as covariates. Moderation analyses included additional terms for plasma AD biomarker concentration and plasma x LC interaction.

Greater rostral LC-MRI contrast was linked to lower regional perfusion in limbic regions, such as the amygdala (ß = -0.25, p = 0.049) and entorhinal cortex (ß = -0.20, p = 0.042), but was linked to higher regional perfusion in frontal cortical regions, such as the lateral (ß = 0.28, p = 0.003) and medial (ß = 0.24, p = 0.05) orbitofrontal (OFC) cortices. Plasma amyloid levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and amygdala CBF (Aß42/40 ratio x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.31, p = 0.021), such that as plasma Aß42/40 ratio decreased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the negative relationship between rostral LC integrity and amygdala perfusion decreased. Plasma ptau181levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and entorhinal CBF (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = 0.64, p = 0.001), such that as ptau181 increased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the negative relationship between rostral LC integrity and entorhinal perfusion decreased. For frontal cortical regions, ptau181 levels moderated the relationship between rostral LC and lateral OFC perfusion (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.54, p = .004), as well as between rostral LC and medial OFC perfusion (ptau181 x rostral LC interaction term ß = -0.53, p = .005), such that as ptau181 increased (i.e., greater pathology), the strength of the positive relationship between rostral LC integrity and frontal perfusion decreased.

LC integrity is linked to regional cortical perfusion in non-demented older adults, and these relationships are moderated by plasma AD biomarker concentrations. Variable directionality of the associations between the LC and frontal versus limbic perfusion, as well as the differential moderating effects of plasma AD biomarkers, may signify a compensatory mechanism and a shifting pattern of hyperemia in the presence of aggregating AD pathology. Linking LC integrity and cerebrovascular regulation may represent an important understudied pathway of dementia risk and may help to bridge competing theories of dementia progression in preclinical AD studies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, care for the elderly in the community was greatly limited. Accordingly, the demand for alternative community care have increased to cope with changing situations.

In this study, we tried to find out whether the companion robot improved mood state and related problem in depressive or isolated community dwelling elderly

For 186 community dwelling elderly who have received social welfare service due to depression or social isolation, we provided companion robot that could support their daily living. The robot was equipped with special program that could recognize and respond to the participant’s own emotion. It was part of behavioral activation techniques which is one of powerful treatment for depression. The self-report questionnaires were used to measure changes in cognitive function, depression, suicidality, loneliness, resilience and satisfaction of life. Outcomes were measured before using companion robot and after 3 months, and we compared them.

The elderly using companion robot for 3 months showed improved cognitive function (45.7% to 30.1%), depression (p<0.001), suicidality(p<0.001), and loneliness (p=0.033) in the self-report questionnaire. Resilience(p=0.749) and satisfaction of life (p=0.246) were also improved but not reached significance.

Image:

Image 2:

Image 3:

These findings showed that the use of companion robot with emotional recognition coaching program could help improve depression, cognitive function, loneliness and suicidal ideation. In particular, this effect was also useful for those who were diagnosed with depression. Also if we can put more techniques of behavioral activation programs into robot, it could be useful in community care for depressive and isolated elderly.

None Declared

Subclinical or subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) is associated with significant burden. Up to 20% of general population report subclinical social anxiety symptoms, which can change individual social, work functioning.

However, neural mechanisms of SSA have not been fully investigated in healthy individual yet. This study aimed to examine the relationship between gray matter volumes (GMVs) and SSA.

We enrolled a total of 57 healthy individuals with SSA. The General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Albany Panic and Phobia Scale (APPQ) were evaluated. Freesurfer was applied to investigated the relationship between SSA and GMVs. Multiple regression models with age, sex, and total intracranial volume as covariates were performed. Pearson correlation analyses also investigated the exploratory correlations between the GMVs of the SSA-related regions and other psychological characteristics among healthy individuals.

Freesurfer voxel-wise correlational analyses showed a significant negative correlation between the SA scores of APPQ and gray matter volumes (GMVs) in the fusiform gyrus (FG). In addition, the GMVs in the FG were significantly negatively associated with the total GAD-7, BDI-II, BAI, and APPQ scores. Performance anxiety was significantly correlated with posterior cingulate gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus and fusiform gyrus.

Image:

Our findings suggest that healthy individuals with SSA showed decreased GMVs in the FG and the GMVs of FG were associated with general anxiety and depression symptomatology.

None Declared

One of the most significant changes to society came with the advent of social media, and with it a cultural shift in whom people consider their actual friends. The cultural influence of entertainment figures is not a new phenomenon; however, there has a revolution in the way celebrities interact with their fans, specifically in the Korean Pop (Kpop) industry. In contrast with musicians who release an album and then disappear into mysterious obscurity, Kpop stars constantly interact with fans through meet and greets, live streams, variety tv shows, and most importantly, through social media. With a concomitant rise in parasocial interactions and relationships, Kpop blurs the line between what constitutes pathological delusions and healthy fan activity.

• • To learn the assessment and management of patients with anorexia nervosa

• • To understand changes in management to address suicidality in patients with anorexia nervosa

• • To understand influences by media in perpetrating certain body types in impressionable adolescents

Patient is a 19 year-old Hispanic female with a Past Psychiatric History of Bipolar Disorder, who was brought in by EMS due for agitation and disorganized behavior. Patient presented manic, labile, and her delusions extended to beliefs that the Kpop group EXO has been communicating with her through morse code in their videos, and that certain members would wink at her through the computer screen in real time. The patient’s BMI at the time of admission was 15.4, and she continued to compare her own body to Kpop idols.

Patient shared a lifetime mix of both shame and trauma concerning her eating habits, with multiple incidents that may have contributed to her fear of eating, and simultaneously into her becoming obsessed with the Kpop group (“2018 and COVID were a miracle for me. I got closer to EXO”). Patient denies looking ugly or fat and seems mostly satisfied with her current appearance.

With social isolation growing due to the pandemic, online parasocial relationships are becoming an increasingly normal part of people’s lives. We discuss a case where an unhealthy obsession with Kpop contributed to body dissatisfaction, and the precipitating factors that lead to these circumstances, as well as the challenges that are present in helping these adolescents and young adults in coping with social media use. As such, it is important to discuss the challenges faced by psychiatrists who must be sufficiently aware of the ever-changing face of contemporary cultural landscape when forming an accurate diagnosis.

None Declared

We summarize what we assess as the past year's most important findings within climate change research: limits to adaptation, vulnerability hotspots, new threats coming from the climate–health nexus, climate (im)mobility and security, sustainable practices for land use and finance, losses and damages, inclusive societal climate decisions and ways to overcome structural barriers to accelerate mitigation and limit global warming to below 2°C.

We synthesize 10 topics within climate research where there have been significant advances or emerging scientific consensus since January 2021. The selection of these insights was based on input from an international open call with broad disciplinary scope. Findings concern: (1) new aspects of soft and hard limits to adaptation; (2) the emergence of regional vulnerability hotspots from climate impacts and human vulnerability; (3) new threats on the climate–health horizon – some involving plants and animals; (4) climate (im)mobility and the need for anticipatory action; (5) security and climate; (6) sustainable land management as a prerequisite to land-based solutions; (7) sustainable finance practices in the private sector and the need for political guidance; (8) the urgent planetary imperative for addressing losses and damages; (9) inclusive societal choices for climate-resilient development and (10) how to overcome barriers to accelerate mitigation and limit global warming to below 2°C.

Science has evidence on barriers to mitigation and how to overcome them to avoid limits to adaptation across multiple fields.

This study aimed to analyse if there were any associations between patulous Eustachian tube occurrence and climatic factors and seasonality.

The correlation between the monthly average number of patients diagnosed with patulous Eustachian tube and climatic factors in Seoul, Korea, from January 2010 to December 2016, was statistically analysed using national data sets.

The relative risk for patulous Eustachian tube occurrence according to season was significantly higher in summer and autumn, and lower in winter than in spring (relative risk (95 per cent confidence interval): 1.334 (1.267–1.404), 1.219 (1.157–1.285) and 0.889 (0.840–0.941) for summer, autumn and winter, respectively). Temperature, atmospheric pressure and relative humidity had a moderate positive (r = 0.648), negative (r = –0.601) and positive (r = 0.492) correlation with the number of patulous Eustachian tube cases, respectively.

The number of patulous Eustachian tube cases was highest in summer and increased in proportion to changes in temperature and humidity, which could be due to physiological changes caused by climatic factors or diet trends.