Over 50% of adult disability claimants fail some form of SVT. While some over report psychological, affective symptoms, others may report incredible cognitive symptoms. We examined effects of different types of response bias on free recall and self-reported depression.

Participants and methods This is a single site cross-sectional study using a convenience sample (n = 224) of disability claimants in the Netherlands. The Green Word Memory Test (GWMT) was administered to all subjects. The Amsterdam Short Term Memory Test (AKTG), the Structured Inventory of Malingered. Symptomatology (SIMS), and the beck depression inventory (BDI-II) were administered in subsamples. Participant classification according to GWMT and SIMS outcomes resulted in four groups, G+/S+, G+/S−, G−/S+ and G−/S−.

Average age of the participants was 46.3 years (SD 9.9), 41.5% were female, and 43% were higher educated. GWMT was positive in 48.2% of all subjects, and 27.6% scored positive on both GWMT and SIMS. Analysis of variance of GWMT Free recall and Beck depression scores showed significant group differences [F(3, 123) = 33.21, P = .000] and [F(3, 106) = 25.17, P = .000] respectively.

Non credible test performance was prevalent in this Dutch study of disability claimants. Insufficient effort and over reporting of psychological symptoms are associated with different score profiles on regular tests and self-rating scales.

The author receives funding for his work as a neuropsychologist in an expertise setting.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Seventy percent of patients with panic disorder (PD) have sleep impairment. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) effectively treats PD, but the concomitant effect on sleep is understudied. Physical exercise (PE) improves sleep, but this has not been investigated in patients with PD.

To compare the effects of CBT or PE on sleep in PD-patients, and to determine potential mechanisms of action.

Thirty-six PD-patients were randomized to either group CBT for PD or regular PE. Sleep was assessed pre/post with the Pittsburgh sleep quality index. Effects were investigated with repeated measures ANOVA and t-tests. Expected mediators were added to the general linear model to assess mediation.

The effect of time was significant, F(1.33) = 10.11, P = 0.003, but not the interaction (Time × group), F(1.33) = .48, P = 0.49. Symptoms were significantly reduced from pre- to post-treatment: PE, t(16) = 3.03, P = .008, and CBT, t(17) = 2.18, P = 0.044. CBT-patients changed significantly (P < 0.05) on Sleep quality, t(17) = 2.47 and Sleep disturbance, t(17) = 2.38. PE-patients changed significantly on sleep duration, t(16) = 2.58 and sleep disturbance, t(16) = 2.58. A significant interaction with change in fear of bodily symptoms, F(1.16) = 5.53, P = .032, and with change in depression-level, F(1.16) = 12.13, P = 0.003 was only found for CBT. A significant interaction with change in physical fitness, F(1.15) = 5.01, P = .041, was only found for PE.

Both interventions improve sleep in PD-patients, but differently. The findings also suggest that these changes are related to different mechanisms for PE and CBT.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) is a widely used 21-item self-report inventory used to assess anxiety levels in adults and adolescents in both clinical and non-clinical populations. The values for each item are summed yielding an overall or total score for all 21 symptoms that can range between 0 and 63 points. A total score of 0–7 is interpreted as a “Minimal” level of anxiety; 8–15 as “Mild”; 16–25 as “Moderate”, and; 26–63 as “Severe”. There is no study until this date that examines the Explanatory and confirmatory factor structure factor structure of BAI in college student in Kuwaiti.

The current study investigated the original four-factor structure of the (BAI) in non-clinical sample of college students.

Sample one consisted of 540 males and females while sample two consisted of 600 males and females from Kuwait University undergraduates. The Arabic version of BAI was administered to participants. Explanatory factor analysis based on sample one and conformity factor analysis based on sample 2.

The results revealed four factor structures of BAI in the two samples of Kuwaiti students. Which included neurophysiological, subjective, autonomic, and panic factors.

The results of both confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis indicated that the original four-factor structures of the BAI do provide the best fit for the college sample.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Video games become increasingly popular form of spending free time, therefore they are often a research subject. Researchers focus mainly on video games influence over children's psyche and their social interactions, although video games can also have an impact on adult's behaviour.

Incidence of social anxiety disorder and impulsiveness among video game players and non-players.

An anonymous online survey included 263 students of medical university of Silesia (112 M and 151 W). In study group, 142 people (54%) declared to be players. Questionnaire contained questions about playing time, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software package Statistica 12.

Using Liebowitz Scale in 168 (64.86%) all studied people lack of phobia was found, moderate social phobia 39 (15.06%), marked social phobia 26 (10.03%), severe social phobia 17(6.56%) and very severe social phobia 9(3.47%). There was no statistical significance between players and non-players (test Chi2P = 0.6521). Also in Barratt Scale statistical significance was not found in attentional impulsiveness (test U M-W P = 0.3267) and in Motor impulsiveness (test U M-W P = 0.3140). Statistical significance was observed in Non-planning impulsiveness (players: 23.68 V non-players: 22.02; test U M-W P = 0.0036).

The study did not show clear influence adult's video games playing over social phobia and impulsiveness occurrence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The greatest social and economic burden is divided between the three main anxiety disorders: social phobia (SF), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD).

To examine the pathways of patients with PD, SF and GAD since the beginning of the first anxiety symptoms and before the first course of a standardized treatment in a specialized mental health facility.

To evaluate the period of delay in seeking specialized care and to identify the main ways of seeking medical/non-medical care.

Retrospective study (n = 80). Structured interview were based on WHO instruments: WHO WMH CIDI and WHO Pathways to care encounter form.

Average age was 38 years, more females (72.5%). The delay period was 7 years (GAD = 8.7; SF = 8.2, PD = 5.9), during which at least 2 episodes of the disease. The most popular specialists were: neurologists (19%), psychiatrists (17%) (one-time visits to which were not accompanied by the appointment of a standardized course of treatment for an adequate period of time) and therapists (15%). Non-medical care was 10% of all studied (psychologists–5%, healers–3%, priests–2%). SF–psychiatrists (43%), therapists (14%), psychologists (14%); GAD–psychiatrists (22%), neurologists (19%), psychotherapists (11%), ambulance doctor (11%); PD–therapists (22%), neurologists (22%), ambulance doctor (17%), cardiologists (9%).

The findings suggest that patients with anxiety disorders have a long period of delay in receiving specialized care that causes the value of the social and economic burden of anxiety disorders in the community.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Generalized anxiety in young adults during college career is a serious public-health problem that untreated has a chronic course. Research has shown that the self-report questionnaire generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) is a reliable and valid measure to assess generalized anxiety symptoms severity in heterogeneous psychiatric samples. However, GAD-7 is not available for non-clinical populations and their factor structure has not been re-examined.

Our objective was to examine factor structure and measurement invariance of the GAD-7 among college students testing two alternatives models.

The original model fit of single-factor was compared to two-factor model that considered in comprehensive approach of generalized anxiety the assessment of cognitive-emotional nature and somatic symptoms.

In this cross-sectional study the GAD-7 was administrated to college students (n = 1031) recruited in the six schools which compose the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Portugal. Confirmatory factor analysis was used testing two models.

Among college students, 32.8% reported significant generalized anxiety symptoms. The original unidimensional structure of GAD-7 was confirmed but the two-factor model comprising cognitive–emotional and somatic factors presented better fit to the data (χ2(1) = 21.01, P < 0001). This latent factor were positively associated (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and presented a good internal consistency (α = 0.85 and α = 0.86 for cognitive-emotional and somatic items, respectively). The invariance factor of two-factor model across gender was also confirmed.

Results indicate that within college communities the GAD-7 integrates two stable generalized anxiety factors related but independent structure. The GAD-7 can be an adequate measure to detected generalized anxiety symptoms in this population.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

It is widely known that childhood traumatic life situations are associated with most of the adult life psychiatric disorders such as disassociative disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and so on.

The purpose of this study to examine the relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and panic disorder development.

The sample of this study consists of 59 outpatients who applied to the department of psychiatry in addition to 61 healthy individuals serving as the control group. These 59 individuals, located within the range of 18 to 65 years, were selected from outpatients who had been diagnosed with panic disorder based on DSM-V diagnosis criteria who did not have any other mental disorder. The 61 healthy individuals in the control group were selected from hospital attendants who had not received any psychiatric diagnosis. The participants were administered the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ) and a socio-demographic form.

The participants in the panic disorder group were found to have significantly high scores in comparison to the control group with respect to CTQ subscales (i.e., the emotional neglect and the emotional abuse subscale) and the total CTQ score. Hence, there exists a strong relationship between childhood traumatic experiences and panic disorder development.

The results revealed that childhood traumatic experiences play an active role in the development of panic disorder. Moreover, it was found that the type and quality of trauma experienced during the childhood period is one of the predictors for the psychiatric disease that can occur in the future years.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Proper recognition of facial expressions of emotion is crucial for human social relationships. Impairments in the capacity to process facial information may play an important role in the etiology and maintenance of certain mental disorders, especially music performance anxiety (MPA).

To assess the recognition of facial expressions of emotion in musicians compared to a group of subjects from the general population, considering also the presence/absence of MPA.

Hundred and fifty amateur and/or professional musicians who regularly take part in public performances (GM) and 150 subjects from the general population (GP) completed a task of facial emotion recognition and were assessed in terms of accuracy and reaction time. The group of musicians was subdivided between subjects with and without MPA indicators. Data were analyzed using Student's t test (P < 0.05) within the statistical package for the social sciences.

GM were less accurate and had a longer reaction time in the recognition of facial happiness (P < 0.001, effect size: 0.25–0.44) compared to GP. Musicians with MPA had a still lower accuracy in the recognition of happiness, as well as longer reaction times for emotions as a whole (P < 0.04; effect size: 0.32–0.40) compared to musicians without MPA.

The poorer performance of musicians in the recognition of happiness suggests difficulties to recognize indicators of social approval, which may negatively affect performance through increased anxiety and negative thoughts that can favor the onset of MPA.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a persistent and distressing experience that involves apprehension linked with musical performance in public (individual or collective). Anxious individuals concentrate their anxiety in situations that involve social scrutiny, favoring distorted, dysfunctional, and negative interpretations of that situation followed by experiences of physiological symptoms associated with the exposure. The most commonly used substances in the pharmacological management of MPA are beta-blockers and benzodiazepines. However, these options are not fully efficient and cause relevant side effects that interfere mainly with performance. Therefore, investigations on alternative substances to treat MPA are highly opportune.

To assess the acute effects of oxytocin (OT) on physiological and cognitive variables during an experimental model of simulated performance.

We assessed 12 musicians with MPA pre-treated with intranasal OT (24 UI) or placebo in a crossover trial involving an experimental situation of public performance. Cognitive and physiological measures (heart rate, blood pressure, salivary cortisol) were recorded before/during performance (anticipatory performance anxiety). Statistical analyses were made using Stata Direct.

The results showed no effects of OT on physiological symptoms (P > 0.190). In respect to anticipatory anxiety, however, we found a tendency for OT to reduce negative cognitions associated with music performance (P = 0.06). No side effects were reported by musicians throughout the trial.

These tendencies, if confirmed through the expansion of the sample, have important implications for the practice of amateur and professional musicians who could benefit from interventions as the one described, possibly with a lesser impact of side effects.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The understanding of the causes of music performance anxiety (MPA) and of strategies to cope with it is important for the comprehension/management of this common condition in musicians.

To investigate the causes of MPA reported by Brazilian musicians and the efficacy of the most commonly used strategies to cope with it.

Two hundred and fourteen Brazilian musicians (53% professional/musicians from orchestras, 67% male, mean age: 34.02 years, 65% with over 11 years of education, 42% of which played string instruments) completed different self-rating scales to assess the presence/absence of MPA.

Thirty-nine per cent of the musicians had indicators of MPA. The most commonly reported causes were repertoire difficulty (57%), concerns about audience response (52%), and self-pressure (51%). The most common coping techniques included breathing/relaxing techniques (66%) and increased practice (53%), regarded as efficient by at least 49% of the musicians. Strategies like seeing a doctor/psychiatrist/psychologist and taking antidepressant/anxiolytic medication were among the least frequently used in the sample. Also, 18% of musicians with MPA used beta-blockers and 6% used non-prescribed medications. Comparatively, musicians with MPA believed that it was associated with a higher number of conditions and regarded coping techniques as less efficient.

Musicians consider internal situations to be the most frequent causes of MPA and use different coping strategies with average effectiveness. Results highlight the poor use of well-established therapeutic resources and the occurrence of self-medication in the sample, which together point to the need for attention on the part of mental health professionals to this specific group.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Results from part of this trial were published as abstract in european psychiatry, Volume 30. Supplement 1, 28–31 March 2015, Pages 534 – “Somatoform Disorders-a New Target for Pregabalin”, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(15)30418-1.

Goal of the study was to analyze the impact of dissociation on the treatment of the patients with anxiety/neurotic spectrum and depressive disorders, and with or without personality disorders.

The sample consisted of inpatients who met the ICD-10 criteria for the Depressive disorder, Panic disorder, GAD, Mixed anxiety-depressive disorder, Agoraphobia, Social phobia, OCD, PTSD, Adjustment disorders, dissociative/conversion disorders, Somatoform disorder or other anxiety/neurotic spectrum disorder. The participants completed Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, subjective version of clinical global impression-severity, Sheehan Patient-Related Anxiety Scale, and Dissociative Experience Scale, at the start and the end of the therapeutic program.

The total of 840 patients with anxiety or depressive spectrum disorders, who were resistant to pharmacological treatment in outpatients basis and were referred for hospitalization for the six-week complex therapeutic program, were enrolled in this study. Six hundred and six of them were statistically analyzed. The patients’ mean ratings on all measurements were significantly reduced during the treatment. The patients without comorbid personality disorder improved significantly more than patients with comorbid personality disorder in the reduction of depressive symptoms. However, there were no significant differences in change of anxiety levels and severity of the disorder between the patients with and without personality disorders. The higher degree of dissociation at the beginning of the treatment predicted minor improvement. The higher therapeutic change was connected to the greater reduction of the dissociation level.

Dissociation presents an important factor influencing treatment effectiveness in the treatment-resistant patients with anxiety/depression with or without personality disorders.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Pharmacogenetic studies in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) primarily focussing on serotonergic and dopaminergic polymorphisms, provided inconsistent findings. There is recent evidence for glutamatergic abnormalities in OCD.

Examine the association glutamatergic genes with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) response in OCD.

To study pharmacogenetic association between SLC1A1 and GRIN2B polymorphisms with SRI response in OCD.

DSM-IV OCD patients were recruited from a specialty OCD clinic and evaluated using the Yale-Brown obsessive compulsive scale (YBOCS), Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) plus, Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). They were subsequently reassessed with YBOCS and CGI. To study extreme phenotypes, we included only full responders (> 35% YBOCS improvement and CGI-I score of 1 or 2) to any SRI (n = 191) and non-responders (< 25% YBOCS improvement and CGI-I score ≥ 4) to adequate trial of at least two SRIs (n = 84). Partial responders were excluded. Genotyping was performed using an ABI9700 PCR machine.

Genotype frequencies did not deviate significantly from the values predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg equation. Case-control association analyses revealed no significant association between genotype/allele frequencies with SRI response.

Our data does not show any association between polymorphisms in glutamatergic genes and SRI response in OCD though such associations have been found in other studies. More SNP's in the same gene could be responsible for the pharmacogenetic associations. More homogenous sample considering symptom dimensions and other phenotypic variables may be needed. It may be critical to go beyond “usual suspect” candidate gene research. In this regard, a novel approach to identify SRI response biomarkers is the use of cellular models.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to be an effective treatment of excessive health anxiety (HA), but the long-term effect over 18months has not been examined.

Several studies have shown effect of CBT for HA-patients. However, these effects have been short or immediate after therapy. To our knowledge no studies have examined long-term effect of CBT for HA over 18 months.

To investigate the long-term effect of CBT on HA, focusing on level of HA, quality of life, subjective health complaints and general anxiety. Follow-up time was at least 10 years. Our hypothesis was that the effect was sustained.

Patients with HA received 16 sessions of CBT over a period of 12–18 months, and were followed up over at least 10 years. All patients fulfilled criteria for F45.2, hypochondriacal disorder according to ICD-10.

The patients answered several questionnaires, exploring areas such as HA, Quality of life, somatization, and mental health problems. Questionnaires were answered before CBT, after CBT and at follow up. Mixed model analysis was performed in SPSS 23.0 for all questionnaires.

All scores were found to be significant in the Pre-CBT–Post-CBT and Pre-CBT–FU (0.034– < 0.001), and none were found to be significant in the Post-CBT–FU.

Our findings suggest that for the majority of patients with HA, CBT has a significant and lasting long-term effect. This effect lasts up to ten years post therapy.

The author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.

Patients with serious mental illness have lower life expectancy and higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome compared to normal population. Although, we have little evidence about their first-degree relatives.

To compare metabolic syndrome in patients with bipolar disorder treated with atypical antipsychotics, their first degree relatives and healthy subjects in two age groups: under and over 40.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 patients with bipolar disorder treated with atypical antipsychotics, 50 first degree relatives and 135 healthy subjects. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was assessed based on National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).

Under the age of 40, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 15.4% in patients with Bipolar disorder, 17.6% in first degree relatives and 7% in healthy subjects. Systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in bipolar disorder patients (P = 0.004). In those over 40, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.8% in patients with bipolar disorder, 33.3% in first-degree relatives and 32.8% in healthy subjects. Serum levels of HDL were significantly lower in bipolar disorder patients (P = 0.002).

Patients with bipolar disorder and their first-degree relatives have greater chance for cardiovascular disease due to higher metabolic syndrome. Further investigations are needed for evaluating serious mental illness patients and their relatives.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The effect of lithium on tubular functions leading to decreased urinary concentrating ability is recognized. Although there are several studies type, severity and frequency of renal impairment and its correlation with duration of lithium therapy are not well established.

To explore long-term effects of lithium on patients with chronic bipolar disorder.

We aimed to assess patients with bipolar disorder using lithium at least for six years in terms of renal functions, starting from mild impairments to full blown chronic renal failure.

Fifty-one patients with bipolar disorder and 38 age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled for the study. Serum BUN, creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), vitamin D (25-OH D3) and eGFR levels were measured. The correlations between renal function and mean lithium levels, duration of lithium treatment and GAF scores were calculated.

Mean eGFR level of patients with bipolar disorder was significantly lower than that of controls. Serum creatinine, uric acid, Ca and PTH levels were higher, 25-OH D3 levels were lower in the patients than in controls. The duration of lithium treatment was positively correlated with serum creatinine and uric acid levels, negatively correlated with eGFR levels. Mean lithium levels were positively correlated with serum creatinine levels and negatively correlated with eGFR.

The study revealed that glomerular functioning of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The findings suggested that both duration of lithium treatment and high serum lithium levels may have a negative impact on glomerular functions.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

For women with bipolar disorder, childbirth is a high-risk period with 40–50% experiencing a recurrence and 20% developing a severe episode of postpartum psychosis. Bipolar episodes in the perinatal period affect women and their families.

Managing bipolar disorder in pregnancy and postpartum is a challenge. There is lack of literature to inform that and an urgent need for more data.

To develop and validate a risk prediction model for individual prognosis of the risk of recurrence of bipolar disorder for women in the perinatal period.

To provide evidence-based information to help women and the clinicians that look after them make decisions about their care, taking into account the most recent scientific knowledge and their individual characteristics.

The development of the model will be done in retrospective data from a large clinical cohort from the Bipolar Disorder Research Network (BDRN.org). The validation will be done in a prospectively recruited sample.

Participants will be 2181 parous women with a lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder from BDRN and 300 prospectively recruited pregnant women with a history of postpartum psychosis or bipolar disorder.

Predictors will be chosen based on clinical experience and literature, from data collected via semi-structured interview (in pregnancy and 3 months postpartum, medical and psychiatric notes) e.g. medication, smoking, parity, obstetric complications and sleep.

N/A.

We will present the full prediction model (regression coefficients and model intercept) and report performance measures (with CIs).

We will discuss its potential clinical use and implications for future research.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The perinatal period is a high-risk period for the development of illness episodes in women with bipolar disorder. Relapse rates vary between 9 and 75% depending on the study. The overall risk of a severe episode is approximately 20%. The impact on women, the relationships with their babies and their families can be devastating. In the UK costs to society are £8.1 billion per year-cohort of births. The advice currently given to women is based of general risk rates. Women's needs of information for decision-making in the perinatal period are not being met.

To review the risk prediction approaches used for women with bipolar disorder in the perinatal period.

To understand the existing risk prediction models and approaches used for prognosis of the risk of recurrence of bipolar disorder for women in the perinatal period.

Systematic literature search of public medical electronic databases and grey literature on risk prediction for bipolar episodes in the perinatal period.

We will present the existing models and approaches used for risk prediction of illness episodes in the perinatal period.

Awareness of existing risk prediction models for recurrence of bipolar disorder in the perinatal period will allow better informed risk-benefit analysis of treatment and management options.

This person-centred approach will help women and clinicians in their decision-making at this crucial high-risk period.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is related to high prevalence of somatic comorbidities, health care costs, and premature mortality [1]. Some evidence supports the view of BD as chronic, progressive and multisystem disorder in which not only mental system, but also somatic systems are involved [2].

To investigate differences in physical health in patients with bipolar disorder at different stages (early vs. late) of the disease.

Cross-sectional, naturalistic, multicenter study. Sample: 110 outpatients with BD [68 early stage (diagnosed at least 5 years earlier) and 42 late stage (at least 20 years earlier)]. Assessment: demographic and clinical variables; psychopathology: HDRS, YMRS and CGI; biological information: anthropometric, vital signs and lab results.

Early stage group: mean age 40.1 (11.9), 66.2% females and CGI = 3.6 (1.4). Late stage group: mean age 55.8 (8.2), 69.0% females and CGI = 4.0 (1.4). Patients in early stage have significantly higher levels of glucose (t = −4.007, P < 0.001), urea (t = −2.724, P = 0.008), creatinine (F = 0.560, P = 0.022), triglycerides (t = −3.501, P = 0.001), Fe (t = 2.871, P = 0.005) and insulin (t = −3.223, P = 0.002). Moreover, they have higher Body Max Index (BMI) (t = −3.728, P < 0.000), abdominal circumference (t = −4.040, P < 0.000) and greater number of somatic comorbidities (t = −2.101, P = 0.041).

– patients with bipolar disorders in late stages have worse physical health than those in early stage.

– these results could be an indication that bipolar disorder might better viewed as a multisystem disorder.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.