Various studies have been conducted on the role of meteorological variables on the onset or complications of psychiatric disorders. For example low air pressure was directly related to violent crimes and suicide. As these relationships are not clear, we decided to devote this paper to the study of such factors.

The daily hospitalization rates of Ebn-e-Sina Hospital were extracted from the archive files. Also the daily rates of murder, suicide, and quarrels were obtained from the Legal Medicine Department. Meteorology data were taken out of the daily reports of the Meteorology Organization of Khorassan Province. The data were analyzed by statistical tests such as ANOVA and POST HOC.

In our statistical analysis, there was a significant statistical relationship between minimum daily temperature, maximum daily temperature, average daily temperature, minimum daily moisture, maximum daily moisture, minimum daily air pressure, and maximum daily air pressure and the number of quarrels and hospitalizations at Ebn-e-Sina Psychiatric Hospital during the year 2005 in Mashhad. Also, the statistical data indicated that no meteorological variable had any effect on the rates of murder and suicide in the city.

It will be useful to consider meteorological variables in preventing the onset, complications and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Yet there was no relationship with the rates of murder and suicide. As the number of murder and suicide is low during one year it is recommended the study carry out in longer period.

Liver transplantation is, nowadays, considered the treatment of election for many patients with severe liver disease.

Paramyloidosis is a very uncommon genetic liver disease almost only present in Portugal and about which very little has been published.

We aimed to study the psychiatric and psychosocial differences between paramyloidotic and other liver transplant candidates.

We studied a liver transplant candidates sample (n=100), comprising consecutive patients attending out-patient clinics of a Public Liver Transplantation Central Unit (30% of patients with paramyloidosis, 70% with other liver diseases - alcohol liver disease, liver cancer, C hepatitis) by means of DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, TAS (Taylor 1991), Neo FFI personality inventory (McCrae1992), HADS (Zigmond 1983), Brief COPE (Carver,1997) and a multi-dimension adherence questionnaire (Telles-Correia 2006).

Only 28% showed no lifetime psychiatric disorders in the past, and as current DSM-IV psychiatric diagnosis 25% showed major depressive disorder, 18% anxiety disorders, 11% adaptative disorder, 6% dependence/abuse of alcohol or other substances. Twenty percent of the patients presented alexithymia (TAS), 40% had moderate-high scores for anxiety and 36% for depression (HADS). There was a predominance of acceptance, active coping, use of emotional support, positive reframing, and planning coping strategies

We found that paramyloidotic patients showed lower scores for anxiety and depression; for neuroticism personality trait; selfblame, emotional expression and disinvestment coping strategies. They showed higher scores for openness personality trait; religion, positive reinterpretation and planning coping strategies.

Hospitalization of Accused Under Assessment Order (AUAO) to determine if the person could stand trial is probably one of the most controversial forensic psychiatric acts. The subject of assessment order is relatively well studied in psychiatry and law; but the clinical characteristic of hospitalized AUAO has been scantly investigated with conflicting results. Moreover, recent growth of judicial demands for assessment, threatening the stability of care and funding for regular psychiatric beds, needs some empirical justification.

To examine clinical characteristics of all consecutive cases of hospitalized AUAO in Western Quebec between 1991 and 2006.

File information was collected for all adult admissions during study period. First, a descriptive analysis of the clinical characteristics of 270 hospitalized AUAO was performed. Then, a comparative prevalence study, using Relative Risk (RR) measure, was conducted on 2132 cases (148 AUAO and 1984 regular) of first admission.

Hospitalized AUAO, were mostly males (84%) and had a median age of 36 years. Most subjects admitted only once (91%), with an average of 33 days in the hospital. Compared with other first time in-patients, they were significantly more likely to be males (RR = 5.3) suffering from substance-induced disorders (RR = 7.1), personality disorders (RR = 4.4) and schizophrenia (RR = 1.5).

These results suggest that AUAO are mainly suffering from substance-induced and personality disorders. It might then be proposed that a large portion of assessments should be done by community-based evaluation teams in lieu of hospitalization.

To assess physicians' knowledge on the procedures for involuntary detention in hospital of the mentally ill.

A questionnaire based on Greek law 2071/1992 on the involuntary admission of mentally ill patients was answered by psychiatrists and other specialist physicians.

One hundred and one answers were obtained from non-psychiatrists and 26 from psychiatrists. Four-fifths of both the non-psychiatrists and the psychiatrists were aware of the need to inform the patient, but only 45% and 69%, respectively, were aware of the patient's option for appeal. One-third of non-psychiatrists and less than half of the psychiatrists were familiar with the necessary conditions in order to admit a patient to hospital on an involuntary basis, whereas only a minority of the two groups (6% and 35% respectively) knew about the timeframe for such admissions. Interestingly, less than 40% of non-psychiatrists and approximately 60% of psychiatrists thought that involuntary hospitalisation jeopardised patients' human rights. Forty-four percent of non-psychiatrists and 31% of psychiatrists didn't consider involuntary hospitalisation as an indicated therapy, and 63% and 54% respectively, argued that the mentally ill should be removed from psychiatric hospitals provided they continue to be under medical follow-up in the community.

Clinicians' knowledge on the procedures for involuntary hospitalisation of the mentally ill appears to be limited. Informing and educating doctors on the procedures governing involuntary hospitalisation will contribute to the improvement of the mental health system in , Greece and will promote due respect back to patients.

Restitution and prevalence in centrifugal direction of internal energy, orientated to the reconstruction, reappearance and evolution of the I.

Planned introspection and meticulous evolved record of all internal conflicts triggered after the tireless search of the I, and its sequelae on anatomic structures, correlated with psychiatric symptomatology, during 30 years.

This deviation in the internal metabolic energy's orientation, from CENTRIFUGAL or anabolic to CENTRIPETAL or catabolic, is originated at level of contractile elements of the striated musculature (sarcomeres), they stimulated, indirectly, through the reflex for strain of the muscular spindles, after the automatic and involuntary rush of the gamma and beta efferent neurons and these, due to the initial, sudden and unexpected cerebral answer in the presence of a determinate Conditioned Stimulus: The Involutive Motor, anomalous fountain of energy and origin of social diseases. This, generates gradual internal energy chaos, anomalous stimulation of diverse organic structures, anarchy in the being, evolved brake accompanied of inexplicable symptoms and signs, with chromosomal sequelae, in a long period.

If conditioned reflexes changed the direction of the internal energy, carrying out to an organic involution, the extinguishment of them will restitute him, centrifugal way toward the evolution of the Being.

This paper reviews the concomitance of catatonia and autism spectrum disorders, including incidence, diagnostic similarities, etiologic theories and treatment modalities, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Case examples are included.

A review of the English-language literature on catatonia and autism was conducted, combined with the author's clinical experience working with two autistic individuals with frank catatonic stupor requiring ECT.

While catatonia is most frequently associated with mood and psychotic disorders, frank diagnosable catatonia has been found in 11-17% of individuals with autism. Significant symptom overlap exists between the two disorders in the domains of motor activity, social interaction, communication and behavior; indeed, both processes may share a common neuronal substrate as well as a shared genetic susceptibility region. DSM-IV-TR catatonic symptoms include motoric immobility and overactivity, negativism and peculiarities of movement and speech, while expanded criteria for catatonia in autism additionally include amotivation, difficulty with task completion, day-night reversal and agitation/excitement. A range of severity exists in catatonia, with some patients developing profound catatonic stupor or malignant catatonia with autonomic instability. Catatonia is readily treatable, with lorazepam and ECT as first-line treatments. However, diagnosis may be delayed in the autistic patient with baseline intellectual disability, behavioral and communicative abnormalities. Similarly, appropriate treatment, especially ECT, may be withheld due to issues surrounding intellectual disability.

Catatonia is not an infrequent occurrence in autism, and its manifestations can be severe. Prompt clinical recognition and treatment of catatonia in autism is imperative, with further research needed in this field.

Male prison inmates are highly suicide risk population. Suicide is single most common cause of death in correctional settings. This study was aimed to find out suicide rate in Slovene male prisons compared to that in general population. We compared our findings with prison suicide rates in European countries with highest suicide rates, and through this comparison planed to improve suicide preventive measures.

Data were collected from official reports on prison deaths in Slovenia and compared with data in SPACE 1.

In Slovenia male prison suicide rate (MPSR) is highest among all countries compared. It is also 8.3 higher then in general population. In Baltic countries where suicide rates are highest in Europe, MPSRs are on average only twice higher the in general population.

With our findings we argue that there is a lack of suicide preventive measures in Slovene prisons. Based on these data the programme of prison suicide prevention is now going on.

The majority of women who have to undergo treatment for breast cancer report some form of impairment of their sexual function and/or a deterioration of their sexual experience and satisfaction.and frequent partner problems

The development of an algorithm based on a biopsychosocial model to facilitate addressing and dealing with sexual and relationship problems of breast cancer survivors.

Literature research, Analysis of videotaped consultations and case discussions in the medical sexology unit of the University Hospital Basel to define common steps of the care of patients with mammary carcinoma.

We have developed a 7 step approach: 1.Understand and overcome barriers to patient-physician communication about sexual issues. 2. Establish a descriptive diagnosis of the sexual problem; 3. Explore the conditioning factors. 4. Moderate a Round Table (with the partner) for educating the couple about the diagnosis and defining therapeutic objectives; 5. Elaborate a treatment plan 6. Help in shared decision making about therapeutic interventions; 7. Evaluation.

Physicians trained in these steps reported a significant increase in a) the frequency with which they addressed sexual issues b) their personal feeling of competence c) a increase in the frequency of either therapeutic interventions or referral to a sexologist.

The practical model developed serves the purpose to facilitate communication about sexual issues with breast cancer patients and enables physicians to define a diagnosis in sexual medicine and install appropriate treatment or referral.

The mental-health component of the student Health Partnership operating in the Calgary Health Region since 2002, provides early intervention and psychotherapeutic services for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, identified as having mild to moderate mental health disorders. The purpose of this paper is to review the capacity and treatment outcomes of the children served placing the results within the context of all children served by the regional Child and Adolescent Mental Health Program.

Annual data collected in the regional mental health information system from 2002-2007 (n = 24,869 referrals) was used to compare clinical characteristics and function outcome of those in SHP compared to those served in other services. Analyses included descriptive statistics, (e.g. population-based rates and frequencies), regression, logistic regression and Chi Square analysis, with graphical representation.

The admission profile of those served in SHP (n = 1,693) had distinct characteristics in terms of admission function (higher) and urgency (lower), indicating that the program was serving the appropriate population. Discharge function was comparable to other services.

School-based delivery of mental health services to children and adolescents appears to be a functional model. The salient characteristics of the SHP mental health program are discussed.

Therapeutic dogs ("pet assisted therapy") have been used in some countries, in cardiology, autism and geriatrics.

It is known that people who own a pet have a smaller incidence of illness, but, except for few sparse studies, this issue has received very little attention in psychiatry.

To study the usage of therapeutic dogs as co-therapy for depression and anxiety in a psychiatric day hospital.

The study consisted of twice weekly sessions of 20 + 10 minutes each, during 6 weeks. First, patients were asked to give instructions and interplay with a dog specifically trained for this activity, under supervision of a psychiatrist. Afterwards, patients walked the dog, giving sets of instructions. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HARS) were recorded, for each patient, at the beginning, at the end of the third, and end of the sixth week. A questionnaire was administered at the end.

Ten patients were enrolled. There was a decrease in HDRS and HARS scores (HDRS mean at beginning 26; at 6 weeks: 13,4; HARS at beginning 24,7; at 6 weeks: 15,7). However, results are hard to interpret; Patients were under other therapies (pharmacological, psychotherapy…); the study enrolled a heterogeneous group of patients, with different diagnoses, making interpretation difficult.

Therapeutic dogs can be useful as co-therapy for depression and anxiety, but results must be validated in larger, randomised controlled studies. This approach may improve aspects such as self-confidence, basic affective skills and group cohesion.