Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe and highly prevalence disease with potentially life threatening illness and high level of morbidity and mortality. Traditional pharmacological strategies are not always sufficiently effective and side effects are not rare and may be the cause of discontinuation, particularly in the long-term treatment.

rTMS could be an alternative strategy for long-term treatment of treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

to evaluate the efficency of maintenance rTMS in a one-year double blind randomized controlled study for TRD patients.

55 TRD patients were involved in a single site trial with two phases: an acute phase (phase I) in which all the participants received active high-frequency stimulation during 4 blocks of five consecutive working days (Monday to Friday) in an open-label design and a maintenance phase (phase II) in which responders (> 49% HDRS-17 reduction from baseline) were randomized in two arms with sham or active highfrequency rTMS maintenance treatment for the eleven following months.

of 55 patients in the acute trials, 33 were responders and 14 accepted to be included in the phase II. Delta HDRS score show a significantly difference for M1-M4 (p=.003), M1-M5 (p=.004) and M1-M6 (p=.043) between the active and the placebo group.

rTMS could be a novel strategy to prevent relapse in TRD patients who respond to an acute rTMS treatment and 1 session per week may be able to prevent relapses. These results need to be confirmed in a larger sample.

Schizophrenia is a devistating disorder which has a genetic component. Recently three reports showed that the IL3 gene, CSF2RA gene are associated with schizophrenia.

The objective of the study was to show whether there was an association between the IL3R gene rs6603272 variant and the CSF2RA rs4129148 variants with schizophrenia.

There was 264 schizophrenia patients and 222 controls from Romania. We utilized a PCR-RFLP method to genotype the subjects.

The genotype frequencies of the IL3RA rs6603272 variant were TT, 54.2; TG, 39.8; and GG,6.1 % in cases and TT, 52.7; TG, 41.9; and GG,5.4 % in controls. The T allele frequency in both controls and cases was 74%. The genotype frequencies of the CSF2RA gene rs4129148 variant were GG, 40.2;GC,51.1; and CC, 8.7 % in cases and GG,39.2; GC,45.5; and CC,15.3 % in controls. The G allele frequency was 66% in cases and 62% in controls.

The IL3RA gene rs6603272 variant was not associated with schizophrenia(X2=0.271; P=0.873). However The CSF2RA gene rs4129148 variant CC genotype was associated with schizophrenia(X2=5.079; P=0.024). The G allele was agenetic risk factor for schizophrenia (X2=5.079; P=0.024; OR=1.895, 95%CI= 1.080- 3.326). The controls were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. But cases were not.

The progressive aging of the population in contemporary societies leads to the necessary adjustment to the responses of health care services. The project The Oldest Old: Coimbra aging study (PTDC/CS-SOC/114895/2009) assesses an elderly population enrolled in Health Centres of Coimbra - Portugal. The QAFMI/OARS is recognized as the first elderly multidimensional assessment, being one of the areas the mental health.

Assess the use/need of health and social services by the elderly, related with their functional status in five areas (social resources, economic resources, mental health, physical health and activities of daily living).

Assess the use/need felt for health and social services by the elderly, related with the functional status in mental health.

Quantitative methodology using the QAFMI/OARS. The sample consisted of individuals aged 75, or more, randomly selected and representative of Coimbra’s elder residents (N=11279; n=1128). Mental health status was evaluated using the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, the Short Psychiatric Evaluation Schedule and a self-evaluation.

Preliminary results showed that in physical health, ADL and economic resources there are significant differences between age groups. In mental health, there is a significant difference classification between genders, with a tendentiously lower score in women. In social resources, there is a significant difference classification between gender and age group.

The work developed with OARS/QAFMI lead us to consider this instrument very useful to define functional status of the elders in specific evaluation areas as mental health, becoming right to the planning of older care services.

Lithium is a natural trace element present in drinking water. At the same time it is one of the oldest drugs in neuropsychopharmacology with well-documented antisuicidal effectiveness in bipolar and unipolar depression.

To review the relation between lithium’s levels in drinking (tap) water and suicide rates across various geographical regions.

Literature review on PubMed. Keywords: Lithium, drinking water, suicide mortality, suicide rates.

The majority of the studies show that there is an inverse association between lithium’s levels in drinking water and suicide rates. It has to be mentioned that lithium’s total diurnal intake from drinking (tap) water is submultiple that of the minimum dose used in treating psychiatric disorders. This could imply that lithium’s antisuicidal effectiveness is distinct from its mood-stabilizing or its antidepressant-augmenting actions, being evident even at very low doses. Limitations of the various studies are that they have not controlled for demographic and psychosocial factors or for lithium intake from other sources -e.g. vegetables, dried nuts or bottled water. It is also possible that duration of exposure to a specific level of lithium in drinking water -several years or even tens of years- could have also played a role. However, there are also some studies showing no association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality.

Primary prevention of suicides is challenging. ’Lithiation’ -enrichment of drinking water with lithium- can provide a valuable help in this direction provided that the limitations of the previous studies will be addressed by further research.

of this study were to analyze the frequency of involuntary admission into psychiatric hospitals in Moscow through the Emergency Medical Service during a 2 -year period. As well as distinguish clinical, social and legal particularities associated with compulsory hospitalization. The analysis of the database records of Psychiatric Department of the Station of Ambulance and Emergency Medical Service named after A.S. Puchkov for the period from July 2010 till June 2012.

General population of Moscow city consists of 11,5 millions people. 200 thousands individuals receive psychiatric care. Every year about 42,000 mentally ill people get admitted to the psychiatric hospitals in Moscow through emergency medical service. Around 60 % (25 000) of the patients went through involuntary hospitalization. 82% of them were due to the autoagressive or aggressive behavior, including suicidal behavior and suicide attempts. 18% of involuntary hospitalization happened due to the psychiatric helplessness and risk for the health and well being of an individual in case of absence of psychiatric help. The most common entry diagnoses were unspecified schizophrenia and delirium tremens.

Nowadays father’s role has been changing as a result of the evolution suffered by society. Parenthood sets a moment of crisis, which requires an adaptation and accountability of the father regarding the new roles he now has to assume. In this process we consider the functional status to be an adequate reference to the performance of these roles.

Evaluate the functional Status of primiparous and multiparous fathers in the 6-8 weeks postpartum; analyze the association between sociodemographic and some obstetrics factors in fathers’ functional status and compare the functional status of primiparous and multiparous fathers.

Descriptive-correlational study with a non-probabilistic, accidental sample constituted by 67 fathers, after the necessary ethics committee and CNPD approval. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire with sociodemographic and obstetric characterization and the inventory of functional status - fathers, Portuguese version.

The study revealed evidence that fathers’ functional status is not influenced by age, academic qualification, marital status and parity. However is partly influenced by professional situation and pre-natal surveillance site. Profession stability seems to transfer emotional stability, as we believe that the man, in his parental role, feels more available to participate in new tasks and responsibilities if he feels that he assures his family livelihood.

Nowadays, parents seek to know everything about their children, choosing specialized services and health professionals for skills development and demonstration of care, allowing and contributing to a more favorable transition and adaptation to the parental role and consequently less emotional vulnerability in postpartum.

Preterm birth is a sudden and unpredictable event threatening the survival of newborns and their long-term developmental prognosis. It can also be a source of psychological trauma for mothers and may manifest as anxiety, depression or PTSD.

Our study aims at evaluating the symptoms of anxiety, depression and PTSD according to the severity of prematurity amongst mothers of premature infants.

We targeted 30 mothers of premature children in the Neonatology Department, University Hospital ’Hédi Chaker’, Sfax, Tunisia. Their responses were compared to a control group of 30 full-term infant mothers.

Research tools:

1. 1. A questionnaire filled in by the respondents.

2. 2. Perinatal Risk Inventory.

3. 3. Impact of Event Scale.

4. 4. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Average gestational age was 32.8 weeks. Average newborn current age was 5 months. 73.3% of pregnancies were single, 23.3% were twins, and 3.3% were triplets. A past abortion or preterm birth was noted in 26.7% of cases. Average number of days in hospital was 19.

Occurrence of symptoms of anxiety, depression or PTSD is increased in preterm infant parents compared with the control group. A significant correlation was found between severity of prematurity and the symptoms of intrusion and avoidance (p<0.001), anxiety (p=0.016), and depression (p=0.016). Depression was also correlated to newborn stay duration (p=0.035).

Mothers facing premature birth experienced painful and violent emotional distress, which may affect relationship between the mother and her baby. An early psychological support for the mother seems necessary to improve this relationship as well as child development.

Investigators allegiance is widely discussed as a risk of bias in psychotherapy research.

To sum up the best available data concerning allegiance effect.

We systematically investigated whether meta-analyses and their included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapeutic treatments were reported and assessed allegiance effect.

We searched meta-analyses of RCTs of various types of psychotherapies in Medline from 1977 to 2012 and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Last update on December 2012). We considered only meta-analyses of RCTs with at least 1 study with allegiance of the experimenter published in journals with impact factor higher than 5 and in Cochrane Database.

Of 146 meta-analyses reviewed which included 2727 RCTs, only 15 meta-analyses (10.3%) reported RCTs allegiance. Of 1198 metaanalyzed RCTs only 1 (0.1%) was controlled for allegiance and 25 of 1198 (2.8%) were reported allegiance. In all meta-analyses reviewed, 66.2% of primary included RCTs were allegiant studies. Even we found a median of 10 [interquantile range (IQR) 7–15] allegiance RCTs per metaanalysis, only 6 (4.3%) of them used a method to controlling its effects.

The majority of meta-analyses of psychological interventions published in high-impact specialty psychiatric/psychological, general medical journals as well as Cochrane Database was rarely reported and evaluated allegiance effect. The results of the present study highlight a major gap in this information in meta-analyses of psychotherapeutic interventions.

Liture describes many references to neuropsychiatric disorders in dementia. Executive functions have been widely studied in primary degenerative dementia: working memory, inhibition, mental flexibility, fluency, organization, abstraction and appropriate social behavior.

Alzheimer's disease, bvFTD and DLB are the most prevalent and studied.

Transversal descriptive-analysis of neurobehavioral disorders and social behavior in a clinical sample.

Descriptive study. Random selection of cases (patients seen in consultation Behavior Unit Memorial Hospital San Vicente del Raspeig with dementia criteria of Alzheimer's disease, bvFTD and DLB without probable vascular component) and controls (healthy, age 50 years without neurological or psychiatric pathology associated). 1 June 30, 2013. Informed consent is obtained and collected sociodemographic data, clinical (diagnosis, GDS, treatment) and psychometric (MMSE, NPI-Q, Social Norms Questionnaire). Registration Excel database and statistical analysis with SPSS.

N = 40, controls = 10, AD = 15, DFTvc = 6, DCL = 9. No significant demographic differences in dementia group. DFTvc: SNQ lower score, greater executive involvement. atypical antipsychotics, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine are the most commonly used drugs for behavioral disorders

Our clinical sample obtained similar results to those described in the literature. Prospective follow-up study in mild cognitive impairment would be needed to provide better knowledge and clinical practice.

Maternal depression is an important risk factor for child behavioral and psychological problems. Both timing and chronicity of depression may interfere with developmental tasks during infancy or the toddler years.

The aim of the present research is to assess whether maternal depression timing and depression trajectories predict child emotional and behavioral problems at 5 years, and to examine whether there are differential effects according to parental socioeconomic status.

Analysis of prospective data from 1183 children participating in the EDEN mother–child cohort study. Maternal depressive symptoms were determined in pregnancy (prenatal); 4, 8 and 12 months after birth (postpartum) and at 3 and 5 years (toddler) using the CESD and EPDS scales. Children's emotional and behavioral problems at age five were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms were modeled with a group-based technique. A series of multiple regression models were used to examine the association between maternal depression timing and trajectories and SDQ scores.

Children exposed to maternal depression in the postpartum or toddler period presented more emotional and behavioral problems at age five. The same pattern was found for children exposed to chronic symptoms of maternal depression. Postpartum depressive symptoms were associated with more conduct problems, hyperactivity/inattention and overall problem behavior at age five in children whose mothers had a low educational level.

Maternal depression timing and chronicity may have detrimental emotional and behavioral effects on young children, especially for those from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

Previous studies have found an association between allegiance bias and methodological quality of psychological treatment comparisons.

To test the hypothesis whether poorer designed randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapeutic interventions could be yield increased allegiance effects.

Using a systematic approach with meta-analysis we aimed to assess the relationships between allegiance effect and outcomes with respect to treatment integrity, quality of treatment and overall quality of RCTs.

We searched meta-analyses of RCTs of different types of psychotherapies in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Eligible articles included were meta-analyses of RCTs with at least 1 study with allegiance of the experimenter. Effect sizes in allegiance trials were compared with non-allegiance by sensitivity analysis using random and fixed models and a summary relative odds ratio was calculated. Heterogeneity was quantified with the I2 metric.

A total of 30 meta-analyses including 240 RCTs were analyzed. The analysis addressing the quality of studies did not show any significant association between allegiance and non-allegiance studies, whereas significant differences were observed in cases where treatment integrity were not evaluated (sROR=1.54 [95% CI 1.01 to 2.35], P=0.047 and I2=74). Regarding the overall quality of administered psychotherapy the magnitude of the effect was stronger only in the case of low quality (sROR=1.61 [95% CI 1.00 to 2.59], P=0.049 and I2=76).

The results support the view that experimenter's allegiance acts as a systematic bias and can be explained through low quality and integrity of delivered psychotherapy.

Borderline personality disorder is a complex clinical entity, where emotional dysregulation, according to Linehan definition, plays a central role in psychopathology development. In the last years, functional neuroimaging research has investigated emotional process, by applying emotional challenging paradigms.

The aim of the study is to review the literature about emotional dysregulation and neuronal correlates in borderline personality disorder.

searches were undertaken in PubMed and other databases, from 2007 until 2012, using keywords ‘Borderline personality disorder’, ‘emotional dysregulation’, ‘neuroimaging’.

Emotional vulnerability, sensitivity and intensity for aversive emotional stimuli are greater in borderline personality disorder. Affective instability, with sudden mood shifts to negative feelings. Imaging studies reveal frontolimbic network dysfuncion, caractherized by amygdalar hiperactivity in conjunction with prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex hipoactivity.

Neuroimaging research data support the model of emotional dysregulation with frontolimbic inhibition in borderline personality disorder. More studies focused on diferentiation between negative and positive emotional experiences processes, and on gender and comorbilities with axis I disorders will be useful.

Existing studies for both the representation and the attitude to medicines is not enough and there shortage of population surveys on this topic.

This study examined the potential and expected results of people's attitude towards the use of medication and their representation.

To investigated students' pedagogical faculties and student health schools as a qualification to their attitude to the use of medicines.

In this study participated 164 post graduate students from various higher education departments. More specifically, 61 (37.2% rate) from the Department of Early& Infant Childhood, 36 (rate 22.0%) students from medical schools, 30 (total of 18.3%) students from nursing schools, 15 (rate 9.1%) students from School Speech 12 (rate 7.3%) students from kindergarten sections and 10 (6.1%) students from pedagogical faculties.273 community individuals from different regions of Greece participated in the present study. A questionnaire concerning socio-demographic characteristics and attitudes towards medication were applied.

Univarate analysis and multi factorial applied for statistical analysis, which showed that a) the attitude of students towards drug and drug intake not statistically different between students of teaching faculties and students of the schools of health and b) the attitude of the students in the sample against specific classes of drugs are highly positive. We also found statistical significant drug intake differences between boys and girls (p=.003).

Our findings underscore the importance and value of prevention against drug intake relate to gender.

Alexithymia has been shown to be related to many psychiatric and somatic illnesses. Neurobiological underpinnings of alexithymia are important to be known.

To review the literature about advances in theory and research of alexithymia

Searches were undertaken in PubMed and other databases, from 2007 until 2012, using keywords ‘alexithymia’,’pshycopathology’ and ‘psychosomatics’.

Neurobiological model has explored the relationship between alexithymia and emotional process. Research data indicates modulation of emotional responses from the superior cortical systems, involving an integrative hemispheric function, that is, the left hemispheric verbal capacity in conjunction with the hability to evaluate e regulate emotions of the right hemisphere. Some studies point to a bidirectional inter-hemispheric deficit, wich affects affective regulation and the hability to communicate emotions and to fantasie. Affective and cognitive cllinical features of alexithymia are described. Recent epidemiology enfatizes comorbid somatic pathology, as well as other psicopathology manifestations.

Alexithymia is a multidimensional construt, wich undeniabale heuristic value. Therefore, more neurobiological research should be done, such as funcional imaging studies, to keep finding the biological factors of alexithymia's etiology, so that new perspectives can be approached.