The aim of the present study was to analyse the effects of the transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) technique when placed on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DPFC) and left inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG), for the improvement of verbal fluency performance and creativity skills in a group of multilingual healthy adults.

Fifty healthy adults, aged 18-47 years, participated in the study. All of them were native Spanish speakers of which three were bilingual (Spanish and English) and 47 were multilingual (Spanish, Basque and English). The study had a randomized, counterbalanced, double-blind, sham-controlled design. The participants were randomly allocated to either a tRNS active group or a placebo-control group. All participants were tested individually in one session divided into three parts: (1) baseline, (2) online, and (3) offline assessment. In the active condition, a 1.5mA current (100-500 Hz) was delivered for 20 minutes (online phase). Participants’ verbal fluency was assessed through semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tasks in three different languages (Spanish, Basque and English), while creativity was assessed in their native language with the Remote Associations Test (RAT, pre and post forms) for convergent thinking, and with the Unusual Uses subtest (UU, pre and post forms) for divergent thinking. In addition, the linguistic profile of the participants was evaluated with the Language Experience and Proficiency Questionnaire (LEAP-Q), and their processing speed and cognitive flexibility were assessed with the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT).

The results showed significant differences in phonemic fluency between the groups during the online assessment in Spanish (F= 5.31, p = 0.026), and in the offline assessments in Spanish (F=6.44, p = 0.015) and English (F=10.80, p = 0.002), with participants in the active condition performing better. While no differences were observed in the performance of the groups in verbal fluency in Basque, neither in the online (F=1.06, p = 0.31), nor in the offline assessment (F=2.62, p = 0.11). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between groups in semantic verbal fluency tasks in any of the languages, neither during stimulation nor offline. However, there were no differences between conditions in the online (Spanish, F=0.86, p = 0.35; English, F=2.95, p = 0.09; and Basque, F=0.01 p = 0.94) and offline (Spanish, F=2.53, p = 0.11; English, F=0.74, p = 0.39; and Basque, F=1.39, p = 0.24) semantic tasks. In creativity, significant differences were observed between groups on the RAT (F=9.58, p = 0.003), while no differences were observed in the performance of any of the three dimensions of the UU (Originality, F=0.44, p = 0.51; Flexibility, F=0.42, p = 0.51; Fluency, F=0.69, p = 0.41). In the SCWT, statistically significant differences were only observed in the colour-word part (F=7.60, p = 0.008) during the online assessment, showing a better performance of the participants under the tRNS condition compare to the sham condition.

The results obtained in this study suggest that the excitatory effects of tRNS over the L-DLPFC L-IFG could contribute to the improvement of phonemic verbal fluency and verbal convergent thinking, in healthy individuals.

In the last decade, the prevalence of THC use is increasing among adolescents and adults. There is also strong evidence to suggest that cannabis use is associated with psychiatric comorbidities. The strongest evidence is found between cannabis use and psychotic disorder. However, the literature shows that those who have used cannabis in the past or for a large part of their lives are at higher risk of mood disorders, anxiety, personality disorder or other drug use than those who do not use cannabis in a harmful way.

To provide an overview of the association between cannabis use and the different mental pathologies presented by the patients admitted during the study period. To describe the prevalence of THC use in the study according to the mental pathology presented by the patient.

A retrospective observational descriptive study was developed for 3 months, of all patients admitted to the acute unit of the psychiatric hospital. No exclusion criteria were included.

During the period of study 172 patients were admitted to the hospital, classified according to the main diagnosis we have: 49 patients suffer from schizophrenia, 26 bipolar affective disorder, 20 with depressive disorder, 20 with personality disorder, 19 with substance use disorder, 18 with other unspecified disorders and 20 patients with no known previous diagnosis. The prevalence of THC use in the study sample according to diagnosis, would be schizophrenia 16%, Bipolar affective disorder 19%, Depressive disorder 5%, Personality disorder 45%, Substance use disorder 21%, Unspecified disorders 11% and patients with no known previous diagnosis 10%.

The results obtained in the study in terms of THC use are in agreement with those obtained in the literature. In our study, we observed that cannabis use is associated with psychotic disorders as well as with mood, personality and substance abuse disorders. Given that the frequency of use has increased and there is a strong association with different comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, guidance on modifications in medication strategies might be necessary.

None Declared

Patients with mental disorders frequently become non-adherent during their long term prescribed treatment. This situation frequently triggers clinical worsening and hospital admission. Therefore, non-adherence may result in poorer long term clinical outcomes and has economic implications for health-care providers (Carlos De las Cuevas et al. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2021; 23(4):347-362).

- To describe the adherence to oral and long acting injectable treatment in the sample of patients that were admitted to the short stay hospital unit during the period of study.

- To describe the adherence to treatment amongst psychiatric diagnosis in the sample of study.

It was a retrospective observational study with a duration of three months. Data was collected from all patients admitted to the short stay hospital unit during the period of study and there were no specific exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics were performed. To assess the adherence to pharmachological treatment the patient report, the family report and the pharmacy dispensation according to the existent informatic prescription platform was considered. Regarding the long acting injectable treatment the formulary of administration in the clinical history was checked.

During the period of study 172 patients were admitted to the short stay hospital unit. Of those, 146 patients had a previous pharmacologic prescription. Data of treatment was not possible to obtain in 7 patients. In the sample of study, 83.5% were on oral and 16.5% on long acting injectable treatment. The general adherence to treatment in the sample was 61.87%. In the oral treatment group the adherence was 58.4% and in the long acting injectable treatment group was 65.2%.

Amongst the different psychiatric diagnoses the outcomes of adherence to treatment were: 60.4% in schizophrenia and related psychosis, 62.5% in bipolar disorder, 78.6% in depression, 58.3% in personality disorders and 62% in addictive disorders.

In our descriptive study adherence to treatment was higher in the long acting injectable treatment group, agreeing with the existent scientific literature.

The results of adherence for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are similar to the ones found in scientific literature but differ from the ones for depression, being higher in our sample (Judit Lazary et al. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2021;23(4): 347-362). Moreover, in scientific literature it is found a similar prevalence of adherence across diagnosis (for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression) whereas in our sample patients with depression showed a different and higher adherence to treatment (Judit Lazary et al. Neuropsychopharmacol Hung 2021;23(4): 347-362). In our sample, patients with personality disorders had the lowest adherence to treatment.

None Declared

Patients with mental disorders have a decreased life expectancy, being the main reason the cardiovascular disease. An important proportion of patients present a comorbid drug consumption. Amongst drugs, alcohol is the most frequent, and it is associated with a higher cardiovascular risk. The metabolic syndrome is one of the most employed tools to assess cardiovascular risk.

- To describe the demographic characteristics of the patients with an active alcohol consumption that were admitted to the hospital during the period of study.

• - To describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the sample, according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III) criteria.

Retrospective observational study of three months duration. Data was collected from all patients admitted to the hospital during the period of study, with no specific exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics were performed.

During the period of study 172 patients were admitted to the hospital (56.4% women and 43.6% men). A 44.8% presented alcohol consumption (25% sporadically, 6.4% weekly and 13.4% daily). Amongst women, 1% presented daily and 1% weekly consumption. Amongst men, 21.3% presented daily and 5.3% weekly consumption.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the study sample was 29.11%. In the alcohol consumption group, the prevalence was 24.7% and differed according to the pattern of consumption: 43.5% in the daily consumption group, 27.3% in the weekly and 14% in the sporadically consumption group.

On the one hand, in the sample of study a higher percentage of men present an active alcohol consumption, compared to women. It is remarkable the high percentage of daily alcohol consumption amongst men in our sample.

On the other hand, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our sample is similar to the one found in scientific literature regarding patients with mental disorders. It is noteworthy in our sample the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome found in patients with a daily alcohol consumption, and a decreased prevalence in those with a sporadic pattern.

None Declared

Patients affected by mental disorders are known to have a decreased life expectancy.

One of the main reasons are cardiovascular diseases. It is known that tobacco and hypertension are risk factors to develop them. WHO estimates that hypertension is diagnosed and treated in less than half of adults with hypertension, and even less in patients with severe mental illness.

To describe the demographic characteristics of patients with tobacco comsumption and hypertension admitted to a short-term hospitalization unit.

A three-month retrospective observational study. Data were collected by interviewing incoming patients and performing a blood pressure measurement, with no exclusion criteria.

Of 172 patients admitted, 100 were smokers of whom 49 were men and 51 were women. Among the smokers, a total of 18 patients were diagnosed with hypertension and 79 were not diagnosed. Within the group of patients not diagnosed with hypertension, elevated blood pressure was recorded in 5 of them. A total of 67 patients were non-smokers, 23 of whom were male and 44 female. Among the non-smokers, 19 were diagnosed with hypertension and 48 were not, despite which elevated blood pressure levels were recorded in 4 of them. No data were collected from 5 patients.

The prevalence of smokers in our sample was 58%. The prevalence of patients diagnosed with hypertension was 21,51% which is coherent with the existent literature. We did not find a higher percentage of hypertensive patients among the smokers admitted. There were patients who suffered from hypertension and were not diagnosed or treated previously.

None Declared

Thyroid disorders can present with psychiatric symptons similar to depression, and, at the same time, certain treatments, like litio, can cause changes in thyroid function. Given, therefore, the importance for the treatment and care of patients, the study of thyroid function is one of the parametres that should be requested in patients with psychiatric pathology.

To study the frequency of thyroid disorders in patients who where admitted to a psychiatric short stay unit.

Retrospective descriptive observational study is carried out in the acute stay unit of a psychiatric hospital. As a sample, all patients admitted to the unit over a period of three months. During admission, their sociodemographic data, the treatment they receive and their diagnosis are recorded. Secondly, blood test are performed whith differents parameters, including TSH values.

In the total sample of 172 patients, 8 of them have TSH abnormalities. 7 of them, all women, present hypothyroidism values.

A single male patient presented values of hyperthryroidism.

According to the present study, 4,6% of the patients present alterations at the TSH at admission, although except in one case, the values were not markedly altered.

The thyroid study at admission allows detecting cases of altered TSH that are amenable to treatment and monitoring.

None Declared

Incidence of alcohol abuse in our country is high, although it is still under-diagnosed and under-treated. The WHO estimates that a total of 3.3 million deaths worldwide per year are related to alcohol consumption.

The main objective is to describe the pattern of alcohol consumption in a sample of patients who are admitted to our psychiatric hospital for different reasons, relating with previous diagnoses.

A retrospective observational descriptive study was carried out in the acute care unit of the psychiatric hospital, after approval of the corresponding protocol by the ethics committee. All patients admitted to this unit during a three-month period were taken as a sample. During admission, sociodemographic data, drug use, treatment type and time and previous diagnoses were collected.

Out of 172 patients, 81 reported being abstemious, 45 declared occasional consumption, 11 weekly and 22 daily consumption. There is no data about 13 patients. Among those who reported daily alcohol consumption, 59% had a previous diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), 23% a previous diagnosis of Schizophrenia, 13.5% of Bipolar Disorder and finally 4.5% of Depressive Disorder. All the patients with a previous diagnosis of SUD reported consumption of more than 10 SDUs/day, the group with Schizophrenia stated less than 5 SDUs/day, of the group with T. Bipolar between 7-10 SDUs/day and with T. Depressive 5 SDUs/day.

The results obtained are consistent with the literature in relation to the under-diagnosis of alcohol use disorder, taking into account that 40% of patients in the sample with daily alcohol consumption previously had not such a diagnosis and it was not recorded in their medical history. For this reason, and for the sake of being able to treat them, it is essential to question all patients about alcohol consumption, whatever the reason for their admission.

None Declared

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been a global challenge. High mortality rates have been reported in some risk groups, including patients with pre-existing mental disorders.

We used electronic health records to retrospectively identify people infected due to COVID-19 (between March 2020 and March 2021) in the three territories of the Basque Country. COVID-19 cases were defined as individuals who had tested positive on a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and multilevel analyses with generalized estimated equations were used to determine factors associated with COVID-19-related mortality and hospital admission.

The COVID-19 mortality rate was increased for patients with psychotic disorders [odds ratio (OR) adjusted: 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.09–1.94), p = 0.0114] and patients with substance abuse [OR adjusted: 1.88, 95% CI (1.13–3.14, p < 0.0152)]. The mortality rate was lower for patients with affective disorders [OR adjusted: 0.80, 95% CI (0.61–0.99), p = 0.0407]. Hospital admission rates due to COVID-19 were higher in psychosis [OR adjusted: 2.90, 95% CI (2.36–3.56), p < 0.0001] and anxiety disorder groups [OR adjusted: 1.54, 95% CI (1.37–1.72), p < 0.0001]. Among admitted patients, COVID-19 mortality rate was decreased for those with affective disorders rate [OR adjusted: 0.72, 95% CI (0.55–0.95), p = 0.0194].

COVID-19-related mortality and hospitalizations rates were higher for patients with a pre-existing psychotic disorder.

A sample of 67 patients receiving care in community mental health services (day hospital) has been evaluated using the SF-36 scale.

The results were compared with the population national values of reference to the same scale.

We found statistically significant differences between groups for the following items: General Health (t =-2,81; p=0,004), Vitality (t =-3,37; P=0,000; Social Functioning t =-4.11; p = 0,000); Emotional Role (t =-2,269; p=0,023) and Mental Health (T =-2,67; p = 0,007).

The studied patients have a worse perception it brings over of his general health that the rest of the Spanish population; likewise they perceive a major detriment as for his social functioning that is a rest of the Spanish population. This way, the physical health of the patients with schizophrenia needs a control and a specific follow-up to guarantee that his life expectancy, his quality of life and his social functioning are similar to those of the general population.

A sample of 67 patients receiving care in community mental health services (day hospital) has been evaluated using the SF-36 scale. The results were compared with the population national values of reference to the same scale.

We found statistically significant differences between groups for the following items: General Health (t =-2,81; p=0,004), Vitality (t =-3,37; P=0,000; Social Functioning t =-4.11; p = 0,000); Emotional Role (t =-2,269; p=0,023) and Mental Health (T =-2,67; p = 0,007).

The studied patients have a worse perception it brings over of his general health that the rest of the Spanish population; likewise they perceive a major detriment as for his social functioning that is a rest of the Spanish population. This way, the physical health of the patients with schizophrenia needs a control and a specific follow-up to guarantee that his life expectancy, his quality of life and his social functioning are similar to those of the general population.

Previous work suggests that reaction time variability (RTV) in attentional tasks, as a measure of cognitive stability, is associated with degree of Val loading in COMT Val158Met genotype, and that this association may be relevant for the aetiology of schizophrenia. This study examined (i) to what degree RTV pertaining to tasks of varying cognitive complexity would be associated with increased risk for schizophrenia and (ii) to what degree this would be mediated by Val loading.

COMT genotyping was investigated in a sample of 23 patients with schizophrenia, 33 first-degree relatives, and 21 controls. All participants performed the Flanker continuous performance test.

Schizophrenia liability was associated with number of correct trials of the Flanker test, but not with RTV, and this association was not mediated by COMT Val158Met genotype. Similarly, Met loading was associated with number of correct trials and with RTV, but this was not mediated by schizophrenia liability.

Associations between COMT Val158Met genotype and RTV do not appear to reflect transmission of schizophrenia liability in families. Differential associations with Val and Met alleles across studies suggest indirect effects through gene–gene interactions or the influence of a functional polymorphism near COMT Val158Met.

Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis is subacute disorder that has been recently described in young women and girls who often present neuropsychiatric symptoms as first clinical features; thus, it is common that they receive an initial assessment, diagnose or even treatment by a specialist in Psychiatry.

Presenting a case of Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis that was observed at our hospital and the steps taken from its initial assessment by Psychiatry to the final diagnose and treatment by Neurology, our objective is to describe this disorder in order to make it known to the specialists in Psychiatry.

The case is that of a 14 year old girl who presents altered behavior, bizarre delusions and auditory hallucinations with subacute onset. In psychiatric assessment it is noted that the patient presents fever, slight and language impairment: Medical and Neurological assessment are requested. The steps followed to rule out other disorders are presented. SPECT and the detection of specific anti-NMDA-receptor antibodies in serum were necessary for an accurate diagnose.

The detection of specific antibodies is necessary for the diagnose of Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis. NMDA receptors are ligand-gated cation channels with crucial roles in synaptic transmission and plasticity. Their alteration could be a pathogenic mechanism in disorders such as epilepsy, dementia and schizophrenia.

Anti-NMDA-receptor encephalitis is a recently described clinical entity that should be taken in consideration to rule out other causes of subacute onset psychiatric symptoms in young women and girls. Its well-defined set of clinical characteristics should become familiar to the specialists in Psychiatry.

Recent results suggest that the endocrine system can affect as well as modulate ethanol drinking behavior. In mice and humans a correlation has been found between ANP plasma concentration and craving, anxiety as well as the severity of the withdrawal symptoms. To further elucidate the involvement of the natriuretic peptide system in neurobehavioral effects of alcohol, we examined ethanol drinking behavior in mice lacking a functional natriuretic peptide-A (NPR-A) receptor.

NPR-A heterozygote, -knockout and wild-type mice were given a free choice between water and increasing concentrations of ethanol. Once a stable baseline of 16% ethanol consumption was established, access to ethanol was withdrawn for 2 weeks and then reinstated to measure the alcohol deprivation effect (ADE). A forced swim stress was performed thereafter on 3 consecutive days.

Data analysis revealed a higher ethanol preference and voluntary ethanol intake in NPR-A-transgenic mice. Throughout the experiments the ethanol intake was highest in heterozygote animals. Stress-induced drinking led to an immediate increase in ethanol consumption in the homozygote subgroup. Deprivation from alcohol resulted in a classical ADE in wild-type and heterozygote animals. The homozygote mice do not show an increase in alcohol intake during the ADE.

We demonstrated that the NPR-A receptor gene is involved in free choice ethanol consumption, preference and ethanol consumption following stress. Mice lacking a functional NPR-A receptor represent a useful animal model to adress the question of whether a dysfunctonal natriuretic peptide receptor system influences longterm alcohol self-administration and stress induced alcohol drinking.

Deficits in social cognition are related to functional disability in schizophrenia. Therefore, new treatment programs should address these deficits in schizophrenia.

The goal of this study was to test if neurocognition, social cognitive deficits and functional disability improve after group cognitive remediation with a neuropsychological tool: the REHACOP program.

One hundred and one patients with schizophrenia were randomly allocated into experimental or control groups. The patients allocated on the experimental group (N= 52) received a group cognitive rehabilitation treatment using REHACOP. They attended 36 sessions of 90 minutes during three months. During the same time and frequency, patients under control condition (N=49) received Occupational activities. Both groups received treatment as usual (TAU). Patients underwent clinical, neuropsychological, social cognitive (Theory of mind, emotional perception, attributional style and social perception) and functional outcome (UPSA) pre- and post treatment assessments.

Repeated measures of MANOVA showed that Group (REHACOP vs occupational therapy) x Time (pre vs post-treatment) interactions were significant for neurocognition total score (F=16.54, p<0.001), social perception (F=8.05, p<0.01), theory of mind (F=14.19, p<0.001) and UPSA (F=12.14, p<0.001) showing that experimental group obtained significant improvement when compared to controls. Attributional style did not show significant improvements.

Our results suggest that REHACOP is an effective group cognitive remediation program for minimizing existing cognitive, social cognitive and functional disability.