In the last 30 years, Switzerland has been established as a destination country for psychiatric trainees. The needed competences for the work as a trainee deviate regarding colleagues from foreign countries though, hindering a viable solid development professional without specific on-boarding program. A similar approach to the figure of tutor anchored in the Spanish postgraduate medical training is still missing in the Swiss medical System. Hereby we performed a survey in the new colleagues who are part from the medical team in an observer status before beginning with the responsibilities as a trainee.

Recognizing competences and needs of the onboarding in current trainees that are still allocating because of the work conditions as stated in the following paper, (Bischof et al. Swiss Arch Neurol Psychiatr Psychother. 2021;172:w03198)

Survey with open questions collecting needs and competences expected to fulfil in Switzerland were distributed in 5 different medical colleagues in an observer status between August 2022 and September 2023.

Response rate was 62,5 %. Main reasons for the migration were considering better perspectives in education and professional development in the goal country, coming push factors as the current work situation in the original country to the fore. Support regarding the local language and an overview of the interprofessional communication were outlined as the advantage of the internship prior to the duties as a psychiatric trainee.

An structured on-boarding program is a demand for the newcomers - majority of trainees from foreign countries - to step in better in the Swiss health system. Elements of the Spanish trainee system could be adapted for a suitable allocation and integration process in the goal country.

None Declared

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a psychiatric intervention that has proven effectiveness and safety in various psychiatric conditions, such as major depressive disorder, prolonged or severe manic episodes and catatonia. Despite positive scientific evidence, ECT was always seen as controversial by patients, caregivers, and even some psychiatrists, which lead to a decrease in its use over the years.

To investigate the way young psychiatrists view the place of ECT in modern psychiatry by assessing their knowledge, attitude and access to training opportunities in ECT.

An anonymous survey was disseminated online among early career psychiatrists and psychiatric trainees. The questionnaire consisted of 36 multiple-choice and Likert scale questions.

Most of our respondents consider ECT both an effective and a safe treatment option and would recommend ECT to their patients when indicated. Early career psychiatrists who had access to ECT training are more knowledgeable about the indications, precautions and side effects of this method, but more than half of the participants mentioned ECT training was unavailable during their residency programme. Almost all respondents stated that they are interested in enhancing their theoretical and practical competencies in ECT.

Early career psychiatrists have a positive attitude towards ECT but express the need of targeted education aimed at improving levels of knowledge about ECT.

None Declared

With a history of several decades, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been carefully investigated and data supports its use as a safe and effective treatment for patients with severe depression, prolonged or severe manic episodes and catatonia. However, ECT is still regarded with reluctance by patients and caregivers, and its acceptance and use seem to be controversial even for psychiatrists.

To investigate the access to opportunities of training in ECT among early career psychiatrists and their views regarding the place of ECT in modern psychiatry.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and December 2022 utilizing an anonymous online survey consisting of 36 multiple-choice and Likert scale questions.

These preliminary findings show a great discrepancy regarding the availability of ECT training in European countries, as access to specialized ECT centers is unavailable in some areas. Early career psychiatrists who had access to ECT training are more knowledgeable about the indications, precautions and side effects of this method. Most of our respondents consider ECT both an effective and a safe treatment option and have expressed their wish to improve their theoretical and practical competencies in ECT.

ECT is a standard treatment and a therapeutic mainstay in psychiatry but is being less performed in some countries. Early career psychiatrists lack experience with ECT but are interested in training opportunities. Future actions are needed for the improvement of education and training in ECT.

None Declared

The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Summer School allows psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from all over Europe to meet, network, and learn together. After the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19, the 10th edition in 2021 focused for the first time on research and was conducted remotely.

To provide an overview and feedback about the first Virtual EPA Research Summer School as a new way to encourage international networking during COVID-19.

The School was organized by the EPA Secretary for Education, and 4 Faculty members. It started with a “breaking the ice session” one week before and then a two-days meeting on 23-24 September 2021 using an online video-platform. This was preceded by all the 21 participants (from 18 different countries) recording a short 4-minute video presentation, which was uploaded and shared with other participants and Faculty.

Participants were divided on a voluntary basis into three working groups: 1) “Drug repurposing: overcoming challenges in pharmacoepidemiology” 2) “Psychopathological research in psychiatry”; 3) “How to conduct a cross-sectional survey?”. The Summer School program was composed of plenary sessions with lectures by the Faculty members, discussion sessions, and working groups time. At the end, each group presented a summary of the work done to the rest of the participants.

Although the remote format limits social interactions during the Summer School, overall participants’ high satisfaction and productivity indicate that not only online formats, but also the topic of research might be covered in future editions.

No significant relationships.

The 2021 Research Summer School took place virtually, and 7 psychiatric trainees or early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from 7 different European countries participated in a working group on how to conduct a cross-sectional survey study.

To provide an overview of the process of developing an internationally collaborative protocol during the EPA Virtual Research Summer School.

All participants were asked by the Faculty mentor chairing this working group to write a research question that could be investigated through a cross-sectional survey. After a brainstorming discussion, it was decided to investigate the experiences, knowledge, and attitudes of psychiatric trainees and ECPs about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in Europe, an effective yet controversial procedure.

The process of developing a protocol entailed different phases. First, a literature search was conducted, which supported the need to explore more the attitudes towards ECT among ECPs. Through group discussion the study’s objectives were decided, as well as the most appropriate methodology (including data collection and questionnaire use). At the end of the course, the core of the research plan was presented to all participants at the Research Summer School, preceding its implementation.

Participating in the EPA Research Summer School is a unique experience, a great learning opportunity, and can also lead to fruitful collaborations. It enabled the learning of the key aspects of designing and conducting a survey. In a short period of time, it was possible to design a study protocol for a future international cross-sectional survey on ECT.

No significant relationships.

Football is the world’s most-watched and played sport. Even though sports psychiatry is steadily gaining importance, the stigma on mental illness in sports, especially football, and the limited number of articles on this topic means there is a pressing need for more study in this area. This narrative review begins to fill this gap. This review summarises the work on addictive disorders in sports, with a close focus on football, as well as mentioning some initiatives that are advancing our understanding of how mental illnesses in sports can be addressed.

This view also contributes to understanding the reasons behind mental illness and sports, and raises awareness.

This review was conducted by searching for the keywords ‘addiction’ and ‘football’ on three different database search engines, namely, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Medline. We found 26 articles based on this literature search with these keywords from 2005 to 2020. After data extraction, we cited 10 of them considering the specificity of addiction disorders in the football industry. 16 additional articles found by backwards citation chaining are also included in this review.

The articles reviewed here investigate addictive disorders within the football sector by looking at the incidence of particular addictive disorders, their underlying reasons and their consequences. This piece concludes by showing the need for more research and new initiatives regarding addictive disorders within the target group of footballers.

A holistic, multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial approach is essential to provide long term solutions considering different factors contributing to addictive disorders in the football sector.

No significant relationships.

A standardized approach to reduce or decrease the tobacco consumption is not performed. It is being used as a medium to socialize having an educational character on nursing and medical relationship.

Current cessation program are thought for patients without relevant cognitive impairments. Evidence about alternative management for this patient subgroup was collected.

This investigation examined the state of the implementation of nicotine cessation therapy for chronic psychiatric patients in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. German- and English-speaking publications since 2010 were selected. 12 different reviews and control trials were included.

Inpatient experiences from maximum hospital care in Germany have been published in the last 10 years, but mostly by oncologist departments in collaboration with pulmonologists and cardiologists showing a poor interest from psychiatrists, not even for harm reduction strategies in patients with severe mental illness. Therefore, the identification and treatment of nicotine addiction remains very low in patients with mental health conditions. Cognitive and pharmacological interventions are not covered by the German health system.

Latest evidence suggests that more flexible, open-ended, combination approaches of pharmacotherapy and counselling may be more successful. It will hence contribute to redressing the significant health and social inequities experienced by this. population sub-group as a consequence of tobacco smoking.

COVID19 keeps being a challenge, not only facing the outbreak and the treatment of the cases, but also in the education sector. Most learning centres and high schools in the world are closed to avoid further outbreaks, as well as institutes for psychotherapy throughout the world.

To gain a better knowledge and understanding about alternatives identified in the scope of psychiatric trainee training, through the support provided by digital resources.

Systematic review on PubMed and Uptodate databases since declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 was performed using the keywords: Distance Education, Pandemia, COVID-19, Medical Residency. Discussing online-learning.

The described European countries (Germany, Spain, United Kingdom) used different strategies to maintain the e-learning. Practical undergraduate education was replaced in countries like Spain by “problem-based learning” tasks, clarifying and commenting case reports or videos through working groups. The increase of the resources from teachers and trainers wasn´t taken in account for the preparation of the digital program. Social inequities for the digital access for groups of students or clients were also claimed.

Each of the described countries adopted different strategies regarding continuing training of residents, their assessment and their certification. Covid-19 should set down a trend of social collaborative learning as part of resident training and asset hybrid or even digital methods for the mental health training.