Stigma is omnipresent in human societies, both globally and historically; while it is also discerned in other primates. On these grounds, it has been suggested to be the product of natural selection and therefore to protect against threats to effective group functioning. Nonetheless, in contemporary society, stigma raises fundamental ethical concerns, while it actually impinges on public health

To explore prejudicial attitudes and desired social distance from recovered COVID-19 patients, people with mental illness and refugees in Athens region.

A convenience sample of 360 residents of Athens region participated in the study, after being recruited from social media. The questionnaire was distributed online and encompassed: i) the Prejudicial Attitudes Survey, (ii) the Social Distance scale, (iii) the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and information about respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics and personal experience with the three population subgroups. The stigma measures were included three times, one for each out-group.

Repeated ANOVA revealed that negative attitudes were predominantly expressed for refugees. On the contrary, positive attitudes were predominantly expressed for people with mental illness. Interestingly, desired social distance was greater from people with mental illness (mean = 32.37) compared to refugees (mean = 25.47) and recovered COVID-19 patients (mean = 24.17).

Stigma towards people with mental illness and refugees is still prevalent in Greece. Anti-stigma efforts should target prejudices in the case of refugees and social distance in the case of mental illness. To date, no stigma attached to COVID-19 has been discerned in the country

No significant relationships.

The high comorbidity of depression in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 has been established.

The association between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 is poorly understood.

The aim of the present study was to assess the degree in which diabetes mellitus type 2 is accompanied by OCD.

131 diabetic patients, 55 female and 76 male were randomly enrolled and during the first assessment was administered in all participants the Zung Self Rating Scale (ZUNG) and the Maudsley O-C Inventory Questionnaire (MOCI). After one year, while an intensive effort to improve the patients’ metabolic profile was performed, the diabetic patients that were initially uncontrolled (n = 31) were re-evaluated by the same psychometric tools. From those 31 patients 10 had managed to control their metabolic profile.

MOCI and the sub-scale of slowness are statistically related with the diabetic profile (controlled-uncontrolled), with uncontrolled patients scoring significantly higher on the overall MOCI score and the factor of slowness of MOCI scale (p = 0.028). Regarding the association between the values of Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) and the scores of MOCI it was found that they were significantly positively correlated in overall scores (p = 0,028) and in the subscale of slowness (p = 0,028). The analysis revealed a positive association between depression (p = 0.004) and obsessive compulsive disorder symptomatology (p < 0.001) and thepatient’s metabolic profile.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with obsessive compulsive disorder symptomatology and depression. Improvements in glycaemic control were found to decrease the severity of the symptoms.

Children abduction by one parent and their transport refers to a foreign country is a gradually increasing phenomenon worldwide as well as Greece. Data from the Greek Ministry of Justice show that the frequency of such incidences is up to one a day (360/year). Some but not all of these cases come to the attention of the International Social Services (Division of Greece).

Records of fifty (50) cases of inter family abduction were obtained. These were cases that took place during the year 2003. These records were studied and analysed. The majority of cases concerned abductions within the European Union. Permission from the Personal Data Protection service was obtained before the research.

It was found that fathers were predominantly the abductors (60%). Based on the medical records of the parents, the abductor had established psychopathology (fathers 51,1%; mothers 48,5%). The abducting fathers made significant use of violence (50%) compared to the mother abductors (20%). The legal procedures that ensued the abductions were particularly prolonged: The trial period until the reach of a verdict took an average of 3 years.

In the cases of children abduction by a parent, there is high correlation between the action and the psychopathology of the abductor. The need for establishment of services appropriate to face this multidisciplinary problem is imminent. The long time each case takes to be resolved has obvious implications for the mental health of the children and the parents involved.

Cysts are common findings at magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomographic(CT) brain imaging. Their histopathologic spectrum is broad, and differentiation of these cysts on the basis of imaging findings alone can be problematic

This is a case of a 32 year old man reported depressive syptomatology and after brain MRI examination a epidermoid cyst was found.

The relation between brain epidermoid cyst and depressive symptomatology

The patient had suddenly symptoms of severe headache accompanied, fatigue, depressed mood most of the day, marked diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all activites, insomnia and diminished ability to think or concentrate. there was no organic problem in his medical history and there were any difficulties in his professional or his personal life. there was no family history for neurological diseases but his brother is suffering from Gille de la tourette. the symptoms progressively increased and patient visited a psychiatrist who recommended an MRI examination and the result was the following:

Brain MRI Examination revealed a cystic lesion in the posterior part of the 3rd ventricle, with a maximum diameter of 2.8 cm approximatelly and obstucts the Sylvious aqueduct which causes more centrally dilatation of the 3rd ventricle and the lateral ventricles too. the images after the intravenous contrast administration show no abnormal enhancement. Pituitary gland and paranasal sinuses appeared normal.

Orbital structures appeared normal.

After a surgical intervention depressive symptomatology was remised.

Epidermoid cysts can be masked from depressive syptomatology.

Escitalopram(ESC) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor(SSRI)which has been shown to be an effective treatment for major depressive.

We report a case of a 52-years old female patient who after approximately 1 month of therapy with ESC, progressively titrated up to 20mg/day developed a bilateral ankle oedema, which resolved completely within the first week following its discontinuation.

To prove the connection between ESC and cutaneous effects(oedema).

The patient was suffering from depressed mood most of the day, fatigue, diminished ability to think or concentrate, insomnia,feelings of worthlessness and periods of sweating, chest pain, dizziness and fear of losing control. Escitalopram was administered with a initial dose of 10 mg once a day that over a period of one week increased to 20 mg once a day. Three weeks later the patient's depressive symptoms improved a signifigantly. However she complained about a swelling in both her feet and she could hardly wear her shoes.The clinical examination revealed a bilateral ankle oedema. Clinical and laboratory evaluations (electrocardiogram, ultrasonography, blood tests, albumins, renal and thyroid function tests, serum electrolytes)didn’t reveal any pathological findings. There was also no history of areterial hypertension, and after repeated measurements her arterial pressure was within normal range.

Escitalopram was discontinued and the patient was treated with paroxetine 20 mg/day.The patient's oedema resolved completely within ten days after escitalopram discontinuation with no reappearing.

Bilateral ankle oedema it's a rare side effect during therapy with ESC.

Chronic poor metabolic control of type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevation of plasma homocysteine and there is a evidence of both hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical(HPA) axis and cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.

Recent research indicates an association between cortizol and homocysteine and psychological factors in diabetes type 2 however the nature of this relationship remains unclear.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of cortizol and homocysteine with trait and state psychological factors in diabetic patients.

In this study cortizol and homosysteine and psychological data were analyzed from 86 controlled diabetic patients (Glycosylated Haemoglobin HbA1c < 7) and from 45 uncontrolled diabetic patients (HbA1c ≥ 7). Trait psychological characteristics were assessed with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)and Hostility and Direction of Hostiity Questionnaire(HDHQ) while state psychological characteristics were measured with the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL 90-R). Blood samples were taken for measuring cortizol and homocysteine of both subgroups, during the initial phase of the study (T0).

One year later (T1), the uncontrolled diabetic patients were re-evaluated with the use of the same psychometric instruments and with an identical blood analysis.

Uncontrolled diabetic patients type 2 with high levels of cortizol score lower in the extraversion subscale of EPQ. in the controlled diabetic patiens high levels of homocysteine are correlated with high scores in the psychotism subscale of EPQ.

These findings give credence to the idea that cortizol and homocysteine in association with personality traits may be implicated in diabetes type 2.