Despite innovative treatments, the impairment in real-life functioning in subjects with schizophrenia (SCZ) remains an unmet need in the care of these patients. Recently, real-life functioning in SCZ was associated with abnormalities in different electrophysiological indices. It is still not clear whether this relationship is mediated by other variables, and how the combination of different EEG abnormalities influences the complex outcome of schizophrenia.

The purpose of the study was to find EEG patterns which can predict the outcome of schizophrenia and identify recovered patients.

Illness-related and functioning-related variables were measured in 61 SCZ at baseline and after four-years follow-up. EEGs were recorded at the baseline in resting-state condition and during two auditory tasks. We performed Sparse Partial Least Square (SPLS) Regression, using EEG features, age and illness duration to predict clinical and functional features at baseline and follow up. Through a Linear Support Vector Machine (Linear SVM) we used electrophysiological and clinical scores derived from SPLS regression, in order to classify recovered patients at follow-up.

We found one significant latent variable (p<0.01) capturing correlations between independent and dependent variables at follow-up (RHO=0.56). Among individual predictors, age and illness-duration showed the highest scores; however, the score for the combination of the EEG features was higher than all other predictors. Within dependent variables, negative symptoms showed the strongest correlation with predictors. Scores resulting from SPLS Regression classified recovered patients with 90.1% of accuracy.

A combination of electrophysiological markers, age and illness-duration might predict clinical and functional outcome of schizophrenia after 4 years of follow-up.

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) represents a congenital syndrome with several clinical features. It entails a 25% risk of psychotic onset in lifespan. 22q11.2DS is a reliable model for biological vulnerability to schizophrenia.

With the hypothesis of similar impairments in schizophrenia and 22q11DS, to investigate a possible correlation between Social Cognition (SC) and Interpersonal Functioning (FU).

Sample consists of 1735 adults: 893 schizophrenic subjects (SCZ); 18 with 22q11.2DS and psychosis (DEL_SCZ); 44 22q11.2DS individuals (DEL); 780 healthy controls (HC). SCZ and HC data come from a multicentric study by Network for Research on Psychoses. SC was assessed with The Awareness of Social Interference Test (TASIT, consisting of three sections: T1= Emotion Recognition; T2=Minimal Social Inference; T3=Social Inference Enriched). The Specific Levels of Functioning (SLOF) interview was employed.

DEL_SCZ (p<0.001) and SCZ (p<0.001) showed impairments in each TASIT sections compared to HC. Significant deficits in interpersonal functioning area were found in SCZ (p<0.001) compared to HC. The interpersonal functioning domain showed a positive correlation with SC in HC (T1: r=0.097; p<0.001; T2: r=0.120; p=0.001; T3: r=0.121; p=0.001); DEL (T1: r=0.380; p=0.024; T2: r=0.466; p=0.005) and SCZ (T1: r=0.113, p=0.001; T2: r=0.110, p=0.001; T3: r=0.134; p<0.001).

SC deficits both in subjects with 22q11.2DS and in people with schizophrenia suggest a role of endophenotypes. SC is directly correlated to interpersonal functioning in 22q11.2DS without psychosis and people with schizophrenia. DEL_SCZ may suffer from deeper cognitive and symptomatic conditions that both impact differently on FU.

Different electrophysiological indices have been investigated to identify diagnostic and prognostic markers of schizophrenia (SCZ). However, these indices have limited use in clinical practice, since both specificity and association with illness outcome remain unclear. In recent years, machine learning techniques, through the combination of multidimensional data, have been used to better characterize SCZ and to predict illness course.

The aim of the present study is to identify multimodal electrophysiological biomarkers that could be used in clinical practice in order to improve precision in diagnosis and prognosis of SCZ.

Illness-related and functioning-related variables were measured at baseline in 113 subjects with SCZ and 57 healthy controls (HC), and after four-year follow-up in 61 SCZ. EEGs were recorded at baseline in resting-state condition and during two auditory tasks (MMN-P3a and N100-P3b). Through a Linear Support Vector Machine, using EEG data as predictors, four models were generated in order to classify SCZ and HC. Then, we combined unimodal classifiers’ scores through a stacking procedure. Pearson’s correlations between classifiers score with illness-related and functioning-related variables, at baseline and follow-up, were performed.

Each EEG model produced significant classification (p < 0.05). Global classifier discriminated SCZ from HC with accuracy of 75.4% (p < 0.01). A significant correlation (r=0.40, p=0.002) between the global classifier scores with negative symptoms at follow-up was found. Within negative symptoms, blunted affect showed the strongest correlation.

Abnormalities in electrophysiological indices might be considered trait markers of schizophrenia. Our results suggest that multimodal electrophysiological markers might have prognostic value for negative symptoms.

This study aims to evaluate different kinds of temperament and attachment in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients, divided in Cloninger typology 1 and 2, compared to an healthy group.

A group of 40 patients was recruited, in a 3 months period, from Alcohology Unit of “Villa Rosa” in Viterbo. This sample was selected by a clinical diagnosis of Alcohol Dependence and compared to a control group of 40 healthy subjects. Each participant was screened by: SCID-I for Axis I Diagnosis, SCID-II for Axis II Diagnosis, TEMPS-A for Temperament, ECR for Attachment Styles.

Statistical analysis showed significative differences between the two groups (p< 0.05). The mean of the scores (t Student) and the Mann-Whitney U test results higher in the experimental group. Regarding the ECR, we found differences in the “avoidance” between Cloninger's typology 1 and 2. Control group: 92.5% of the subjects showed a “secure” attachment, 7.5% a “dismissing” attachment. Experimental group: 40% of the sample showed a “secure” attachment, 35% a “dismissing” attachment, 17.5% a “preoccupied” attachment and 7.5% a “fearful/avoidant” attachment.

Our sample showed that the “preoccupied” and the “dismissing” attachment styles were the most prevalent among alcoholists, while the “secure” style was typical of control subjects. Concerning the TEMPS-A we found high prevalence of the hyperthymic and cyclothymic temperaments.

A growing body of scientific literature suggests that HIV seroprevalence among people with serious mental illness has increased substantially in recent years. In the Italian context, specialized services (mental health or infectious disease) more and more are requested for combined management of dual diagnosis. Consequently health care workers (HCW) have to face difficulties due to new situations of care. To fill these gaps, the core purpose of this study is to analyze HCW experiences from their own perspectives in order to understand their difficulties and create good practices in health care.

A qualitative study was conducted in public services Mental Health and HIV/AIDS workers, in Lazio region, Italy.

HCW were asked in anonymous way about their experiences. The interviews, consisting of one open_question, were audio taped and integrally transcribed and the texts were analysed through software T-Lab (cluster and correspondence analysis).

91 HCW were interviewed. We identified, trough cluster analysis, six cultural models about dual diagnosis: Disease as personal experience, Fear of contagion, Training as support to work, Service as integration function, Families as object of the intervention, Disease as scientific knowledge

In conclusion, this study examines for the first time the constructions of dual diagnosis in the Italian context through text and language of HCW. It reveal that we need further elaboration because of sociocultural meanings of dual diagnosis are not fixed but are ongoingly co-constructed by the various participants of health context.

A growing body of scientific literature emphasizes a strong linkage between HIV/Aids and serious mental illness. In the Italian context, specialized services for combined management of dual diagnosis are increasingly requested, and healthcare professionals (HPWs) have to face up the difficulty emerging by this new situation. To bridge these gaps, the present study aimed at studying the representations of dual diagnosis, analyzing HPWs’ experiences from their own perspectives, in order to understand their difficulty and create future good practices in healthcare services.

A quali-quantitative study was conducted with a multidisciplinary sample of professionals (N=91), drawn by HIV/Aids and Mental Health sites. Due to the exploratory nature of the research, data were collected from semi-structured interviews: HPWs were asked about their work experiences with HIV/Aids and Mental Illness. The interviews were fully audio-taped and verbatim transcribed. A computer-aided lexical correspondence analysis was conducted by a dedicated text-analysis software.

Data analysis showed out two main factorial dimensions: the first regarding the representation of the “Management of dual diagnosis within Health Services”, and the second one referring to the “categorization of HIV/Aids-Mental Illness co-morbidity”. Furthermore, four different Representational Conceptions were highlighted, corresponding to as many different ways HPWs use to represent/depict the aims of Health Service in relation to HIV/Aids-Mental Illness co-morbidity.

This study reveals that socio-cultural meanings of dual diagnosis are not fixed; rather, they are ongoing co-constructed within the activities carried out by the HPWs involved in their specific health contexts in the exercise of their profession.

Indoleamine-2, 3-dioxygenase is responsible for tryptophan catabolism; IFN-β is a treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) and it has been associated with depression. IDO activation might play a role in IFN-β induction of depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms associated with MS illness and IFN-β treatment have been treated with pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention.

Evaluation of the kynurenine pathway, IDO activation and neurotoxic agents, serum BDNF in MS patients during IFN-β intervention.

14 study subjects, aged 18-64 years with major depressive disorder and MS treated with IFN-β, before and after pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic intervention, and 34 age matched healthy controls were enrolled at the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and at the at the University of Antwerp. Depressed participants were randomized to sertraline-treatment or interpersonal psychodynamic psychotherapy.

There were significant improvements in both depression and anxiety symptoms with medication and psychotherapy groups, although the effect with sertraline was more robust. Sertraline treatment was associated with a decline in serotonin. In the psychotherapy group, a significant increase in 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (HAA) was observed after 4 months treatment (p= .04) with a significant decrease in tryptophan levels at 6 weeks (p= .02) and a trend towards a significant decrease in BDNF after 6 wks (p=0.06), neither of which were seen in the medication condition.

The increase in HAA among the psychotherapy-treated patients raises the possibility of a neurodegenerative challenge for patients with multiple sclerosis during treatment with IFN-β which appeared to be prevented with pharmacological treatment.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that is most effective for mood disorders.It has also been shown to be an effective form of treatment for schizophrenia. However, many unanswered questions remain regarding its role in the management of people with schizophrenia.

Evaluate the main indications of ECT in schizophrenia patients.

To investigate the efficacy of ECT in the treatment of schizophrenic patients, evaluating its effects in the short-term and the long-term, comparing ECT with pharmacotherapy, and assessing the effects of treatment and the main indications for use in patients with schizophrenia.

A systematic review of the literature was conducted for ECT and schizophrenia. Forty-nine articles from peerreviewed journals were identified.

The most common indication for using ECT for schizophrenia patients was to augment pharmacotherapy, while the most common accompanying symptoms were, in order, catatonia, aggression and suicide. Catatonic patients responded significantly better to ECT than patients with any other subtype of schizophrenia. The combination of ECT with pharmacotherapy can be useful for drug-resistant patients. The use of an ECT-risperidone combination or ECT-clozapine combination in patients non-responsive to prior pharmacotherapy was found to be most effective.

ECT, combined with pharmacotherapy, may be a viable option for a selected group of people with schizophrenia. In particular, the use of ECT is recommended for drug-resistant patients, for schizophrenic patients with catatonia, aggression or suicidal behavior, and when rapid global improvement and reduction of acute symptomatology is desired.

Patients with sleep disorders have a significant increase in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, at the assessment and lifetime (Goodwin et al, 2008; Chellappa et al, 2007; Wojnar et al, 2009; Li et al, 2010).

To evaluate the relationship between sleep disorders and suicidal behavior.

To study factors associated with a diagnosis of insomnia in patients admitted to the Emergency Department.

Participants were 843 patients consecutively admitted to the Emergency Department of the Sant’Andrea University Hospital in Rome, Italy, between January and December 2010. All patients admitted were referred to a psychiatrist. A clinical interview based on the MINI and a semi structured interview were performed. Patients were asked about “ongoing” suicidal ideation or plans for suicide. Clinical diagnoses were assigned according to ICD-10 criteria.

48% received a diagnosis of a mood disorders (BD and MDD) or anxiety disorders, 17.1% Schizophrenia or other non-affective psychosis. Patients with insomnia had more frequently a diagnosis of BD (23.9% vs. 12.4%) or MDD (13.3% vs. 9.5%; P< 0.001). Patients with insomnia less frequently had attempted suicide in the past 24 hours (5.3% vs. 9.5%; P< 0.05) than other patients, but suicide attempters with insomnia more frequently used violent methods (64.3% vs. 23.6%; P< 0.01) than suicide attempters without insomnia.

Our results support a relationship between sleep disorders and suicidal behavior. Clinicians should pay attention to sleep disorders when assessing suicide attempters; in fact, such conditions may have important clinical implications.

To date, the proposition of recurrence as a subclinical bipolar disorder feature has not received adequate testing.

We used the Italian version of the bipolar spectrum diagnostic scale (BSDS), a self-rated questionnaire of bipolar risk, in a sample of patients with mood disorders to test its specificity and sensitivity in identifying cases and discriminating between high risk for bipolar disorder major depressive patients (HRU) and low risk (LRU) adopting as a high recurrence cut-off five or more lifetime major depressive episodes.

We included 115 patients with DSM-5 bipolar disorder (69 type I, 41 type II, and 5 NOS) and 58 with major depressive disorder (29 HRU and 29 LRU, based on the recurrence criterion). Patients filled-out the Italian version of the BSDS, which is currently undergoing a validation process.

The BSDS, adopting a threshold of 14, had 84% sensitivity and 76% specificity. HRU, as predicted, scored on the BSDS intermediate between LRU and bipolar disorder. Clinical characteristics of HRU were more similar to bipolar disorder than to LRU; HRU, like bipolar disorder patients, had more lifetime hospitalizations, higher suicidal ideation and attempt numbers, and higher rates of family history of suicide.

The BSDS showed satisfactory sensitivity and sensitivity. Splitting the unipolar sample into HRU and LRU, on the basis of the at least 5 lifetime major depressive episodes criterion, yielded distinct unipolar subpopulations that differ on outcome measures and BSDS scores.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Resilience is commonly defined as positive adaptation to adverse events or as the ability to maintain or regain mental health after exposure to difficulties. According to the bio-psycho-social model, resilience is influenced by self-esteem, coping strategies and personality traits. In schizophrenic patients, resilience seems to affect real-life functioning, while in mood disorders, resilience influences the longitudinal course of the disorder, reducing the frequency of relapses and improving drugs response.

The aim of this study is to asses levels of resilience and self-esteem, coping strategies, perceived quality of life and temperament characteristics in a sample composed by patients with major depressive disorder and patients affected by schizophrenia.

We collected a sample composed by 40 patients with major depressive disorder and 40 patients affected by schizophrenia patients recruited at the “Maggiore della Carità” Hospital in Novara, Italy. The assessment protocol included: Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory–Brief (BRIEF–COPE), Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSES), Paykel List Of Stressful Events, Temperamental and Character Inventory (TCI) and Short form 36 (SF-36). Comparison of qualitative data was performed by means of the χ2, a t-test was performed for continuous normal-distribution variables otherwise a non-parametric Mann–Whitney test was performed. Statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05.

In patients with major depressive disorder resilience were associated with a good self-perception of physical and mental health, higher self-esteem levels and problem-focused/emotion focused coping strategies. In schizophrenic patients, sample there was no positive correlation between resilience and perceived quality of life. Further implications will be discussed.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The use of Performance and Image-Enhancing Drugs (PIEDs) is on the increase and appears to be associated with several psychopathological disorders, whose prevalence in unclear.

We aimed to evaluate the differences–if any–in the prevalence of body image disorders (BIDs) and eating disorders (EDs) in PIEDs users athletes vs. PIEDs nonusers ones.

We enrolled 84 consecutive professional and amateur athletes (35.8% females; age range = 18–50), training in several sports centers in Italy. They underwent structured interviews (SCID I/SCID II) and completed the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI) and the Sick, Control, One, Fat, Food Eating Disorder Screening Test (SCOFF). Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used for comparisons.

Of the 84 athletes, 18 (21.4%) used PIEDs. The most common PIEDs were anabolic androgenic steroids, amphetamine-like substances, cathinones, ephedrine, and caffeine derivatives (e.g. guarana). The two groups did not differ in socio-demographic characteristics, but differed in anamnestic and psychopathological ones, with PIEDs users athletes being characterized by significantly (P-values < 0.05) higher physical activity levels, consuming more coffee, cigarettes, and psychotropic medications (e.g. benzodiazepines) per day, presenting more SCID diagnoses of psychiatric disorders, especially Substance Use Disorders, Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), and General Anxiety Disorders, showing higher BICI scores, which indicate a higher risk of BDD, and higher SCOFF scores, which suggest a higher risk of BIDs and EDs.

In PIEDs users athletes body image and eating disorders, and more in general psychopathological disorders, are more common than in PIEDs nonusers athletes.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The level of express emotion (EE) is a measure of the attitude of close relatives towards a patient and include dimensions as critical comments, hostility and emotional over-involvement. Anger and impulsivity may lead to self-injurious and aggressive behaviours, and often represent an obstacle to treatment.

To compare anger expression, impulsivity and expressed emotion in ED and SCHZ, and to explore the different level of caregivers’ EE in the two groups.

Twenty-five female with ED diagnosis and 25 patients with schizophrenia, were recruited at the Psychiatry Ward and outpatient Service of AOU – Novara, during one year period. Patient's assessment included Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), Structured Clinical Interview (SCID 1-2), Level of Expressed Emotion Scale (LEE), Paykel scale, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAY 1-2), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXY), Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11).

Levels of anxiety (both state and trait) are higher in the ED group than in SCHZ. As far as the STAXY is concerned, SCHZ patients score higher than ED ones on control over anger, while general index of anger expression was higher in ED patients. We did not find significant differences in EE between two groups, except for the patient's emotional response of the patient to the disease, which was greater among SCHZ. Both SCHZ and ED patients scored higher on the LEE, Paykel and STAY than their caregivers.

SCHZ and ED patients show different patterns of anxiety and anger, but similar profile as far as EE is concerned. Implications for treatment will be discussed.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Resilience in the psychiatric field, it is defined as the ability to recover from perceived adverse or changing situations through a dynamic process of adaptation. This process is influenced by personal characteristics, family and social resources and is expressed by positive coping skills. It is well known that resilience has an inverse relation with depression, however, the specific role of resilience in disorders like depression, personality disorders and psychosis is not fully understood.

Compare differences in resilience and coping skills in a sample of patients with depressive disorder in acute phase versus healthy controls.

We are conducting a cohort study to the date we recruited 82 inpatients admitted in our psychiatric ward. The data have been gathered from the 1st December 2014 and they will continue to be collected until the 1st December 2016, the healthy controls are represented by 67 subjects with similar socio-demographic features.

Inclusion criteria are: diagnosis of depressive disorders or dysthymia according to DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria, age > 18 years, proper understanding of Italian language, willingness to give written informed consent. We compared them with healthy controls with similar socio-demographic features.

Patients’ assessment includes the following tests:

– Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA);

– Brief-COPE Scale (Brief-COPE);

– Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS for Windows, 21.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corporation).

Data collection is still ongoing.

From a preliminary analysis of data, we assume that the levels of resilience and coping of our patients is reduced compared with controls, however the recruitment during the acute phase could significantly influence final results.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Alexithymic traits and coping strategies may affect the onset and course of many psychiatric conditions. However, their role in determining hopelessness and suicide risk has been not still elucidated.

The present study analyzed the correlations between alexithymia, coping strategies, and hopelessness.

We aimed to evaluate whether specific coping strategies and alexithymia may predict hopelessness which is widely considered an independent risk factor for suicide.

This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 276 patients (19.9% men, 81.1% women; mean age: 48.1 years, SD: 16.9), of which most with major affective disorders, who were admitted at the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Genoa (Italy). All participants were assessed using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).

Alexythimic subjects significantly differ from non-alexythimic individuals in terms of substance abuse (χ2 = 23.1; P = .027). According to bivariate analyses, we found a significant correlation between hopelessness and suicidal thoughts/wishes (r = .34; P = .01), humor (r = –.24; P = .05), and behavioural disengagement (r = .205; P = .05). Behavioural disengagement is also a positive predictor of hopelessness (OR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03–1.52) while humour is a negative predictor of hopelessness (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.73–0.99).

Behavioural disengagement needs to be considered a risk factor while humor is a protective factor for suicide. Surprisingly, we found no significant association between alexithymia and hopelessness. Further additional studies are requested to test these exploratory findings in order to more deeply elucidate the role of both alexithymia and coping strategies in suicidal behaviour.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Previous researches showed that adolescents are at high risk of suicide. Suicide is a trans-nosographic phenomenon regardless of psychiatric diagnosis. Trauma is an important risk factor for suicide and young help-seeking patients usually refer traumatic experiences, especially during childhood.

The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between traumatic experience and suicide risk comparing adolescents with suicide risk with adolescents without suicide risk.

To investigate correlations between trauma, psychopathology and suicide risk in a sample of young help-seeking outpatients.

We recruited 99 outpatients aged between 14 and 21 years admitted to department for prevention and early intervention in adolescence of Rome. We administered psychometric instruments exploring suicide risk (SHSS, BHS), prodromal (SIPS/SOPS), affective and anxious symptoms (HAM-A, HAM-D,MRS), child abuse (CTQ) and experiences of depersonalization (CDS).

Sample is composed of 31 men and 68 women. A total of 34.3% had mood disorder. A total of 28.3% reported history of emotional neglect, 20.2% emotional abuse, 9.15 sexual abuse, 5.1% physical neglect, 9,1% sexual abuse, 4% physical abuse. More than 30% of patients were at increased suicide risk. Depressive, irritable, anxious and cyclothymic temperament was associated with suicide risk. Patients with suicide risk had higher score at HAM-D (t63 = 2.65; P = 0.01), CDS (t63 = 2.77; P = 0.007), in CTQ (t63 = 3.20; P = 0.002) and BHS (t63 = 3.23; P = 0.002).

Adolescents with suicide risk, compared with those without, reported more frequently early traumatic experiences and psychiatric symptoms. Early traumatic experiences constitute a risk factor for both suicide risk and psychiatric symptoms during adolescence.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The admission experience survey (AES) is a reliable tool for measuring perceived coercion in mental hospital admission. We developed the Italian AES through translation back-translation and administered it to acutely hospitalized psychiatric patients.

To verify psychometric characteristics of the Italian AES. To Examine the AES factor structure.

n = 156 acutely hospitalized patients (48% women, 69% voluntary) were recruited in two university hospitals in Rome (Umberto I Policlinic, Sant’Andrea Hospital) and were administered the Italian AES. We conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) with equamax rotation.

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the sample are reported in Table 1. The Italian AES had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90); Guttmann split-half reliability coefficient was 0.90. AES total score significantly differed between voluntary and involuntary patients (5.08 ± 4.1 vs. 8.1 ± 4.9, P < 0.05). PCA disclosed a three-factor solution explaining 59.3 of the variance. Significant correlations emerged between AES total score and clinical variables (Table 2). Pearson's correlation coefficient disclosed a significant correlation between perceived coercion and psychiatric symptoms severity (BPRS total score).

The Italian version of AES and proposed new factor structure proved reliable.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Increased concentrations of kynurenine (KYN) pathway metabolites have been associated to several groups of psychiatric disorders. As for suicide risk literature is still inconclusive due to the limited evidence.

to test the hypothesis of Increased concentrations of kynurenine as related to suicide attempter.

We aim to investigate the association between kynurenine pathway metabolites blood levels and suicidal behaviour, in affective disorder patients, in order to explore if kynurenine pathway metabolites could be potential diagnostic biomarkers.

We enrolled a sample of affective disorder patients and perform detailed diagnoses, as well as detailed assessment of suicidal behaviour using validated questionnaires. We also aim to follow-up individuals included in the current study.

Plasma KYN was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography in three groups: healthy volunteers (n = 90), patients with mood disorders with a recent suicide attempt (n = 44) and without (n = 44) history of suicide attempt. Analysis of variance tested for group differences in KYN levels. Each was evaluated with psychometric scales. Patients were sampled for 10 cc of venous blood for assay. The preparation of blood samples and assay was processed by a specialist using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

Preliminary results will be presented as to shed light if KYN levels differed across groups. According to preliminary calculations we expect that KYN is higher in suicide attempters compared with non-attempters, who did not differ from healthy volunteers.

Our work-in-progress study suggests that KYN and related molecular pathways may be implicated in the precipitation of suicidal behavior.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.