Asperger Syndrome (AS) exhibits a particular set of difficulties, the foremost of them being the impairment in social interaction. Furthermore, adolescence by itself is a period burdened with many social challenges and distress. The attempt to adjust to them while having AS is much harder, thus it may constitute the premise for the onset of internalizing symptomatology, in particular depression.

This study aimed to observe what factors either improved or hindered the long-term outcome. It was analyzed how the different types of interventions influenced the outcome of these individuals in terms of academic performance, social functioning, psychiatric relapses and quality of life.

Our lot was represented by 16 patients diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), followed up on a period between 1 to 10 years. The lot was divided into two groups, each with a different therapeutic plan. The main instruments used were clinical observation and parents’ assessments.

In the first group, the adolescents, treated with a complex intervention which included also a psychotherapeutic component, were found to have a positive outcome, 71,42% of them having no other psychiatric comorbidity than Major Depressive Disorder. The adolescents in the second group, who were treated only with pharmacological treatment, were found to have a negative outcome.

The factors that were found to have the most important impact on the long-term outcome were: the integration in a psychotherapy programme, having family support, compliance with the pharmacological treatment and having MDD as the only psychiatric comorbidity.

No significant relationships.

Countless substances used for their psychotropic effects may induce adverse cardiac effects, such as QT prolongation. This category of substances holds illicit drugs as well as medications, with their effects influenced by dosage, concomitant use and patient specific factors. The appraisal of cardiac consequences is essential as delayed repolarization may lead to the rare but potentially deadly polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

The goal of this presentation is to underscore the cardiac risks associated with both medication use and substance abuse in order to ensure the suitable psychopharmacological treatment, especially in particular situations of drug using patients.

The subject of the presentation is a 17-year-old female adolescent hospitalized in our clinic, with multiple substance abuse, as seen in qualitative multidrug test (cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, barbiturates, benzodiazepines), previously under complex treatment prescribed by an adult psychiatrist (3 atypical antipsychotics, 1 selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, 1 anticonvulsant, 1 benzodiazepine). Specialty literature has been reviewed concerning the cardiac effects of both the abuse substances and the psychiatric medications.

Multiple drugs involved may cause a myocardial repolarization delay, the patient having a QTc of 508 msec at the admission. Consequent to parenteral fluids and treatment managing, ECG revealed a decrease to 379 msec 7 days later in the stay. This finding could not be viewed solely as caused by drug use, psychiatric medication or individual factors, but rather as their aggregation.

Psychotropic substances use may lead to QT prolongation, which calls for close cardiac supervision whenever patient’s behaviour warrants or when pharmacologic intervention is required.

No significant relationships.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts and it is marked by repetitive sensory–motor behaviours and restricted interests or activities. Now recognized to occur in up to 1% of the population, the prevalence of ASD has registered a steady increase in the past two decades. Heterogeneity of presentation is a hallmark with comorbid psychiatric and medical morbidities frequently reported. Comorbidities mask and delay the diagnosis and are the cause of inadequate therapies.

In the present paper, we studied a cohort of patients with ASD, investigating the rates and types of psychiatric and medical comorbidities.

A retrospective study of psychiatric and medical comorbidities was carried out on a sample of 120 participants that met ASD criteria according to DSM-V. The patients were examined with a detailed medical history, physical examination, as well as some additional functional, imaging, laboratory and genetic investigations. The associated conditions considered were: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), epilepsy, intellectual disability, gastrointestinal symptoms, ophtalmologic manifestations, infections.

Of the 120 ASD subjects referred, 25 (20.8%) received the diagnosis of epilepsy. ADHD was established in 24 cases (20%). IQ score was obtained in half of the patients, 43.3% of them presenting a severe intellectual disability (IQ<35). Respiratory disorders occured in 25% of the cases. Ophtalmological findings were observed in 9.1% of the cases. Other frequent comorbidities included motor disturbances and feeding problems.

A better understanding of comorbidities in ASD patients improves interdisciplinary collaboration, thus facilitating effective treatment programs.

No significant relationships.

For a long period ADHD was considered to be a diagnostic limited to childhood. In the 1970s, clinical evidence showed symptoms in adults diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. Evidence shows that 15-20% of the parents of children with ADHD could also qualify for this diagnostic.

The aim of this study was to see whether parents of children diagnosed with ADHD have traits significant for this pathology and how these symptoms correlate with the ones experienced by their children.

Inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms were assessed in parents of children diagnosed with ADHD and the most severe traits found were compared with those of their children.

In the study were included 93 parents of 50 children diagnosed with ADHD by a specialist in Child Psychiatry. For each child parents completed the ADHD-Rating Scale and for assessment of their symptoms, the Diagnostic Interview Voor ADHD (DIVA) was applied to parents.

34% of parents of children diagnosed with ADHD fulfill criteria for Adult ADHD. The most significant correlation was found between ADHD-RS scores for hyperactivity/impulsivity and DIVA scores for this kind of symptomatology. The little number of subjects represents a clear limitation, as this was performed as a pilot study.

Considering the high prevalence of ADHD in parents of diagnosed children and also the impact of their impairment over their children’s education, it is important to quantify this risk and rise awareness of the need for ADHD screenings in parents of children diagnosed with this pathology.