Patients with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) display clinical, cognitive, and structural brain abnormalities at illness onset. Ventricular enlargement has been identified in schizophrenia since the initial development of neuroimaging techniques. Obstetric abnormalities have been associated with an increased risk of developing psychosis but also with cognitive impairment and brain structure abnormalities. Difficulties during delivery are associated with a higher risk of birth asphyxia leading to brain structural abnormalities, such as ventriculomegaly, which has been related to cognitive disturbances.

We examined differences in ventricular size between 142 FEP patients and 123 healthy control participants using magnetic resonance imaging. Obstetric complications were evaluated using the Lewis–Murray scale. We examined the impact of obstetric difficulties during delivery on ventricle size as well as the possible relationship between ventricle size and cognitive impairment in both groups.

FEP patients displayed significantly larger third ventricle size compared with healthy controls. Third ventricle enlargement was associated with diagnosis (higher volume in patients), with difficulties during delivery (higher volume in subjects with difficulties), and was highest in patients with difficulties during delivery. Verbal memory was significantly associated with third ventricle to brain ratio.

Our results suggest that difficulties during delivery might be significant contributors to the ventricular enlargement historically described in schizophrenia. Thus, obstetric complications may contribute to the development of psychosis through changes in brain architecture.

To investigate the occurrence of traumatic stress symptoms (TSS) among healthcare workers active during the COVID-19 pandemic and to obtain insight as to which pandemic-related stressful experiences are associated with onset and persistence of traumatic stress.

This is a multicenter prospective cohort study. Spanish healthcare workers (N = 4,809) participated at an initial assessment (i.e., just after the first wave of the Spain COVID-19 pandemic) and at a 4-month follow-up assessment using web-based surveys. Logistic regression investigated associations of 19 pandemic-related stressful experiences across four domains (infection-related, work-related, health-related and financial) with TSS prevalence, incidence and persistence, including simulations of population attributable risk proportions (PARP).

Thirty-day TSS prevalence at T1 was 22.1%. Four-month incidence and persistence were 11.6% and 54.2%, respectively. Auxiliary nurses had highest rates of TSS prevalence (35.1%) and incidence (16.1%). All 19 pandemic-related stressful experiences under study were associated with TSS prevalence or incidence, especially experiences from the domains of health-related (PARP range 88.4–95.6%) and work-related stressful experiences (PARP range 76.8–86.5%). Nine stressful experiences were also associated with TSS persistence, of which having patient(s) in care who died from COVID-19 had the strongest association. This association remained significant after adjusting for co-occurring depression and anxiety.

TSSs among Spanish healthcare workers active during the COVID-19 pandemic are common and associated with various pandemic-related stressful experiences. Future research should investigate if these stressful experiences represent truly traumatic experiences and carry risk for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Autism and epilepsy often occur together. Epilepsy and other associated conditions have a substantial impact on the well-being of autistic people and their families, reduce quality of life, and increase premature mortality. Despite this, there is a lack of studies investigating the care pathway of autistic children with co-occurring epilepsy in Europe.

We analyzed the care pathway for autistic children with associated epilepsy in Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom from the perspective of caregivers (using a survey aimed at caregivers of autistic children 0–18 years old), the autistic community, and professionals, in order to identify major barriers preventing caregivers and autistic children from receiving timely screening and treatment of possible co-occurring epilepsy.

Across all three countries, an analysis of the current care pathway showed a lack of systematic screening of epilepsy in all autistic children, lack of treatment of co-occurring epilepsy, and inappropriate use of antiepileptic drugs. A major challenge is the lack of evidence-based harmonized guidelines for autism with co-occurring epilepsy in these countries.

Our findings show both heterogeneity and major gaps in the care pathway for autism with associated epilepsy and the great efforts that caregivers must make for timely screening, diagnosis, and adequate management of epilepsy in autistic children. We call for policy harmonization in Europe in order to improve the experiences and quality of life of autistic people and their families.

Tobacco is a highly prevalent substance of abuse in patients with psychosis. Previous studies have reported an association between tobacco use and schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between tobacco use and first-episode psychosis (FEP), age at onset of psychosis, and specific diagnosis of psychosis.

The sample consisted of 1105 FEP patients and 1355 controls from the European Network of National Schizophrenia Networks Studying Gene–Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) study. We assessed substance use with the Tobacco and Alcohol Questionnaire and performed a series of regression analyses using case-control status, age of onset of psychosis, and diagnosis as outcomes and tobacco use and frequency of tobacco use as predictors. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol, and cannabis use.

After controlling for cannabis use, FEP patients were 2.6 times more likely to use tobacco [p ⩽ 0.001; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.6; 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.1–3.2]] and 1.7 times more likely to smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day (p = 0.003; AOR 1.7; 95% CI [1.2–2.4]) than controls. Tobacco use was associated with an earlier age at psychosis onset (β = −2.3; p ⩽ 0.001; 95% CI [−3.7 to −0.9]) and was 1.3 times more frequent in FEP patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia than in other diagnoses of psychosis (AOR 1.3; 95% CI [1.0–1.8]); however, these results were no longer significant after controlling for cannabis use.

Tobacco and heavy-tobacco use are associated with increased odds of FEP. These findings further support the relevance of tobacco prevention in young populations.

Child maltreatment (CM) and migrant status are independently associated with psychosis. We examined prevalence of CM by migrant status and tested whether migrant status moderated the association between CM and first-episode psychosis (FEP). We further explored whether differences in CM exposure contributed to variations in the incidence rates of FEP by migrant status.

We included FEP patients aged 18–64 years in 14 European sites and recruited controls representative of the local populations. Migrant status was operationalized according to generation (first/further) and region of origin (Western/non-Western countries). The reference population was composed by individuals of host country's ethnicity. CM was assessed with Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Prevalence ratios of CM were estimated using Poisson regression. We examined the moderation effect of migrant status on the odds of FEP by CM fitting adjusted logistic regressions with interaction terms. Finally, we calculated the population attributable fractions (PAFs) for CM by migrant status.

We examined 849 FEP cases and 1142 controls. CM prevalence was higher among migrants, their descendants and migrants of non-Western heritage. Migrant status, classified by generation (likelihood test ratio:χ2 = 11.3, p = 0.004) or by region of origin (likelihood test ratio:χ2 = 11.4, p = 0.003), attenuated the association between CM and FEP. PAFs for CM were higher among all migrant groups compared with the reference populations.

The higher exposure to CM, despite a smaller effect on the odds of FEP, accounted for a greater proportion of incident FEP cases among migrants. Policies aimed at reducing CM should consider the increased vulnerability of specific subpopulations.

Autism is a lifelong complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects brain development and behaviour with significant consequences for everyday life (WHO, 2018). Despite its personal, familial and societal impact, there is still a European-wide lack of harmonised guidelines about the support needed from early stages, the most sensitive time to gain positive future outcomes (Berajamo-Martin et al, 2019).

The objectives were: 1. To analyse autistic children care pathway and patient/carer journey in three European countries: Italy, Spain and U.K. 2. To propose policy recommendations on how to improve this pathway.

To identify major barriers and treatment gaps, we conducted a rapid literature review of the care pathway in Europe and a survey aimed at parents or carers of autistic children ages 0 to 18 living in the three countries. The survey gathered information on screening, diagnosis, accessibility and support received before, during and after diagnosis. Members of the working group met to discuss results and propose policy recommendations.

1. Current care pathway analysis showed the following treatment gaps: Long waiting time from first concerns until screening visit and confirmed diagnosis. Delayed or no access to intervention once diagnosis has been confirmed. Overall limited information about autism and how to access early detection services. Overall deficient support to families. 2. Please see Box 1 for our proposed policy recommendations.

Box 1. Policy recommendations

Our findings and recommendations will inform policy harmonisation in Europe to shorten long waiting times, diagnosis process and intervention, and therefore, improve autistic people and their families’ journey experience and quality of life.

No significant relationships.

Longitudinal data on the mental health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in healthcare workers is limited. We estimated prevalence, incidence and persistence of probable mental disorders in a cohort of Spanish healthcare workers (Covid-19 waves 1 and 2) -and identified associated risk factors.

8996 healthcare workers evaluated on 5 May–7 September 2020 (baseline) were invited to a second web-based survey (October–December 2020). Major depressive disorder (PHQ-8 ≥ 10), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD-7 ≥ 10), panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5 ≥ 7), and alcohol use disorder (CAGE-AID ≥ 2) were assessed. Distal (pre-pandemic) and proximal (pandemic) risk factors were included. We estimated the incidence of probable mental disorders (among those without disorders at baseline) and persistence (among those with disorders at baseline). Logistic regression of individual-level [odds ratios (OR)] and population-level (population attributable risk proportions) associations were estimated, adjusting by all distal risk factors, health care centre and time of baseline interview.

4809 healthcare workers participated at four months follow-up (cooperation rate = 65.7%; mean = 120 days s.d. = 22 days from baseline assessment). Follow-up prevalence of any disorder was 41.5%, (v. 45.4% at baseline, p < 0.001); incidence, 19.7% (s.e. = 1.6) and persistence, 67.7% (s.e. = 2.3). Proximal factors showing significant bivariate-adjusted associations with incidence included: work-related factors [prioritising Covid-19 patients (OR = 1.62)], stress factors [personal health-related stress (OR = 1.61)], interpersonal stress (OR = 1.53) and financial factors [significant income loss (OR = 1.37)]. Risk factors associated with persistence were largely similar.

Our study indicates that the prevalence of probable mental disorders among Spanish healthcare workers during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was similarly high to that after the first wave. This was in good part due to the persistence of mental disorders detected at the baseline, but with a relevant incidence of about 1 in 5 of HCWs without mental disorders during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Health-related factors, work-related factors and interpersonal stress are important risks of persistence of mental disorders and of incidence of mental disorders. Adequately addressing these factors might have prevented a considerable amount of mental health impact of the pandemic among this vulnerable population. Addressing health-related stress, work-related factors and interpersonal stress might reduce the prevalence of these disorders substantially. Study registration number: NCT04556565

A cumulative environmental exposure score for schizophrenia (exposome score for schizophrenia [ES-SCZ]) may provide potential utility for risk stratification and outcome prediction. Here, we investigated whether ES-SCZ was associated with functioning in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, unaffected siblings, and healthy controls.

This cross-sectional sample consisted of 1,261 patients, 1,282 unaffected siblings, and 1,525 healthy controls. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale was used to assess functioning. ES-SCZ was calculated based on our previously validated method. The association between ES-SCZ and the GAF dimensions (symptom and disability) was analyzed by applying regression models in each group (patients, siblings, and controls). Additional models included polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ) as a covariate.

ES-SCZ was associated with the GAF dimensions in patients (symptom: B = −1.53, p-value = 0.001; disability: B = −1.44, p-value = 0.001), siblings (symptom: B = −3.07, p-value < 0.001; disability: B = −2.52, p-value < 0.001), and healthy controls (symptom: B = −1.50, p-value < 0.001; disability: B = −1.31, p-value < 0.001). The results remained the same after adjusting for PRS-SCZ. The degree of associations of ES-SCZ with both symptom and disability dimensions were higher in unaffected siblings than in patients and controls. By analyzing an independent dataset (the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis study), we replicated the results observed in the patient group.

Our findings suggest that ES-SCZ shows promise for enhancing risk prediction and stratification in research practice. From a clinical perspective, ES-SCZ may aid in efforts of clinical characterization, operationalizing transdiagnostic clinical staging models, and personalizing clinical management.

Psychosis rates are higher among some migrant groups. We hypothesized that psychosis in migrants is associated with cumulative social disadvantage during different phases of migration.

We used data from the EUropean Network of National Schizophrenia Networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI) case–control study. We defined a set of three indicators of social disadvantage for each phase: pre-migration, migration and post-migration. We examined whether social disadvantage in the pre- and post-migration phases, migration adversities, and mismatch between achievements and expectations differed between first-generation migrants with first-episode psychosis and healthy first-generation migrants, and tested whether this accounted for differences in odds of psychosis in multivariable logistic regression models.

In total, 249 cases and 219 controls were assessed. Pre-migration (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.06–2.44, p = 0.027) and post-migration social disadvantages (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.02–3.51, p = 0.044), along with expectations/achievements mismatch (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.26, p = 0.014) were all significantly associated with psychosis. Migration adversities (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.672–2.06, p = 0.568) were not significantly related to the outcome. Finally, we found a dose–response effect between the number of adversities across all phases and odds of psychosis (⩾6: OR 14.09, 95% CI 2.06–96.47, p = 0.007).

The cumulative effect of social disadvantages before, during and after migration was associated with increased odds of psychosis in migrants, independently of ethnicity or length of stay in the country of arrival. Public health initiatives that address the social disadvantages that many migrants face during the whole migration process and post-migration psychological support may reduce the excess of psychosis in migrants.

Psychosis spectrum disorder has a complex pathoetiology characterised by interacting environmental and genetic vulnerabilities. The present study aims to investigate the role of gene–environment interaction using aggregate scores of genetic (polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (PRS-SCZ)) and environment liability for schizophrenia (exposome score for schizophrenia (ES-SCZ)) across the psychosis continuum.

The sample consisted of 1699 patients, 1753 unaffected siblings, and 1542 healthy comparison participants. The Structured Interview for Schizotypy-Revised (SIS-R) was administered to analyse scores of total, positive, and negative schizotypy in siblings and healthy comparison participants. The PRS-SCZ was trained using the Psychiatric Genomics Consortiums results and the ES-SCZ was calculated guided by the approach validated in a previous report in the current data set. Regression models were applied to test the independent and joint effects of PRS-SCZ and ES-SCZ (adjusted for age, sex, and ancestry using 10 principal components).

Both genetic and environmental vulnerability were associated with case-control status. Furthermore, there was evidence for additive interaction between binary modes of PRS-SCZ and ES-SCZ (above 75% of the control distribution) increasing the odds for schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis (relative excess risk due to interaction = 6.79, [95% confidential interval (CI) 3.32, 10.26], p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses using continuous PRS-SCZ and ES-SCZ confirmed gene–environment interaction (relative excess risk due to interaction = 1.80 [95% CI 1.01, 3.32], p = 0.004). In siblings and healthy comparison participants, PRS-SCZ and ES-SCZ were associated with all SIS-R dimensions and evidence was found for an interaction between PRS-SCZ and ES-SCZ on the total (B = 0.006 [95% CI 0.003, 0.009], p < 0.001), positive (B = 0.006 [95% CI, 0.002, 0.009], p = 0.002), and negative (B = 0.006, [95% CI 0.004, 0.009], p < 0.001) schizotypy dimensions.

The interplay between exposome load and schizophrenia genetic liability contributing to psychosis across the spectrum of expression provide further empirical support to the notion of aetiological continuity underlying an extended psychosis phenotype.

There is evidence that environmental and genetic risk factors for schizophrenia spectrum disorders are transdiagnostic and mediated in part through a generic pathway of affective dysregulation.

We analysed to what degree the impact of schizophrenia polygenic risk (PRS-SZ) and childhood adversity (CA) on psychosis outcomes was contingent on co-presence of affective dysregulation, defined as significant depressive symptoms, in (i) NEMESIS-2 (n = 6646), a representative general population sample, interviewed four times over nine years and (ii) EUGEI (n = 4068) a sample of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, the siblings of these patients and controls.

The impact of PRS-SZ on psychosis showed significant dependence on co-presence of affective dysregulation in NEMESIS-2 [relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI): 1.01, p = 0.037] and in EUGEI (RERI = 3.39, p = 0.048). This was particularly evident for delusional ideation (NEMESIS-2: RERI = 1.74, p = 0.003; EUGEI: RERI = 4.16, p = 0.019) and not for hallucinatory experiences (NEMESIS-2: RERI = 0.65, p = 0.284; EUGEI: −0.37, p = 0.547). A similar and stronger pattern of results was evident for CA (RERI delusions and hallucinations: NEMESIS-2: 3.02, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 6.44, p < 0.001; RERI delusional ideation: NEMESIS-2: 3.79, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 5.43, p = 0.001; RERI hallucinatory experiences: NEMESIS-2: 2.46, p < 0.001; EUGEI: 0.54, p = 0.465).

The results, and internal replication, suggest that the effects of known genetic and non-genetic risk factors for psychosis are mediated in part through an affective pathway, from which early states of delusional meaning may arise.

This study attempted to replicate whether a bias in probabilistic reasoning, or ‘jumping to conclusions’(JTC) bias is associated with being a sibling of a patient with schizophrenia spectrum disorder; and if so, whether this association is contingent on subthreshold delusional ideation.

Data were derived from the EUGEI project, a 25-centre, 15-country effort to study psychosis spectrum disorder. The current analyses included 1261 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 1282 siblings of patients and 1525 healthy comparison subjects, recruited in Spain (five centres), Turkey (three centres) and Serbia (one centre). The beads task was used to assess JTC bias. Lifetime experience of delusional ideation and hallucinatory experiences was assessed using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences. General cognitive abilities were taken into account in the analyses.

JTC bias was positively associated not only with patient status but also with sibling status [adjusted relative risk (aRR) ratio : 4.23 CI 95% 3.46–5.17 for siblings and aRR: 5.07 CI 95% 4.13–6.23 for patients]. The association between JTC bias and sibling status was stronger in those with higher levels of delusional ideation (aRR interaction in siblings: 3.77 CI 95% 1.67–8.51, and in patients: 2.15 CI 95% 0.94–4.92). The association between JTC bias and sibling status was not stronger in those with higher levels of hallucinatory experiences.

These findings replicate earlier findings that JTC bias is associated with familial liability for psychosis and that this is contingent on the degree of delusional ideation but not hallucinations.

The DSM-IV-TR category “brief psychotic disorder” includes different concepts that have been defined before like bouffée délirante, cycloid psychosis and “acute and transient psychosis” in the last ICD-10. Limited prospective studies have been done, and they all show a marked diagnostic instability during follow-up. According to that, its independent nosologic entity is still uncertain.

To determine the diagnostic stability of the brief psychotic disorders as well as their distinct clinical features.

Observational, retrospective, longitudinal study of 80 consecutive patients admitted at the acute psychiatric inpatient service of a general hospital between 2000 and 2006. at discharge, all of them fulfilled diagnostic criteria for “brief psychotic disorder” according to DSM-IV. Demographic and psychopathological data were analysed.

Mean age (SD) was 31.3 (9.5), most of them women (63%). the most frequent previous stressor was related to labour, while up to 45% didn't report any. 51% had no psychiatric family history. 15 (19%) patients previously had a brief psychotic episode. Psychopathological disturbances identified were: thought disorder 69%, anxiety 66.6%, insomnia 57.7%, suspiciousness 53.5%, rapidly changing delusions 53.3% (paranoid contents 75.3%), perplexity 46.5%, auditory hallucinations 45.1%, mood lability 36.6%, elation 23.9%, depressed mood 22.5% and irritability 12.7%. in the 24 month follow-up, 32.5% changed diagnosis to schizophrenia, 3"9% to schizoaffective, 10% to bipolar disorder and 16.9% achieved clinical remission. 28.5% were lost to follow-up.

“Brief psychotic disorder” category is still uncertain and more data may be necessary to clarify if it should remain as a distinct nosologic entity.

Brain volume abnormalities and oxidative cell damage have been reported to be pathological characteristics of schizophrenia patients. This study aims to assess a potential relationship between these two characteristics in child and adolescent patients with first-episode psychosis.

26 child and adolescent patients with first-episode early-onset schizophrenia, and 78 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were used for volumetric measurements of five cerebral regions: gray matter of the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes, sulcal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and lateral ventricles. Oxidative cell damage was traced by means of a systemic increase in lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH).

Lateral ventricle volumes were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients than in controls. In schizophrenia patients, a significant positive relationship was found between oxidative cell damage (LOOH levels) and the abnormal enlargement of the lateral ventricles, after controlling for total intracranial volume, age, gender, daily smoking status, intelligence quotient (IQ), psychopathology, and time since onset of psychotic symptoms. No association was found between brain volumes and oxidative cell damage in control subjects.

Our results suggest that, in patients with first-episode early-onset schizophrenia, enlargement of the lateral ventricles is associated with chronic oxidative cell damage.

Early-onset psychosis (EOP) are a heterogeneous group, with high diagnostic stability for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, in contrast to the lack of diagnostic stability of other EOP.

We recruited 24 adolescents consecutively admitted, who presented a first psychotic episode, in the adolescent psychiatric unit of the Gregorio Marañón General Hospital in Madrid, between May 2002 and May 2003, for a two year follow-up. Only one was lost at the two-year assessment.

Diagnosis of the psychotic disorders was assessed using the Kiddie-Sads-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL).

The agreement between the baseline and the one-year follow-up diagnoses was 54.2%. Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 100% for schizophrenia and depression with psychotic features, and 71.4% for bipolar disorder, while only 50.0% for schizo-affective disorder and 16.7% for psychosis NOS. From the one-year to the two-year follow-up, only one patient changed the diagnosis, so the agreement was 95.7%.

Eight patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia at the follow-up, but only four of them had received this diagnosis at the baseline assessment. The diagnosis of bipolar disorder was given at the follow-up to eight patients, from whom only four subjects received this diagnosis at baseline.

The results of the our longitudinal study on diagnostic stability support the Kraepelinean distinction between dementia praecox and manic-depressive psychosis.

Psychosis with onset prior to 18 years of age, or early-onset psychosis (EOP), have a poorer prognosis than adult-onset psychosis. Further, a worse functional outcome of patients with EOP has been related to diagnosis of schizophrenia, severity of negative symptoms, behavioral problems, premorbid functioning, childhood onset, and insidious onset. We aim to examine the functional outcome of patients with EOP over a two-year follow-up.

A total of 24 patients with first episode psychosis were enrolled. Subjects underwent a cross-sectional evaluation at the baseline visit that consisted of collecting sociodemographic data, including parental socioeconomic status as measured by the Hollingshead-Redlich Scale. Psychotic symptoms were assessed using the Spanish version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Social disability was measured with the Global Assessment of Functioning disability scale (GAF). Patients were assessed at a two-year follow-up. A linear regression analysis was used to predict the level of functioning (based on GAF scores) over the two-year follow-up. Variables entered into this equation were: GAF at two-year follow-up (as dependent variable), and gender, age at first onset, parental socioeconomic status, diagnosis, positive symptoms at baseline, and negative symptoms at baseline (as independent variables).

Negative symptoms at baseline were the only significant variable that predict the functional outcome at the two-year follow-up (p= 0.010).

Functional prognosis of early-onset psychosis depends on the severity of negative symptoms, independently of diagnosis.

The Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition (MASC) has been shown to have good psychometric properties.

To translate, adapt, and validate a Spanish version of the MASC (MASC-SP) for use in patients with Asperger's syndrome.

To develop an ecological and standardized assessment of social cognition for the Spanish-speaking community.

MASC-SP was administered to a sample of twenty-two patients diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (3 women, 19 men; mean age 21.94) and twenty-six healthy volunteers (9 women, 17 men; mean age 22.92). Other measures of social cognition were also administered: the Strange Stories Task, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and a emotion recognition task. A brief scale for cognitive evaluation in psychiatric patients was also administered (SCIP).

The Asperger group scored lower on the MASC-SP (p = 0.000), had fewer correct answers on the emotion recognition test (p = 0.000), and poorer understanding of social situations (p = 0.000). The area under the ROC curves was 0.814 for the MASC-SP, 0.795 for the emotion recognition test, 0.912 for the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test, and 0.806 for the Strange Stories Task. The Asperger group did not show cognitive deterioration and MASC-SP was proven to be independent for other general cognitive functions. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.86, demonstrating satisfactory internal reliability (> 0.80) very similar to the original instrument (0.84).

The Spanish adaptation of the MASC can be a useful, ecologically valid tool for assessing social cognition.

SPECT DaTSCAN is used in clinical practice for differential diagnosis between Parkinson disease and other movement disorders, dementias and drug induced parkinsonism (Park 2012, Scherfler 2007). Nevertheless, its rational indication in patients with psychiatric comorbidity has not been clearly identified.

To assess the rationale for the indication of SPECT DaTSCAN in psychiatric population, explore the therapeutic consequences and clinical outcomes.

A prospective case series of DaTSCAN applications requested from the department of psychiatry of a general hospital (2008–2012). Reason of request, sociodemographic and clinical data, side effects (UKU Rating Scale), diagnostic (DSM-IV-R) and outcome after one-year follow-up were recorded.

18 cases were included (13 hospitalized, 55.5% women, 65±13 years old). Baseline UKU showed: 89.5% bradikinesia, 68% rigidity and 31.5% tremor. The indications for DaTSCAN were: 1) Atypical extrapiramidal syndrome (AES; 55.5%) and 2) Parkinsonism presumably induced by drugs (PPID; 44,4%).

AES group (N=10): 80% of patients had an affective disorder and 20% a psychotic disorder; DaTSCAN identified three cases of Parkinson disease (30%), two non-parkinson dementia (20%) and one Huntington disease (10%).

PPID group (N=8): 50% of patients had an affective disorder and 50% a psychotic disorder; DaTSCAN identified one case of Parkinson disease (12.5%) and five of drug-induced parkinsonism (62,5%).

After one year follow-up, AES group showed a worse outcome and an important functional decline, while most of patients of PPID group experienced complete remission

The results of this study enable to establish the profile of psychiatric patients that would beneficiate most from DaTSCAN.

To develop a Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm as a predictive tool for diagnostic outcome in patients with FE-EOP, based on clinical and biomedical data at the emergence of the illness.

Two-year, prospective longitudinal study, where 81 patients (9-17 years of age) with a FE-EOP and stable diagnosis at follow-up and 41 age and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were included. Structured diagnostic interviews, clinical and cognitive scales, a MRI scan and biochemical tests were conducted at baseline. Three SVM classification algorithms were developed (SSD vs HC group, non-SSD vs HC group, and SSD vs non-SSD group). Jackknifing was used to validate the algorithms and to calculate performance estimates. Enhanced-Recursive Feature Elimination was performed in order to gain information about the predictive weight for diagnosis of each variable.

The SSD-versus-non-SSD classifier achieved an overall accuracy of 83.1%, sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 77.8%. The variables during a FE-EOP with higher predictive value for a diagnosis of SSD were clinical variables such as negative symptoms preceding or during the psychotic onset, poor insight and duration of illness until first psychiatric contact. Biochemical, neuroimaging, and cognitive variables at baseline did not provide any additional predictive value.

SVM may serve as a predictive tool for early diagnosis of SSD during a FE-EOP. The most discriminative variables during a FE-EOP for a future diagnosis of SSD are clinical variables.