Soft neurological signs (SNS) are minimal, nonlocalizing, objective abnormalities that result from disrupted cortico-cortical and cortico-subcortical connectivity. They can be subdivided into impairments of motor coordination, sensory integration, sequencing of complex motor acts, orientation and hard signs and can be measured by the Heidelberg scale. SNS are supposed to reflect specific cognitive deficits and not a general brain dysfunction that makes them a suitable target for research on endophenotypes in schizophrenia and BD.

The aim of our study was to compare the incidence of various SNS in adult BD patients to healthy controls (HC).

We report preliminary data on 16 DSM-IV-TR BD I patients having a current manic, mixed or depressive episode and 20 HC with no Axis I or II mental condition. Both groups were assessed by the Heidelberg Scale.

BD patients had significantly higher SNS total score in comparison to HC (p<0.01), as well as significantly higher scores for motor (p<0.05), sensory (p<0.001), and complex (p<0.05) SNS. There were no inter-group differences in orientation and hard signs scores.

Our results suggest that in comparison to HC, BD patients have much more motor, sensory and complex SNS. Our future research will also aim to reveal whether these deficits are trait or state markers in BD, whether the episode polarity has any impact on their incidence, and whether SNS are more common in first degree relatives of BD patients than in HC. The final aim is to aid the construction of valid endophenotypes in BD.

Migration of mental health professionals is an important phenomenon influencing mental health services of host and donor countries. Data on medical migration in Europe is very limited, particularly in the field of young doctors and psychiatry. To research this hot topic, the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) conducted the EFPT Brain Drain Survey.

To identify the impact of previous short-term mobility on international migration and to understand characteristics, patterns and reasons of migration.

In this cross-sectional European multicentre study, data were collected from 2281 psychiatric trainees across 33 countries. All participants answered to the EFPT Brain Drain Survey reporting their attitudes and experiences on migration.

Two-thirds of the trainees had not had a short-mobility experience in their lifetime, but those that went abroad were satisfied with their experiences, reporting that these influenced their attitude towards migration positively. However, the majority of the trainees had not had a migratory experience of more than 1 year. Flows showed that Switzerland and United Kingdom have the greatest number of immigrant trainees, whereas Germany and Greece have the greatest number of trainees leaving. ‘'Pull factors'’ were mostly academic and personal reasons, whereas ‘'push factors'’ were mainly: academic and financial reasons. Trainees that wanted to leave the country were significantly more dissatisfied with their income.

The majority of the trainees has considered leaving the country they currently lived in, but a lower percentage has taken steps towards migration.

Workforce migration of mental health professionals seems to have a significant impact on mental health services, both in the donor and host countries. Nevertheless, information on migration in junior doctors within Europe is very limited. Therefore, the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) has conducted the Brain Drain Survey.

To identify, in junior doctors training in psychiatry, the impact of international short-term mobility experiences, towards a future workforce migration across countries, exploring its patterns and reasons.

In this cross-sectional international study, data were collected from 2281 psychiatric trainees in 33 countries. All participants answered to the EFPT Brain Drain Survey reporting their attitudes and experiences on mobility and migration.

Only one-third of the trainees had a short-mobility experience in their lifetime, being education the main purpose for these experiences. Interestingly, the main predictors for future migratory tendency were not only the having a income and being dissatisfied with this income, but having a short-mobility experience. In fact, people that had short-mobility experiences were two times more likely to express a migratory tendency. Trainees that went abroad were predominantly satisfied with their experiences, reporting that these influenced their attitudes towards migration, positively.

These findings show that short-term mobility has a positive impact into future long-term migration, increasing its probability.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.