The time period between the onset of a mental disorder and its first adequate treatment (duration of untreated illness - DUI) influence long-term prognosis and outcome in patients with severe mental disorders. The relationship between DUI and outcome was originally found in people affected by schizophrenia spectrum disorders, however in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) DUI is significantly longer compared with that of patients with other severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Aims of the present study is to assess the impact of DUI on long-term outcomes in OCD patients across published studies.

A systematic review was carried out by selecting relevant articles on the topic present in three common on-line databases, such as PubMed, APA PsycInfo, and Scopus, up to June 2023.

Among included studies, DUI ranged from 7,0±8,5 to 20,9±11,2 years. Patients reporting a longer DUI have a poor long-term outcome, in terms of greater symptom severity and lower level of treatment response, whether pharmacological treatment or psychotherapy or a combination of these two. This is particularly true when the onset of the disease is insidious and subthreshold. However, there are severe early-onset forms of OCD in which the request for help is anticipated due to the severity of the symptoms, the DUI is shorter, but the prognosis is still negative.

The present review confirms that longer DUI has a negative impact on the long-term outcome of patients with OCD. Furthermore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that cultural factors, such as the perception of the disease and the ability to access treatment, may result in a prolongation of the DUI. All these elements cannot be evaluated in our review due to the paucity of studies on the topic. Future studies could be useful to better understand the causes of a longer DUI, to guide and to promote the dissemination of early interventions with a specific focus on OCD symptoms.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new form of trauma, which is impacting on the mental health of the general population. However, the effects of this new trauma are variable, being mediated by individual factors such as the levels of resilience and the coping strategies.

The aims of the present study are: 1) describe the levels of resilience and the type of coping strategies adopted by the Italian general adult population during the first wave of the pandemic; 2) evaluate the protective role of coping strategies and resilience on the levels of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms.

An online survey has been developed, which includes several validated self-reported questionnaires for the evaluation of participants’ mental health condition, coping strategies and levels of resilience. The main outcome measure is the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21).

The finale sample consists of 20,720 participants, more than half reported low levels of resilience, which were not associated with age or gender. The levels of resilience did not differ among the general population, patients with pre-existing mental disorders and those infected by COVID-19. People with low levels of resilience rarely used adaptive coping strategies. The levels of resilience did not have any influence on stress, depressive or anxiety symptoms.

The presence of low levels of resilience in the general population may be the missing link between the pandemic and increasing concerns on mental health problems. This could be important for the development of ad-hoc supportive and preventive psychosocial interventions.

No significant relationships.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated to high personal and social burden, impaired social functioning and high levels of disability. Recent studies have showed that relapse rates are significantly reduced in those patients whose families receive psychoeducational interventions. Even though most of available evidences are related to the short-term efficacy of psychoeducational family interventions (PFI). No evidence is available on medium and long-term efficacy.

This study aims to assess the efficacy after one and five years of PFI in BD in terms of: 1) improvement of patients’ symptoms and global functioning; 2) improvement of relatives’ objective and subjective burden and coping strategies.

A multicenter, controlled, outpatient trial has been conducted in BD patients and their key relatives, recruited in 11 Italian mental health centers. Patient’s clinical status, social and personal functioning, burden of illness, and relative’s burden and coping strategies were assessed with specific instruments at baseline, after 1 year and after 5 years.

137 families were recruited, 70 allocated to the experimental intervention. After one year, an increasing positive effect on patients’ clinical status, global functioning and objective and subjective burden was found. Moreover, were observed a reduced number of relapses and of hospitalizations after five years, compared to the control group. A reduction in the levels of family burden and an improvement of their coping strategies were also observed.

Positive effects of the experimental intervention persist over the mid and long-term period. PFI should be provided in mental health centres to patients with BD and their relatives.

No significant relationships.

The sudden changes in daily routine due to the containment measures adopted for facing the COVID-19 pandemic have had an impact on the mental health of the general population. In particular, young adults are exposed to a higher risk compared to the general population to suffer from the consequences of the pandemic, in terms of anger and irritability, depressive symptoms and somatic complaints, insomnia, lack of motivation and loneliness. In particular, loneliness can be particularly pronounced during young adulthood.

This study aimed to describe the levels of loneliness in a sample of Italian young people during the national lockdown in 2020, evaluating clinical and socio-demographic differences and the role of coping strategies and levels of resilience.

A sub-analysis of a sample of adults aged 18-34 years has been drawn on a larger cross-sectional observational national trial (COMET, 2020) in which, among other psychopathological dimensions, the levels of loneliness have been assessed by the UCLA scale short version.

Levels of loneliness were particularly severe in a third of cases (risk factors: unemployment, low income and vulnerability in mental health), in association with depression, anxiety, stress, OCD symptoms, higher rates of suicidal ideation, sleep disturbance and excessive use of Internet. Levels of loneliness tended to increase over time.

Overall, during the Italian COVID-19 lockdown young people have experienced quite high levels of loneliness: this dimension could represent a useful domain to assess in routine clinical practice.

No significant relationships.

Severe mental disorders (SMD) are associated with higher morbidity rates and poorer health outcomes compared to the general population. They are more likely to be overweight, to be affected by cardiovascular diseases, and to have higher risk factors for chronic diseases.

To assess physical health in a sample of patients with SMD and to investigate which mental health-related factors and other psychosocial outcomes could be considered predictors of poor physical health.

Patients referring to the psychiatric outpatients unit of the University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli” were recruited, and were assessed through validated assessment instruments exploring psychopathological status, global functioning and stigma. Physical health was assessed with an ad-hoc anthropometric schedule. A blood sample has been collected to assess levels of cholesterol, blood glucose, triglycerides, and blood insulin.

75 patients have been recruited, with a mean age of 45.63±11.84 years. 30% of the sample had a diagnosis of psychosis, 27% of depression and 43% of bipolar disorder. A higher BMI is predicted by higher number of hospitalizations, a reduced score at MANSA (p<.000), and PSP (p<.05), and higher score at ISMI and BPRS (p<.05). A higher cardiovascular risk is predicted by a reduced MANSA score (p<.000), a higher ISMI score and a poorer adherence to pharmacological treatments (p<.05). Higher ISMI score (p<.0001) and number of hospitalizations (p<.05) are predictors of insulin-resistance.

Our study shows that psychosocial domains negatively influence physical health outcome. It is necessary to disseminate an integrated psychosocial intervention in order to improve patients’ physical health.

No significant relationships.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the most burdensome psychiatric illnesses, being associated with a negative long-term outcome and high suicide rate. Although affective temperaments are considered possible mediators of outcome, their role on the course and outcome of BD remains poorly studied.

The aims of the present study are to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with BD more frequently associated with the different affective temperaments and to verify which affective temperaments are associated with a more severe clinical picture in a sample of patients with BD.

All patients with BD referring to the outpatient units of two Italian university sites have been recruited. Patients’ psychiatric symptoms, affective temperaments, and quality of life were investigated through validated assessment instruments.

199 patients were recruited. 54.8% of patients had a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. 56.8% of the sample reported at least one episode of aggressive behaviours and 30.2% of suicidal attempt. Predominant cyclothymic and irritable temperaments predicted more frequent relapses, a poorer quality of life (p<;0.05), more aggressive behaviours and suicide attempts (p<;0.01). The predominant hyperthymic disposition was a protective factor for several outcome measures, including relapses and suicidality (p<;0.01), and was correlated with a less severity of psychiatric symptoms and later age at onset (p<;0.05).

Early identification of affective temperaments in BD patients can help clinicians to identify those who could show a worse prognosis. A screening of affective temperaments can be useful to develop early targeted integrated pharmacological and psychosocial interventions.

No significant relationships.

Vitamin D modulates the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors, thus influencing mood and its alterations. Decreased blood levels of Vitamin D are involved in many psychiatric disorders, in particular, affective disorders. As regards bipolar disorder (BD), an association between vitamin D deficiency and severity of illness has been found.

In this observational study, we assessed calcium homeostasis imbalance in a sample of patients with BD; in particular, we explored whether serum levels of PTH, Vitamin D and calcium influence the clinical presentation of BD and its symptom severity.

All patients were administered with validated assessment instruments to assess psychopathology, affective temperaments and global functioning. Vitamin D and PTH levels were assessed in all patients. An-ad hoc schedule was administered for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.

The total sample consisted of 199 patients (females: 51%; mean age: 47.1 ± 13.2 years). Levels of serum PTH were directly correlated with the total number of hospitalizations (p< 0.01), and of depressive (p< 0.0001), manic (p< 0.001) and hypomanic episodes (p< 0.01). Serum levels of Vitamin D were positively associated with age at first psychiatric contact and were inversely correlated with the total number of depressive episodes (p< 0.05) and cyclothymic temperament (p< 0.05).

Increased levels of PTH and Vit D correlate with a worse clinical outcome of patients with BD. Our results highlight the importance to routinely assess PTH, Vit D and calcium levels in BD patients. Moreover, vitamin D may represent a valid add-on treatment for these patients.

No significant relationships.

Suicide is one of the major public health concerns worldwide, currently listed as the 15th most common cause of death. Mental illness stigma may contribute to suicidality and is associated with social isolation and low self-esteem among people with affective disorders.

The aim of the present study is to assess, in a sample of people with affective disorders, whether high levels of internalized stigma are associated to suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

60 outpatients diagnosed with depression or bipolar disorder according to DSM-5 have been recruited. Suicidal behaviours and ideation were assessed through the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS); internalized stigma through the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale. Socio-demographic characteristics have been collected through an ad hoc schedule.

62.9% of the sample was female, with a mean age of 45.7 (±14) years. About half of the sample had a diagnosis of major depression (54.8%). Patients with suicidal ideation reported higher score at ISMI “alienation” subscale (p<0,05), compared to those without suicidal ideation. Patients with a previous history suicide attempts reported higher score at “alienation” and “social withdrawal” ISMI subscales (p<0,05). Moreover, “alienation” ISMI subscale significantly correlated with suicidal ideation and behaviours (p<0,01).

These results are in line with the available literature, highlighting that stigma and suicidality are strongly correlated. This underline the importance of interventions at addressing internalizing stigma, in particular to those with previous suicidal attempts and with an active suicidal ideation.

No significant relationships.

To provide a comprehensive review of past and current implementation of coercive measures in Italy.

Literature review (cross-referencing in PubMed, Embase, and Index Medicus) concerning the application of coercive measures in Italy. Description of the past and current regulations as well as of the routine implementation of coercive measures in Italy has been also empirically summarized.

The Italian 1978 reform law on mental health care clearly established that medical treatment and tests are mainly voluntary. Only under special circumstances, the medical authority can order a patient involuntary admission and the physician is obliged to provide necessary tests and medical treatment. However, even if coercive measures are usually placed without patient's consent, the first objective should remain to protect patient's interest and rights, in accordance to the Italian Constitution. In Italy, there are no officially recognised protocols on coercive measures for acute inpatient care and each psychiatric ward adopts its own rules and internal norms.

In Italy, patients with aggressive or dangerous behaviours are approached by the staff according to a “de-escalating” model, in which physical and mechanical restraint should be adopted only when any other therapeutic options previously failed. Proposals aimed to improve the implementation of coercive measures in clinical practice will be provided.

This study aimed to assess:

1. a) the socio-demographic characteristics of patients with schizophrenia who were using cannabis at time of first appearing of psychotic symptoms;

2. b) the impact of cannabis on the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and on pathways to care;

3. c) the influence of cannabis on the clinical onset and on the first three years of the disorder.

Twenty-two patients with a recent onset (< 3 years) of schizophrenia were consequently recruited at the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Naples SUN. Socio-demographic characteristics, pathways to care and DUP were investigated by ad-hoc schedules.

About 60% of patients were using cannabis at onset of schizophrenia. All of them were male and did not have a job and with a lower education level. “Cannabis users” had a first contact with general practitioners earlier than “non cannabis users”, but their DUP was longer, as a consequence of significant delays in access to mental health care. Cannabis users showed higher rates of suicide attempts and relapses in the first three years, suggesting a more severe course of the disorder in the “critical period” of schizophrenia in this population.

The results of the study emphasize the need:

1. a) to carry out sensitization campaigns among young people in order to reduce the use of cannabis and other illicit drugs;

2. b) to promote information on schizophrenia for general practitioners.

Views on the causes and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia of the Italian population, patients’ relatives and mental health professionals can influence detection and outcome of these disorders.

To investigate the opinions on schizophrenia in a sample of 614 lay respondents, 465 mental health professionals and 709 key-relatives.

The survey was conducted in 30 randomly selected geographical areas with the Questionnaire about Opinions on mental illness (QO).

The results show significant differences among the three groups as regards opinions about patients’ civil rights and social competence of patients with schizophrenia. In particular, the belief that patients’ behaviors are unpredictable is maintained by 18% of mental health workers and by 35% of family members and the general public. As regards causes, 68% of relatives, 20% of mental health workers and 34% of general public believe that schizophrenia is caused by psychosocial factors only. Forty-eight percent of the relatives affirmed that they are fully convinced of the usefulness of pharmacological treatment compared to 28% of professionals and 25% of the Italian population. With respect to civil rights, about half of the relatives is fully convinced that patients with schizophrenia should not have children compared to 17% of mental health workers and to 19% of the general public.

These results underline the need to conduct sensitization campaigns about schizophrenia focused on specific aspects of the disease, such as unpredictability, civil rights and opportunities to recovery of patients, taking into account the target population to which they are addressed.

Bipolar disorder is associated with high personal and social burden, impaired social functioning and high levels of disability. The psychoeducational family intervention, found to be effective in the treatment of schizophrenia, may be particularly useful for patients with bipolar disorder and their relatives.

This study, funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Naples SUN and carried out in 11 randomly selected mental health centres, included the following phases

1) development of informative materials;

2) training of 2 mental health workers per center;

3) random selection of 16 families of patients with bipolar disorder for each center: 8 being randomly allocated to the experimental group and 8 to the control group.

62 families have been recruited. Mental health workers reported several advantages in conducting the intervention, in particular in the relationship with patients and families. Significant improvements have been reported in professional skills and relationships with colleagues. The advantages tend to increase over time. The main reported difficulties are lack of time to run the intervention, identification of appropriate families, excessive workload and the need to integrate this intervention with other work commitments.

It is possible to provide psychoeducational family intervention for patients with bipolar I disorder and their families, after a relatively short period of training. In order to facilitate the dissemination of this intervention in routine conditions, a better planning of the activities of the mental health centers may be useful.

Pathways to care and duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) strongly influence the long-term outcome of schizophrenia.

To investigate pathways to care, duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and treatments received by a sample of individuals aged between 18 and 35 years meeting diagnostic criteria for psychosis.

Pathways to care and DUP were explored by an “ad-hoc” schedule administered to patients and caregivers.

The sample consists of 30 patients. The first episode of psychosis, which occurred at 19.7 (± 4.7) years, was characterized by negative symptoms and disorganized behaviours in more than half of the sample, suicide attempts (28%) and hospital admissions (26%). DUP was 41.6 ± 60.4 weeks, being longer than that reported in international literature. In 76% of cases patients’ relatives asked for a first contact with health professionals, referring the patients to psychiatrists (34% of cases), general practitioners (31%), neurologists (21%) or psychologists (13%). When professionals other than psychiatrists were contacted, the interval between the contact and receipt of appropriate psychiatric treatment (according to the current guidelines) was particularly long (15.2 ± 32.1 weeks). 34% of patients were treated with a monotherapy of psychotropic drugs: 24% with antipsychotics, 7% with anxiolytics and 3% with antidepressants; 48% received a poly-pharmacotherapy. 35% were treated with psychotherapy (in most of the cases cognitive-behavioural therapy), which was the only treatment for 18% of patients.

These results emphasize the need to train health professionals on diagnosis and treatment of first episode psychosis. DUP may be reduced by anti-stigma campaigns among general population.

Family burden, defined as the consequences for those in close contact with a severely disturbed psychiatric patient, is now well-documented in schizophrenia research, whereas very few data are available in affective disorders.

To explore:

1. 1) the levels of family burden in a sample of key-relatives of patients with major depression;

2. 2) the professional and social support for relatives of patients with major depression disorder.

324 patients with major depression and their key-relatives were randomly recruited in 30 Italian mental health centres, randomly selected and stratified by geographical area and population density. Family burden was explored in relation to:

1. a) patient's clinical status and disability;

2. b) relatives’ social and professional support.

Reduction of leisure (53% of the sample) and social activities (44%) were the most frequently reported sources of practical burden, whereas psychological burden was mainly due to sense of loss (75%) and worries for the future (61%). Family burden is higher in key-relatives with a lower education level (p < .05), and when patients’ symptomatology and social functioning are more severe. Key-relatives who can rely on a stronger support from social network and from mental health professionals have lower levels of family burden (p < .05).

These results highlight the need to provide supportive interventions for patients with major depression and their key-relatives.

The use of coercive measures in clinical practice represents a common, but understudied problem in Europe. In 2002–2005, the European Commission funded the study “European Evaluation of coercion in psychiatry and harmonization of best clinical practice” (EUNOMIA), coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Dresden and carried out in 12 European countries.

This study, carried out on the Italian EUNOMIA sample, aims to:

1. 1) assess the use of coercive measures in five Italian mental health inpatient units;

2. 2) identify the patients’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the use of coercive measures;

3. 3) investigate the effect of coercive measures on the outcome of the patients.

The Italian sample included 294 admitted patients. Data were collected on coercive measures (physical restraint, seclusion and forced medication)

Almost 30% of the patients received coercive measures during their hospitalization; in particular, 22% received forced medication, 9% were restrained or fixed by mechanic devices, 7% were seclused. The most frequent reason for prescribing coercive measures was aggression against others. Patients who received coercive measures were more frequently male, with higher BPRS scores and a worse social functioning. At three months after discharge, they showed higher levels of positive symptoms, and reported more negative opinions on the need of hospital admission and on the appropriateness of psychiatric treatments.

In Italy coercive measures are in most of the cases applied to the patients affected by more severe psychopathology and disability.

Many qualitative studies have been carried out on the personal experience of relatives living with patients affected by Eating Disorders (EDs). However, quantitative studies on strategies adopted by relatives to cope with the disorder are lacking.

To develop a questionnaire to specifically assess coping strategies of relatives of people with EDs.

To develop and to validate a new instrument, the Family Coping Questionnaire for EDs, which is designed specifically to explore coping strategies adopted by relatives of patients with EDs.

The preliminary version of the questionnaire was developed through a multi-step methodology, including analysis of the relevant literature and focus groups. Subsequently, patients with EDs and their relatives were recruited at three Italian University sites and were asked to fill in the pre-final version of the questionnaire.

The final version of the questionnaire consisted of 32 items, grouped in five subscales according to the Cronbach's alpha analysis. Through the confirmatory factor analysis, the five subscales were grouped in two factors, the problem-oriented and the emotion-focused coping strategies.

The final version of the questionnaire shows good psychometric properties, and requires a short time to be completed. The five subscales identified correspond to those adopted by relatives of patients with other severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Further analyses from the same dataset will be performed to better describe the coping strategies adopted by relatives of patients with EDs and to identify predictors of maladaptive coping strategies.

According to several international guidelines, lithium is still the first choice for treating mania and for prophylaxis of bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, in the last decades clinicians prefer to use anticonvulsivant drugs such as valproate and carbamazepine to lithium, which are easier to manage and with less side effects.

1)to describe prescribing patterns in Italian mental health centres in patients with bipolar I disorder;2)to assess clinical and social characteristics of patients receiving lithium.

to assess the current status of use of lithium in the Italian clinical practice.

The study, coordinated by the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Naples SUN, was carried out in 11 randomly recruited Italian mental health centres. In each site, 16 patients were recruited if they had a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, were aged between 18-65 years, were on the caseload of the local mental health centre for at least six months, and had experienced at least one affective episode in the past three years. Data on pharmacological treatments were obtained from clinical records.

The sample consisted of 140 patients, 118(84%) were receiving mood stabilizers, 84(60%) antipsychotics, 57(41%) antidepressants and 45(32%)benzodiazepines. Valproate was the mood stabilizer more frequently prescribed(58%); lithium was prescribed to 35% of patients. Those receiving lithium had a longer contact with the local mental health centre(105.9±77.6monthsvs. 79.0±68.5;p<.05), had more involuntary admissions(2.0±5.0vs. 0.6 ±1.7;p<.05) and a higher severity of depressive symptoms at the BPRS(2.2±0.9 vs. 1.9± 0.7;p<.05).

Our data confirm the general principle that lithium is not frequently prescribed in clinical practice and it is given only to more severe patients.