The new coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of life quality to the forefront. Among HIV-infected patients, life quality may be associated with fear of death.

The study aimed to investigate the life quality and death fear among HIV-infected patients during the pandemic second wave in Russia.

The data were collected from February to July 2021 using a Google form that we developed. Fifty-nine patients living with HIV participated in the study. We used the WHOQOL-BREF to examine the quality of life and the Fear of Personal Death Scale to explore fear of death. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found the following mean values for the domains: “physical and psychological well-being” — M = 21.39±3.61; “self-perception” — M = 17.51±2.28; “microsocial support” — M = 9.15±2.94; “social well-being” — M = 24.81±5.33. We found that physical and psychological well-being were associated with the transcendental consequences of death (rxy = 0.274, p < 0.05), self-perception with body consequences (rxy = -0.304, p < 0.05) and fear of forgetting (rxy = -0.287, p < 0.05), and social well-being with body consequences (rxy = -0.310, p < 0.05).

Life quality is related to intrapersonal, interpersonal, and supra-personal dimensions of death fear during the second wave of the pandemic among patients living with HIV. Such fact may indicate possible psychotherapeutic targets when working with this group of patients.

None Declared

The pandemic is an undeniably stressful factor on a planetary scale. Life meaning, specific meaning-life orientations, and aspects of locus of control mediate one’s relationship to one’s life circumstances. Thus, the noetic part of human existence can relate to the perception of the pandemic.

The study aimed to examine the relationship between life-meaning orientations and nonspecific emotional reactions in HIV-infected patients during the second wave of the pandemic.

The data were collected from February to July 2021 using a Google form we developed. Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients participated in the study. We used the Purpose-in-Life Test to examine life-meaning orientations and the DASS-21 to diagnose depression, anxiety, and stress. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We obtained the following mean values on the PiLT scales: “general index of life meaningfulness” — M = 94.39±19.71; “goals in life” — M = 30.80±7.75; “life process” — M = 26.93±6.66; “life performance” — M = 23.69±6.66; “locus of control — Me” — M = 19. 61±5.05; “locus of control — life” — M = 25.90±7.43. All PiLT scales had statistically significant negative correlations with depression, anxiety, and stress, except “life process,” which was not associated with anxiety (rxy = -0.215, p > 0.05).

In the COVID-19 pandemic, life meaningfulness, ability to manage life, and freedom of choice may be considered as predictors of emotional well-being among patients living with HIV. The method of the existential psychotherapy can be effective apply among this group of patients.

None Declared

People living with HIV are at risk to develop depression, anxiety, and stress. During the pandemic, their access to medical and social care has decreased. Baseline beliefs affect the experience of mental trauma.

The study aimed to determine the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and assess the baseline beliefs among people living with HIV. In addition, the relationship of emotional reactions to baseline beliefs was analysed.

Data were collected from February 28 to July 11, 2021, using a Google form that we developed. Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients participated in the study. The DASS-21 was used to determine depression, anxiety, and stress levels, and the WAS-37 was used to examine baseline beliefs. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that 64 % of the respondents had no symptoms of depression, 61 % of patients reported no anxiety, and 71 % had no stress. Mean values on the scales of “Benevolence in the World” (M = 30.4±7.1) and “Justice” (M = 20.5±4.6) were below the mean normative values for the Russian population. In contrast, the scales of “Self-Image” (M = 30.1±5.4), “Luck” (M = 29.5±7.3), and “Controlling beliefs” (M = 27.1±4.4) were above the mean. Depression was associated with all types of baseline beliefs, anxiety was associated only with benevolence in the world (rxy = -0.309, p < 0.05), and stress was associated with benevolence (rxy = -0.281, p < 0.05) and luck (rxy = -0.258, p < 0.05).

During the COVID-19, beliefs about the world’s benevolence are associated with emotional well-being among people living with HIV.

None Declared

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to adapt to rapidly changing external conditions has increased dramatically. Predictors of successful adaptation can be the degree of development of individual self-regulation and its profile. The emotional state depends on successful adaptation.

The study aimed to examine the individual self-regulation of behaviour and emotional reactions among patients living with HIV in Russia.

The data were collected from February to July 2021 using a Google form developed by us. Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients participated in the study. To diagnose the development of individual self-regulation and its profile, we used the Self-Regulation Style Questionnaire, to study depression, anxiety, and stress — DASS-21 adapted for use in Russia.

We found that 10 % of respondents had a low overall level of self-regulation, 53 % had an average level, and 37 % had a high level. The average individual profile was as follows: predominance of planning (M = 6.24±1.90) over modelling (M = 5.69±1.90), programming (M = 5.93±1.66), and evaluating results (M = 5.78±1.60), which were approximately at the same level. Flexibility (M = 6.58±1.90) and autonomy (M = 5.56±2.08) scores were in the average normal range. Only two correlations were found: modelling was negatively associated with depression (rxy = -0.336, p < 0.01) and anxiety (rxy = -0.275, p < 0.05).

Awareness and adequacy of perceptions of changes in external and internal significant conditions contribute to a favourable emotional status among people living with HIV.

None Declared

Different areas of life quality are associated with emotional status. In pandemic conditions, the index of life quality may contribute to emotional stability. However, HIV-infected patients are at risk for affective disorders and are often characterized by a low life rate.

The study aimed to examine the relationship between life quality and emotional status among HIV-infected patients during the second wave of the pandemic.

Data were collected between February and July 2021 using a Google form we developed. Fifty-nine HIV-positive patients participated in the study. We used the WHOQOL-BREF to examine the quality of life and the DASS-21 to determine depression, anxiety, and stress levels. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that 64 % of the respondents had no symptoms of depression, 61 % of the patients reported no anxiety, and 71 % had no detectable stress. We found that physical and psychological well-being was associated with depression (rxy = -0.318, p < 0.05) and anxiety (rxy = -0.308, p < 0.05), microsocial support was associated with depression (rxy = -0.430, p < 0.01) and anxiety (rxy = -0.330, p < 0.05), social well-being with depression (rxy = -0.375, p < 0.01), anxiety (rxy = -0.448, p < 0.01) and stress (rxy = -0.362, p < 0.01).

During the second pandemic wave, the social well-being was most strongly associated with emotional well-being among patients living with HIV. This indicates that different types of social support are essential for this group of patients. Therefore, state authorities should pay special attention to the social welfare of this group of patients.

None Declared

Visual impairment in schizophrenia is of interest as a potential biomarker of the mental state. The study of visual impairment in patients with schizophrenia is difficult due to the fact that visual perception can be influenced not only by the patient’s condition, but also by age, drug treatment, concomitant eye diseases, etc. To reduce the influence of these factors, we studied visual disturbances in schizophrenic patients in dynamics at the second and eighth weeks of stable antipsychotic single treatment.

To reveal changes in visual impairment in inpatients with schizophrenia on the background of changes in mental state.

Eleven inpatients with schizophrenia who received antipsychotic monotherapy and thirteen healthy subjects of the same age and sex were included in the study. Examinations were performed at weeks 2 and 8 of treatment. The contrast-frequency characteristics of the visual system were examined using computer visocontrastometry. Visocontrastometry was performed in Gabor element contrast detection (gratings) with spatial frequencies of 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 4.0, 10.0 and 17.9 cycles/degree. Images of Gabor elements of different spatial frequency were repeated in random order 8 times each. The severity of the mental state was assessed during the interview using the PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale).

Patients’ total PANSS score at week 2 averaged 94.09±17.58 and at week 8 averaged 52.45±6.06; at week 8 the total score was significantly lower than at week 2 (V = 66, p-value = 0.004). In the low-frequency region after treatment, patients tended to have lower thresholds (V = 2207, p-value = 0.060), but both at week 2 and week 8, thresholds were significantly higher in patients than in the healthy group (W = 7233, p-value < 2.2e-16, W = 6924.5, p-value = 1.204e-11, respectively). Mid-range frequencies increased at week 8 compared with week 2 (V = 925, p-value = 0.003), but were also lower at weeks 2 and 8 than in the healthy group (W = 1479, p-value = 7.247e-12, W = 3156.5, p-value = 0.004, respectively). In the high frequency region, thresholds also increased after the treatment (V = 908, p-value = 2.084e-05), at week 2, thresholds in patients were significantly lower than in healthy controls (W = 2574.5, p-value = 2.757e-07), and at week 8, thresholds in the patient and healthy groups were not different (W = 4759.5, p-value = 0.461).

The impairments in the low spatial frequencies in schizophrenic patients appear earliest and, apparently, are the most persistent. Changes in the middle and high frequencies appeared to be more variable with changes in the mental state. Unfortunately, our design does not allow us to judge the persistence of the revealed changes. Further prospective studies are needed to investigate the relationship of visual disturbances with other symptoms.

None Declared

This work was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 22-18-00074).

It is known that cognitive impairment is one of the main symptoms of schizophrenia, which determines the functional outcome. The question of the effect of antipsychotics on the cognitive functions of these patients is still unresolved. Cognitive impairment while taking antipsychotics is thought to be mostly related to extrapyramidal abnormalities. In practice, it is difficult to distinguish what causes a patient’s complaints of cognitive decline. Is it related to taking the medication? Or a worsening mental state? Age, lifestyle, etc.?

We analyzed the relationship of cognitive impairment with the severity of extrapyramidal symptoms, mental status gravity, age, and dose of antipsychotic and cholinergic medication at weeks 2 and 8 of treatment.

We examined 37 patients with schizophrenia on stable antipsychotic treatment at weeks 2 and 8 of therapy. Thirty patients received a 2nd-generation antipsychotic, and seven patients received a 1st-generation antipsychotic. The anticholinergic drug was trihexyphenidyl. The antipsychotic dose was estimated in olanzapine equivalent. Extrapyramidal symptoms were assessed by The Scale for Extrapyramidal Symptoms (SAS), severity of mental condition was rated by The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), cognitive function was measured by The Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

As previously described, patients with more severe extrapyramidal symptoms tended to have lower BACS composite scores (rxy = -0.318, p-value = 0.055) at week 8 of therapy. The total score on the SAS scale, as expected, only negatively correlated with scores on the Token Motor Task test (rxy = -0.412, p-value = 0.011) at the 8th week of therapy. There were also negative correlations between Token Motor Task scores and trihexyphenidyl dose (rxy = -0.496, p-value = 0.002). At both weeks 2 and 8, there was a negative relationship between age and Symbol Coding scores (rxy = -0.387, p-value = 0.018; rxy = -0.35, p-value = 0.034, respectively). Verbal Fluency scores were lower in patients with high scores on the PANSS excitement component and at week 2 (rxy = -0.42, p-value = 0.01), this trend continued at week 8 (rxy = -0.31, p-value=0.063) . Tower of London scores were negatively associated at week 8 with cognitive and positive PANSS scores (rxy = -0.46, p-value = 0.004; rxy = -0.336, p-value = 0.042, respectively).

Thus, we have demonstrated that cognitive impairment in patients with schizophrenia is associated with various factors, and not only antipsychotic treatment.

None Declared

The COVID-19 pandemic provoked emotional reactions in Russian student populations. Hardiness is seen as a personality predisposition that increases individuals’ resilience to stress.

The study aimed to determine the severity of depression, anxiety, stress, and various components of hardiness in Russian students. In addition, the correlations between emotional reactions and hardiness components were also analysed.

Data collection was carried out between 29 May and 06 July 2020. A total of 129 medical and non-medical students participated in the study. The DASS-21 was used to measure depression, anxiety, and stress levels, while the Personal Views Survey-III examined hardiness. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that medical students were less likely to be depressed than non-medical students (M = 4.03 and M = 6.01 respectively, p < 0.05). Medical students had higher levels of the component of hardiness such as commitment (M = 20.95 and M = 18.43 respectively, p < 0.05). In both groups, all hardiness components have negative relationships with depression, anxiety, and stress, but in the medical group control is associated only with depression (rx = -0.446, p < 0.01), whereas the other group also has associations with anxiety (rx = -0.356, p < 0.01) and stress (rx = -0.407, p < 0.01).

Hardiness was negatively related to depression, anxiety, and stress in a pandemic setting. Medical students were more adaptable to the pandemic than non-medical students.

No significant relationships.

During the pandemic of new coronavirus infection, some medical students were actively recruited to work with infected patients, which could provoke depression, anxiety, and stress. The concept of baseline beliefs predicts characteristics of individuals’ experience of trauma.

The study aimed to determine depression, anxiety, and stress levels in medical students and examine their baseline beliefs, as well as the relationship between baseline beliefs and emotional reactions.

Data were collected in the spring and summer of 2020 using a Google form that we developed. Thirty-seven medical students participated in the study. The WAS-37 questionnaire was used to examine baseline beliefs and the DASS-21 to measure depression, anxiety, and stress. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that 78 % of the respondents had no depression, 86 % had no manifestations of anxiety, and 83 % felt stress-free. The mean values on the “Benevolence in the World” scale (M = 32.3±8.0) were within the average normative values, those on the “Justice” scale (M = 19.8±5.0) were below them, and those on the “Self-Image” scale (M = 29.6±5.9), “Luck” (M = 32.5±6.9) and “Controlling Beliefs” (M = 27.3±4.1) were above the average normative values. We found only one statistically significant relationship between emotional reactions and baseline beliefs, a negative correlation between depression and luck (rx = -0.360, p < 0.05).

In pandemic medical students, beliefs about one’s luck were associated with lower levels of depression.

No significant relationships.

The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection can be considered as a long-term traumatic event. It is known that chronic stress is characterized by dynamics of emotional state caused by processes of adaptation and maladaptation.

Our study aimed to investigate the dynamics of depression, anxiety, and stress levels among Russian students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data were collected from May to July 2020 (the first pandemic wave) and from October 2020 to April 2021 (the second wave). A total of 170 non-medical university students participated in the study. We used the DASS-21 to determine levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

We found that during the first wave of the pandemic, 57 % of students showed no symptoms of depression, 77 % had no symptoms of anxiety, and 76 % showed no signs of stress. In the second wave, 50 % of students showed no depression, 65 % no anxiety and 67 % no stress. Analysis of mean values showed that the second pandemic wave provoked higher levels of anxiety (M = 3.32±4.25 vs M = 4.71±4.71, p < 0.05) and stress (M = 6.50±4.50 vs M = 7.99±4.97, p < 0.05) .

The second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic provoked more severe emotional reactions among Russian students than the first. By these results we suggest that the duration of the pandemic harms the emotional state of the general population. Therefore, it is essential to develop and implement psychotherapeutic programs to restore the mental health of Russian citizens.

No significant relationships.

Pregnancy and childcare are naturally stressful for women, often accompanied by the asthenic syndrome. In a pandemic situation, this type of stress may be potentiated by external conditions.

The study aimed to investigate the life-state orientations and asthenia levels of pregnant women and young mothers in the context of a pandemic. We also analyzed the correlations between the life-state orientations and the different types of asthenias.

Data collection was carried out in June 2020 using a Google form that we developed. Pregnant women and young mothers with children under seven years of age participated in the study with 47 respondents. We used the Purpose-in-Life Test to investigate the meaningful orientations and the MFI-20 to determine the level of asthenia. Both questionnaires were adapted for use in Russia.

We found that the mean overall MFI-20 score (M = 58.0±5.9) exceeded the mean values in our sample, indicating the presence of the asthenic syndrome. Physical asthenia (M = 12.9±1.4) and decreased activity (M = 12.0±1.7) were the strongest, with the lowest score on the general asthenia scale (M = 10.6±1.8). Correlation analysis showed that all components of meaningful orientations had multiple positive correlations with different types of asthenias, and the overall asthenia score was 100 % related to life meaningfulness (p < 0.01).

Pregnant women and young mothers are at risk for asthenia in the COVID-19 pandemic. This is obviously due to many responsibilities of mothers raising children.

No significant relationships.

The COVID-19 pandemic can be seen as mental trauma. The concept of baseline beliefs helps to explain the extent to which mental trauma affects individuals.

The study aimed to investigate baseline beliefs in humanities students in Russian universities and analyse the relationship between baseline beliefs and emotional reactions.

Data collection was carried out between May and July 2020 using a Google form that we developed. A total of 92 humanities students participated in the study. The WAS-37 was used to examine baseline beliefs, and the DASS-21 was used to determine depression, anxiety, and stress levels.

We found that the mean values of the scales “Benevolence in the World” (M = 34.8±6.5), “Self-image” (M = 27.2±4.4), “Luck” (M = 32.7±5.7) and “Controlling beliefs” (M = 27.9±4.0) were above the normative mean values for the Russian population and only the values of the scale “Justice” (M = 20.8±3.8) were below these. All components of baseline beliefs had negative associations with depression, anxiety, and stress; only “Benevolence in the World” was associated exclusively with anxiety (rs = -0.223, p < 0.05), and “Justice” with depression (rs = -0.223, p < 0.05).

In a pandemic, the world around them is perceived by humanities students as less fair. Trust in the world, beliefs about the fairness of the world and a positive self-image are correlated with a more favourable emotional state. By this, we support the view that individuals’ implicit beliefs (baseline beliefs) are related to the severity of the traumatic event.

No significant relationships.

Many people think that people with mental disorders might be dangerous or unpredictable. These patients face various sources of disadvantages and experience discrimination in job interviews, in education, and housing. Mental health-related stigma occurs not only within the public community, it is a growing issue among professionals as well. Our study is the first that investigates the stigmatising attitude of psychiatrists across Europe.

We designed a cross-sectional, observational, multi-centre, international study of 33 European countries to investigate the attitude towards patients among medical specialists and trainees in the field of general adult and child and adolescent psychiatry.

An internet-based, anonymous survey will measure the stigmatising attitude by using the local version of the Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Care Providers. Data gathering started in July this year and will continue until December 2020.

This study will be the first to describe the stigmatising attitude of psychiatric practitioners across Europe from their perspectives.

The study will contribute to knowledge of gaps in stigmatising attitude towards people with mental health problems and will provide with new directions in anti-stigma interventions.

No significant relationships.

In schizophrenia, there are disorders in all sensory modalities, but the regularities of their occurrence, their pathogenesis and attitude towards cognitive functions are not sufficiently studied.

Examine the interrelation between the dysfunctions in different analysers (olfactory and visual) and their dependence on the duration of the disease and the severity of psychotic symptoms and cognitive deficit in schizophrenic patients (F20 according to ICD 10 criteria).

All subjects were determined the threshold of olfactory sensitivity to n-butanol, the ability to discriminate against odors and the amount of error in comparing the same sections. Cognitive functions were evaluated using the BACS scale.

The inverse correlation between the value of the visual assessment error and the reduction of the threshold of olfactory sensitivity (r=- 0.56; p < 0.05) and the inverse correlation between the value of the visual assessment error and the ability to discriminate smells (0.64; p < 0.05) were revealed. There are no significant correlations between the duration of the disease and sensory disturbances. Olfactory and visual disturbances in schizophrenic patients were connected with cognitive functions ((r=-0,62; p< 0,05 and r=-0,84, p< 0,001 accordingly).

The data confirm that sensory impairments have a common pathogenesis and are closely related to cognitive deficits. Sensory and cognitive deficits in schizophrenia may be the result of top-down regulation failure.

No significant relationships.

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, a lockdown was introduced everywhere in the Russian Federation, the main psychological feature of which is social deprivation - the deprivation or restriction of social habitual real interactions.

Describe clinical and psychological manifestations in children in the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

During the period from June to September 2020, parents of 108 children of early, preschool and school age applied for advice. Children are divided into two groups: I -children with previously established mental disorders; II - children who have not previously been observed for developmental disorder by a psychiatrist.

Parents of children applied for counselling with complaints of psychological, neurotic and psychosomatic symptoms that were present in children during the period of lockdown. It was found that the active use of electronic gadgets, an abundance of alarming information from the media, can cause disturbances in the family system and become an additional risk factor in the developmental disorders and an increase in the existing psychopathological symptoms in children. However, in young children with normative development and in some children with autism spectrum disorder, the phenomenon of social isolation did not reveal any pronounced changes in the mental state towards deterioration; on the contrary, in a number of cases there is a weakening of previously manifested deviations, apparently associated with increased communication with the loved ones and increased parental attention.

Clinical and psychological services should offer preventive support to the entire family.

No significant relationships.