Psychosis in Alzheimer’s disease has an incidence of ~ 10% per year. Recent work has focused on the presence of psychosis in people with mild cognitive impairment, as a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

To study a case of Alzheimer’s disease presenting psychotic symptoms

Retrospective review of clinical records and complementary test, including psychiatry, electrophysiology and neurology.

A 40-year-old goes to the emergency room due to hetero-aggression at home. He says that his father steals his money and prostitues have been hired in his house. The patient is oriented, partially collaborative and approachable. Psychomotor restlessness is observed. He has self-referral delusions, auditory hallucinations and insomnia. Provisional diagnosis of acute psychotic episode made and low dose risperidone was prescribed. During his stay on the hospital Ward, sedation, recent memory alterations, spatio-temporal disorientation lack of initiative and disorganized behaviors appear. Risperidone is withdrawn and complementary test are performed. Imaging tests show temporal and frontal atrophy. Increased TAU protein and low levels of amyloid in CSF are found. Brain biopsy is +. His mother died of Alzheimer’s disease with 36 years-old and another affected brother with 42 yeras-old. The definitive diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease and genetic studies are currently being carried out.

Psychiatric symptoms may be present in Alzheimer’s desease. It is mandatory to carry out an adequate organic screening before a late first psychotic episode.

No significant relationships.

Socioeconomic status (SES) are well known to be associated with mental health. Previous studies are often restricted by the use of individual SES indicators, while contextual measures aggregating multiple dimensions would present a better picture of SES in multivariate context.

The present study aims to construct the socioeconomic index (SEI) by integrating significant socioeconomic factors in predicting mental health of young adults in Hong Kong.

Data were drawn from the Hong Kong Youth Epidemiological Study of Mental Health (HKYES), a population-based psychiatric study of young people in Hong Kong. The present study exacted data of 1,164 participants who had completed baseline interviews between April 2019 to August 2020. Socioeconomic characteristics including age, gender, education years, income, expenditure, home ownership, housing type, household crowdedness and parental occupation were collected. Data were checked for the assumptions for normality, linearity and homoscedasticity before the standardized SEI were derived using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Logistic regression analyses were performed to further examine the association between SEI and mental health outcomes.

Our results identified five significant socioeconomic factors (education years, personal income, home ownership, housing type and household crowdedness) which together explained 67.7% of the total variation. SEI was associated with depression (OR=0.671, p=.003) and anxiety (OR=0.667, p=.015) after adjusting for potential confounders.

The PCA-generated SEI took account of the multiple dimensions of SES in younger adults including education, income, expenditure and housing. The indices would provide meaningful contextual information of SES across geographical areas or different groups of interest.

No significant relationships.

Perinatal depression is a severe and disabling condition, which affects negatively both mothers’ and children’s mental health and well-being. About 12.8% of pregnant women report depressive symptoms in the perinatal period.

The aims of the present study are to: 1) identify factors (socio-demographic and clinical) associated with an increased risk of developing PD; 2) promote a screening program on PD.

All pregnant women were assessed at each trimester of pregnancy, three days after the childbirth and after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). Women scoring ≥10 on the EPDS were invited to receive a full psychiatric evaluation to confirm the diagnosis.

420 women were recruited. 52.9%, 27.6% and 31.6% of participants presented an EPDS≥ 10 score at The I, II and III trimester of pregnancy, respectively. The percentage of patients with and EPS score ≥19 is 16.6%, 6.8%, 6.8%, 11.3% and 7.8% in 3 days following the childbirth and after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Higher EPDS scores are predicted by the presence of anxiety symptoms before pregnancy and of depressive and anxiety symptoms in previous pregnancies (p<0.05). Women with family conflicts and with anxiety symptoms in the partner are more likely to report higher EPDS scores (p<0.001).

Our results confirm that perinatal depression is a highly prevalent condition. An early identification of depressive symptoms during this period is crucial in order to reduce the long-term negative impact on the mothers, the newborn and other family members.

No significant relationships.

Child metal health is associated with prospective delinquent outcomes. However, this association might be confounded by genetic and other shared factors

We aimed to examine the association between the behavioral symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, conduct disorder, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder in childhood (age 4-12) and the prospective delinquent outcomes as measured by lifetime illicit drug use, criminal activities, and victimization prior to age 18, using the nationally representative U.S. survey that allowed us to compare siblings in the same mother.

Aged-adjusted subscales or ADHD, conduct disorder, depression, and ODD were obtained from the mother-reported survey responses. Within-family analyses were performed to control for family-specific unobserved factors as well as child-specific observed factors.

Antisocial scores in childhood were strongly associated with lifetime arrest, probation, and incarceration as well as lifetime illicit drug use in adolescence. ADHD scores are associated with lifetime victimization in physical attack and rape, but not with criminal activities or illicit drug use.

Conduct disorder consistently increases lifetime illicit drug use and criminal activities independently of genetic factors and gender. ADHD is not associated with lifetime illicit drug use or criminal activities, but is associated with lifetime victimization. No significant gender differences are found although anxiety/depression symptoms are often positively associated with delinquent outcomes only among females.

Patient microaggressions and hate speech affect practitioners in all fields of healthcare. In some facilities, 100% of healthcare workers report experiencing harassment and hate speech, with the aggressors most frequently being patients. To date, there has been no systematic review of policies, recommendations and trainings on patient microaggressions and hate speech against healthcare professionals.

A systematic review was conducted to identify recommendations and solutions for healthcare professionals on responding to patient microaggressions and hate speech. Additionally, websites of major healthcare professional organizations and the 6 largest healthcare systems were checked for policy statements related to discrimination by patients towards healthcare providers.

A literature search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, ERIC and MedEdPORTAL. Articles that contained recommendations and trainings for responding to microaggressions and hate speech were retained. 13 Leading professional organizations and 6 healthcare systems were checked for policies on discrimination by patients.

Our review identified 27 studies providing recommendations and trainings for healthcare professionals to address patient hate speech and microaggressions. Three professional organizations but no healthcare systems had policies on discrimination by patients.

Seven trainings that equip providers with tools to address patient microaggressions and hate speech were identified. Trainings included the ERASE framework; Stop, talk, and roll; interrupting microaggressions; and the OWTFD tool. Nineteen studies outlined recommendations for healthcare professionals and systems on how to respond to patient offenses. Professional organizations and healthcare systems need to create policies to support healthcare professionals who face microaggressions and hate speech.

In the Danish social welfare system, few people are homeless solely for economic reasons. In fact, 38% of homeless people suffer from both substance use and a psychiatric disorder, making diagnostic assessment and treatment difficult. This patient group, with dual diagnoses, often fail to receive effective treatment, and the consequences are far reaching and detrimental. A more comprehensive grasp of the history and patterns of substance use in these patients may contribute to improve their treatment.

To identify the role and patterns of substance use in mentally ill, homeless people.

50 homeless, mentally ill patients are examined in comprehensive interviews, exploring the relationship between substance use, homelessness, and suffering from a mental disorder. The data are analyzed quantitatively as well as qualitatively using thematic analysis.

Preliminary results indicate that substance use in mentally ill homeless patients is a complex phenomenon. On the one hand, substance use seems to contribute to keep the patient homeless and makes it difficult for the patient to get the necessary psychiatric help. On the other hand, substance use also appear to play an important part in coping with life on the streets by offering some kind of social contact and some relief from a desperate situation.

It seems that the triad of substance use, mental illness, and homelessness somehow reinforce each other and simultaneously locks the situation. New approaches for disentangling this locked situation and avoiding this ‘Bermuda triangle’ is needed.

Isolation, life changes and increased stress lead to widespread concerns about the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on psychiatric patients. The rise in depressive disorders is one of the negative effects associated directly and indirectly to the pandemic.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of depressive disorders among the patients admitted to our hospital. The state of pandemia was declared on the 11th of March but it had already become a main stream media subject in our country at the beginning of the month with real life changes for our citizens.

A retrospective study was performed at the Psychiatric Hospital ‘Elisabeta Doamna’ Galati, using the exact same period, between 01.03 and 30.09, in 2019 and 2020. ICD-10 criteria were used and pacients with either F32.x,F33.x or F38.x as discharge diagnosis were included.

In total, 7638 cases were admitted during the period in 2019, of which 751 (9,83%) had depressive disorders. In comparison with 2020 where out of 4050 admitted patients, the number had risen to 1034 (25,53%) a net increase in total number of cases by 37.6%.

Analysis of the data shows a 2.5 times increase in the percentage of depressive disorders among our patients. Even taking in account the lower admition rates, we have seen a clear shift in the psychiatric profile of the average pacient and this has to be taken into consideration in the long and short term treatment of any psychiatric patient.

After World Health Organization declared that COVID-19 disease became a pandemic; like most, people in Turkey were affected by the emotionally challenging atmosphere. Previous outbreaks negatively effected mental health, increased suicide attempts and completed suicides.

Our study aimed to investigate psychiatry consultations from emergency service in a university hospital, to determine differencies in pandemia.

We conducted a monocenter retrospective study by examining the patients who applied to emergency servise and consulted to psychiatry department in three periods: between 11 March- 11 July, in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Patient’s sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed.

There were no difference in distributions of applicants’ following variables between periods; age, sex, marital status, experiencing a first attack or an exacerbation, or outcome treatment. Among applicants with suicide attempts, there were no difference between periods in terms of the presence of recurrent suicide attempt (χ² = 0.297 p = 0.862). While emergency admissions with behavioral disorders increased, admissions with depressive symptoms decreased. Admissions with suicide attempts were statistically significantly higher in 2020 (Table 1). Recommendation of psychiatric inpatient treatment did not change between periods, while refusal of hospitalization recommendation decreased (Table 2).

In our sample, emergency psychiatry admissions with behaviour disorders and suicide attempts increased in pandemic period.

No significant relationships.

Alprazolam is an anxiolytic, a benzodiazepine derivative of the middle duration of action. It is one of the most frequently prescribed medication for the treatment of anxiety and panic disorder. Under the action of a drug, a person feels incredible ease, a sense of euphoria, absence of problems, a sense of safety.

A 55-year woman was admitted to psychiatric clinic in Ivano - Frankivsk.

She was assesed by the clinicopsychopatological method (clinical interview) and additional methods (MRI, EEG, pathopsycological assessment).

The main findings were: atactic procession, tremor of the limbs and the whole body, poor attention, speech impairment, retarded thinking, fixation and reproductive amnesia with the components of progressive amnesia, change handwriting. The mood is lowered with unstable affect, lack of insight. She reported burning and tingling of the head as a main problem. She developed amotivation, bad activity and drowsiness, bradycardia, decreased blood pressure. She took Alprazolam during a period of 1,5 year in gradually increasing doses. The last dose was 12 tablets of Alprazolam per day. The patient was consulted again in a year. She does not take Alprazolam. She takes valproate and escitalopram. She did not demonstrate severe neurological symptoms which were seen a year ago.

Thus, though alprazolam is one of the best anxiolytic substance it should be prescribed only by the doctor for a short course (no more than 4-5 weeks). The treatment must include psychoeducation in order to make patients be aware about possible addiction and unsafety of prolonged and uncontrolled usage of alprazolam.

No significant relationships.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a third wave cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that incorporates meditation exercises in the classical, structured intervention. Mindfulness has been associated with psychological well-being, and certain symptoms that occur in major depressive disorder (MDD), e.g. worries, ruminations, ideas of incapacity or self-devaluation, are considered potential targets for MBCT.

To evaluate the current level of evidence for the MCBT efficacy in MDD.

A literature serach was performed in the main electronic databases, targeting clinical trials that evaluated in a randomized manner the efficacy of MCBT versus active comparators or placebo in patients with MDD.

MBCT was efficient in a 10-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) versus standard treatment, and it decreased ruminations, increased patients quality of life, mindfulness abilities, and self-compassion. In another randomized, 8-week RCT, MBCT prevented relapses in MDD, with similar rates when compared to psychoeducation and standard treatment. A 26-month follow-up study evidenced the persistence of symptoms improvement detected after 12 months of the trial, when compared to active control group and treatment as usual. MCBT was compared to cognitive therapy in a randomized 8-week trial, and both treatments had similar efficacy in MDD relapse prevention.

MCBT may be an useful adjuvant to the current treatment in acute MDD, but it may also decrease the risk of relapse after psychotherapy termination.

Parenting with mental illness is associated with parenting difficulties and increased mental health problems in children. Family focused interventions improve child outcomes by 40%. However, such services are not available at present in Sri Lanka.

To assess the challenges faced and perceived needs of parents with mental illness in Sri Lanka.

A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out in the adult psychiatry follow-up clinics in a Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka. A specifically designed questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic details, difficulties with parenting and perceived care needs.

Of 385 parents, 67.3% believed their mental illness impacted their parenting. Perceived impact on parenting was higher in younger parents (p<0.01), when the children were younger (p<0.01), had more children under 5 years (p<0.01) and when there was no social support (p<0.01). 67.8% of parents believed their illness impacted their children, with higher impact perceived in parents with children less than 5 years of age (p<0.05) and those with no social support (p<0.01). Although 36.4% had concerns about their children’s emotions or behaviour, only 16.4% were willing to discuss these with their doctor. The parental concerns were significantly higher where the parent was employed (p<0.01), had a longer duration of illness (p<0.01) and when the youngest child was more than 12 years (p<0.01)

Mental illness in parents had a substantial impact on parenting and their children but professionals help was rarely sought. Services aimed at the specific needs of these parents should be developed.

No significant relationships.

Aggression and violent incidents are a major concern in psychiatric inpatient care, potentially leading to physical and psychological consequences for both patients and staff. Nutritional supplementation was found to reduce aggressive incidents and rule violations in forensic populations and children with behavioural problems.

To assess whether multivitamin, mineral and n-3 PUFA supplementation is effective in reducing the number of aggressive incidents among psychiatric patients who are chronically admitted.

In a pragmatic, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, psychiatric inpatients were randomized to receive either three supplements containing multivitamins, minerals, and n-3 PUFA or placebo. During the intervention period of six months, aggressive incidents were assessed using the Staff Observation Aggression Scale – Revised (SOAS-R). Secondary outcome parameters were the patients’ quality of life and affective symptoms. The trial was registered in the Clinical Trials Register (NCT02498106).

A total of 176 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive supplements (n=87) or placebo (n=89). They were on average 49.3 years old (SD=14.5), and 64.2% were male. Most patients had a psychotic disorder (60.8%). Supplementation versus placebo significantly increased circulating micronutrient levels. The primary outcome of SOAS-R incidents was similar in those assigned to supplements (1.03 incidents per month; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74-1.37) and placebo (0.90; 95%CI: 0.65-1.19), with a rate ratio of 1.08 (95%CI: 0.67-1.74; p=0.75). Differential effects were neither found in sensitivity analyses on the SOAS-R, nor on secondary outcomes.

Six months of nutritional supplementation did not reduce aggressive incidents among chronically admitted psychiatric inpatients.

No significant relationships.

Because emotional symptoms are common in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and associate with much morbidity, some consider it to be a core feature rather than an associated trait.

Assess the possibility that symptoms of emotional dysregulation should be considered as core diagnostic feature of ADHD.

It’s a cross sectional study, including 60 children with ADHD and 60 children without ADHD ranging from 6 to 19 years of age (mean age 10.43 years). We defined moderate emotional dysregulation if a child had an aggregate cut-off score of ˃180 on the Anxiety/Depression, Aggression, and Attention scales of the CBCL and severe emotionaldysregulation if a child had an aggregate cut-off score of ˃ 210. This profile was selected because of its conceptual congruence with the clinical concept of emotionaldysregulation.

Sixty-three percent of children with ADHD had a severe emotional dysregulation versus 12% of controls (P˂0.001). Emotional dysregulation was associated with elevated rates of hyperactivity and impulsivity : Ninety-six percent of the children with hyperactivity-impulsivity, according to the Conners scale, had emotional dysregulation. With a significant correlation between emotional dysregulation and hyperactivity-impulsivity (p = 0.001). Also all children with attentional disorders exhibited emotional dysregulation and a significant correlation between emotional dysregulation and inattention has been found in both groups (p=0.000).

Emotional dysregulation is now known to play a causal role regarding ADHD symptomatology. It should therefore be included in future theoretical models of ADHD, as well as in clinical practice when identifying the major impairments in this diagnostic group and when deciding therapeutic strategies.

The gut microbiota constitute the largest and most diverse community in the body which is primarily responsible for the maintenance of the intestinal wall integrity and the protection against pathogens. Besides having an important role in the regulation of host energy metabolism, the gut microbiota can also influence neurodevelopment, modulate behavioral and might contribute to the development of psychiatry disorders.

The authors elaborated a narrative literature review to understand how gut microbiota can influence depression.

Using PubMed as the database, a research was conducted about how Gut Microbiota relates with Depression.

The microbiota-gut-brain axis encompasses the strong bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the CNS. Multiple mechanisms may be involved in this bilateral communication, including immune, endocrine and neural pathways. Permutations in the gut microbiome composition trigger microbial lipopolysaccharides production that activates inflammatory responses. Cytokines send signals to the vagus nerve, which links the process to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis that consequently causes behavioral effects. Beyond this, gut microbiota have the capacity to produce many neurotransmitters and neuromodulators such as serotonin and can induce the secretion of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor, an important plasticity-related protein that promotes neuronal growth, development and survival.

Neuroinflammatory processes like those that occur in depression are deeply modulated by peripheral inflammatory stimuli, especially those from the intestinal microbiota. However, the knowledge is currently limited and the information available is not enough to understand the exact mechanisms. Therefore, more studies are required to show how gut microbiota influences the human brain.

No significant relationships.

Bipolar Disorder (BD) is a mental disorder characterized by long hospitalizations and frequent need for acute psychiatric care. Hospitalizations represent a valuable quality of care indicator in BD.

The aim of this study was to describe a nationwide perspective of BD related hospitalizations and to use a BigData based approach in mental health research.

We performed a retrospective observational study using a nationwide hospitalization database containing all hospitalizations registered in Portuguese public hospitals from 2008 to 2015. Hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of BD were selected based on International Classification of Diseases version 9, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes of diagnosis 296.xx (excluding 296.2x; 296.3x and 296.9x).

A total of 20,807 hospitalizations were registered belonging to 13,300 patients. 33.4% of the hospitalizations occurred in male patients and the median LoS was 16.0 days. Mean age was 47.9 years and male patients were younger(46.6 vs. 48.6; p< 0.001). 59 hospitalizations had a deadly outcome (0.3%). The most common cause of hospitalization in BD was the diagnosis code 296.4x (Bipolar I disorder, most recent episode (or current) manic) representing 34.3% of all hospitalizations, followed by the code 296.5x (Bipolar I disorder, most recent episode (or current) depressed) with 21.4%. The mean hospitalization charges were 3,508.5€ per episode, with a total charge of 73M€ in the 8-year period of this study.

This is a nationwide study using BigData analysis giving a broad perspective of BD hospitalization panorama at a nationwide level. We found differences in hospitalization characteristics by gender, age and primary diagnosis.

No significant relationships.

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is a physical, cognitive, emotional and functional condition resulting from prolonged stays in ICU (Intensive Care Unit). In pathologies with clinical characteristics similar to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, most patients showed cognitive deficits after discharge from ICU. In particular, previous studies describe impairment on verbal learning among PICS patients.

To analyse the immediate verbal-learning performance in patients with PICS after COVID-19 infection in a Functional Rehabilitation Unit in Madrid (Spain) using the Spanish version of the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP-S).

This study was conducted in the Hospital Central de la Cruz Roja, in Madrid (Spain). A sample of 17 PICS adult patients was included, with age ranging from 56 to 74 years old (mean = 68.35 years; 13 males). Patients were assessed around three weeks after referral from their reference hospital. The Verbal Learning Test-Immediate (VLT-I) of the SCIP-S was used as outcome. Descriptive analyses were conducted (mean and standard deviation) on standardized scores (z) based on age-adjusted general population norms. Significant impairment was set at z < -1.5.

Mean z-score on VLT-I was -1.08 (S.D. = .80) from the total sample, with 33.3% of cases with significant impairment (mean = -1.81; S.D. = .20).

These preliminary results show the probable presence of mild-moderate impairment on immediate verbal learning in a subgroup of patients, which was already observed in PICS patients with other medical conditions. Longitudinal studies, with larger samples, are needed where the premorbid cognitive level is considered.

No significant relationships.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, it was recommended to implement mental health care services mediated by Information and Communication Technologies to alleviate the suffering caused by the social distance.

To characterize the demands and the possibilities of psychological support at the Call Center of a Brazilian public university, which aims clarifying doubts about COVID-19 and to forward suspected cases of contamination.

Cross-sectional, quantitative study with secondary data. The data came from 60 Psychological Support attendance records, carried out over 24 weeks. The data were analyzed descriptively and by the paired test and McNemar.

The majority of consultations were for people aged among 51 and 60 years (21.7%). The main demands were social (40.0%), related to feelings (40.0%) and self-reported diagnosis (18.3%), with each service mostly split into two (31.7%) or three (31.7%) conducts. There was a significant increase in the average number of reports of symptoms of psychological distress experienced during the pandemic (p <0.001), including changes in sleep patterns (p <0.001) and appetite (p = 0.002), physical symptoms (p = 0.001), physical and emotional discomfort (p <0.001) and crying / depressive mood attacks (p = 0.002). As conducts, there was a predominance of psychoeducation (78.3%) and strategies for managing suffering (68.3%) at the expense of referrals to specialized in-person services (21.7%).

There were several demands of the evaluated Psychological Support service, which presents an important and promising strategy for meeting the demands of psychological distress in the midst of Pandemic, especially for the adult and elderly public.

A meta-analysis by Gürsel et al. (2018) found altered functional connectivity in OCD patients within and between default mode (DMN), salience (SN), and frontoparietal networks (FPN), as well as evidence for aberrant fronto-striatal circuitry.

Testing the replicability of meta-analysis rsfMRI findings in OCD patients.

We measured functional connectivity during resting-state fMRI in a sample of OCD patients (n=24) and controls matched for age and sex (n=33). The CONN toolbox implemented in SPM was used to perform seed-to-voxel analysis using 30 seed regions based on the previous meta-analytic findings.

OCD patients showed reduced functional connectivity between SN and DMN compared to controls, replicating previous findings. We did not observe significant group differences of functional connectivity within the DMN, SN, or FPN. The strongest finding consisted of altered connectivity between DMN and SN to the visual network. OCD patients showed reduced functional connectivity between the left lateral parietal seed (LPl) and the inferior lateral occipital pole left (iLOCl) compared to controls. Furthermore, the LPl was found to be hyperconnected with the right superior lateral occipital cortex (sLOCr) and the right precuneus. This finding was positively correlated to OCD symptom severity, especially compulsions.

Our findings replicated partly the meta-analysis findings, specifically reduced connectivity between SN and DMN. Using seeds based on the meta-analysis, we identified aberrations between the SN and, in particular, the DMN to the visual network. This raises the question about the visual system’s involvement in OCD symptoms and the abnormal connectivity of a unimodal region to the multimodal DMN.

No significant relationships.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders are related with prolonged stay in hospital and high cost for treating them. As a consequence, the determination of the factors that affect the duration of hospitalization is essential.

The purpose of the study is the determination of the psychosocial characteristics of inpatients in a public psychiatric hospital and their association with the duration of hospitalization.

A total of 103 patients with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia (according to ICD-10) participated in the study. The socio demographic characteristics were recorded and the following psychometric tools were used: NEO- Five Factor Inventory, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC25), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF).All instruments were adapted to greek population. All statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v.25.

The median length of hospital stay was 40,7 days. The number of previous admissions (p=0,010), the type of admission (compulsory or voluntary) (p=0,017), the physical restrain (p=0,043), the duration of restrain (p=0,002) as well as the existence of social support networks and in particular social support from friends (p=0,018), seem to affect the duration of hospitalization.

The present study underlines the signification of the psychosocial factors that could contribute to the prediction of longer hospitals stays, the planning of appropriate interventions and as a result the reduction of hospital costs.

Sexual offenders are classified in terms of the act they have committed, diagnosis of sexual preference disorder (paraphilic disorder), and the potential motives behind the act. The typology that is often used in forensic-sexological practice is the division into preferential and non-preferential perpetrators, i.e. perpetrators showing or not showing a sexual preference disorder.

The aim of the study was to assess whether psychosocial and personality variables significantly differ between the group of preferential and non-preferential sexual offenders.

The study involved 120 persons, including 60 preferential and 60 non-preferential sexual offenders. The participants were presented with selected, standardized psychological tools to personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, capacity to understand emotions, attachment style.

The study involved 120 persons, including 60 preferential and 60 non-preferential sexual offenders. The participants were presented with selected, standardized psychological tools to personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, capacity to understand emotions, attachment style.

Differences between the both study groups and the male standardization sample suggest worse psychosocial functioning of sexual offenders. A critical analysis of the methodological limitations of this study have been presented.

Scientific work was financed from the budget for science in the years 2017-2021, as a research project DI 16/003046 under the programme „Diamond Grant”.