28^th International Conference on Psychiatry & Mental Health November 20-21, 2017 Melbourne, Australia

Biography:

Abstract:

The present study aims to examine the efficacy of cognitive behavioral group counseling in reducing aggressiveness and impulsivity among recidivists. The study was conducted at Sodo and Arba Minch prisons, Ethiopia. This quasi-experimental study used a pre and post-test research design with a control group. During the first stage, the researcher designed and administered self-made instrument to identify recidivists and cause for recidivism. The result revealed that there were 64 and 59 recidivists at Sodo and Arba Minch prisons respectively. Further, the results showed that behaviors related to recidivism were aggressiveness and impulsivity. Aggression (Buss & Perry, 1992) and Impulsivity (Barratt, 1995) questionnaires were used for measuring aggressiveness and impulsivity. Recidivists with a history of three or more imprisonment were considered for the study. So, 41 recidivists of Sodo prison were considered in experimental group and 39 recidivists of Arba Minch prison in control group. Participants in the experimental group received group counseling for eight weeks, one day per week, for an hour per session, while the control group never received any type of counseling program. After a period of two months the same scales were administered again to both experimental and control groups. The paired t-test result showed that both aggressiveness and impulsivity significantly reduced after group counseling among recidivists in the experimental group (P<0.001), where as there was no change in the control group. Moreover, the correlation analysis result revealed that aggressiveness and impulsivity are highly related to each other (P=0.001). This study concludes that cognitive behavioral group counseling is a good therapy for reducing aggressiveness and impulsivity.

Biography:

Formerly a Pediatrician, he has practiced as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for 22 years. The current focus of his work is capacity building, and enhancing mental health using Mindfulness as the foundation. He is consultant Psychiatrist with the Healthy Minds/Healthy Children (HMHC) program in Calgary and a Core Committee Member of the Alberta Health Services Addiction and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network.Mindfulness is a core human capacity and has been shown to enhance all domains of human experience by increasing awareness, opening new possibilities in relating to ourselves and improving the quality of both our interior and exterior world.His a vision is to incorporate a “Human Curriculum” into all of our lives and educational institutions. With mindful practice, we better understand how our brain and mind works and appreciate the fullness of our humanity in all it’s dimensions ( Mental, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual ). This in turn invites us to live more intentional and significant lives.Allan has delivered presentations and led Mindfulness workshops with educators and administrators, at Teacher conventions, Medical conferences, Psychiatry residents, Post Graduate University students, Wellness Center staff at the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary Fire Department Leadership team and Calgary Catholic Immigrant society.

Abstract:

It is a given that empathy is a worthy and necessary part of any healing practice and perhaps nowhere more heartfelt than in the field of mental health. This is taken for granted and never questioned. Yet, who decides if empathy is always needed and where should it live? When was it promised and by whom?   This presentation will explore the virtuous and highly treasured goal of relieving suffering, both for oneself and others. With the clarity that a mindful awareness of our own necessary fictions can bring, we will discuss the construct of and the various facets of empathy. The initial promise of empathy, who some would argue is at the core of caring, will be examined from the moment of it’s arising, through the desire grounded in the “rescue fantasy” of healers, to the ultimate realization that suffering itself may offer it’s own paths to healing. Is it possible that empathy is already embedded in suffering? With a hermeneutic lens we may see that some of our caring  is a fictional construct and that suffering and empathy have their own relationship, beyond our promises. This presentation will include quotes from persons who willingly suffered their humanity and found relief in completed suicide.

Biography:

Dr. Kalyani Das Sarkar has completed her MBBS Degree from the University of Calcutta in 1983 then she completed her DPM (Diploma in Psychological Medicine) from the University of Calcutta. She worked in Ordnance Health Services, Government of India. Then she joined in the Medical Department of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and presently working as Senior Deputy Director (Medical) in SAIL

Abstract:

Adolescence is the period is hen different Physiological changes occur in both girls and boys . These Psychological changes have impact on body and mind. Different hormonal changes take place. Usually it is adapted in most of the Adolescents but in some others it may develop some problems which are actually psychological in most cases. Psychological problems like Cognitive Disorders, Affective Disorders, Eating Disorders, Addiction, Anxiety Disorders, Sexual problems etc. may start. Adolescence is the period of overall change in life style, education etc. Parents become very much protective towards their children and over-protection also causes different behavioral problems. Social stigma becomes obstacle for proper diagnosis and treatment. This creates a social as well as personal problem for the affected adolescents irrespective of socio- economic class .More awareness is required to overcome.

Biography:

Rodrigo Chiavaro da Fonseca is a medical student, interested in research since the beginning of college. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He is also teaching as monitor in “Promotion and Protection of Elderlys and Adults’ Health” class since 2016, August. Rewarded with the Award of Best Oral Presentation at the 36^th Scientific Week of HCPA in 2016.

Abstract:

Obtaining central nervous system tissue is essential for neurobiological research in mental health. There is a growing demand for the availability of human brain tissue, with greater interest in using these tissues for investigation of basic biological processes associated with mental illness. In the current scenario, however, brain tissue biobanks dedicated to psychiatric disorders are extremely scarce. Little is known about organ donation for research. The main reasons and facilitators found for donation to biobanks are: 1) the desire to help others; 2) open dialogue within the family about the organ donation process; and 3) a desire to contribute to medical progress.Our objective is to describe the frequency of brain tissue donation for research purposes by families of individuals that committed suicide.We included all requests for brain tissue donation to a brain biorepository made to the families of individuals aged 18-60 years who had committed suicide between March 2014 and February 2016. Cases presenting with brain damage due to acute trauma were excluded.Fifty-six cases of suicide were reported. Of these, 24 fulfilled the exclusion criteria, and 11 others were excluded because no next of kin was found to provide informed consent. Of the 21 remaining cases, brain tissue donation was authorized in nine (tissue fragments in seven and the entire organ in two). The sample was composed mainly of men, with a mean age of 39 years. Those responsible for providing informed consent were most often siblings, followed by the children of the tissue donor (Table 1).Donation of brain tissue from suicide cases for research purposes is feasible. The acceptance rate of 42.8% in our sample is in accordance with international data on such donations, and similar to rates reported for neurodegenerative diseases.

Biography:

Murilo Martini is a medical student at UFRGS. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He also taught as monitor in “Fundamentals of Microbiology”, “Medical Histology” and “Medical Physiology” classes.

Abstract:

Background: The bereavement period is associated with elevated risk for the onset of trauma related psychiatric disorders, especially when following unexpected and violent death. The sudden loss of a loved one can also be linked with higher levels of grief.Methods: The course of illness and psychiatric features following a traumatic loss by suicide of a loved one are illustrated in a single case report.Results: The case presented demonstrates how the traumatic event of losing a loved one by suicide triggered a series of psychiatric symptoms such as insomnia, depression, panic disorder, along with work impairment and difficulty to live by oneself, all of which persisted for over a year. Conclusions: This case study indicates that after suicide a person can develop severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder via many factors that operate in the situation, indicating the need of a proper mental health management following suicide.

Biography:

Francheska Perepletchikova, Ph.D., DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Board CertifiedClinician is an Assistant Professor of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, Weill CornellMedical College. Dr. Perepletchikova received her B.A. degree at St. John's University and graduated with gold medal for the highest academic average. Dr. Perepletchikova received graduate training in two disciplines, developmental and clinical psychology. She obtained M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University in 1996 and received Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University Department of Psychology in 2007 with James B. Grossman Best Dissertation Prize. During her internship and post-doctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Perepletchikova gained expertise in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She obtained intensive and advanced intensive trainings in DBT with Dr. Linehan. Further, Dr. Perepletchikova have been established as able to deliver DBT withadherence and calibrated as a reliable DBT adherence rater by Behavioral Research andTherapy Clinics at the University of Washington. In 2015, she became a BTech trainer. In2016 Dr. Perepletchikova became a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification Board CertifiedClinician.

Abstract:

Background:Chronic irritability and difficulty with self-control may negatively affect child’s emotional, social and cognitive development and are predictive of personality disorders, dysphoric mood, substance and alcohol abuse, suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence and adulthood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for pre-adolescent children (DBT-C) aims to facilitate adaptive responding by teaching coping skills and encouraging caregivers to create a validating and change-ready environment.Method:Two RCTs were conducted to examine feasibility and initial efficacy of DBT-C.1) In the NIMH funded RCT of DBT-C for Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, 43 children (7-12 years) were randomly assigned to DBT-C or TAU. Children were provided with 32 individual sessions that included child counselling, parent sessions and skills training.2) In the Private Foundation funded RCT of DBT-C for children in residential care, 47 children (7-12 years) were randomly assigned to DBT-C or TAU. Children were provided with 34 individual sessions, 48 group skills trainings and 12 parent trainings.Results:1) Subjects in DBT-C attended 40.4% more sessions than subjects in TAU. No subjects dropped out of DBT-C, while 36.4% dropped from TAU. Further, 90.4% of children in DBT-C responded to treatment compared to 45.5% in TAU, on the Clinical Global Impression Scale. All changes were clinically significant and sustained at 3-months follow-up.2) In the residential care trial significant differences were observed on the main measure of outcome – Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) staff report. Children in the DBT-C condition as compared to TAU had significantly greater reduction in symptoms on both Internalizing and Externalizing subscales. All changes were clinically significant. Results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up.Conclusions:Results of both trials supported the feasibility and initial efficacy of DBT adapted for pre-adolescent children with severe emotional and behavioural dysregulation in multiple settings.

Biography:

Murilo Martini is a medical student at UFRGS. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He also taught as monitor in “Fundamentals of Microbiology”, “Medical Histology” and “Medical Physiology” classes

Abstract:

According to WHO, about 800.000 people commit suicide every year. The elderlies have the highest rates of suicide in many countries. Also, men have a higher suicide rate than women. It is not known yet how the proportion of men and women behaves according to age group. In face of that, our objective is to verify Brazil’s suicide rates, stratify by sex and age group, and analyze their variation throughout time, utilizing data from DATASUS, from 2000 to 2014.In 2014, 10.653 suicides were notified in Brazil. Suicide rate is 3,86 higher among men (8,41) when compared to women (2,18). An attenuation of this ratio is observed in ages between 45 and 59 years old, due to an elevation of women’s suicide rate, whose highest rates are in this age group. In the elders, we observe the highest tendency to dissociation: In women, the suicide rate remains stable – tending to decline in the age group of 80+. On the other hand, men present progressive elevation after 65 years old, reaching a peak of 18,22 in 80+ age group.Time evaluation from 2000 through 2014 shows important raise of 34,18% in suicide rate among men, and 37,44% among women. This rise occurred progressively but not homogeneously: In men, 20-34 and 35-49 age groups showed the highest rate rises – 28,50% and 15,15%, respectively. However, in women, the highest raises were seen in 35-49 and 50-64 age groups – 32,06% and 31,53%, respectively.Our analysis suggest the rise of suicide rates differ according to gender. In men, the rise is higher in those below 50 years old, although suicide rates are still higher in the elders. In women, the highest rise is seen in the transition between adult life and elderliness, an age group historically under higher risk.

Biography:

Shafkat is currently doing Ph.D. in Public Health School of Queensland University of Technology. She has also completed her research masters in 2015 from QUT. Her main research focus is environmental aspects of mental health disorders. She is currently exploring the different climatic parameters with other environmental covariates responsible of acute onset of schizophrenia.

Abstract:

Whilst there is growing evidence of seasonality or the role of climatic variables on acute hospital admissions for some noticeable mental health disorders, however it is less documented for schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for a seasonal pattern of acute episodes of schizophrenia in Queensland, Australia which contains a range of different climate patterns.Daily basis hospital admissions data for the primary diagnosis of schizophrenia were collected from Queensland Health for the period from January 1996 to December 2015. A Poisson regression model was used incorporating a flexible cosinor function to assess monthly excess as well as a seasonal pattern in hospital admissions of schizophrenia after adjusting for trends. The evidence for seasonality was also explored in different subgroups, including socio-demographic characteristics, admission status and psychiatric comorbidities.Overall, we found a significant seasonal pattern in the monthly hospital admission rate for schizophrenia.  A significant winter pattern was detected with a peak in July (10% increase in monthly mean rate ratio for the period of June-August) in temperate Southeast Queensland. However, other areas of Queensland with distinct climatic feature show different seasonal patterns (e.g. a spring pattern was detected in tropical North Queensland with a peak in October). Hospital admissions were consistently higher among males of 20-39 years, Australian origin and unemployed particularly in winter. It was interesting to highlight schizophrenia in winter among patients without psychiatric comorbidity (57.98%).The study demonstrates evidence towards the seasonality of hospital admissions for schizophrenia in Queensland. Thus, the study can be used towards designing the early interventions and treatment strategies.

Biography:

Rodrigo Chiavaro da Fonseca is a medical student, interested in research since the beginning of college. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He is also teaching as monitor in “Promotion and Protection of Elderlies and Adults’ Health” class since 2016, August. Rewarded with the Award of Best Oral Presentation at the 36^th Scientific Week of HCPA in 2016.

Abstract:

Background: Childhood trauma is a complex experience, much reported by subjects with bipolar disorder. There are still few studies that assess its consequences in a community sample of bipolar in early stage.Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the association between childhood trauma and clinical outcomes in a community sample of young adults with bipolar disorder.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a community sample of subjects with bipolar disorder, from 23 to 30 years old, with and without childhood trauma. The trauma experiences during childhood were assessed by Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). The functioning was assessed by Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST).Results: Ninety subjects with bipolar disorder were included in the study (30 with childhood trauma and 60 without childhood trauma). Young adults with bipolar disorder and childhood trauma showed higher prevalence of current suicide risk, higher severity of depressive symptoms, and higher functioning impairment as compared to subjects with bipolar disorder without childhood trauma, as seen in Table 2.Conclusion: The frequency childhood trauma experiences appear to be an environmental risk factor for worse clinical outcomes and higher functional impairment.

Biography:

Formerly a Pediatrician, he has practiced as a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist for 22 years. The current focus of his work is capacity building, and enhancing mental health using Mindfulness as the foundation. He is consultant Psychiatrist with the Healthy Minds/Healthy Children (HMHC) program in Calgary and a Core Committee Member of the Alberta Health Services Addiction and Mental Health Strategic Clinical Network.Mindfulness is a core human capacity and has been shown to enhance all domains of human experience by increasing awareness, opening new possibilities in relating to ourselves and improving the quality of both our interior and exterior world.His a vision is to incorporate a “Human Curriculum” into all of our lives and educational institutions. With mindful practice, we better understand how our brain and mind works and appreciate the fullness of our humanity in all it’s dimensions ( Mental, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual ).  This in turn leads invites us to live more intentional and significant lives.Allan has delivered presentations and led Mindfulness workshops with educators and administrators, at Teacher conventions, Medical conferences, Psychiatry residents, Post Graduate University students, Wellness Center staff at the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary Fire Department Leadership team and Calgary Catholic Immigrant society.

Abstract:

It is a given that empathy is a worthy and necessary part of any healing practice practice and perhaps nowhere more heartfelt than in the field of mental health. This is taken for granted and never questioned. Yet, who decides if empathy is always needed and where should it live? When was it promised and by whom?   This presentation will explore the virtuous and highly treasured goal of relieving suffering, both for oneself and others. With the clarity that a mindful awareness of our own necessary fictions can bring, we will discuss the construct of and the various facets of empathy. The initial promise of empathy, who some would argue is at the core of caring, will be examined from the moment of it’s arising, through the desire grounded in the “rescue fantasy” of healers, to the ultimate realization that suffering itself may offer it’s own paths to healing. Is it possible that empathy is already embedded in suffering? With a hermeneutic lens we may see that some of our caring  is a fictional construct and that suffering and empathy have their own relationship, beyond our promises. This presentation will include quotes from persons who willingly suffered their humanity and found relief in completed suicide.

Biography:

Christina Chen is a Ph.D. Candidate in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California based in Los Angeles.  She has presented her research at many international scientific conferences and published peer-reviewed articles on sex differences in autism spectrum disorders.  Her current interests include examining the brain structure of boys versus girls with autism exhibiting language deficits and restricted repetitive behavior.  

Abstract:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition associated with communication deficits.  Previous studies have examined the relationship between left superior temporal gyrus and receptive language in children with ASD [1].  However, little is known about the neural substrates behind verbal fluency in boys with ASD.  Our goal is to examine the brain regions involved in verbal fluency in boys with ASD, relative to typically developing (TD) boys.Methods: Five research institutions were involved in data collection: USC, UCLA, Seattle Children’s Institute, Harvard, and Yale.  The sample included 52 boys with ASD and 42 TD boys, ages 7 to 17. Diagnosis was based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised [2]and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-II [3].  Verbal fluency was defined as one’s ability to formulate sentences, evaluated by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Scale [4].  Freesurfer [5]was used to determine brain surface area for 146 regions extracted from the Destrieux atlas [6].  Regression analyses were performed in each subject group to establish the brain areas that predict verbal fluency.Results: The left straight gyrus (p=.003) and transverse temporal sulcus (p=.006) were significantly related to formulated sentence scores in boys with ASD.  The right temporal plane of superior temporal gyrus (p=.002) and posterior segment of lateral sulcus (p<.001) as well as the left inferior occipital gyrus and sulcus (p=.002) and transverse temporal sulcus (p=.009) were significantly associated with formulated sentence scores in TD boys.  Conclusion: Boys with ASD relied on the left hemisphere, while TD boys relied on both the right and left hemispheres for verbal fluency, suggesting that verbal language laterality may depend on diagnosis.  Furthermore, TD boys appeared to depend more on visual and auditory brain regions to orally express themselves, compared to boys with ASD.  

Biography:

Wai Yee Mak is a final year DHSC (Doctor of Health and Social Care) part time student in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, the University of West of England Bristol, UK.  He is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, experienced in community psychiatric nursing for more than 20 years in Hong Kong.  His current research interests are Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Literacy and Stigma

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Many general registered nurses could lack the mental health competencies to identify and treat mental disorder.  Nurses and nursing students view people with mental illness negatively.  Therefore, additional education is required for nursing students.  This study aimed to explore the impact of providing the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to general nursing students and to evaluate their Mental Health Literacy (MHL) and attitude toward mental illness.Methodology & Theoretical Orientation:  This is a single site, parallel pilot RCT.  Seventy nursing students randomly assigned to intervention (MHFA plus Usual Education Practice, UEP) or UEP alone.  MHFA is the education programme and UEP is the clinical placement.  The primary outcome was the vignette questionnaire in MHL, secondary outcomes included attitude.  Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention and 6-month follow-up.  Intention to treat and mixed methods were examined.Findings: Repeated measure ANOVAs suggested a strong time effect for MHFA group with partial eta-squared = 0.14 from baseline to post-intervention and significant time effect from post-intervention to 6-month follow-up for attitude.  Friedman tests indicated that order effects might influence three vignette responses.  The ANOVAs also supported the attribution model on controllability and dangerousness.  In beliefs about treatment, six categories were grouped as professional, pharmacological intervention, psychiatric assessment, therapeutic communication, problem-solving skills and psychosocial intervention.  Both quantitative and qualitative data concluded the primary outcome variables were statistically nonsignificant because of random error.Conclusion & Significance: This study was the first pilot RCT for MHFA for nursing students in Hong Kong.  The significant tests may represent Type I and Type II errors but, using p-value 0.01 and mixed methods are effective to reduce these errors.  Although nonsignificant results in the primary outcome it is clinical meaningful.  Protocol amendments in expanding the age range and using validated tool are recommended.

Biography:

Kate Ball is a Senior Evaluation and Research Coordinator for Flourish Australia. She has obtained her PhD entitled “Non-psychotic trait abnormalities as a function of cerebral asymmetry in schizophrenia and related disorders: Development of a potential early screening tool”

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The concept of empathy in psychiatry infers an understanding, concern or interest in a person’s emotional state or experience. The experience of psychosis that usually precedes schizophrenia is often frightening; destabilizing a person’s sense of self and confidence in reality. Empathic action calls for ways to diminish the likelihood of a person experiencing psychosis.Methodology & Theoretical Basis: The current research tests the theory that vulnerability to developing this type of psychosis can be identified by an early-screening-tool (Schizophrenia-Traits-Questionnaire, STQ) in teenage, in a second stage of development by Flourish Australia. Originally developed in a PhD by the author, it is based on the neurodynamic/psychobiological theory of Robert Miller. Originally, 600 adults participated in the STQ to test both the theory and its power to predict whether someone would fit into the schizophrenia category or not. The current research trial is on teenagers.Findings: The factor analysis supported the underlying theory and thirteen (13) of the items in combination, in the original sample, accurately predicted schizophrenia to 85% accuracy with no mention of psychotic symptoms. With early-detection and the appropriate education and resources, not only can the STQ potentially stop a psychotic episode from occurring, it also identifies the types of occupations to avoid, to prevent being overwhelmed by stimuli/environments that challenge

Biography:

Aamir Saeed Malik is an Associate professor in Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP). He received his BS in EE from Pakistan while MS and Ph.D. from Republic of Korea. He has more than 10 years of working experience. His research interests include 3D imaging, medical imaging, brain sciences and visual surveillance. Currently he is affiliated with Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR) at UTP. He is also senior member IEEE.

Abstract:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), a leading cause of functional disability worldwide, is a mental illness. The clinical management of MDD patients has been challenging that includes an early diagnosis. The electroencephalography (EEG)-based studies for diagnosis have shown less clear clinical utilities and warrant further investigations. This research advocates the use of EEG as a biomarker for early diagnosis for unipolar MDD patients. More specifically, an improved feature selection and classification system involving pre-treatment EEG data termed as Intelligent Treatment Management System (ITMS) has been presented. The ITMS involved an integration of the most significant EEG features as input data. The study hypothesized that the MDD patients and healthy controls could be discriminated based on integrating the EEG alpha asymmetry and synchronization likelihood (the EEG measure to quantify the brain functional connectivity). The method helped during diagnosis of MDD patients and was termed as ITMS for diagnosis (ITMS-diagnosis). The proposed ITMS for depression includes a general machine learning (ML) framework for EEG feature extraction, the selection of most noteworthy features that could give high-performance classification models such as the logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM) and naïve bayesian (NB) classifiers. Moreover, the proposed methods have been validated with EEG data involving 34 MDD patients (medication-free) with a confirmed diagnosis of depression and a group of 30 age-matched healthy controls. In addition, the proposed method was validated with 10-fold cross validation (10-CV). Consequently, the EEG features for diagnosis such as the power of alpha band, alpha interhemispheric asymmetry, and synchronization likelihood were extracted from the frontal and temporal regions. The features were found significant for both the MDD diagnosis. Furthermore, the proposed SVM method exhibited diagnosis accuracy = 98.8%, sensitivity=98.6%, specificity=99.4%, and F1-score=0.98. In conclusion, the classification results have proven the proposed ITMS useful for diagnosis of unipolar MDD patients.

Biography:

Soumen Acharya is a Consultant at National institute of public co operation and child development, New Delhi.

Abstract:

 A survey of 100 households was conducted on Santhals of Ranibandh block of Bankura district of West Bengal, India. In order to gather information on the socioeconomic aspects, all the members of each household were interviewed. In addition, 100 randomly selected ever-married women were interviewed to collect information on their reproductive profile. Data were collected from 18 villages of Ranibandh block of Bankura district, West Bengal, using multistage random cluster sampling method. Household survey consist information about Primary occupation, Pattern of house, position of kitchen and sources of fuel. Subjects were interviewed to obtain information regarding their Dietary intake, Smoking and Drinking habits and Morbidity pattern. Interview technique was used to gather information from selected ever married women concerning their reproductive profile, consisting Age at menarche, Age at menopause (where applicable), Age at first child, Age at marriage, Status of their children and Number of total children.The drinking habits and smoking habits were seen in man and women . In statistical analysis, Mean and Standard deviation were estimated for Ageof drinking and smoking , Age at menopause, Age at first child and Age at marriage using computerized statistical software, SPSS and MS Excel. Additionally, frequency distribution of Primary occupation, various housing characteristics, dietary habits, Smoking and Drinking habits, Morbidity pattern, Age at first child, Status of children and Number of total children were calculated,

Biography:

Jeewaranga Gunasekera is following his residency in Community Medicine (Public Health). His experience and exposure in mental health / psychiatry services in civil war affected north of Sri Lanka made his public health interest towards mental health and psychiatric services in a community approach. Combining with his other interest in occupational health services, he made recommendations to the mental health unit of ministry of health on worker welfare in psychiatric nursing. He is a reformist and looking forward for a career in public health activities related to occupational health in the country

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Work stress among nurses in psychiatric care is considered an important occupational health problem due to the nature of the services provided.  However, studies on work stress in this study group is scarce in Sri Lanka. An understanding of such factors could greatly help in designing policies related to mental health and occupational health. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in the three in-ward psychiatric facilities in capital Colombo District namely, National Institute of Mental Health, National Hospital of Sri Lanka and Colombo South Teaching Hospital. The entire population (N=345) was given a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire composed of two parts; validated Job Content Questionnaire and questionnaire on correlates. Prevalence of Work Stress was measured using two indices as described by Karasek in the dynamic job strain model, namely; ‘High Job Strain’(HJS) and ‘Iso-strain’(IS). Findings: The response rate was 89.5%(N=309). Prevalence of HJS and IS was 37.2% and 21.4% respectively. Factors significantly associated with HJS were; being single (OR=1.84, 95%CI=1.15-2.95), working more than 48 hours weekly (OR=1.71,95%CI=1.05-2.78), violence by patients (OR=3.45,95%CI=1.81-6.57), verbal abuse by patients (OR=3.11, 95%CI=1.80-5.39), mental health concerns (OR=2.68,95%CI=1.595-4.40), stigma (OR=2.21,95%CI=1.24-3.94), lack of assistance at work (OR=4.56,95%CI=1.68-12.27), difficulty in obtaining leave (OR=2.98, 95%CI=1.48-6.00), inadequate welfare facilities (OR=1.62,95%CI=1.01-2.59) and poor work recognition (OR=2.89,95%CI=1.68-4.96). Conclusion & Significance: The prevalence of HJS was significant among nurses. It was comparatively higher than the prevalence values obtained among other occupations. More than ten factors  were identified as increasing the risk of High Job Strain where Iso-strain was associated with five factors. Some factors that are associated with HJS were not associated with IS indicating that positive social support could counter the negative impacts of work stress. Administrative programmes to prevent and reduce work stress among nurses are to be studied in detail. 

Biography:

Felicia Johnson is a best selling author, international speaker, youth and mental health advocate, and child abuse survivor. Felicia Johnson works in Atlanta with the Highlands Institute and volunteers with Youth Villages Inner Harbour as a Personality Disorders Awreness Network (PDAN). Johnson was nominated for the Gutsy Gals Inspire Me Award of 2014 and Her has been nominated for Georgia Writer's Association Author of The Year Award. She loves ice cream and seeing her little sister smile.

Abstract:

Author and mental health advocate, Felicia Johnson, joins us to discuss her own experience in dealing with a loved one suffering from child abuse, depression and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Inspired by her own life story and the journey of her childhood friend, Felicia has authored the novel, Her, which is the story of a young girl dealing with BPD. Through her book, Felicia helps to bring understanding of BPD within reach of many young people and families afflicted by it and continues to help many come to terms with mental health issues they face.  Johnson brings remarkable insight and understanding to an illness that affects 1 -2 % of the population and wreaks havoc on the lives and relationships of young men and women.  As a survivor of child abuse and one who deals with mental illness in her personal and work life, Felicia is very involved in efforts to end the stigma of mental illness. She has worked for nearly 10 years in the mental health field. 

Biography:

Rodrigo Chiavaro da Fonseca is a medical student, interested in research since the beginning of college. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He is also teaching as monitor in “Promotion and Protection of Elderlys and Adults’ Health” class since 2016, August. Rewarded with the Award of Best Oral Presentation at the 36^th Scientific Week of HCPA in 2016.

Abstract:

Obtaining central nervous system tissue is essential for neurobiological research in mental health. There is a growing demand for the availability of human brain tissue, with greater interest in using these tissues for investigation of basic biological processes associated with mental illness. In the current scenario, however, brain tissue biobanks dedicated to psychiatric disorders are extremely scarce. Little is known about organ donation for research. The main reasons and facilitators found for donation to biobanks are: 1) the desire to help others; 2) open dialogue within the family about the organ donation process; and 3) a desire to contribute to medical progress.Our objective is to describe the frequency of brain tissue donation for research purposes by families of individuals that committed suicide.We included all requests for brain tissue donation to a brain biorepository made to the families of individuals aged 18-60 years who had committed suicide between March 2014 and February 2016. Cases presenting with brain damage due to acute trauma were excluded.Fifty-six cases of suicide were reported. Of these, 24 fulfilled the exclusion criteria, and 11 others were excluded because no next of kin was found to provide informed consent. Of the 21 remaining cases, brain tissue donation was authorized in nine (tissue fragments in seven and the entire organ in two). The sample was composed mainly of men, with a mean age of 39 years. Those responsible for providing informed consent were most often siblings, followed by the children of the tissue donor 

Biography:

Simon Gillard was a police officer for more than fifteen years, before being invalided out of the force with PTSD. He is now an advocate and educator for others with PTSD, depression, anxiety. Simon lives in Sydney with his wife and three children. His first book, Life Sentence, was released by PRH in May 2017.

Abstract:

My presentation is an informative session around Post Tramuatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression education from a lived experience point of view. As a former NSW Police Detective Sergeant who formed PTSD and depression due to work related trauma, my presentation is applicable to all emergency services, military, mental health professionals and the wider community.I discuss the stages of PTSD and depression and how a sufferer wears a mask, why they wear a mask and how a sufferer compartmentalises trauma. Due to external circumstances, a PTSD sufferer can be forced to mask their condition due to fear of career loss, stigma attached, or fear of retribution. 

Biography:

Abstract:

Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) continues to be an under-recognized risk for suicidal ideation, attempt as well as completion of suicide. Suicidal ideation and attempt in HIV/AIDS is not only a predictor of future attempted suicide and completed suicide. It also reduces quality of life and lead to poor adherence to ART. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal ideation and attempt among people living with HIV/AIDS at Zewditu Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. An Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-positive patients attending HIV care at Zewditu Memorial Hospital. Systematic random sampling technique was used to recruit 423 participants from April to May 2014. Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to collect data. Multivariable logistic regression was computed to assess factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt.A total of 417 people living with HIV/AIDs were interviewed with a response rate of 98.6%. Two hundred forty-three (58.3%) of the participants were females. Suicidal ideation and attempt were found to be 22.5% and 13.9% respectively. WHO clinical Stage of HIV (AOR = 6.55, 95% CI: 2.35-18.20), not on HAART (AOR=2.49, 95% CI: 1.07-5.07), depression (AOR=2.45, 95%CI: 1.45-4.12), family history of suicidal attempt (AOR=2.25, 95%CI: 1.01-5.03), and perceived stigma (AOR=1.76, 95%CI: 1.02-3.03) were associated with suicidal ideation. WHO clinical stage (AOR=10.98, 95%CI: 3.56-33.79), being female (AOR=4.48, 95% CI: 1.85-10.81), not on HAART (AOR=3.44, 95% CI: 1.33-8.89), use of substance (AOR=3.39, 95%CI: 1.32-8.73) and depression (AOR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.07-3.87) were associated with suicidal attempt.

Biography:

Begum ENGUR has completed her BSc Psychology degree in Istanbul with high honor and as an International Baccalaureate Scholarship student. During the undergraduate years, she served as volunteer and did internships in various CAMHS settings. In addition to the works, she completed numerous trainings, earned certificates from institutions worldwide in the same area of interest. After completing BSc degree, she completed her MSc Child Adolescent Mental Health at King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience. During MSc, she completed her clinical placement as a trainee psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS - Conduct, Adoption and Fostering Team. There, she worked with adopted/fostered children having emotional, behavioral difficulties, anxiety disorders, pervasive developmental disorders, attachment disorders, traumatic stress and got trained & worked on parenting intervention. Some of her academic works has been published in various international journals and her MSc dissertation as a book by Scholar’s Press

Abstract:

Anorexia is, simply stated, starving you to death. It comes from an obsessive fear and a desperate desire to maintain control over that fear. The ultimate symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa include refusal to maintain minimally normal body weight for corresponding height, body type, age and activity level; intense fear of weight gain or being fat; feeling fat or overweight despite dramatic weight loss; loss of menstrual periods in post pubescent women and girls; excessive exercise & restrictive eating (or binge and purge type); extreme concern with body weight and shape.‘ Every holiday it was always the same. Endless, insipid observations about her appearance- how big she’d become, how tall she was getting. And then last year that comment by her uncle, spoken in a whisper when no one else was around, about how much weight she’d gained. She shivered in disgust every time she thought of it.I was thinking about food or about what I’d just eaten or what I was just about to get rid of every minute of every half hour of every day. It was all consuming. That is the obsession of an eating disorder. It takes over your life; it took over my life. The cost has been enormous.’’

Biography:

Aakriti Gupta is a PhD scholar from Delhi University, India. She is expertise and passion in the area of micronutrient deficiencies. She has worked extensively in the area of nutritional status of vascular dementia amongst geriatric subjects. She has previously worked in various national level research projects with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in the area of Vitamin D deficiency, Pediatric Metabolic Syndrome and Geriatric Nutrition. She has several publications in indexed journals in diverse topics. She has written a chapter on Nutrition and Health in an esteemed textbook of community medicine for postgraduate students.

Abstract:

Introduction: Vascular dementia (VaD) has been shown to have a detrimental effect on the nutritional status of the geriatric population. Whereas, malnutrition has been suggested as an important risk factor for onset and progression of VaD. There is little published data regarding nutritional status of geriatric population suffering with VaD. Hence, the present study was conducted.Method: A hospital based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the year 2014- 2015 in New Delhi. A total of 48 subjects suffering with VaD confirmed as per NINDS AIREN criteria, aged 55 years and above were enrolled. Data was collected on socio-demographic profile, clinical profile of vascular disease risk factors, mini nutritional assessment, dietary intake (24hr food record and food frequency questionnaire), anthropometric profile from all the subjects.Results: We found that 69% (n=33) of the subjects were at risk of malnutrition. Subjects with moderate VaD had significantly worse nutritional status (p<0.01) as compared to the subjects with mild VaD. With increasing severity of VaD, the nutritional status of the subjects declined significantly (p<0.01). Subjects with moderate VaD had lower nutrient intake and adequacy for all nutrients than subjects with mild VaD.

Biography:

Abstract:

This research was carried out to find out the effect of Cognitive Restructuring on Attitude towards School and academic performance among NCE students in Kaduna State. Pretest-posttest quasi experimental design was used and eight therapy sessions for Cognitive Restructuring was adapted for the study. Three objectives were applied and two hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Using Stratified sampling technique, fifty (50) participants were randomly selected from the population of 3815 NCE I students of 2015/2016 academic session, Anderson Attitude towards School Instrument Adapted (AATSIA) and modified was used for the data collection while Descriptive Statistics, PPMC and t-test were employed for the data analyses. The results show that cognitive restructuring has significant effects on attitude towards school (t=6.276, p=.000) and there was no difference between attitude towards school between male and female students with (t=1.714, p=.536). Therefore, it was recommended that educational institutions through the support of their owners should provide counselling psychologists who can make use of cognitive restructuring package to change attitude of students towards school so as to encourage effective school learning. 

Biography:

Sandy Joy Weston M.Ed. is the owner of Weston Fitness in Philadelphia. She recieved her Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Temple University, and achieved her Bachelor of Science in Dance from West Chester University. Starting as a premiere personal trainer for stars like the 76ers and Flyers, she has now expanded her business to include 8 corporate fitness sites, has a growing blog, book. She speaks all over the world, appearing in magazines, newspapers, and on Television and Radio shows regularly. Sandy lights up a room with her personality and simple system for achieving any goal.

Abstract:

“Train Your Mind, Body Will Follow” takes complicated subjects about the brain and body and breaks it down. From her experience as NBC10 Philadelphia’s Fitness expert, and coaching members of her gym to athletes, Sandy is able to help a wide-range of audiences tap into the power of their mentality. By fusing her expertise on kinesiology and positive psychology, she has created a system which helps her audience cultivate awareness and personal motivation through power statements.The formula was created in collaboration with Professors from Temple University’s Kinesiology Department, and The University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Department to address the way the mind and body function both separately and together. The components of the presentation, such as the creating power statements, and tracking personal progress are designed to take between 1-3 minutes per day, making it possible for anyone to adapt to this method of positive thinking. In the same way physical therapy patients work on moving certain muscles, they are working to train their brain on reconnecting the association to these muscles, as well. We are training our brain to create action plans through affirmations and cultivating positive habits.This system is designed not to over-complicate things, but present these ideas in a manner that appeal to our innate craving for action. Not only is the awareness of the mind-body connection shown to make us happier, but the fact that we can tap into our motivations through this connection and increase our abilities to meet our goals, as well.

Biography:

Christina Chen is a Ph.D. Candidate in Neuroscience at the University of Southern California based in Los Angeles.  She has presented her research at many international scientific conferences and published peer-reviewed articles on sex differences in autism spectrum disorders.  Her current interests include examining the brain structure of boys versus girls with autism exhibiting language deficits and restricted repetitive behavior.

Abstract:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition associated with communication deficits.  Previous studies have examined the relationship between left superior temporal gyrus and receptive language in children with ASD [1].  However, little is known about the neural substrates behind verbal fluency in boys with ASD.  Our goal is to examine the brain regions involved in verbal fluency in boys with ASD, relative to typically developing (TD) boys. Methods: Five research institutions were involved in data collection: USC, UCLA, Seattle Children’s Institute, Harvard, and Yale.  The sample included 52 boys with ASD and 42 TD boys, ages 7 to 17. Diagnosis was based on the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised [2]and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-II [3].  Verbal fluency was defined as one’s ability to formulate sentences, evaluated by the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals Scale [4].  Freesurfer [5]was used to determine brain surface area for 146 regions extracted from the Destrieux atlas [6].  Regression analyses were performed in each subject group to establish the brain areas that predict verbal fluency.The left straight gyrus (p=.003) and transverse temporal sulcus (p=.006) were significantly related to formulated sentence scores in boys with ASD.  The right temporal plane of superior temporal gyrus (p=.002) and posterior segment of lateral sulcus (p<.001) as well as the left inferior occipital gyrus and sulcus (p=.002) and transverse temporal sulcus (p=.009) were significantly associated with formulated sentence scores in TD boys.  Conclusion: Boys with ASD relied on the left hemisphere, while TD boys relied on both the right and left hemispheres for verbal fluency, suggesting that verbal language laterality may depend on diagnosis.  Furthermore, TD boys appeared to depend more on visual and auditory brain regions to orally express themselves, compared to boys with ASD.  

Biography:

Murilo Martini is a medical student at UFRGS. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He also taught as monitor in “Fundamentals of Microbiology”, “Medical Histology” and “Medical Physiology” classes.

Abstract:

According to WHO, about 800.000 people commit suicide every year. The elderlies have the highest rates of suicide in many countries. Also, men have a higher suicide rate than women. It is not known yet how the proportion of men and women behaves according to age group. In face of that, our objective is to verify Brazil’s suicide rates, stratify by sex and age group, and analyze their variation throughout time, utilizing data from DATASUS, from 2000 to 2014.In 2014, 10.653 suicides were notified in Brazil. Suicide rate is 3,86 higher among men (8,41) when compared to women (2,18). An attenuation of this ratio is observed in ages between 45 and 59 years old, due to an elevation of women’s suicide rate, whose highest rates are in this age group. In the elders, we observe the highest tendency to dissociation: In women, the suicide rate remains stable – tending to decline in the age group of 80+. On the other hand, men present progressive elevation after 65 years old, reaching a peak of 18,22 in 80+ age group.

Biography:

Murilo Martini is a medical student at UFRGS. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He also taught as monitor in “Fundamentals of Microbiology”, “Medical Histology” and “Medical Physiology” classes

Abstract:

The bereavement period is associated with elevated risk for the onset of trauma related psychiatric disorders, especially when following unexpected and violent death. The sudden loss of a loved one can also be linked with higher levels of grief.The course of illness and psychiatric features following a traumatic loss by suicide of a loved one are illustrated in a single case report.The case presented demonstrates how the traumatic event of losing a loved one by suicide triggered a series of psychiatric symptoms such as insomnia, depression, panic disorder, along with work impairment and difficulty to live by oneself, all of which persisted for over a year. Conclusions: This case study indicates that after suicide a person can develop severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder via many factors that operate in the situation, indicating the need of a proper mental health management following suicide.

Biography:

Rodrigo Chiavaro da Fonseca is a medical student, interested in research since the beginning of college. Today he is working in multiple projects, such as “Evaluation of Biochemical and Molecular Parameters of the Brain and their Clinical Correlations in Individuals Who Committed Suicide”, “Brazil’s Suicide Rate from 2000 to 2014 Stratified by Genre and Age” and “Hospital Waste: Is it possible to minimize the environmental impact of a big university hospital?”. He is also teaching as monitor in “Promotion and Protection of Elderlies and Adults’ Health” class since 2016, August. Rewarded with the Award of Best Oral Presentation at the 36th Scientific Week of HCPA in 2016.

Abstract:

Biography:

Abstract:

80% of elementary school students have been bullied both of physically and mentally and the majority occur in the classroom. Indonesia currently in second rank after the Japanese in the case of bullying or violence against children in schools (Indra, 2015). Data Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) shows that the graph of bullying cases in Indonesia has increased since 2007, approximately 40% of students aged 13-15 years in Indonesia reported having been physically assaulted during the last 12 months in their school.The purpose of these research is to mapping of student bullying at public elementary school in Samarinda by using epi info, 2016. Descriptive study to analyze the pattern distribution of school bullying in Samarinda. The location of this study is in Samarinda, where respondents came from 30 public elementary schools in 10 districts. Determination of primary schools to questionnaire determined by local UPTD. The data were processed using Epi Info on the menu help Epi Map. The number of respondents who obtained consisting of 1,491 male and female students. The distribution of the numbers of school bullying was loaded into Samarinda’s map that is divided into 10 districts. Map depicts figures based on chloropeth and dot density per area. Perpetrators of school bullying reaches 544 children and 769 victims of school bullying. districts with the highest offender is Samarinda cities namely 43.50% and districts with the highest casualties are welcome is 57.50% The formation of team competent anti school bullying can be done by the school in order to oversee the incidence of school bullying.

Biography:

Dr. Anne Mantini is a Scientist in the Centre for Urban Health Solutions of St. Michael’s Hospital and consultant to the UNICEF Equity and Access Division Her research program examines public health initiatives and the mental health of refugees, children and youth, women. In particular, she examines how Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma exposure impact on these communities, its treatment through community intervention and training of healthcare providers. The intersection of individual, family, community, policy factors and developmental influences supporting intersectoral interventions, is central to her research.

Abstract:

Biography:

Wai Yee Mak is a final year DHSC (Doctor of Health and Social Care) part time student in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, the University of West of England Bristol, UK.  He is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, experienced in community psychiatric nursing for more than 20 years in Hong Kong.  His current research interests are Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Literacy and Stigma.

Abstract:

Many general registered nurses could lack the mental health competencies to identify and treat mental disorder.  Nurses and nursing students view people with mental illness negatively.  Therefore, additional education is required for nursing students.  This study aimed to explore the impact of providing the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training to general nursing students and to evaluate their Mental Health Literacy (MHL) and attitude toward mental illness. This is a single site, parallel pilot RCT.  Seventy nursing students randomly assigned to intervention (MHFA plus Usual Education Practice, UEP) or UEP alone.  MHFA is the education programme and UEP is the clinical placement.  The primary outcome was the vignette questionnaire in MHL, secondary outcomes included attitude.  Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention and 6-month follow-up.  Intention to treat and mixed methods were examined. Repeated measure ANOVAs suggested a strong time effect for MHFA group with partial eta-squared = 0.14 from baseline to post-intervention and significant time effect from post-intervention to 6-month follow-up for attitude.  Friedman tests indicated that order effects might influence three vignette responses.  The ANOVAs also supported the attribution model on controllability and dangerousness.  In beliefs about treatment, six categories were grouped as professional, pharmacological intervention, psychiatric assessment, therapeutic communication, problem-solving skills and psychosocial intervention.  Both quantitative and qualitative data concluded the primary outcome variables were statistically non-significant because of random error.

Biography:

Dr Gemma Buston is a PGY3 doctor from the UK. She recently completed a postgraduate diploma in Medical Ethics and Law and is due to commence Psychiatry training in Australia in autumn 2017. 

Abstract:

The Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice provides a definition of mental illness as “any disorder or disability of the mind”.This vague definition leaves healthcare professionals with a large amount of flexibility when diagnosing a mental illness. While the Code of Practice recognises that presence of a “mental disorder does not necessarily mean that a patient lacks capacity to give or refuse consent”, section 63’s lack of consideration for consent demonstrates disregard for the patient’s autonomy: “The consent of a patient shall not be required for any medical treatment given to him for the mental disorder from which he is suffering…if the treatment is given by or under the direction of the approved clinician in charge of the treatment.”This author reviewed several cases brought before the UK courts regarding the implementation of section 63: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust vs RC; Tameside and Glossop Acute Services Trust v CH; St George’s Healthcare Trust v S; R (on the application of B) v Ashworth Hospital Authority; B v Croydon Health Authority; R v Collins and Anor; and An NHS Trust vs Dr A.The review raises several issues including: the lack of clear definition of “mental illness”, its symptoms and consequent “medical treatment”; the use of section 63 to overrule pregnant patients; and the difficulties encountered when deciding whether a patient is experiencing mental illness or merely engaging in a political protest.In all cases reviewed, the overwhelming finding was that the courts always agreed with the doctors. While emphasis on patient choice and respect for patient autonomy is commonplace within medical practice, mental health practice seems to be lagging behind. As long as mental health law favours doctors’ opinions over the opinions of patients with a mental health diagnosis, such patients will be placed at a significant disadvantage.

Biography:

Aamir Saeed Malik is an Associate professor in Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP). He received his BS in EE from Pakistan while MS and Ph.D. from Republic of Korea. He has more than 10 years of working experience. His research interests include 3D imaging, medical imaging, brain sciences and visual surveillance. Currently he is affiliated with Centre for Intelligent Signal and Imaging Research (CISIR) at UTP. He is also senior member IEEE.

Abstract:

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), a leading cause of functional disability worldwide, is a mental illness. The clinical management of MDD patients has been challenging that includes an early diagnosis. The electroencephalography (EEG)-based studies for diagnosis have shown less clear clinical utilities and warrant further investigations. This research advocates the use of EEG as a biomarker for early diagnosis for unipolar MDD patients. More specifically, an improved feature selection and classification system involving pre-treatment EEG data termed as Intelligent Treatment Management System (ITMS) has been presented. The ITMS involved an integration of the most significant EEG features as input data. The study hypothesized that the MDD patients and healthy controls could be discriminated based on integrating the EEG alpha asymmetry and synchronization likelihood (the EEG measure to quantify the brain functional connectivity). The method helped during diagnosis of MDD patients and was termed as ITMS for diagnosis (ITMS-diagnosis). The proposed ITMS for depression includes a general machine learning (ML) framework for EEG feature extraction, the selection of most noteworthy features that could give high-performance classification models such as the logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM) and naïve bayesian (NB) classifiers. Moreover, the proposed methods have been validated with EEG data involving 34 MDD patients (medication-free) with a confirmed diagnosis of depression and a group of 30 age-matched healthy controls. In addition, the proposed method was validated with 10-fold cross validation (10-CV). Consequently, the EEG features for diagnosis such as the power of alpha band, alpha interhemispheric asymmetry, and synchronization likelihood were extracted from the frontal and temporal regions. The features were found significant for both the MDD diagnosis. Furthermore, the proposed SVM method exhibited diagnosis accuracy = 98.8%, sensitivity=98.6%, specificity=99.4%, and F1-score=0.98. In conclusion, the classification results have proven the proposed ITMS useful for diagnosis of unipolar MDD patients. 

Biography:

Abstract:

Globally there are 2.1 million HIV infected adolescents. Mortality due to AIDS related illnesses among adolescents remains unacceptably high, with 120,000 deaths recorded in the year 2013. The trends over the years show that this is increasing, being the only age group with an upward trend in mortality. Kenya is amongst those six countries worldwide that contributes about half of the deaths due to AIDS related illnesses among adolescents. Kenyan adolescents living with HIV face numerous challenges; key amongst them being HIV status disclosure, stigma &discrimination, and adherence to medication. HIV infected adolescents engage in risky sexual behaviors, poly-substance abuse and have been shown to have higher prevalence of depression compared to their HIV uninfected counterparts.

Tracking psychosocial adversities and behavioral outcomes in young people living with HIV provide us with unique insight into developing curative and preventative interventions and allow us to rethink pathways to various services and outreach implementation gaps. Our study highlights HIV associated psychosocial adversities and stresses in the lives of the adolescents visiting the specialist clinic at KNH. We collected extensive survey data mapped on HEADSS domains covering – Health, Education, Alcohol and Drugs, Sexuality functioning of 270 adolescents from ages 10-19 years. While we know our sample participants are in some ways more protected in comparison to others in rural, more remote and in greater poverty context, there are nevertheless critical social determinants and psychosocial adversities that underpin this vulnerable group of young adults. We focus on: food insecurity and household hassles, depression, educational challenges including poor attendance, poor performance, poor social support and attitudes to psychoactive substances, sexuality and disease care that compromise the long term wellbeing of the adolescents. We find that adherence and disclosure rates in the clinic were highly promising however we deliberate upon the profile of young people who are not disclosed to and have challenging family environments. In this sense the paper builds on clusters of participants with vulnerabilities and challenges and discusses how we can address these adversities and stresses in a comprehensive treatment plan

Biography:

Shafkat is currently doing Ph.D. in Public Health School of Queensland University of Technology. She has also completed her research masters in 2015 from QUT. Her main research focus is environmental aspects of mental health disorders. She is currently exploring the different climatic parameters with other environmental covariates responsible of acute onset of schizophrenia.

Abstract:

Whilst there is growing evidence of seasonality or the role of climatic variables on acute hospital admissions for some noticeable mental health disorders, however it is less documented for schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to assess the evidence for a seasonal pattern of acute episodes of schizophrenia in Queensland, Australia which contains a range of different climate patterns. Daily basis hospital admissions data for the primary diagnosis of schizophrenia were collected from Queensland Health for the period from January 1996 to December 2015. A Poisson regression model was used incorporating a flexible cosinor function to assess monthly excess as well as a seasonal pattern in hospital admissions of schizophrenia after adjusting for trends. The evidence for seasonality was also explored in different subgroups, including socio-demographic characteristics, admission status and psychiatric comorbidities.

Overall, we found a significant seasonal pattern in the monthly hospital admission rate for schizophrenia.  A significant winter pattern was detected with a peak in July (10% increase in monthly mean rate ratio for the period of June-August) in temperate Southeast Queensland. However, other areas of Queensland with distinct climatic feature show different seasonal patterns (e.g. a spring pattern was detected in tropical North Queensland with a peak in October). Hospital admissions were consistently higher among males of 20-39 years, Australian origin and unemployed particularly in winter. It was interesting to highlight schizophrenia in winter among patients without psychiatric comorbidity (57.98%).The study demonstrates evidence towards the seasonality of hospital admissions for schizophrenia in Queensland. Thus, the study can be used towards designing the early interventions and treatment strategies.

Biography:

Bin Zhang has his expertise in maternal and children health care. He is the dean of Wuhan Medical & Healthcare Center for Women and Children. He achieved some awards in maternal and children health care field, such as the second prize of Wuhan scientific and technological progress because of research on health status of women and children in Wuhan, the third prize of Hubei scientific and technological progress because of screening and epidemiology analysis of cervical cancer and breast cancer among 200 thousand rural women in Wuhan. He has also held a number of social positions, such as the Vice-chairman of Hubei Women and Children Healthcare Association, the Vice-chairman of Children Healthcare Special Committee of Hubei Preventive Medical Association, the Vice-chairman of Hubei Children’s Comprehensive Development Association, the Member of Committee of Clinical and Preventive Group of Hygiene Section of Chinese Medical Association (the Special Commission Group)

Abstract:

To understand the effects of different gestational weeks and delivery method on children's psychological and behavioral development. Methods: 5222 children who were treated by Children's Health Care Center in Wuhan Medical & Healthcare Center for Women and Children from January 2013 to December 2013 were recruited as the study subjects. A retrospective investigation based on a self-made children's neuropsychological development questionnaire was carried out on subjects’ mothers. "0 to 6 years old pediatric neuropsychological development checklist (2005 edition)" revised by the Beijing Institute of Pediatrics was used as standard in children's neuropsychological development test. Univariate analysis, spearman correlation analysis and multiple unconditional logistic regression were applied. Results: There was a positive correlation between gestational weeks and children's psychological behavior evaluation, r = 0.170. The overall score of children's psychological and behavioral development showed a tendency to increase step by step in gestational age, even though there was no significant difference between 33W- 34W, but a rapid increase can be seen in the rest of the week. There was another rapid increase in 37W, 39W and continued to reach a peak at 40W. Fetal movement in 35W, 37W, 38W showed a rapid increase tendency till to 38W to reach the peak; for the fine action the booming growth periods were 35W, 37W, 38W; the adaptability was increased steadily except a swift change in 36W. The language ability suffered two rapid growth in33W, the social behavior score showed a relatively stable trend in the 32W-40W but decline after 41W. There were significant differences in the overall development of psychological behavior between cesarean section and natural childbearing children, and in evaluation distribution between cesarean and normal birth children. Conclusion: There is a positive correlation between the gestational age of childbirth and the psychological behavior evaluation of children.