Scientific Program

Day 1 :

Keynote Forum

Prof. Giuseppe Bersani

Sapienza University of Rome

Keynote: Problematic Internet Use in psychiatric patients: a complex evolution of specific diseases symptom profile?

Time : 09:30- 10:10

Biography:

Giuseppe Bersani is Associate Professor, qualified Full Professor, and Chair of Psychiatry of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine of the Sapienza University of Rome, Head of the University Clinical Unit of the Fiorini Hospital of Terracina. Guest Professor of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. He has worked for many years in the fields of the psychiatric clinic, clinical neuroscience, clinical psychopharmacology and addictions, with particular reference to addictions to Novel Psychoactive Substances and behavioral addictions. On these issues he personally organized numerous international conferences. He is the author of 192 articles indexed on Scopus

Abstract:

The use of Internet is a global phenomenon that now affects all areas of private and public life. Although it is commonly acceptedthat it is aimed at increasing general well-being and represents a powerful tool to support the majority of social and work relations,aberrations of its use grow in parallel with its general development.The still not precise definition of Problematic Internet Use includes behavioral addictive behaviors such as internet addiction, online gambling, online shopping, online sexual addiction, etc., which are in themselves areas of pathological conduct. Even the use of the internet for the detection of progressively new and unrelated to the normal circuits of drug addiction substances of abuse is rapidly increasing. The dark web is the preferred location for illegal online pharmacies, as well as other networks linked to antisocial and criminal activities. The different forms of PIU often constitute the only or principal pathological course of people otherwise exempt from defined mental disorders. But recently there is a marked increase of PIU in patients primarily affected by psychiatric disorders, both personality disorders and specific mental disorders such as psychotic disorders, depressive or bipolar mood disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, etc. The use of Internet often produces new ideational contents, alterations of the sense of reality, relational problems or behavioral compulsions in patients in which it often has a strong symptomatic value and can powerfully modify the basic clinical picture, as well as its response to treatments. The emergence of new forms of psychopathology as a result of the meeting of previous mental disorder and PIU seems to be a phenomenon deserving of the greatest clinical, legal and social attention.

 

  • Psychosis

Session Introduction

Shikha Goel

Government Medical College, India

Title: Relationship between Insight and Cognitive Dysfunction among patients with Schizophrenia
Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Unawareness of mental illness has been commonly observed in schizophrenia and has been recognized as a potential barrier to treatment adherence and a risk factor for a range of poorer outcomes. There are some of the potential causes behind poor insight, including deficits in neuro cognition, social cognition, meta-cognition and heightened self-stigma.

The purpose of the study: Study was conducted to look at the relationship of neuro cognition, social cognition with insight in schizophrenia, as there is paucity of research in Indian literature.

Methodology and theoretical orientation: A cross-sectional, single assessment design was used to study 60 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia as per International Classification of Diseases (ICD) – 10 fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector -32b, Chandigarh (INDIA).

Findings: Only one – sixth of the patient had complete insight. Significant cognitive dysfunctions were present in majority of patients in the domain of attention, working memory, mental speed, verbal fluency, category fluency, set shifting, abstraction and intelligence as well as Social Cognition. No association was seen between levels of insight and neurocognitive functions and social cognition.

Conclusion and Significance: In this study, we have found that insight was not associated with any of the cognitive functions.

  • Psychiatry

Session Introduction

Sanah Ghafoor

NHS Grampian

Title: Evaluating the Use of Multi-Disciplinary Team Meeting Sheets in Older Adult & Adult Mental Health in a tertiary psychiatric hospital in NHS Grampian, North Scotland 2019- a completed audit cycle
Speaker
Biography:

Sanah Ghafoor MBBCh MRCPSych is a Core Psychiatry Trainee Year 3 in NHS Grampian. She completed her medical training in Cardiff University, South Wales and became a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in October 2018. Dr Ghafoor is chair of the Junior Doctors Committee in the Royal Cornhill Hospital and co-Rota Master. Dr Ghafoor has published a literature review on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Non Epileptic Seizures in the Royal College of Psychiatrists Newsletter in 2010. Dr Ghafoor is passionate about promoting mental health amongst ethnic minorities and has delivered Mental Health Awareness sessions to the Pakistani Women Association and a regional presentation on Stress & Mindfulness at FOSIS Scotland, Federation of Student Islamic Societies in the UK.

Abstract:

Multidisciplinary care is common practice, although not uniform, throughout the country according to NICE. Practical implementation of multi-disciplinary care is variable across different wards and is vital for effective communication and planning of patient care. Multi-disciplinary team meeting sheets were implemented in the Mental Health Service in NHS Grampian following recommendations from an adverse event report involving a suicide in 2012.  After the initial audit, a further cycle was completed and the loop closed in 2019.  Aims were to evaluate whether attendance at the meeting was multi-disciplinary, evaluate the level of completion of paperwork and to evaluate whether errors are documented appropriately. Method employed included utilising a data collection tool created by the Clinical Effectiveness Team on the Older Adult and Adult Mental Health wards over the course of one week in 2019.Results showed an improvement in the use of MDT sheets across both Older Adult and Adult Mental Health from n=18 to n=78 (a 77% increase), improved written documentation of changes (89% in previous audit vs 99% in 2019), who was responsible for making those changes (61% vs 69%), an improvement in patient identifiable information (67% vs 99%) and written evidence of staff members and designation present at the meeting (89% vs 96%). Areas requiring improvement identified include legibility (94% vs 81%), accuracy of recording errors and signature/designation (94% vs 90%/78% vs 76%) of staff on MDT sheet. The recommendations were discussed at the Audit & Clinical Effectiveness Meeting in the Mental Health Service in NHS Grampian. These included typing/writing in capital letters to improve legibility, providing education via email/at handover on accuracy of recording errors and finally promoting joint medical & nursing responsibility for signing and completing paperwork. Further re-auditing once changes are implemented may be required

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Session Introduction

Sollace Sam Aidoo

RN Ministry Of health Community Nursing DPT, Ghana

Title: Mental Health in Children
Biography:

Abstract:

Identifying mental disorders in children can be tricky for health care providers. Children differ from adults in that they experience many physical, mental, and emotional changes as they progress through their natural growth and development. They also are in the process of learning how to cope with, adapt, and relate to others and the world around them. in most places in Africa, mental health facilities targets adults preventing early detection of mental health in children.

Key words

  • Mental Health in Children
  • Which Mental Health Conditions Are Most Common in Children?
  • What Are the Symptoms of Mental Illness in Children?
  • What Causes Mental Disorders in Children?
  • How Is Mental Illness in Children Diagnosed?
  • How Is Mental Illness in Children Treated?
  • What Are the Side Effects of Treatment for a Mental Illness?
  • What Is the Outlook for Children With Mental Disorders?
  • What Research Is Being Done on Mental Disorders in Children?

Janardhana Navaneedham

NIMHANS, India

Title: Parenting a child with learning disability and their sibling: Between Joy and Sorrow
Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

Background and the objective: Learning disability is a disorder in which basic psychological process involved in understanding or using language, may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, and spell or to do mathematical calculations. Parents, who are unaware about this, may consider their child to be lazy and disinterested. This study is an attempt to understand the experiences of parents in bringing up a child with learning disability.  Methodology: An exploratory research design with qualitative approach was employed to fulfill the objective of the study. An interview guide was developed, and content validated by 5 experts. Five parents were interviewed for the study. Data was analyzed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: The analysis brought out the first hand understanding and experiences of parents. The sub themes were: Identification of early problems, academic difficulties, misconceptions lingering around the problem, emotional and behavioral difficulties, and children creating discrepancy by being intelligent in other aspects  Conclusion: Parents understanding about a child is manifested in different ways while some understood it as a problem; others assume that their child is lazy. Parents also has questions about their child being intelligent and yet unable to study. While parents are trying to understand their child, they battle out many difficulties and questions that come their way.

Keywords: Disability, Parenting, Children with learning disability

  • Mental Illness/Mental Disorder

Session Introduction

F.H.Birbeck

United Kingdom

Title: Somatisation as a presentation in post-traumatic stress disorder, following the Manchester Arena bombing: A single case study
Biography:

Abstract:

Aims and hypothesis
The aim of this study is to report a case in which somatisation was the initial presenting symptom in a child who developed PTSD following witnessing the Manchester Arena bombing on 22nd May 2017.
Background
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition that occurs after experiencing, or bearing witness to a traumatic event. The typical presentation involves the individual reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks or nightmares and avoiding reminders of the trauma to avoid painful emotions. On 22nd May 2017, a lone bomber carried out a suicide attack in the Manchester Arena. The bomber detonated a shrapnel-laden bomb killing 22 people and injuring over 800. Our study examines the case of a previously well 12-year-old girl, who 4 months after falling witness to the Manchester attack, present with symptoms of lower limb weakness, visual loss, vomiting and headaches. Following rigorous medical investigation no organic cause was found and it was only after the development of the typical aforementioned PTSD symptoms, that she was diagnosed with PTSD and received treatment.
Methods
A series of interviews were carried out with the child and her mother. The first wasdone face to face at the initial presentation of the child’s symptoms in the hospital setting. The remaining were done via telephone consultation, occurring at monthly intervals for a duration of 6 months. The interview chelate details on the child’s symptom variety and severity as well has her progress in receiving a diagnosis and treatment.
Results
Interviews with the patient detailed how her physical symptoms persisted in isolation for 3 months following initial presentation. During this time she was unable to attend school, peer relationships broke down and her self care deteriorated. At three months, she developed the more typical PTSD symptoms of flashbacks and nightmares and it was only at this point that she was referred for specialist trauma based therapy and began to improve. The patients mother experienced low mood and developed anxiety and was commenced on an SSRI after seeking help from her GP.
Conclusions
This case demonstrates how a failure to recognise somatisation as an initial presentation / predictor of PTSD can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment, which effects not only the patients quality of life, but that of those close to them too.

  • Psychiatry and Addicitons

Session Introduction

Prof. Anamaria Ciubara

Dunarea de Jos University, Galati, Romania

Title: Selfie Syndrome – A modern addiction
Speaker
Biography:

Certified physician practicing psychiatry at “Elisabeta Doamna” Psychiatry Hospital, Galati, Romania. She is teaching Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences course as Full Hab. Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy within the "Dunarea de Jos” University Galati. Anamaria Ciubara is head of Psychiatry Department and head of PhD Medical School.Anamaria Ciubara is a member of Psychiatric Advisory Committee for Ministry of Health, editor of the „American Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience” and is involved in many research, educational and advocacy projects in psychiatry

Abstract:

With the occurrence and development of social networks and gadget development, new manifestations occurred in the area of mental health. They do not have to be dealt with independently, as they are usually a form of manifestation (symptom) of regular mental disorders, classified by the world psychiatry associations. One of the newly described pathologies is “the selfie syndrome”. Back in March 2014, in Chicago, the American Psychiatry Association agreed that exaggeration in taking selfies is a mental disorder and was clinically diagnosed as “Selfitis”. Three clinical forms of this pathology were defined:

  • Borderline selfitis (manifestation at the edge of normal): taking up to 3 selfies a day without uploading them on social networking sites;
  • Acute selfitis (acute manifestation): taking up to 3 selfies a day and posting each of them online;
  • Chronic selfitis (severe chronic manifestation): uncontrollable urge to take selfies every hour and posting them on social networking sites more than 6 times a day.

Moreover, California State University, following an extensive study, associates clearly the selfie phenomenon with a series of mental disorders such as: attention deficit, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, narcissism (the clinical form), hypochondria, schizoaffective disorder, schizotypal disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, voyeurism and addiction.

The team of psychiatrist and clinical psychologists who did the research draws attention to the fact that the selfie phenomenon has the property of exacerbating the narcissistic behavior in people who suffer from this pathology and clinical manifestation of this disorder in people who suffer from an easy, subclinical form of narcissism.

Going through the currently worldwide accepted definitions, the selfie syndrome must be interpreted at an individual level. This syndrome is mainly encountered in adolescents, which links it closely to the hormonal changes specific to the age and the acute need of defining personality at this age. Unfortunately, the social networking sites organize contests for the most beautiful, most dangerous or most original selfies. This only encourages youngsters to develop the selfie syndrome and expose themselves to dangers. We can find in national and international news, many articles  about deadly accidents during selfie photo sessions: electrocutions on train carts or high-voltage power lines, accidental falls from high buildings, car accidents, etc.

  • Mental Health and Stigma

Session Introduction

Dr. Soma Saha

Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata

Title: A Study on Knowledge of Mental Illness: Focus Group Discussion among Rural Community of West Bengal
Speaker
Biography:

Soma Saha is Associate Professor/ Psychiatric Social Worker and counsellor of family/marital/child therapist in Institute of Psychiatry - A Centre of Excellence in Kolkata. Her professional efforts, great number of seminars and educational activities she participated in, published papers, initiative she has been taking in order to  see the inclusive development of many marginalised populations, case interventions, working with special populations, the subjects of her research work (specialised in Stress, Coping, Personality Factors and Empathy among mental health professionals, Identity of Transgender Children, problem attached with it, working with mental health of tribal populations etc.).  Finished Graduate studies in Social Work, Masters in Social Work, Doctoral in Psychiatric Social Work. Also she is working as editor in EC Psychology and Psychiatry which is an online journal from March, 2018. Also worked as Study- Coordinator (West Bengal) for the largest epidemiological survey in India – National Mental Health Survey (2015-16)

Abstract:

Statement of the problem: Study was conducted to gain the understanding of the caregiver’s needs and their perception of the main challenges and to see the local knowledge and perceptions of symptoms of mental illness. Methodology: Family members of persons with mental illness are participants. They were first screened through adult population. Researcher conducted six focus group discussions within 6 months, with each group comprised of 8–13 eligible caregivers visiting the outdoor who were coming for follow up. Each group sessions conducted for approximately two hours. Group discussions were recorded with consent of the participants. I followed an interview guide that systematically and one by one touched on key areas of knowledge of mental illness, services available nearby, help-seeking patterns (conventional and alternative) and overall information needs and preferences regarding  accessing mental health services. Discussion and recommendations: In depth analysis from FGDs are presented to provide preliminary insights into community knowledge and perceptions of mental health services and access to care. It presents here exploratory and descriptive results occurring commonly through themes in FGDs that have been coded. Preliminary coding is suggestive of some common themes that can help inform researchers when implementing the findings to making of this report. A predominant theme throughout all FGDs was the understanding of mental illness. Medicine was repeatedly mentioned by participants in response to questions on the management of mental illness and in terms of service needs. However, all groups also identified a need for access to individuals with an understanding of mental illness and how to treat and manage it. Participants did not recognise the term ’counsellor’; they had either not heard of it or had heard it but had no understanding of a counsellor’s role in mental healthcare.

 

Day 2 :

Keynote Forum

Gregory Carter

UT Southwestern USA

Keynote: The Underrecognized Potential for Subspecialty Training in Sleep Medicine Among Psychiatric Trainees

Time : 09:30 -10:10

Biography:

Carter is the Program Director of the ACGME accredited University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program.  Dr. Carter initiated this training program in 2002 with psychiatrist Philip Becker and psychologist John Herman in the Department of Psychiatry.  The program has trained a total of 26 fellows, including five psychiatrists and one clinical psychologist. Dr. Carter received his MD, PhD in pharmacology, and neurology residency training at West Virginia University.  He is an Associate Professor of Neurology at UT Southwestern.  Dr. Carter was joined by Dr. Imran S. Khawaja, a sleep medicine trained psychiatrist, in 2015 who re-established the Sleep Center at the VA North Texas Healthcare Center and began to train UT Southwestern sleep medicine fellows at the VANTHS in 2017.

Abstract:

In 2016 there were 39,180 psychiatrists active in the U.S. workforce, of which around 500 were board certified in sleep medicine.  Currently, around 15 psychiatrists per year are entering sleep medicine fellowship training in the U.S. The sleep medicine subspecialty is listed on both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and American Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) webpages among the 9 areas of psychiatric subspecialty training. Familiarity with the sleep medicine subspecialty, however, has not yet spread to psychiatric residents, for unclear reasons. Sleep medicine is a multi-disciplinary subspecialty in which several psychiatrists played significant roles in both early discoveries and the establishment of the specialty. Many sleep disorders have significant overlap with mental illness and generate referrals both to and from psychiatrists.  Mental health providers need a bridge to improved sleep disorder management that sleep medicine trained psychiatrists provide.   Sleep medicine practices, both private and academic, recognize the value of sleep medicine trained psychiatrists assisting in the management of the mental health disorders that are frequently comorbid with common sleep disorders.  Currently, low levels of knowledge exist among psychiatric trainees regarding subspecialty training in sleep medicine and the need for psychiatrists in this subspecialty practice. Apprehensions among psychiatry residents that they would not be welcome in current multi-disciplinary sleep medicine practices need to be assuaged. The practice of psychiatry is interdisciplinary in several areas including medical illnesses, addiction disorders, and disorders of the elderly.  The interdisciplinary practice of sleep medicine promises a high percentage of good outcomes and excellent career satisfaction that should be attracting more psychiatric trainees.

  • Mental Illness/Mental Disorder

Session Introduction

Edna Anab

Maseno University, Kisumu, Kenya

Title: Factors Influencing Knowledge and Attitude among the Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia at Mathari Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya
Speaker
Biography:

Edna has experience in both clinical management and program coordination, having worked with various local health facilities and non-governmental organizations. She is a Registered Nurse (Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health) and a Public Health Specialist (Master’s in Public Health major Epidemiology and Population Health).She has passion for mental health and has insights of various strategies/ approaches employed to enhance implementation of sustainable health programs, whilst advocating for health systems strengthening. Edna played a key role in supporting National and County leadership towards spurring acceleration of the country’s effort to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV and syphilis. She previous worked with Kenya National HIV/STI Control Program (NASCOP) as a PMTCT Technical Advisor on the PMTCT Rapid Response Team and is currently working with AMPATH as a PMTCT Regional Manager.  Edna is adventurous and eager for new challenges

Abstract:

Schizophrenia is a mental disease that affects how a person feels, behaves, and thinks. WHO estimates that 60% of people attending primary care clinics have diagnosable mental disorder. About 51 million people worldwide suffer from Schizophrenia globally. The main objective of the study was to determine factors that influence the knowledge and attitude of the caregivers of schizophrenic patients at Mathari Teaching and referral Hospital. Caregiver’s knowledge facilitates recognition of mental illness and health-seeking behavior. A cross- sectional descriptive study design was carried out to assess factors influencing knowledge and attitude among the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia at Mathari teaching and referral hospital, Kenya. Data was collected using questionnaire and key informant interview. Schizophrenia was diagnosed using diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder (DSM-V-TR) criteria. A total of 303 caregivers visiting the patients with schizophrenia in the wards were selected for study using systemic sampling technique. Pearson correlation coefficient, logistic regression and multiple regression was used to determine the magnitude of the correlation between dependent and independent variables. Most (72%) of the participants did not know the name of the condition which the patient was suffering from. Majority, 164(54.1%) of the caregivers had a positive attitude towards schizophrenia. There was a perfect positive correlation with the length of time the patient had suffered from the condition (.08423 zero order) with the knowledge of the caregiver. From the study finding, there was a perfect positive correlation with age, gender, highest level of education and nature of occupation (.06543, .04186,.0088 and .0039) with the knowledge of the caregiver. There was also a perfect positive correlation with age, gender religion, relationship to client, and nature of occupation (.0054, .0009.0357, .0574 and 0068 zero orders respectively). Study findings indicated a positive correlation between knowledge and the attitude since a caregiver with more knowledge had a positive attitude. The study recommends, treatment literacy classes for caregivers of schizophrenia patients.

 

  • Psychiatry

Session Introduction

Mrs. Allison Sikorsky

Owner of At Your Service Psychiatry, PLLC

Title: Telepsychiatry: Moving Beyond Rural Care To Enhancing the Patient Experience
Speaker
Biography:

Allison Sikorsky is a board-certified psychiatric mental nurse practitioner.  She is the founder and director of At Your Service Psychiatry & Counseling, PLLC, the furthest spanning private telepsychiatry practice in the United States. She graduated from Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.  Allison has over twenty years of healthcare experience.  She spent the last eight years as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in various settings, including community mental health, outpatient, inpatient acute psychiatric units, partial hospitalization programs, psychiatric consultation-liaison services to hospitals, and geriatric psychiatry in long-term care facilities.  She follows her patients from their hospital course into their outpatient after-care.

Abstract:

Telepsychiatry has been around since the 1960s.  It developed out of a lack of providers in rural settings.  Since then, it has expanded into other areas of need, including the Veterans Affairs, prison or jail systems, and inpatient psychiatric hospital coverage.  Telepsychiatry has the potential to expand beyond need and into convenience and enhanced patient and clinician experience.Telepsychiatry may be one small piece of a large puzzle of lowering physician suicide.  As we all know, there are many reasons why physicians and other healthcare professionals do not get psychiatric care.  Physicians have the same rate of bipolar, alcohol use disorder, depression, and anxiety as the general population, but the highest suicide rate of all professions in the United States. The physician suicide rate is multifaceted.  It includes the moral fatigue caused by working in American hospital systems, administrative burden, education debt, and time spent with electronic medical records over patient care.  However, another consideration is their barriers to care: including stigma, lack of private provider, no nearby areas, and hours outside of regular business operation hours. Private telepsychiatry offers physicians, healthcare workers, people of media attention, and anyone else with higher privacy concerns the option to get care.  Private telepsychiatry, with personal electronic medical records, allows clinicians to get care without the fear of having their charts accessed.  Telepsychiatry gives them access to providers outside of their colleague circle.  This talk will be about building a professional-courtesy service-oriented private telepsychiatry practice to reach those healthcare professionals who would not otherwise obtain psychiatric or substance abuse care.  America has many telemedicine restrictions with ever-changing rules and today's psychiatrists and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners have many roadblocks to building a successful telepsychiatry practice. 

Javaria Zahra

Psychologist, UAE

Title: Development and Preliminary Validation of an Indigenous Scale for Assessment of Learning Disabilities
Speaker
Biography:

Abstract:

The present study was carried out to develop a valid and reliable indigenous scale for assessment of Learning Disabilities. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I culturally relevant item pool was generated through a review of literature and conducting interviews with primary school teachers, parents of primary school children, school counselors and school psychologists, and already developed scales of learning disabilities. In phase II, factor structure, internal consistency and validity of the scale was established. Exploratory Factor Analysis was applied to identify the factor structure of 99 items of Learning Disabilities Scale (LDS). Factorial validity was estimated on a sample of 300 students and four factors were explored. These four factors, i.e. Spoken Language, Listening Ability & Cognition, Reading Ability, Writing Skill & Spelling Ability  and Numerical Ability; explained almost 59% of the total item variance and yielded an overall significant Cronbach alpha (α = .98). Criterion related construct validity was established by comparing normal children with those diagnosed with Learning Disabilities. The results showed that LDS significantly discriminates the mentioned groups which proved the validity of the scale. The study holds useful implications for teachers, parents, school counsellors and school psychologists.

  • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Session Introduction

Dr. Yassmine Masri

Lebanon

Title: Suicidality in Young Children; Characteristics and Risk factors
Speaker
Biography:

Yassmine Masri, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, graduated from the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Lebanon, Arab Board Certified Psychiatrist. She is interested in mood disorders of young children, as well as the academic difficulties. Her research interests targeted the stigma in the Lebanese society about children and adolescents’ mental illness.

Abstract:

Very little research has been done on the suicidality in young children, recently this topic has been more looked up, as suicide has been classified as the 3rd leading cause of death among children between 5 and 11 years old. More interest is being put on how young children’s understanding of death, its conceptualization and its irreversibility, as well as the risk factors associated with suicidality in this age group, namely having depression with neurovegetative symptoms, experiencing violent life events or having high irritability. Raising awareness about the risks of suicide in this age group as well as the characteristics of children who attempt suicide or engage in non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors is important in this era. This presentation will discuss the most recent findings about this issue.

 

  • Psychological Evaluation and Assesment

Session Introduction

Dr Anurag Srivastava

Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Title: Interpretations for a new-era Psychoanalysis
Speaker
Biography:

Dr Anurag Srivastava has been teaching and practicing Psychiatry and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy for the past 20 years, with over 650 patients in Individual therapy, and over 50 couples in dynamic marital therapy. He currently heads a Post-graduate training program in Psychiatry, where he teaches psychiatry and Psychoanalytic psychotherapy to Post graduate students in Psychiatry.

 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Interpretations have long been considered the dominant means of producing mutative change in dynamic therapy. Interpretations of the transference have been the mainstay of analytic technique. However, with changing times, fewer clients opt for a frequency of 3 to 5 sessions a week. Most clients only agree to once or twice a week session frequency. In these circumstances, development of a transference neurosis is time consuming and often incomplete Thus there is a need for exploring the efficacy of non-transference-based interpretations as tool for mutative change in therapy Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The material has been sourced from 664 patients seen by the author in psychoanalytic psychotherapy over 18 years from May 1999 to April 2017.  The patients were taken into therapy after assessment and informed consent.  Findings: Non-transferential interpretations seem to be an effective and efficient tool for bringing about mutative change in patients in dynamic therapy across a broad spectrum of diagnoses. Conclusion & Significance: The efficacy of non-transferential interpretations can go a long way in extending the benefits of dynamic therapy to a wide variety of clients in a time and cost-effective manner. This may allow the survival of dynamic schools of therapy in an era of cost-sensitive medical care