S. Vanzetto’s research while affiliated with Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale - (ASST) Vimercate and other places

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant rise in mental health issues was observed. Particularly, children and adolescents have shown a higher risk of developing mental disorders than adults. This study aimed to describe the evolving features of the requests for psychiatric emergency interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic in young people. We conducted a cross-sectional study comparing the number, characteristics, and symptoms of people aged between 12 and 18 years old attending one Emergency Department (ED) for psychiatric issues, considering three different periods: T0 (8 March 2019–7 March 2020), T1 (8 March 2020–7 March 2021), and T2 (8 March 2021–7 March 2022). Total admissions were 220: 99 (45%) during T0, 40 (18.1%) for T1, and 81 (36.8%) for T2 ( P < 0.001). A significant decrease in the mean age from T0 to T1 was found ( P < 0.01). Admissions for psychomotor agitation decreased, while admission due to anxiety disorder and nonsuicidal self-injury raised significantly ( P < 0.05), as for first psychiatric presentation ( P < 0.01). Regarding substance use, a significant reduction was observed ( P < 0.05). The rates of eating disorders ( P < 0.001) and early insomnia ( P < 0.01) increased from T0. These findings highlight the worsening of psychiatric symptoms in the young population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background Work functioning impairment is a key diagnostic and prognostic criterion in patients with psychiatric disorders and work inclusion is a major goal of their therapeutic pathway. Since 2009, the Regional Innovative Program (PIR) TR106, promoted by ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco of Milan in collaboration with other Departments of Mental Health and Addictions (DSMDs) in the town of Milan (Italy), has been developing the employment inclusion of psychiatric patients. Aims The objective of this study is to evaluate its outcomes over 8 years of observation. Method We reported the results of a retrospective epidemiologic analysis on 2,142 interventions on 1,066 patients recruited, investigating PIR TR106 outcomes per year focusing on different subgroups. We focused on ‘positive’, ‘negative’, and ‘other’ outcomes. Results We preliminary calculated job maintenance interventions (5%, 107) and excluded these interventions from the overall. We observed 29 job firing (1.4%) and 15 job resignations (0.7%) as negative results (equal to 2.2% of the total) and 388 job hiring (16.6%), 647 traineeships (31.8%), and 413 work formation (20.3%) as positive outcomes (equal to 68.75%). In other outcomes (29.1%) we found 305 dismissals from PIR TR 106 (15%) and transitory outcomes (14.1%). Job hiring increased from 8.9% in 2012 to 23.8 % in 2019 (p < .001), while the dismissals diminished from 26.7% to 13.3% (p < .001). The effectiveness of traineeships in terms of job hiring increased in the ratio of annual job hiring versus job traineeship (+48.8%). The majority of hired patients (15.1%) were affected by a psychotic disorder. A significant hiring increase was observed in patients with psychotic disorders and personality disorders (p < .005). Conclusions PIR-TR106 represents a territorial employment inclusion program with progressively increasing effectiveness and specificity, as suggested by changes in outcomes during the 8-year observation. The adaptive capacity and sustainability of the intervention are worth further investigation.

A comprehensive handbook covering current, controversial, and debated topics in psychiatric practice, aligned to the EPA Scientific Sections. All chapters been written by international experts active within their respective fields and they follow a structured template, covering updates relevant to clinical practice and research, current challenges, and future perspectives. This essential book features a wide range of topics in psychiatric research from child and adolescent psychiatry, epidemiology and social psychiatry to forensic psychiatry and neurodevelopmental disorders. It provides a unique global overview on different themes, from the recent dissemination in ordinary clinical practice of the ICD-11 to the innovations in addiction and consultation-liaison psychiatry. In addition, the book offers a multidisciplinary perspective on emerging hot topics including emergency psychiatry, ADHD in adulthood, and innovation in telemental health. An invaluable source of evidence-based information for trainees in psychiatry, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals.

Objective Psychiatric disorders burden the peripartum period, often requiring psychopharmacological treatment, including antidepressants. Efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants are influenced by the physiological changes of the peripartum and individual metabolic profiles, which in turn can be modified by pregnancy. The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between antidepressants’ pharmacokinetic profiles during pregnancy and individual metabolic profiles, along with the efficacy of the treatment. Methods In total 87 outpatients with diagnoses of bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder who required antidepressant treatment during pregnancy were recruited. Genotyping analysis of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYPs) individual isoforms was performed. Antidepressants’ blood concentrations and psychometric assessments were collected at five time points. Antidepressants’ cord blood concentrations were assessed at birth. Results Sertraline showed greater stability in plasma concentrations and a lower placental penetrance index. Most of the antidepressants’ concentrations below the therapeutic range were found in women with an extensive/ultrarapid metabolic profile. Antidepressants mainly metabolized by CYP2C19 were less frequently below the therapeutic range compared with antidepressants metabolized by CYP2D6. Conclusions Pregnancy modulates cytochrome activity and drugs’ pharmacokinetics. Genotyping analysis of CYPs isoforms and therapeutic drug monitoring might be used to guide clinicians in a well-tolerated treatment of psychiatric symptoms in pregnant women.

Background: Long-acting injectable paliperidone can improve adherence in psychotic patients and reduce relapses and healthcare resource utilization (HRU). This study compares the effectiveness of the three-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP3M) with the one-monthly formulation (PP1M) and investigates reasons that hinder the use of PP3M in real-world settings. Methods: The authors conducted a three-phase observational study. For subjects recruited from six psychiatric services in Milan, HRU outcomes of PP3M prescription were evaluated through a 12-month mirror-image design (phase 1) and a comparison of HRU of PP1M-only subjects and PP3M subjects during the year prior to PP3M initiation (phase 2). Lastly, they conducted a survey among physicians concerning reasons for not switching to PP3M (phase 3). Results: A total of 119 subjects (61 on PP3M and 58 on PP1M) were included. One year after PP3M initiation, outpatients' visits decreased significantly. Comparing PP3M with PP1M subjects, no significant difference was found in HRU. Perception of patient's unstable clinical condition was the main reason for maintaining PP1M (32.8%), followed by the need for monthly monitoring (19.7%). Conclusion: PP3M initiation was associated with an overall HRU reduction. Subjects switched to PP3M had similar HRU when compared to those who did not, suggesting similar clinical conditions in both groups.

Introduction Poor adherence to treatment is currently stated to be one of the causes of depression relapse and recurrence. Objectives Aim of the present study was to assess potential differences in terms of clinical and socio-demographic characteristics specifically related to adherence to treatment features, medical comorbidities, and substance abuse in a sample of patients diagnosed with Major Depression in an Italian psychiatric department. Methods Patients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of Unipolar or Bipolar Major Depressive Episode, of either gender or any age were recruited from the Psychiatry Department of Luigi Sacco University Hospital in Milan. Main clinical and socio-demographic variables were collected reviewing patients’ medical records. Moreover, adherence to psychopharmacological treatment was assessed using the Clinician Rating Scale (CRS; Kemp et al, 1996; 1998). Adherence was defined as ratings of > or =5 on the CRS. Descriptive and association analyzes were performed, setting the significance level at p<.05. Results 80 patients with a diagnosis of Unipolar Major depressive episode (48.9%) and Bipolar Major Depressive Episode (51.1%) were included. For the purposes of the study, the total sample was divided into two subgroups based on adherence to pharmacological treatment (A+ vs A-). Significantly higher rates of inpatients from psychiatric ward were A- compared to A+ patients (84.6% vs 48.1%, p=.011). A- patients were significantly more unemployed (57.9% vs 23.8%, p=.015), were mostly living in their family of origin (50% vs 21.4%, p=.027), and had fewer years of education compared to A+ subgroup (10.52±3.28 vs 12.2±3.1 years, p=.053). Higher rates of Bipolar Depression diagnosis and a prevalent manic polarity lifetime emerged in A- compared to the A+ group (73.1% vs 42.3%, p=.010; 30.8% vs 3%, p=.011, respectively). Moreover, A+ reported significantly higher rates of depressive prevalent polarity lifetime (72.7% vs 30.8%, p=.011). A- reported significantly higher rates of comorbidity with alcohol or other substance use disorders lifetime (46.2% vs 5.7%, p=.006) and almost one involuntary commitment lifetime (23.1% vs 11.1%, p=.013). Conclusions In our sample adherence to treatments showed significant differences in terms of clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. Low levels of adherence have been associated with higher hospitalization rates, involuntary commitments, greater comorbidity with alcohol or drugs. Our data therefore seem to suggest that less adherence leads to a worse disease course and a worse quality of life. It therefore appears useful to include an assessment of adherence in the clinical practice and implement interventions to improve therapeutic adherence and ensure a better quality of life. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Objective: Limited studies have investigated cannabis use in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), despite its widespread use by patients with psychiatric illnesses. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency, correlates, and clinical impact of cannabis use in an Italian sample of patients with OCD. Methods: Seventy consecutive outpatients with OCD were recruited from a tertiary specialized clinic. To assess cannabis-related variables, patients completed a questionnaire developed for the purpose of this study, investigating cannabis use-related habits and the influence of cannabis use on OCD symptoms and treatments. A set of clinician and self-reported questionnaires was administered to measure disease severity. The sample was then divided into three subgroups according to the pattern of cannabis use: "current users" (CUs), "past-users" (PUs), and "non-users" (NUs). Results: Approximately 42.8% of patients reported lifetime cannabis use and 14.3% reported current use. Approximately 10% of cannabis users reported an improvement in OCD symptoms secondary to cannabis use, while 23.3% reported an exacerbation of anxiety symptoms. CUs showed specific unfavorable clinical variables compared to PUs and NUs: a significant higher rate of lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances, and a higher rate of pre-OCD onset comorbidities. Conversely, the three subgroups showed a similar severity of illness. Conclusion: A considerable subgroup of patients with OCD showed a predisposition towards cannabis use and was associated with some specific clinical characteristics, suggesting the need for targeted consideration and interventions in this population.