Social Functioning In Patients Research Articles

Correlation between cognitive abilities and social functioning in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Cognitive impairment has been found in all stages and subtypes of multiple sclerosis (MS). It has a broad negative impact on the lives of people with MS independent of physical symptoms. Perhaps the most severe and far-reaching effect is unemployment, which results in extensive personal, social, and financial costs. Cognition has been linked to unemployment in many countries and shown to mediate the effects of disability on employment status.

Neurocognitive features, personality traits, and social function in patients with schizophrenia with a history of violence

Recent literature examining associations between cognitive function, clinical features, and violence in patients with schizophrenia has been growing; however, the results are inconsistent. Reports on social function and personality are limited. These studies are yet to be reflected in risk assessment tools and management plans. The aim of this study is to provide a resource for risk assessment and intervention studies by conducting multifaceted well-established assessments in a large population. Data from 355 patients with schizophrenia (112 patients with a history of violence; 243 patients without a history of violence) and 1265 healthy subjects were extracted from a large database of individuals with mental disorders in a general psychiatric population in Japan. The associations between violence in patients with schizophrenia and intellectual function, cognitive function (memory function, executive function, attentional function, verbal learning, processing speed, social cognition), clinical variables, personality traits, social function, and quality of life (QOL) were analyzed. Compared with healthy subjects, the schizophrenia group had broadly impaired cognitive function and social cognition, and their personality traits showed similar differences as those reported previously. Patients with schizophrenia with a history of violence showed significantly more impaired visual memory function (P = 1.9 × 10−5, Cohen's d = 0.34), longer hospitalization (P = 5.9 × 10−4, Cohen's d = 0.38), more severe excited factor on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (P = 1.6 × 10−4, Cohen's d = 0.47), higher self-transcendence personality construct on the Temperament and Character Inventory (P = 1.8 × 10−4, Cohen's d = 0.46), and shorter total working hours per week (P = 4.8 × 10−4, Cohen's d = 0.53) than those with schizophrenia without a history of violence. New findings, including impaired visual memory, a high self-transcendence personality trait, and shorter total working hours, could be focused on in future interventional research.

Transfer from paliperidone of one-month action to paliperidone of three-month action in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: clinical aspects, pharmacological strategies, therapeutic prediction

To analyze clinical and therapeutic features of the transfer of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders from paliperidone palmitate of one-month action (PP-1M) to paliperidone of three-month action (PP-3M). Data on the psychopharmacological therapy regimens of 677 patients with verified diagnoses of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (F20, F21, F25) treated with PP-3M drugs after PP-1M therapy were studied. The study showed the high efficacy of ultra-long-acting paliperidone therapy in 82.2% of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The unfavorable dynamics of the mental state in patients when transferring from the drug PP-1M to PP-3M was 14.0%, the return to therapy with PP-1M or tablet forms was 3.8%. Successful management of patients on PP-3M was not associated with sex and age, but was correlated with some clinical and therapeutic indicators. The most successful therapy with PP-3M was noted with the earlier appointment of PP-3M mainly as monotherapy, provided the previous stable condition on shorter-acting paliperidone preparations (including tablet forms). Predictors of a favorable prognosis of PP-3M therapy are also diagnostic categories such as paranoid schizophrenia, episodic type of course with increasing or stable personality changes and pronounced affective disorders in the structure of the clinical picture of the disease. The results demonstrate the high efficacy of PP-3M and its significant rehabilitation potential, which allows improving the quality of life and social functioning of patients, as well as optimizing the provision of psychiatric care to this contingent of patients, which is of particular importance in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workshop Compiled

Aims: 1. To orient psychiatrists in understanding the increasing need of support groups for psychiatric disorders for various types of target populations.2. To train psychiatrists to design and structure support groups addressing the different concerns.3. To share tips on the practical logistical & social media aspects of conducting support groups in the Indian context.4. To enhance skills of reaching out to individuals with mental illness and their caregivers. Outline:Support groups or self-help groups for mental health are one of the most common types of research based support available. While qualitative research shows positive evidence and quantitative research shows mixed evidence when it comes to showing favourable effects on the symptoms and the social functioning of patients(1), there is still inadequate effort directed towards researching about and running support groups given the mental health burden and the treatment gap observed in the Indian context. Unfortunately, the processes which impact the recovery processes involvement in self-help groups are not fully understood and hence it stands as one of the major hurdles in being recommended as part of treatment.(2) Researchers and mental health consumer advocates argue that the approach to recovery from mental illness should emphasize not just on the symptoms of the disorder but also on the ‘life-context’ of these individuals.(3) Hence, recovery should be described not merely as some end-point, but a social-psychological process.(4) These trainer-facilitated but member governed groups provide social support and knowledge by interaction with peers probably experiencing similar symptoms and in many ways finding acceptance by their “own”. This important step provides cognitive changes that improve the quality of the stigmatized individual’s life.(5) Peer services allow very high levels of acceptance and understanding which no other professional relationship could possibly reciprocate. (6)The covid pandemic has been mentally exhausting for majority people and has also exacerbated or worsened a lot of psychiatric disorders. During this time, although psychological help was available, it was remote or difficult for everyone to approach and the need for support groups has surfaced. Considering this need, many poorly directed online support groups have mushroomed.Unfortunately in India, there is a paucity of peer support service in providing mental health service to a large extent. Surprisingly, there is no provision of peer support in either government programs like the National Mental Program or the National Health Policy of India considering the fact that it will require a good level of funding and investment. (6)With this aspect in mind, this workshop would include training psychiatrists to design and conduct well-functioning and professionally supervised support groups. This workshop would include presentations, personal experiences of conducting support groups, oral discussions and group activities to empower psychiatrists to tap into this much needed resource for recovery of patients with mental illness. 1. Pistrang N, Baker C, Humphreys K. Mutual help groups for mental health problems: A review of effectiveness studies. American Journal of Community Psychology. 2008;42:110–1121.2. Brown LD, Lucksted A. Theoretical foundations of mental health self-help. In: Brown L, Wituk S, editors. Mental Health Self-Help. Springer; New York: 2010. pp. 19–383. Ralph RO, Corrigan PW. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005.4. Markowitz FE. Sociological models of recovery. In: Ralph RO, Corrigan PW, editors. Recovery and mental illness: Consumer visions and research paradigms. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2005. pp. 85–1005. Jacobs MK, Goodman G. Psychology and self-help groups. American Psychologist. 1989;44:536–545.6. Goutam, Neeti. “IMPORTANCE OF 'PEER-SUPPORT'SERVICES FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.” (2020).

New goals for depression therapy

The review is devoted to the consideration of the effectiveness of treatment of depression, the ratio of symptomatic and functional remission, factors associated with the achievement of high-quality remission and recovery of patients. Currently, between 29 and 66% of patients do not fully recover from antidepressant therapy and have residual symptoms of depression. Persistent depressive symptoms, neurocognitive deficits predict increased risk of relapse, social disability, impair interpersonal relationships, and represent a barrier to functional recovery. The results of a comparative analysis of antidepressants in terms of their effect on the restoration of the functioning of patients with depression are presented. It has been established that the positive impact on the social functioning of patients should be an important criterion when choosing an antidepressant for supporting therapy. Effective therapeutic approaches that maintain symptomatic remission increase the potential for functional recovery.

ДОСВІД ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ШКАЛИ ЗАГАЛЬНОЇ ОЦІНКИ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ДЛЯ ДІАГНОСТИКИ І ПЛАНУВАННЯ ПСИХОТЕРАПІЇ В НАРКОЛОГІЧНІЙ ПРАКТИЦІ

Significant consequences of alcohol abuse give grounds to classify alcohol dependence as a medical and social pathology that poses a danger to society. The number of patients registered in medical dispensaries in Ukraine reaches 1 million. Recurrences of the disease during the year after treatment are observed in 60-75% of patients with alcohol dependence. The problem is exacerbated by the medical and social consequences of alcohol abuse in the form of increased mental and physical illness, trauma, suicide attempts and aggressive behavior, criminal acts. This renders the search for new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of alcohol dependence relevant. The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of using the global assessment of functioning scale (GAFS) to diagnose the dynamics of social functioning of patients with alcohol dependence. The study of the dynamics in the level of general functioning with the use of GAFS in the main and control groups yielded the following results. There was a significant increase in psychological, social and professional functioning in 74.0% of patients in whom a system of treatment and prophylactic measures was applied as compared to 46.7% of patients in the comparison group (χ2 = 6.062, p <0.05). A follow-up study showed that the number of persistent remissions was by 2 times higher in the main group than in the comparison group, 54.0% and 23.3%, respectively (p <0.001).

Clinical and Therapeutic Factors Affecting the Social Adaptation of Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: сurrently, the question remains open about the factors that affect the social functioning of patients with schizophrenia, including the role of negative symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. The aim: to study factors that affect the social functioning of patients with schizophrenia. Patients and methods: 64 in-patient with schizophrenia (mean age 35.9 ± 10.9 years) were examined at the stage of remission. The disease duration was 9.71 ± 6.0 years. The majority of patients suffered from paranoid and hallucinatory-paranoid attacs (43 and 23%, respectively). The study used follow-up, clinical and psychopathological methods as well as psychometric scales: PANSS, SANS, ВАСS, Calgary scales and UKU scales. An integrative indicator was introduced to assess the social adaptation of patients. Results: it is shown that as the duration of the disease increases, the indicator of social adaptation decreases. The presence of side effects of antipsychotic therapy is associated with restrictions on the social functioning of patients, but the use of second-generation antipsychotics contributes to an increase in the level of social functioning of patients. Patients with more pronounced apathetic-abulic disorders, flattened affect, anhedonia-asociality and social isolation are characterized by a lower level of social functioning. Adapted patients differ from maladapted patients by better indicators of auditory-speech memory, motor skills, information processing speed, ability to plan and problem solving behavior. Conclusion: the integrative indicator of social adaptation of patients with schizophrenia is associated with a number of cognitive and negative symptoms, features of antipsychotic therapy and the duration of the disease.

Nutritional Status and Body Composition in Patients Suffering From Chronic Respiratory Diseases and Its Correlation With Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

As part of an individualized intervention to improve the physical, emotional, and social functioning of patients with chronic respiratory diseases in general and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in particular, awareness of the presence and consequences of changes in body composition increased enormously during the last decades, and nutritional intervention is considered as an essential component in the comprehensive approach of these patients. This review describes the prevalence and the clinical impact of body composition changes and also provides an update of current intervention strategies. It is argued that body composition, preferentially a three-component evaluation of fat, lean, and bone mass, must become part of a thorough assessment of every patient, admitted for pulmonary rehabilitation.

Discontinuation and remission rates and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia receiving second-generation antipsychotics: 52-week evaluation of JUMPs, a randomized, open-label study.

AimGlobally, evidence from short‐term studies is insufficient for the guidelines to uniformly recommend a particular antipsychotic(s) for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia. Therefore, long‐term comprehensive evaluation of antipsychotics is required from a social rehabilitation perspective, especially for drugs that have not yet been studied. The Japan Useful Medication Program for Schizophrenia (JUMPs) is a large‐scale, long‐term naturalistic study to present pivotal 52‐week data on the continuity of second‐generation antipsychotics (SGA: aripiprazole, blonanserin, and paliperidone).MethodsJUMPs was an open‐label, three‐arm, randomized, parallel‐group, 52‐week study. Enrolled patients had schizophrenia, were ≥20 years old, and required antipsychotic treatment or switched from previous therapy. The primary endpoint was treatment discontinuation rate over 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes included remission rate, social functioning, and quality‐of‐life scores [Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP) and EuroQol‐5 dimensions], and safety.ResultsIn total, 251 patients received aripiprazole (n = 82), blonanserin (n = 85), or paliperidone (n = 84). The discontinuation rate (P = 0.9771) and remission rates (P > 0.05) over 52 weeks did not differ significantly between the three treatment groups. The discontinuation rates were 68.3%, 68.2%, and 65.5% in the aripiprazole, blonanserin, and paliperidone groups, respectively. Significant improvements (all P < 0.05) from baseline in PSP scores were observed at start of monotherapy, week 26, and week 52 in the overall cohort and blonanserin group and at week 26 in the aripiprazole group. The adverse event profile favored blonanserin.ConclusionAll three SGAs evaluated in this study showed similar treatment discontinuation rates in patients with chronic schizophrenia in Japan.

Effect of community rehabilitation skill on patients with depression

To explore the effect of community depression rehabilitation skill on depressive symptoms and social function of patients with different diagnoses. A total of 74 patients(20 males, 54 females)with depression in Beijing primary care center were divided into rehabilitation group(49 cases, average 51.80 years) and control group(25 cases, average 54.42 years) from August to November 2019.A total of 70 patients in two groups completed the final follow-up study. Patients in the rehabilitation group received depression community rehabilitation skill training for 8 weeks, while patients in the control group received daily community services. The two groups were assessed by the scale at baseline and 8 weeks later. The scales are as follow: basic information form and Hamilton depression scale(HAMD-17) and social disability screening schedule(SDSS), nurses global assessment of suicide risk(NGASR), morisky medication aderence scale(MMAS-8). For counting data χ~2inspection; The t-test for measurement data. Before the intervention, There was no significant difference in HAMD-17, NGASR, MMAS-8 and SDSS total score and each factor score of SDSS between the two groups(P&gt;0.05). Paired t-test showed that after intervention, HAMD-17 total score, NGASR total score, and SDSS factors of social withdrawal, social activities outside the family, activities within the family, family functions, self-care of personal life, relationship and interest to the outside world, sense of responsibility and planning(P&lt;0.05) in rehabilitation group were all significantly lower than before intervention. The rehabilitation skills of depression can improve the depressive symptoms and social function of different kinds of patients, and is suitable for promotion in the community.

Associations between socioemotional alterations, quality of life, and social functioning in multiple sclerosis: A scoping review

The main aim of the present scoping review is to systematically review the available studies that investigated the associations between socioemotional alterations (i.e., social cognition impairments/alexithymia/difficulties in emotion regulation) and both reduced QoL and social functioning in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The articles were selected from the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus databases. The main exclusion criteria were qualitative studies, articles that did not use validated instruments, and studies that did not investigate the association between socioemotional skills and QoL/social functioning in MS. Of the eight studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria, six found significant associations between social cognitive and emotion regulation abilities and QoL/social functioning in patients with MS, while two found no significant relationships particularly between the performance on social cognition tasks and QoL measures. Overall, the majority of findings seem to highlight that socioemotional alterations contribute to impaired QoL and social functioning in MS. However, given the still limited evidence, future studies are needed to replicate and confirm the available results, paying attention to two principal aspects: the use of standardized and ecological tasks for the assessment of social cognition skills and the recruitment of samples involving patients with different types of MS.

Progress on the study of fibroblast growth factors as novel therapeutics in post-stroke cognitive impairment

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most common complications after stroke, which severely affects the daily life abilities and social function of patients. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF), as a regulator of homeostasis, participates in the regulation of cell metabolism and hormone secretion, and can increase cerebral blood flow and promote nerve repair which improves PSCI. Here, we will conduct a review on the typing, characteristics, and mechanism of action of FGF to further understand its function and mechanism in PSCI

Adjuvant Therapies in Metastatic Bone Disease

Bone is a common site of metastatic disease in both solid tumor and hematologic malignancies. Skeletal involvement of cancer and the complications from these metastases can produce significant morbidity including, but not limited to, pathologic fractures and pain, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord or nerve root compression with neurologic compromise. Modern therapeutic advances have been developed towards the preservation of independence and improvement in quality of life, specifically with loss of mobility and social functioning in patients with metastatic bone disease. As such, the management of bone metastases is often complex, requiring an interdisciplinary and multimodal approach among surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. The aim of this discussion is to highlight the current recommendations regarding adjuvant treatments – local and systemic – in metastatic bone disease, including both radiotherapy and pharmaceutical interventions.

Early Data on Long-term Impact of Inotersen on Quality-of-Life in Patients with Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Polyneuropathy: Open-Label Extension of NEURO-TTR

IntroductionPatients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis associated with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) experience deterioration in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as the disease progresses. Findings from the randomized placebo-controlled phase III NEURO-TTR study showed treatment benefit of inotersen, an antisense oligonucleotide, for preserving or improving HRQOL after 65 weeks of treatment. The current analysis examines longitudinal trends in specific aspects of HRQOL, including polyneuropathy symptoms, daily activities, and physical, role, and social functioning in patients with ATTRv-PN receiving long-term treatment in a follow-up open-label extension (OLE) study.MethodsOne-hundred thirty-five patients with ATTRv-PN were enrolled in an ongoing 5-year OLE study following completion of NEURO-TTR. Eighty-five patients received continuous weekly treatment with inotersen in both studies (inotersen-inotersen group), while 50 patients switched from placebo to inotersen at OLE study baseline (placebo-inotersen group). Descriptive analyses of changes in domain scores and item responses through week 104 of the OLE study were conducted for measures of neuropathy-related and generic HRQOL: Norfolk QOL-Diabetic Neuropathy (DN) questionnaire and SF-36v2® Health Survey (SF-36v2), respectively.ResultsFor both inotersen-inotersen and placebo-inotersen groups, all Norfolk QOL-DN and most SF-36v2 domain scores remained stable from OLE baseline through week 104. Differences in HRQOL between the two groups at OLE baseline were sustained through week 104. Analysis of item responses from NEURO-TTR baseline to OLE study week 104 (170 weeks) for the inotersen-inotersen group found no notable increases in the proportion of patients reporting substantial impairments across a wide variety of symptoms, daily activities, and functioning.ConclusionLong-term treatment with inotersen preserved HRQOL for patients with ATTRv-PN for periods of up to 3 years. The gap in HRQOL between those who had previously received inotersen or placebo in NEURO-TTR did not close by week 104 of the OLE phase, indicating the importance of early treatment for maintaining HRQOL in these patients.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers NCT01737398 for NEURO-TTR study; NCT02175004 for OLE studyInfographic

Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) versus Training in Affect Recognition (TAR) in patients with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTraining in Affect Recognition (TAR) is a “targeted” and computer-aided program that has been shown to effectively attenuate facial affect recognition deficits and improve social functioning in patients with schizophrenia. Social Cognition and Interaction Training (SCIT) is a group “broad-based” intervention, that has also been shown to improve emotion recognition, theory of mind (ToM), and social functioning. To date, no study has compared the efficacy of two different social cognitive interventions. ObjectivesWe aim to compare the efficacy of TAR and SCIT on schizophrenia patients’ performance on facial affect recognition, theory of mind, attributional style and social functioning before, after treatment, and three months thereafter. MethodsOne hundred outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomly assigned to the TAR or SCIT condition and completed pre- (T0) and posttreatment (T1) assessments and a 3-month follow up (T2) of emotion recognition (ER-40), theory of mind (Hinting Task), attributional style (AIHQ) and social functioning (PSP). ResultsThe entire sample, receiving TAR or SCIT, showed improvements in theory of mind, attributional style, clinical symptoms and social functioning. This effect was maintained at three-months. The TAR intervention was more efficacious than the SCIT program in improving the recognition of facial emotions (ER-40). The TAR intervention also demonstrated a lower drop-out rate than the SCIT intervention. ConclusionsThere were improvements in social cognition, symptomatology and functioning of patients in the entire sample, receiving SCIT or TAR. Both TAR and SCIT appear as valuable treatments for people with schizophrenia and social cognitive deficits.

The association between smoking behaviour, social cognition and social functioning in patients with a non-affective psychotic disorder: A prospective follow-up study

IntroductionIn patients with psychotic disorders, both tobacco smoking and deficits in social cognition and social functioning are highly prevalent. However, little is known about their relationship in psychosis. The authors sought to evaluate the multi-cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between tobacco smoking, social cognition and social functioning in a large prospective study. MethodsThis study was performed within the Genetic Risk and Outcome of Psychosis (GROUP) Study, a cohort study conducted in patients with non-affective psychosis (N = 1074), their unaffected siblings (N = 1047) and healthy controls (N = 549). At baseline, three years and six years of follow-up, data on tobacco smoking (using the Composite International Diagnostic Review), social cognition (emotion processing and theory of mind) and social functioning were collected. To assess associations between tobacco smoking and social cognition or social functioning, multivariate linear mixed-effects models and multiple linear regression models were used. Bonferroni correction for multiple testing was applied. ResultsA significant positive association was found between smoking and emotion processing (as part of social cognition) in the patient group (estimate = 1.96, SE = 0.6, p = 0.003). However, smoking was significantly negatively associated with participating in pro-social activities compared with non-smoking (estimate = −2.55, SE = 0.9, p = 0.004). Change in smoking behaviour was not associated with social cognition or social functioning in the longitudinal analyses. ConclusionFindings indicate that smoking patients with a non-affective psychotic disorder slightly outperformed their non-smoking peers on a task on social cognition, but participated less in pro-social activities. Commencement or cessation of smoking was not related to social cognition or functioning.

Validation of the German version of the work and social adjustment scale in a sample of depressed patients

BackgroundDepression is one of the key factors contributing to difficulties in one’s ability to work, and serves as one of the major reasons why employees apply for psychotherapy and receive insurance subsidization of treatments. Hence, an increasing and growing number of studies rely on workability assessment scales as their primary outcome measure. The Work and Social Assessment Scale (WSAS) has been documented as one of the most psychometrically reliable and valid tools especially developed to assess workability and social functioning in patients with mental health problems. Yet, the application of the WSAS in Germany has been limited due to the paucity of a valid questionnaire in the German language. The objective of the present study was to translate the WSAS, as a brief and easy administrable tool into German and test its psychometric properties in a sample of adults with depression.MethodsTwo hundred seventy-seven patients (M = 48.3 years, SD = 11.1) with mild to moderately severe depression were recruited. A multistep translation from English into the German language was performed and the factorial validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were examined.ResultsThe confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the one-factor structure of the WSAS. Significant correlations with the WHODAS 2–0 questionnaire, a measure of functionality, demonstrated good convergent validity. Significant correlations with depression and quality of life demonstrated good criterion validity. The WSAS also demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = .89), and the absence of floor and ceiling effects indicated good sensitivity of the instrument.ConclusionsThe results of the present study demonstrated that the German version of the WSAS has good psychometric properties comparable to other international versions of this scale. The findings recommend a global assessment of psychosocial functioning with the sum score of the WSAS.Trial registrationISRCTN identifier: ISRCTN28972230. Date of registration June 26th 2018.

Effectiveness of Online Compassion-Focused Group Therapy on Depression, Anxiety and Chronic Fatigue Severity of Multiple Sclerosis in Female Patients

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (M.S) is the most common debilitating disease that also affects thephysical, mental, and social functioning of patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate theeffectiveness of online compassion therapy on depression, anxiety and chronic fatigue severity infemale patients with multiple sclerosis.Method: The present study was a pre-test, post-test applied and experimental study with a controlgroup. The sample consisted of 30 patients with multiple sclerosis living in Shiraz in 2020 whowere selected by convenience sampling method. They randomly divided into experimental andcontrol groups. Participants were tested on the Depression, Anxiety, and Chronic Fatigue Scales,and an online compassion-based treatment plan was presented to the experimental group in 8 twohour sessions. Descriptive statistics and covariance test were used to analyze the data.Result: Patients showed a significant improvement in the severity of symptoms in all threevariables. The results showed a significant difference in depression, anxiety and chronic fatigueseverity scores between the groups at posttest (P <0.001).Conclusion: Online CFT can be used as an effective therapy to improve mental disorders andmental health of MS patients in case of evidence for proof of effectiveness of CFT. So, onlinecompassion-focused group therapy can reduce the negative psychological consequences of peoplewith multiple sclerosis by reducing negative emotions and increasing a person's attention toimproving their condition.Declaration of Interest: None

Screening of Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study in Georgia.

Cognitive impairment (CI) is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), with a significant negative impact on the occupational and social functioning of patients. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of CI among MS patients in Georgia. Sixty-eight patients with MS attending a neurology outpatient clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia, were enrolled in the study. Cognitive status was evaluated using two screening tools: the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. The overall prevalence of CI in our MS patients was 47%. We found negative associations between cognitive test results and patients' age, disability status, and depression. Lower education, higher scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, and the progressive course of MS were the main predictors of CI in the logistic regression analysis. This is the first study in Georgia to evaluate CI in patients with MS. The prevalence of CI in our study was comparable with those reported in other countries; however, we found greater impairment of the executive system compared to other cognitive domains. In our study, patients who were on continuous DMT showed significantly better performance on the cognitive tests used, indicating possible favorable effect of immunomodulatory drugs on cognition.

Effect of an EmotionRegulation Training intervention on Social Functioning of Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

Effect of an EmotionRegulation Training intervention on Social Functioning of Patients with Psychiatric Disorders