Abstract Body

The COVID-19 pandemic with the related containment measures is having a negative impact on the mental health of the general population worldwide. This event has been described as a new form of trauma, which is influencing not only physical and mental health, but also the society as a whole. Among Western countries, Italy has been one of the first severely hit by the pandemic in terms of number of cases and mortality rates. In March, 2020, strictly restrictive measures has been issued in order to contain the spread of the disease. This period has been known as “Phase one” of the national health emergency, where all not necessary activities were closed, almost 30,000 people died and almost 100,000 people were home-isolated. In this context, the COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) network, including ten university Italian sites and the National Institute of Health, has been established in order to promote a national online survey for assessing the impact of lockdown measures on the mental health of the Italian general population. In the COMET survey, it has been included a specific focus on young people, which are expected to be the most vulnerable to the consequences of the pandemic and of the strict containment measures. Findings from this study can be useful to inform national and international associations on the importance to provide adequate support to the mental health of the young people.

Abstract Body

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on the mental health of the general population and its consequences will be long lasting. As already noted in previous epidemics, different factors can moderate the detrimental impact of a traumatogenic event on mental health. In particular, it has been found that people using problem-solving coping strategies, with an adequate social network and supported by family members, have good long-term outcomes and are able to adjust to the detrimental impact of the traumatic event.

The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) network, including ten university Italian sites and the National Institute of Health, has promoted a national online survey in order to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the Italian general population. In particular, the use of Internet and social media, the duration of the exposure to COVID-19 related containment measures, the different levels of post-traumatic growth and the variety of coping strategies adopted have been considered as possible mediators of the resilience styles adopted. In our sample, participants from the general population reported a good level of resilience compared with people with pre-existing mental or physical disorders. This data should be taken seriously in consideration in order to develop appropriate psychosocial interventions for supporting resilience in people at high-risk in order to mitigate the detrimental impact of the pandemic.

Abstract Body

Stigma attached to mental disorders represent one of the main obstacles to patients’ full recovery and empowerment. In the last decades, many anti-stigma programmes have been implemented worldwide, but stigma still represents a major obstacle for people with severe mental disorders, their family members, friends and also healthcare professionals. Stigma is a complex social phenomenon, which entails a lack of knowledge, discriminating attitudes and excluding behaviours in the general population, which deserves a multi-level approach. In particular, anti-stigma strategies combining the three most common approaches, including contact, education, and organization of protest activity, are the most effective. Interventions should contain age-appropriate information and should be provided at an early age (e.g., in schools).

Interdisciplinary approaches are recommended. In particular, contact strategies are important to reduce prejudice and change attitudes towards people with mental disorders and may be implemented either by video (interviews/personal testimonies), but ideally in person with affected individuals, reporting their real life experiences. In this workshop, the role of advocacy associations together with all stakeholders of mental health will be discussed in the process of fighting stigma according to a psychosocial perspective.

Abstract Body

The de Clèrambault syndrome is a psychiatric condition characterized by the presence of a delusion in which the patient is convinced that another person has fallen in love with him or her. Patients usually believe that their lover is a person belonging to a higher social and economic class, or is already married, or even is imaginary or deceased person. In the majority of cases, the patients do not seek for psychiatric help, but usually is referred to the mental health care system due to behavioural consequences associated with the syndrome, including stalking behaviours (repetitive calling, unexpected visits or continuous attempts to send gifts or letters to the loved person). The name of the syndrome derives from the French psychiatrist Gaetan Gatian de Clerambault, who systematically described this syndrome in a series of patients. According to the modern classification systems, the syndrome is conceptualized as erotomanic subtype of the delusional disorder. However, the presence of delusions is not the only clinical feature of the syndrome. In fact, specific affective features are usually present, such as grandiosity, hypersexuality and promiscuity. Therefore, it has been argued that De Clèrambault syndrome should be considered as lying on the continuum of the spectrum of bipolar disorders. Those diagnostic uncertainties highlight the difficulties for clinicians to properly manage this syndrome and should represent a valid reason for rediscovering this almost neglected psychiatric syndrome.

Abstract Body

The COVID-19 pandemic and its related containment measures, such as lockdown, is affecting mental health of the general population worldwide. This is an unprecedented event, which is influencing the health care, political, economic, and social welfare systems. Among Western countries, Italy has been one of the first severely hit by the pandemic in terms of number of cases and mortality rates. Therefore, on March 8, 2020, the Italian Prime Minister issued restrictive measures in order to limit the spread of the disease. During this period known as “Phase one” of the national health emergency, all not necessary activities have been closed, more than 29,000 people have died and almost 100,000 people have been home-isolated, with strict lockdown measures.

The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) network, including ten university Italian sites and the National Institute of Health, has promoted a national online survey in order to evaluate the impact of lockdown measures on the mental health of the Italian general population. The COMET survey reports data from a large sample of more than 20.000 people from Italian general population, showing that lockdown has had a detrimental impact on mental health, in terms of worsening of anxiety, depressive and stress symptoms. Findings from this study can be useful to inform national and international associations, policy makers and stakeholders on the importance to provide adequate support to the mental health of the general population.