This clinical project compares the relative impact of two types of multiple family groups on psychiatric inpatients and their families. Forty patients with a diagnosis of affective disorder, and their family members, were randomly assigned to a traditional multiple family group with a process orientation that emphasized support, destigmatization, and self-help about common problems; or to a psychoeducational multiple family group that emphasized the provision of information about the patient's illness and methods of coping with it effectively. Both groups, which met for four hours on a Saturday afternoon, were an integral part of an ongoing inpatient program specializing in the treatment of affective disorders. Pre- and post-measures were obtained regarding family and patient knowledge about affective disorders, level of personal distress, attitudes about the illness, and dyadic adjustment. In addition, both patients and family members were asked to rate their satisfaction with the group experience. A number of differences in knowledge, attitude and dyadic adjustment were found in the participants of both groups immediately following their respective group sessions, but there were only a few statistically significant differences between the two groups. Those who attended the psychoeducational session, however, reported significantly more satisfaction with the experience.

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We report the electrophysiological findings of the central and peripheral somatosensory pathways in 20 patients with olivopontocerebellar atrophy. Changes in sensory action potentials of the median nerve were observed in 14 patients and consisted of reduced sensory potential amplitudes associated in 10 cases with an increase in distal latencies. Sixteen out of 20 patients also showed changes in somatosensory evoked potentials after stimulation of the median nerve, consisting of decreased amplitude of N13 (13 cases) and N20 (16 cases) components, associated with increased N9-N13 interpeak latency in 9 and N13-N20 in 14 patients. The origin of these alterations is discussed.

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IntroductionThe importance of combined treatment of EDs is widely acknowledged. We describe the good outcome of a combined treatment in a 43 year old woman, affected by severe Anorexia Nervosa – Binge Purging (BMI 9.1), since early adolescence. She sought treatment only after giving birth to her second-born when she became aware of her illness. Despite intensive treatment (as an inpatient in hospitals and specialized rehabilitation centres, and in Day Hospital facilities), her condition gradually worsened, and her personal, social, working and family functioning was severely compromised (Global Assessment of Functioning Scale 35),MethodsA multidisciplinary team including psychiatrist, psychotherapist, family psychotherapist, nutritionist, dietician, nurses was involved in treatment, working together to a common treatment strategy. The Psychiatrists role (psicopharmacology, therapeutic process, helping acknowledging and avoiding manipulation) and the nurses role (establishing a therapeutic relationship with the patient, assisting her during meals and supporting the overall therapeutic process), are discussed.ResultsA gradual psychopathologic and somatic improvement occurred across a 12-months period: she spent two months in a Psychiatry ward, four more months in a rehab centre and six months in an ED therapeutic community. She gained weight (BMI 21.4) and regained an excellent personal, social and family functioning. She returned to her husband (they previously separated), and the relationship with her daughters, who previously rejected her, improved (GAF 90).ConclusionsThe cooperation of the multidisciplinary equipe and the involvement of the patient’s relatives succeeded in reducing anxiety, depression, dysmorphophobia and interrupting the manipulating attitudes typical of the illness.

Background:International literature indicates that migrants have highest incidence of mental disorders compared to natives, especially for psychotic disorders. Few studies about mental health of migrants in Italy have been published, although net migration rate grew in the last twenty years.Aims:to describe socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of migrants attending Community Mental Health Centre (CMHCs) of Borgomanero (Piedmont, Italy) and to evaluate differences in psychiatric diagnoses and pathway to care among different ethnic groups.Methods:Migrants attending CMHCs between 1st January 2012 and 31 August 2013 were included in the study. Data were gathered retrospectively from clinical data sets.Results:97 Migrants attended the CMHCs. The most represented ethnicity is East European (36%), the less one is Asian (4%). Most frequent diagnosis is adjustment disorder (33%). In most cases, access to the service follows the family doctor's referral (46%), except for patients with schizophrenia, whose access is most frequently direct (they are usually brought to the service by family members) (33%). The majority of those migrating for working reasons suffers from adjustment disorder, schizophrenia or anxiety. Pathway to care and diagnosis seem to be statistically related (p-value 0,00052), as well as migration reason and diagnosis (p-value 0,0452). Lack of regular residence permit seems to be related to non-medical pathways.Conclusions:Pathways to CHMCs are complex and influenced by many factors. Most of the sample received a diagnosis of adjustment reaction. More attention should be paid to developing psychiatric consultation liaison models that encompass the physician and social services.