ABSTRACT
Introduction: The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Summer School allows psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from all over Europe to meet, network, and learn together. After the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19, the 10th edition in 2021 focused for the first time on research and was conducted remotely. Objective(s): To provide an overview and feedback about the first Virtual EPA Research Summer School as a new way to encourage international networking during COVID-19. Method(s): The School was organized by the EPA Secretary for Education, and 4 Faculty members. It started with a breaking the ice session one week before and then a two-days meeting on 23-24 September 2021 using an online video-platform. This was preceded by all the 21 participants (from 18 different countries) recording a short 4-minute video presentation, which was uploaded and shared with other participants and Faculty. Result(s): Participants were divided on a voluntary basis into three working groups: 1) Drug repurposing: overcoming challenges in pharmacoepidemiology 2) Psychopathological research in psychiatry;3) How to conduct a cross-sectional survey?. The Summer School program was composed of plenary sessions with lectures by the Faculty members, discussion sessions, and working groups time. At the end, each group presented a summary of the work done to the rest of the participants. Conclusion(s): Although the remote format limits social interactions during the Summer School, overall participants' high satisfaction and productivity indicate that not only online formats, but also the topic of research might be covered in future editions.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently need support due to the elevated prevalence of psychiatric and medical comorbidities. The Covid-19 outbreak has severely affected the routinary functioning of healthcare services, thus causing severe consequences for autistic people and their caregivers, an already fragile population prone to mental health diseases. Objective(s): 1. To compare the levels of psychological well-being, insomnia, and family distress perceived by caregivers of autistic people to those perceived by caregivers of people with other types of disability. 2. To evaluate predictors of individual and family distress reported by caregivers of autistic individuals. Method(s): We collected data through a cross-sectional web-based observational study from April 19 to May 3, 2020. Sociodemographic information were collected, and psychopathological variables were assessed using the General Health Questionnaire-12, the Insomnia Severity Index, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and the Family Distress Index. Result(s): No significant differences emerged between the two groups of caregivers in terms of well-being, sleep quality, family distress, and level of resilience. The risk of individual distress during the pandemic was higher in people caring for younger autistic people. Lower levels of resilience predicted higher levels of individual distress among caregivers of autistic people. Conclusion(s): Our study confirmed that caregivers' mental health is worthy of attention and that people with disabilities may benefit for well-organized healthcare support networks (e.g. in-home services). The non-significant differences found between caregivers of ASD and non-ASD individuals may be related to the severe distress that Covid pandemic caused on the entire population.
ABSTRACT
The European Psychiatric Association (EPA) Summer School is an intensive program which has been organised for 10 years now by the EPA Committee on Education and allows selected psychiatric trainees and early career psychiatrists (ECPs) from all over Europe to meet, network, and learn together. After the 2020 edition being cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition was held online and continued the EPA educational mission in an innovative and up-to-date approach. Twenty one participants from 16 different countries were selected to attend by the EPA Committee on Education. During the two full days of training, participants were engaged in fundamental educational activities by renowned faculty members such as Dr. Cécile Hanon, Dr. Nicolas Hoertel, Dr. Mariana Pinto da Costa, Prof. Andrea Raballo, Prof. Norman Sartorius and Prof. Peter Falkai. This was the first time EPA Summer School centered its topic on Research in Psychiatry, giving a unique opportunity for ECPs and psychiatric trainees to enrich their knowledge and skills and to find inspiration for their future research. In this paper, we intend to share our experience and provide a perspective on what we have learned during the EPA Summer School sessions. Copyright © 2022 John Libbey Eurotext. L’université d’été de l’Association européenne de psychiatrie (EPA) est un programme intensif organisé depuis 10 ans par le Comité de l’éducation de l’EPA et permet à des stagiaires en psychiatrie et à des psychiatres en début de carrière (ECP) sélectionnés dans toute l’Europe de se rencontrer, de créer des réseaux et d’apprendre ensemble. Après l’annulation de l’édition 2020 en raison de la pandémie de Covid-19, l’édition 2021 s’est tenue en ligne et a poursuivi la mission éducative de l’EPA dans une approche innovante et actualisée. Vingt-et-un participants de 16 pays différents ont été sélectionnés par le comité d’éducation de l’EPA. Pendant les deux jours de formation, les participants ont participé à des activités éducatives fondamentales dispensées par des professeurs renommés tels que le Dr Cécile Hanon, le Dr Nicolas Hoertel, le Dr Mariana Pinto da Costa, le Pr Andrea Raballo, le Pr Norman Sartorius et le Pr Peter Falkai. C’était la première fois que l’école d’été de l’EPA centrait son sujet sur la recherche en psychiatrie, donnant ainsi une occasion unique aux ECP et aux stagiaires en psychiatrie d’enrichir leurs connaissances et leurs compétences et de trouver une inspiration pour leurs futures recherches. Dans cet article, nous avons l’intention de partager notre expérience et de fournir une perspective sur ce que nous avons appris pendant les sessions de l’école d’été de l’EPA. © 2022 John Libbey Eurotext. All rights reserved.