European Psychiatry - Volume 41 - April 2017

191 / 916

25th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 41S (2017) S170–S237 S187
EW0238
Elevated sera levels of galectin-3 in
stable schizophrenia
M. Borovcanin ∗, I. Jovanovic , S. Minic Janicijevic , N. Gajovic ,
N. Arsenijevic , M. Lukic L.
1 Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Department
of Psychiatry, Kragujevac, Serbia
2 Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Center for
Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Kragujevac, Serbia
3 Clinical Centre Kragujevac, Psychiatric Clinic, Kragujevac, Serbia
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a unique member of the lectin
family involved in cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and
immune responses. Deletion of the Gal-3 gene reduces experimen-
tal autoimmune encephalomyelitis and variation of gene encoding
for Gal-3 already showed to be related with cognitive function.
Also, elevated Gal-3 sera levels were measured in patients with
Alzheimer’s disease.
Aims and objectivesWemeasured the serumconcentrations of Gal-
3 in patients with schizophrenia in remission and try to determine
possible correlation of Gal-3 sera levels with clinical parameters,
especially cognitive aspects.
Methods In this pilot study were included patients with
schizophrenia in remission on three months stable depot antipsy-
chotic medication (risperidone and paliperidone) (n = 27) and
healthy controls (n = 18). Serum levels of Gal-3 were measured
using sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits,
specific for humans (R&D Systems, Minneapolis). Cognition was
evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
cognitive factors.
Results Higher mean values of Gal-3 were measured in patients
with schizophrenia in remission comparedwith healthy volunteers
(1389.69 vs. 994.23 pg/mL; P = 0.011), but correlation with PANSS
cognitive factor was not established (P = 0.748).
Conclusions These findings suggest that the role of Gal-3 should
be explored further, in different stages of disorder and depending
on applied therapy, but also considering specific cytokine milieu.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EW0239
Neurocognitive status in different
stages of psychosis: Changes from the
first episode psychosis to remission
D. Boˇsnjak ∗, P. Makari´c , I. Kekin , T. Sabo , M. ˇZivkovi´c ,
A. Savi´c , A. Sili´c , I. ˇCulo , D. Ostoji´c , V. Juki´c ,
M. Rojni´c Kuzman
1 University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, First Psychosis Unit, Zagreb,
Croatia
2 University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, The Addictions Department,
Zagreb, Croatia
3 Zagreb University Hospital Centre, Department of Psychiatry,
Zagreb, Croatia
4 University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Psychogeriatrics
Department, Zagreb, Croatia
5 University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Department of Psychotic
Disorders, Zagreb, Croatia
6 University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Forensics Department,
Zagreb, Croatia
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia is
associated with functional disability and poorer quality of life, and
is the most resistant of all schizophrenia symptoms to current psy-
chopharmacotherapy.
Objectives To compare the differences in neurocognitive status
during the acute phase of first psychotic episode and stable symp-
tomatic remission.
Aims To investigate the pattern of neurocognitive impairment in
patients with first episode psychosis during acute phase and stable
remission phase.
Methods We performed a longitudinal study, including 150
patients with first episode of psychosis at two time points: during
their hospitalization at Zagreb university hospital centre or uni-
versity psychiatric hospital Vrapˇce, at acute phase of illness and
after 12–18 months, during stable remission. Assessment included
detailed clinical interview, clinical rating of neuropsychiatric symp-
toms using standardized psychiatric scales, self-assessment scales
and comprehensive neurocognitive testing.
Results While our preliminary results (n = 40) showed statisti-
cally significant improvement in various neurocognitive domains,
including visuo-learning abilities, verbal learning, executive func-
tions, attention and processing speed, initial impairment in
semantic and phonetic fluency observed in acute psychosis
remained unchanged in remission as well.
Conclusions Although our results showed improvement in most
of cognitive domains during time, language abilities remained
unchanged. This further confirms the hypothesis that language
impairment is a trait marker of psychotic disorder.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
EW0240
The relationship between theory of
mind and social functioning within
the schizophrenia spectrum
C. Bredicean ∗, I. Papava , C. Giurgi-Oncu , M. Cristanovici ,
A. Popescu Tuculanu
1 “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Neuroscience,
Timisoara, Romania
2 South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Mental Health
Learning Disabilities MHLD, London, United Kingdom
3 University of Medicine, Psychiatry, Targu-Mures, Romania
4 Clinical Hospital, Psychiatry, Timisoara, Romania
∗ Corresponding author.
Introduction Current research shows that subjects with disor-
ders belonging to the schizophrenia spectrum have a poor social
functioning. There are several factors that can influence social func-
tioning, social cognition being one of them.
Objectives Assessing the ability to identify emotions and its role
in the social functioning of subjects with a schizophrenia spectrum
diagnosis.
Purpose Increasing the social functioning of subjects with a
schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis.
Method We evaluated 31 subjects who were at their first admis-
sion to the Timisoara psychiatric clinic and who met the diagnostic
criteria for a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (a diagnosis of F20,
F22 or F25 according to ICD 10). The following parameters were
monitored: sociodemographic (gender, age of onset, educational
level, marital and professional status), theory of mind (Reading the
Mind in the Eyes Test) and social functioning (GAF Scale). The sub-
jects were evaluated during periods of remission. The acquired data
was statistically processed.
Results The results of the sociodemographic parameters analy-
sis were similar to those in international literature. Most subjects
showed a lack of theory ofmind (amean score of 18, standard devia-
tion 5.84). All subjects experienced a decrease in social functioning
(a mean score of 64.7 on the GAF Scale). There is a direct correla-
tion between the ability to identify emotions and social functioning
(Spearman R = 0.386, P< 0.05).