European Psychiatry - Volume 41 - April 2017

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S20 25th European Congress of Psychiatry / European Psychiatry 41S (2017) S8–S52
Introduction Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psy-
chiatric condition, affecting up to 350million people worldwide. Its
pathogenesis seems to involve dysregulation of the hypothalamic-
pituitary (HPA) axis and inflammation as key elements of the
condition. Stressful life events and in particular early life adversity
seem to play an important role as risk factors for MDD. Epige-
netic, which has been found to impact in the transcription of genes,
seem to be associated with brain structure and function. Aim of the
research was to provide an overview about neuroimaging (epi)-
genetics in MDD.
Methods Functional MRI, epigenetic and genetic informationwas
obtained in a cohort of patients with MDD and healthy controls.
Associations between, early life adversity, methylation of FKBP5
and SLC6A4, genetic variants and brain function and connectivity
have been analysed.
Results Higher methylation of SLC6A4 gene was associated with
higher BOLD response during emotion processing and lower BOLD
response during higher order cognitive processes. Healthy partici-
pants with higher SLC6A4 methylation involved prefrontal cortical
regions to a greater extent than the participants with lower SLC6A4
methylation, when trying to switch attention away from negative
emotional stimuli (Frodl et al., 2015). Moreover, FKBP5 methyla-
tion was association with HPA axis functioning and amygdala brain
function in patients withMDD. FKBP5methylation also was related
to grey matter volume.
Conclusions Our study provides further support to the hypothe-
sis that DNA methylation plays a role. Particular peripheral DNA
methylation states of MDD candidate genes are associated with
brain function during emotion processing in patients with MDD.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their decla-
ration of competing interest.
S041
Disadvantage of social sensitivity:
interaction of oxytocin receptor
genotype and child maltreatment on
brain structure
U. Dannlowski
University of Münster, department of psychiatry, Münster, Germany
Background Oxytocin has receivedmuch attention as a pro-social
and anxiolytic neuropeptide. In human studies, the G-allele of a
common variant (rs53576) in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) has
been associated with protective properties such as reduced stress
response and higher receptiveness for social support. In contrast,
recent studies suggest a detrimental role of the rs53576 G-allele in
the context of childhood maltreatment. To further elucidate the
role of OXTR, gene by maltreatment (GxE) interactions on brain
structure and function were investigated.
Methods n = 309 healthy participants genotyped for OXTR
rs53576 underwent structural as well as functional MRI during a
common emotional face-matching task. Childhood maltreatment
was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).
Gray matter volumes were investigated by means of voxel-based
morphometry (VBM) across the entire brain.
Results Structural MRI data revealed a strong interaction of
rs53576 genotype and CTQ-scores, mapping specifically to the
bilateral ventral striatum. GG homozygotes but not A-allele
carriers showed strong gray matter reduction with increasing CTQ-
scores. In turn, lower ventral striatum gray matter volumes were
associated with lower reward dependence, a pro-social trait. Fur-
thermore, the G-allele was associated with increased amygdala
responsiveness to emotional facial expressions.
Conclusions The findings suggest that the G-allele constitutes a
vulnerability factor for specific alterations of limbic brain structure
in individuals with adverse childhood experiences, complemented
by increased limbic responsiveness to emotional interpersonal
stimuli. While oxytocinergic signalling facilitates attachment and
bonding in supportive social environments, this attunement for
social cues may turn disadvantageous under early adverse condi-
tions.
Disclosure of interest The author has not supplied his declaration
of competing interest.
Symposium: using technology to respond to the
mental health needs of refugees in europe: mobile
devices, telemedicine, and outcomes management
S042
The use of a telemedicine model and
its logistics to reach as many
european refugees as possible
D. Mucic
The little Prince psychiatry centre, Copenhagen, Denmark
Current refugee crisis challenges mental health care systems all
over the Europe. There is a number of research describing difficul-
ties in dealing with cross-cultural patients. Access to relevant care
as well as its availability are often limited due to: a) lack of respec-
tive qualified resources b) linguistically, cultural and even racial
barriers in addressing of mental health care needs of cross-cultural
patient population. By use of various e-Mental health applications,
primarily videoconference, we may improve assessment and/or
treatment of refugees and asylum seekers on distance e.g. Arabic
speaking psychiatrist located in Sweden would be able to assess
and/or treat refugees from Syria located in Germany). Specialized
centers for treatment of refugees would also be able to get second-
opinion service from remote experts and use it in order to confirm
or re-consider diagnosis as well as the treatment options. Estab-
lishment of international network of cross-cultural experts enables
to:
– Improve the mental health care across national bound-
aries by providing psychiatric consultations to other countries
within EU
– Conduct International Treatment Teamwith Select Skills (e.g. Sign
Language and Many Foreign Languages Staff)
– Provide Distance Supervision and Staff Consultation
– Provide Psycho Education of caregivers
– Improve Distance Learning via Case Conferencing and Best
Practice Demonstration Across the National Boundaries
– Create Data Base over cross-cultural and other select skills pro-
fessionals within EU
Disclosure of interest The author has not supplied his declaration
of competing interest.
S043
Preliminary results of USA-European
field trial on the use of
patient-reported measures in a
mobile application and potential uses
in refugee populations
W. Narrow ∗, V. Buwalda , J. McIntyre
1 University of New Mexico, psychiatry and behavioral sciences,
Albuquerque, USA
2 Vrije universiteit, psychiatry, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3 University of Rochester medical center, psychiatry, Rochester, USA
∗ Corresponding author.