Scientific Program

Conference Series Ltd invites all the participants across the globe to attend 2nd International Congress on Forensic Science and Psychology London, UK.

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Scientific Program Day 1
Scientific Program Day 2

Day 2 :

Keynote Forum

Toshiko Sawaguchi

National Institute of Public Health, Japan

Keynote: Latent Forensic pitfall associated with Substancial Toxicological Problem in the Maternal and Child Health in Japan

Time : 9:30 to 10:30

Conference Series Forensic Congress 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Toshiko Sawaguchi photo
Biography:

Toshiko Sawaguchi,M.D.,Ph.D.,L.B.A Research Managing Director, National Institute of Public Health,Ministry of Health Labour & Welfare,Saitama,Japan since April 2017(Life Health Promotion,Maternal & Child Health)Visiting Professor, Showa University School of Medicine,Tokyo,Japan Forensic and PediatricForensic Pathology and Clinical Forensic Medicine for more than 25 years,child health and pediatrics for 10years.

Abstract:

AIM: In recent health-medical policy, comprehensive approach has been applied not only health for elderly people but also maternal & child-health. Using the plural keywords such as care, rehabilitation, health care, medical care, prevention, home care, linkage with medical treatment and self-reliance support, spatial regional comprehensive care system has been being structured. Also as for maternal and child health, spatiotemporal comprehensive system since pregnancy till child care period has been being prepared. In this process, latent pitfall associated with substantial toxicological problem in the maternal & child health could be suggested. During foetus and new-born period, without consent of child oneself, maternal and new-born intake of pharmacies and drugs could be happened and the public statistical recognition would be difficult in some cases. Here, the process has been reported to recognize this latent pitfall will report.
METHOD:1) To recognize the background of administration of pharmacies during perinatal period and pregnancy, real status and index of hazard and toxicity and the policy reaction of those were investigated using Japanese and International references and the administrative direction were investigated. 2) The definite opinion that the socialization of problems are dominant to pick up as administrative subjects. Here, not via media to formalize health policy issues, via academic societies the existence of latent pitfall was discussed through the three symposiums such as the Japanese Society of Public Health, Japanese Society of Clinical Toxicology and Japanese Association of Criminology. The titles of three symposiums are the followings: Administrative reaction to substantial problems in regional comprehensive care, hidden toxicological problems in maternal and child health and Correctional facilities and regional sustained community life support centres.
RESULTS: 1) As for the recognition of hazard and toxicity, Japan has accepted more strict view than other international countries and also has accepted pregnancy contraindicated drug administration. Totally if some risk does have existed some progress could be considered if some goodness will be expected. Stimulant products and stimulant similar products are secreted in maternal milk and seemed to be breastfeeding contraindicated. Administration of stimulants to pregnant mothers who are the neurodevelopmental Disorders such as ADHD, LD and ASD etc. should be considered in near future. As for the index, it should be considerate if the developmental indexes such as Denver’s Developmental Scale could be used or not as the index of hazard and toxicity of pregnancy. 2) Contraindicated drug administration. Just teratogenicity could be considered as before. 3) In Japanese regional comprehensive care system, the regional transition support associated with maternal and infant toxicology and the outcome persons from correctional facilities and Regional Sustained Community Life Support Centres.
4) The latent pitfall and ignore of new-born and foetus toxicological situation has come from the non-existence of statistic score of living persons and also dead persons in Japan. 5) On the other sides, the outcomes between European and American Substantial Epidemiology and Japanese Substantial Epidemiology was different and Japan has the dominant role to possible evidence in this field to the international colleagues in this area

Keynote Forum

Sinem Yildiz Inanici

Marmara University, Turkey

Keynote: Risk and Protective for child abuse and neglect among a representative sample of high school students in a district in Istanbul, Turkey
Conference Series Forensic Congress 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Sinem Yildiz Inanici photo
Biography:

Sinem Yildiz Inanici is presently working as  Assistant Professor at Marmara University in Turkey

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: So many risk and protective factors are related to child abuse victimization. Understanding these multilevel
determinants is important to tailor appropriate prevention strategies.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: 661 high school students with the mean age of 15.69 (SD=0.96) participated in the study voluntarily. Participants were chosen by cluster sampling method. Researchers prepared a questionnaire to detect risk and protective
factors for childhood abuse with the help of relevant literature. Rathus Assertiveness Inventory was used to evaluate assertiveness.
Marmara University Ethical Committee approved the study. SPSS 14.0 was used to execute analysis.
 
Findings: 53.4% (n=353) of the participants were females. More than half of the participants’ perceived SES was medium and less.
234 students (35.5%) did not have personal room at home. Approximately one fourth of the participants said that their families
did not have enough social support. 73% (n=484) were going to school by public transport or on foot and nobody accomplished to
39.5% (n=261) of them. Level of feeling secure in their neighborhood was moderate and less for 40.8% (n=269) of the students and 367 participants (55.9%) indicated that they did not have secure sport/game arena in their environment. 333 (49.9%) had difficulties to obey school rules and 214 students (32.4%) were truants. Most of the students (80.2%, n=529) used unhealthy substances a few times. Approximately one third of the students had violent close friends. They predicted that three or more children in their close environment were the victim of emotional violence (43%, n=284) and physical violence (20.4%, n=135).
 
Conclusion & Significance: Vulnerable adolescents and families must be supported psycho-socio-economically. Security measures
may be discussed in adolescent groups at schools. School rules may be discussed, revised, and rationalized in small discussion groups
in schools. University students may be involved in prevention programs in high schools.

Keynote Forum

Natthawut Arin

Detection Strategies for Feigned Psychopathology: Test Development and Effects of Criminal Simulation Design on Symptoms Validity

Keynote: Detection Strategies for Feigned Psychopathology: Test Development and Effects of Criminal Simulation Design on Symptoms Validity
Conference Series Forensic Congress 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Natthawut Arin photo
Biography:

Natthawut Arin completed his BS (Psychology: Clinical track), MA (Criminology & Criminal Justice) and PhD (Applied Behavioral Science Research) from University in Thailand. I used to be a clinical psychologist and work as forensic psychologist at Galya Rajanagarindra Institute (Government hospital for forensic psychiatric services), Mental Health Department, Ministry of Public Health for 15 years ago. I have more inspiration to conduct and continue doing the research in forensic psychology issue (e.g. risk assessment, criminal resposibility, malingering). Now, I am a lecture at Psychology Department of Chiang Mai University. And also teach
in forensic psychology and criminal psychology subjects.

Abstract:

The structure and objectivity to detecting feigned psychopathology being extremely require of forensic setting in Thailand. The Thai version of malingering test (Th-MT) was developed as the first test to reduce the obstacle to language and suitable to Thai context. This initial test was developed based on two broad detection strategies; unlikely and amplified detection strategy (Rogers, 2008). Moreover, the effective sub-detection strategies of the most popular malingering tests including; SIRS, SIMS and M-FAST (Rogers, Bagby, & Dickens, 1992; Smith & Burger, 1997; Miller, 2001) were combined. The 518 samples were collected from nonclinical (undergraduate students, n=421) and clinical samples (psychiatric patients, n=97). The result revealed: 1) In study one, the two detection strategies model supported by confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze; unlikely detection strategy (two subdetection strategies; Rare Symptoms and Symptom Combinations were loaded), while the three sub-detection strategies of amplified detection strategy were not totally supported (Extreme Psychopathology, Over Negative Self-Image and Suggestibility & Over-report). The combination of Over Negative Self-Image and Suggestibility & Over-report to new strategy called Over-report was reached to goodness-of-fit indices. Furthermore, this Th-MT possesses good internal consistency. 2) Using a simulation designed in study two, one group of simulators asked to feign psychopathology to avoid criminal prosecution of homicide charge (Simulator students, n= 45) were compared with two control groups asked to reply to questions honestly (Honest students, n= 45 and Honest psychiatric patients, n= 45). The results indicate that the mean scores of the Th-MT for simulator students were significantly higher than those of both honest students and honest psychiatric patients. Conclusions, the Th-MT has good psychometric properties of a detecting feigned psychopathology tool and to reliable screen for malingered psychopathology.

Keynote Forum

Janet Marsden

University of Nottingham, UK

Keynote: Emotion processing and empathy deficits in antisocial personality disorder: A systematic review
Conference Series Forensic Congress 2017 International Conference Keynote Speaker Janet Marsden photo
Biography:

Marsden J is a third year ForenPsyD student from the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine (Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology), who has trained with personality disordered patients in low, medium and high secure hospital settings. Her main research aims are to determine the nature of empathic and emotion processing deficits in male antisocial personality disordered populations as a means of enhancing clinical interventions to reduce and ultimately prevent violent offending and recidivism. Her research is specifically focused on investigating deficits in cognitive and affective empathy or emotion processing as measured through self-report, behavioral and psychophysiological measures.

Abstract:

Background: Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) is commonly associated with a lack of remorse or regard for others and has consequently been a focus of interest for those wishing to determine whether emotion processing and empathy deficits contribute to antisocial behavior. However, the way that these deficits manifest specifically in adult male ASPD populations has not previously been systematically reviewed.
 
Aim: To determine the nature of emotion processing and empathy deficits specific to adult male ASPD populations.
 
Method: Searches were completed across seven electronic databases, a range of grey literature sites, by hand searching and through contact with authors. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied and quality assessments undertaken on eligible studies.
 
Results: Fifteen primary studies were included in this systematic review, and thirteen reported evidence to support either emotion processing or cognitive empathy deficits in ASPD. However, the validity of results was compromised by small samples and sampling bias. Thus, generalizability of findings to the wider ASPD population is limited.
 
Conclusion: A wide range of methodological approaches have been used to investigate emotion processing and empathy deficits in ASPD which has led to mixed findings. Whilst emotion processing deficits and cognitive empathy deficits were reported, greater clarity regarding the contribution of potential confounders is required to inform the extent to which deficits are attributable to ASPD specifically.

  • Psychiatry and Behavioural Science | Psychosomatic Disorders | Psychopharmacology | Somatoform Diseases | Forensic Medicine | Forensic Mental Health | Anthropology | Victimology
Location: Johnson
Speaker

Chair

George Tolomiczenko

University of Southern California, USA

Speaker

Co-Chair

Samuel Ho

City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Session Introduction

Toshiko Sawaguchi

National Institute of Public Health, Japan

Title: Latent forensic pitfall associated with substancial toxicological problem in the maternal and child health in japan
Speaker
Biography:

Toshiko Sawaguchi,M.D.,Ph.D.,L.B.A Research Managing Director, National Institute of Public Health,Ministry of Health Labour & Welfare,Saitama,Japan since April 2017(Life Health Promotion,Maternal & Child Health)Visiting Professor, Showa University School of Medicine,Tokyo,Japan Forensic and PediatricForensic Pathology and Clinical Forensic Medicine for more than 25 years,child health and pediatrics for 10years.

Abstract:

AIM: In recent health-medical policy, comprehensive approach has been applied not only health for elderly people but also maternal & child-health. Using the plural keywords such as care, rehabilitation, health care, medical care, prevention, home care, linkage with medical treatment and self-reliance support, spatial regional comprehensive care system has been being structured. Also as for maternal and child health, spatiotemporal comprehensive system since pregnancy till child care period has been being prepared. In this process, latent pitfall associated with substantial toxicological problem in the maternal & child health could be suggested. During foetus and new-born period, without consent of child oneself, maternal and new-born intake of pharmacies and drugs could be happened and the public statistical recognition would be difficult in some cases. Here, the process has been reported to recognize this latent pitfall will report.
METHOD:1) To recognize the background of administration of pharmacies during perinatal period and pregnancy, real status and index of hazard and toxicity and the policy reaction of those were investigated using Japanese and International references and the administrative direction were investigated. 2) The definite opinion that the socialization of problems are dominant to pick up as administrative subjects. Here, not via media to formalize health policy issues, via academic societies the existence of latent pitfall was discussed through the three symposiums such as the Japanese Society of Public Health, Japanese Society of Clinical Toxicology and Japanese Association of Criminology. The titles of three symposiums are the followings:
 
Administrative reaction to substantial problems in regional comprehensive care, hidden toxicological problems in maternal and child health and Correctional facilities and regional sustained community life support centres.
RESULTS: 1) As for the recognition of hazard and toxicity, Japan has accepted more strict view than other international countries and also has accepted pregnancy contraindicated drug administration. Totally if some risk does have existed some progress could be considered if some goodness will be expected. Stimulant products and stimulant similar products are secreted in maternal milk and seemed to be breastfeeding contraindicated. Administration of stimulants to pregnant mothers who are the neurodevelopmental Disorders such as ADHD, LD and ASD etc. should be considered in near future. As for the index, it should be considerate if the developmental indexes such as Denver’s Developmental Scale could be used or not as the index of hazard and toxicity of pregnancy. 2) Contraindicated drug administration. Just teratogenicity could be considered as before. 3) In Japanese regional comprehensive care system, the regional transition support associated with maternal and infant toxicology and the outcome persons from correctional facilities and Regional Sustained Community Life Support Centres. 4) The latent pitfall and ignore of new-born and foetus toxicological situation has come from the non-existence of statistic score of living persons and also dead persons in Japan. 5) On the other sides, the outcomes between European and American Substantial Epidemiology and Japanese Substantial Epidemiology was different and Japan has the dominant role to possible evidence in this field to the international colleagues in this area.

Priyanka Patil

SUNY Upstate Medical University, USA

Title: A complicated presentation of acute psychosis in a young adult
Speaker
Biography:

Priyanka Patil is a third year Psychiatry Resident at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse New York, USA

Abstract:

This is a case report of an 18-year-old male who presented with first episode psychosis (FEP) with symptoms of catatonia, negativity & religious delusions and was admitted in our unit for 2 months. This was a case in which we had difficulty in diagnosis, difficulty in treating & for those of us who were closely involved in his care, had difficulty dealing with a myriad of emotions, including helplessness and anger. Differential diagnoses of NMS, malignant catatonia & NMDA encephalitis was considered. We were limited in the use of antipsychotics as the patient developed EPS & increased CPK, along with unstable vital signs on 4 different antipsychotics. He neither responded to high doses of up to 22 mg Lorazepam; nor did he respond to i/V Solumedrol. There was a pattern of high expressed emotion amongst the family; so much so that their visits would become a major trigger for the patient’s aggressive outbursts. There were also some cultural barriers that contributed to communication gaps during family meetings. Religious themes had to be considered with highly religious family members and religious delusions in both patient and his sister. During his inpatient stay there were repeated episodes of assaultive behavior towards multiple staff members leading to a high tension atmosphere in the unit and a non-nurturing milieu. In this case report we would like to discuss the diagnostic uncertainty in FEP; the control of aggressive behavior when one is limited in the use of antipsychotics & influence of psychosocial factors on patient’s stay in the unit. We also want to concentrate on what we could have done differently or better. Although the patient is now improved on Clozapine, considering the family dynamics, we would also like to discuss how we can work on preventing a relapse.

Sinem Yildiz Inanici

Marmara University, Turkey

Title: Risk and Protective for child abuse and neglect among a representative sample of high school students in a district in Istanbul, Turkey
Speaker
Biography:

Sinem Yildiz Inanici is presently working as Assistant Professor at Marmara University in Turkey.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: So many risk and protective factors are related to child abuse victimization. Understanding these multilevel determinants is important to tailor appropriate prevention strategies.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: 661 high school students with the mean age of 15.69 (SD=0.96) participated in the study voluntarily. Participants were chosen by cluster sampling method. Researchers prepared a questionnaire to detect risk and protective factors for childhood abuse with the help of relevant literature. Rathus Assertiveness Inventory was used to evaluate assertiveness. Marmara University Ethical Committee approved the study. SPSS 14.0 was used to execute analysis.
Findings: 53.4% (n=353) of the participants were females. More than half of the participants’ perceived SES was medium and less. 234 students (35.5%) did not have personal room at home. Approximately one fourth of the participants said that their families did not have enough social support. 73% (n=484) were going to school by public transport or on foot and nobody accomplished to 39.5% (n=261) of them. Level of feeling secure in their neighborhood was moderate and less for 40.8% (n=269) of the students and
367 participants (55.9%) indicated that they did not have secure sport/game arena in their environment. 333 (49.9%) had difficulties to obey school rules and 214 students (32.4%) were truants. Most of the students (80.2%, n=529) used unhealthy substances a few times. Approximately one third of the students had violent close friends. They predicted that three or more children in their close environment were the victim of emotional violence (43%, n=284) and physical violence (20.4%, n=135).
Conclusion & Significance: Vulnerable adolescents and families must be supported psycho-socio-economically. Security measures may be discussed in adolescent groups at schools. School rules may be discussed, revised, and rationalized in small discussion groups in schools. University students may be involved in prevention programs in high schools.

Tariq Munshi

Queen's University, Canada

Title: Metabolic syndrome: A psychiatric perspective
Speaker
Biography:

Tariq Allauddin Munshi is currently working as an attending Psychiatrist in the Department of Psychiatry at Queen’s University & has been given the rank of an Associate Professor. His current responsibilities are working with the Assertive Community Team; managing beds in the acute adult inpatient unit at Kingston General Hospital. His responsibilities in the department are administrative, research, teaching and providing clinical service. The areas of interest are newer antipsychotics, clozapine, metabolic syndrome, quality improvement and mental health act.

Abstract:

Statement: Metabolic syndrome is a term that describes a group of conditions that puts an individual at risk for cardiovascular disease. This term represents increased waist circumference which is regarded as a central feature, lipid dysregulation, raised  fasting blood glucose and presence of hypertension. It has been known over the years as insulin resistance syndrome, syndrome X, the deadly Quartet since the 1920’s. The criteria used mostly is International Diabetes Federation and the United States National Cholesterol Educational Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEPATP) III criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Orientation: People with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, as a result of multiple aetiology including genetic, life style, disease specific as well as effect of treatment. They live 25 years less than general population and complications arising from cardiovascular disease are among the leading cause of death for people with chronic schizophrenia.
Significance: The high risk patients need to be identified at the outset so an individualised care plan can be formulated. Education regarding life style changes, prescribing suitable psychotropic medication, establishing a temporal relationship and identifying the variables to make a management plan is vital.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to: 1. Be aware of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psychiatric population. 2. Highlight the importance of identifying the risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome in psychiatric inpatient setting at an early stage.

George Tolomiczenko

University of Southern California, USA

Title: Immersive virtual reality: A P4 framework for psychosomatic disorders
Speaker
Biography:

George Tolomiczenko has experience as a Clinician, Researcher, Teacher and Administrator, which helps him in his Administrative Director role to guide and run the Health, Technology and Engineering program at USC (HTE@USC). After an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree at Caltech, he earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Boston University. As both a Scientist and Clinician working at medical institutions affiliated with Harvard University, his focus shifted to public health and policy issues involving homelessness and mental illness. In Toronto, his efforts were devoted to creating and funding programs and partnerships enabling disease-focused basic research, knowledge translation and adapting chronic disease models. He is now focused on developing USC’s interdisciplinary collaborative strengths applied to medical device and process innovation. He teaches courses designed to form and train teams linking engineering and medicine to create innovative and licensed technology and start-up companies.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Evidence supporting the effectiveness of immersive virtual reality (VR) in understanding and treating a growing number of psychiatric conditions has been documented in recent reviews. Much of studies conducted focus on exposure and/ or training designed to decrease reactive symptoms and/or to learn and to practice adaptive behaviors. The utility of a P4 framework – personalized, predictive, preventive and participatory medicine is clear and open for further exploration. Extending the application of a P4 framework by linking each of these dimensions of modernizing medicine to guide the design of immersive VR experience in applications related to psychosomatic disorders is the focus of this presentation.
Methods & Theoretical Orientation: VR scenarios can be personalized to suit, study and challenge a given patient. This has been the chief dimension exploited thus far in crafting therapies unilaterally; that is, based on the presenting symptoms, VR exercises are prescribed by the clinician and undertaken by the patient. VR scenarios can create an immersive experience presenting situations and features that can shed light on predictive psychological factors and, as some studies have done, teach patients how to master adaptive behaviors aiming to prevent symptom onset and exacerbation. Real-time adjustment of VR immersive experience based on live patient feedback using emotion detection (via facial and verbal expression, wearable sensors) will greatly improve these capabilities. By integrating modern technologies enabling patient-centered design of tailored immersive VR interventions, therapists can truly empower participatory involvement in both prevention and treatment.
Conclusion & Significance: The P4 framework with illustrative technologies that bring it to a new level of bilateral implementation is presented. This toolkit will extend the range and improve the impact of immersive VR therapies relevant for improving empathy toward and treating psychosomatic illnesses.

Natthawut Arin

Chiang Mai University, Thailand

Title: Detection strategies for feigned psychopathology: Test development and effects of criminal charge simulation design on response styles
Speaker
Biography:

Natthawut Arin completed his BS (Psychology: Clinical track), MA (Criminology & Criminal Justice) and PhD (Applied Behavioral Science Research) from University in Thailand. I used to be a clinical psychologist and work as forensic psychologist at Galya Rajanagarindra Institute (Government hospital for forensic psychiatric services), Mental Health Department, Ministry of Public Health for 15 years ago. I have more inspiration to conduct and continue doing the research in forensic psychology issue (e.g. risk assessment, criminal resposibility, malingering). Now, I am a lecture at Psychology Department of Chiang Mai University. And also teach in forensic psychology and criminal psychology subjects.

Abstract:

The structure and objectivity to detecting feigned psychopathology being extremely require of forensic setting in Thailand. The Thai version of malingering test (Th-MT) was developed as the first test to reduce the obstacle to language and suitable to Thai context. This initial test was developed based on two broad detection strategies; unlikely and amplified detection strategy (Rogers, 2008). Moreover, the effective sub-detection strategies of the most popular malingering tests including; SIRS, SIMS and M-FAST (Rogers, Bagby, & Dickens, 1992; Smith & Burger, 1997; Miller, 2001) were combined. The 518 samples were collected from nonclinical (undergraduate students, n=421) and clinical samples (psychiatric patients, n=97). The result revealed: 1) In study one, the two detection strategies model supported by confirmatory factor analysis was used to analyze; unlikely detection strategy (two subdetection strategies; Rare Symptoms and Symptom Combinations were loaded), while the three sub-detection strategies of amplified detection strategy were not totally supported (Extreme Psychopathology, Over Negative Self-Image and Suggestibility & Over-report). The combination of Over Negative Self-Image and Suggestibility & Over-report to new strategy called Over-report was reached to goodness-of-fit indices. Furthermore, this Th-MT possesses good internal consistency. 2) Using a simulation designed in study two, one group of simulators asked to feign psychopathology to avoid criminal prosecution of homicide charge (Simulator students, n= 45) were compared with two control groups asked to reply to questions honestly (Honest students, n= 45 and Honest psychiatric patients, n= 45). The results indicate that the mean scores of the Th-MT for simulator students were significantly higher than those of both honest students and honest psychiatric patients. Conclusions, the Th-MT has good psychometric properties of a detecting feigned psychopathology tool and to reliable screen for malingered psychopathology.

Matthew Rinaldi

King’s College London, UK

Title: Emotionally unstable personality disorder and psychosomatic problems
Speaker
Biography:

Matthew Rinaldi is a core Trainee Psychiatrist on the Maudsley training programme. He has interests in psychosomatic conditions, the psychotherapeutic understanding and multi-disciplinary management of them. A trainee who works for bottom-up service improvement, his work stems from under-researched problems that he encounters in clinical practice.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: There are a specific sub-group of patients with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) who tend to somatize overwhelming feelings rather than act them out via risky behaviors. They present to primary care services, receive polypharmacy and are more likely to commit suicide. There are neuropsychiatric, psychodynamic and developmental explanations for their tendency to somatize, but very little epidemiological data. We performed an audit of a tier-3 personality disorder unit to determine the prevalence of psychosomatic disorders in this population and to determine any relationship between these diagnoses, prescribing practices and attendance at therapy.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: We conducted an audit of 63 waiting-list patients and performed a key-term search to determine frequency of psychosomatic symptoms. We also performed a sub-group analysis of those patients in mentalization-based therapy (i.e., with confirmed EUPD) and recorded the medications they were prescribed and their attendance at therapy.
Findings: Psychosomatic conditions affected 57% of the waiting list population and 77% of the sub-group analysis. The most common complaints were unexplained musculo-skeletal pain, unexplained chest pain and irritable bowel syndrome. Those with co-morbid psychosomatic conditions were prescribed more medications, missed more therapy and cited medical reasons more often for missed appointments.
Conclusion & Significance: Psychosomatic disorders are more common in patients with EUPD than those without the diagnosis. Psychosomatic disorders impact on attendance at therapy and increase the risk of polypharmacy. As such, psychosomatic conditions should be routinely screened for at assessment and be positively diagnosed so that they can be addressed as a barrier to engaging in treatment and understood within therapy as a coping mechanism. Psychosomatic disorders should be among the list of differentials as the multi-disciplinary team investigate, interpret and manage physical symptoms sensibly.

Per-Goran Kruger

University of Bergen, Norway

Title: Are mast cells the key to multiple sclerosis (MS)?
Speaker
Biography:

Per Goran Kruger, professor emeritus . Studied biology in Bergen, Norway on mast cells in the brain of wake and hibernating hedgehogs. Studied the mechanism of histamine secretion from mast cells at Karolinska institute Stockholm, Sweden and at Inst. of pathology in Seattle, USA. In the seventhies he opposed to the planned fluoridation of Norwegian drinking waters (Which never started after that). Last 30 years engaged in multiple sclerosis and points to the obvious connection to mast cells. Received students price for not using power point when teaching cell biology and histology

Abstract:

MS may not be an autoimmune genetic disease. Since the ninety-fifties the opposite statement has strangulated most scientific approaches to the understanding of MS. Mast cells are aggregated along venules in border zones of the MS-plaques, and if stimulated releases specific mediators as histamine, resulting in oedema formations normally observed in the early onset of MS, as well as proteases that may cause demyelinization. The numbers of mast cells in the plaque-border zones of females is approximately doubled from that in males, which may explain the fact that females are more inclined to developing MS than males. Mast cells may be stimulated by various stress phenomenon, which in itself forward the possibility that MS is a sociocultural phenomenon. This is also strengthened by the observation that fragments of secreted chromogranins from the entro-endocrine system stimulate mast cells to secretion. The fact that stimulated mast cells survive, and within weeks/months may fully reload, may explain the frequent relapsing-remitting alternating phases of MS

Samuel Ho

City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Title: The relationship between memory bias and anxiety
Speaker
Biography:

Samuel M Y is the Associate Provost (Institutional Initiatives) and a Professor of Psychology at the City University of Hong Kong. As a Registered Clinical Psychologist, his research interest is in Psychopathology, especially etiology of anxiety and depression. Currently, he is conducting a series of experiments to examine the relative roles of positive and negative cognitive processing styles in anxiety and depression. He is one of the representative figures of Positive Psychology in Asia. He is the Executive Council Member of the Clinical Divison of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: Cognitive models postulate that schema-congruent biases towards danger and vulnerability in the processing of emotional information play a vital role in the onset and maintenance of anxiety symptoms. Two recent experimental studies among breast cancer survivors and community adolescents confirmed the above proposition by showing that participants with higher negative attentional bias tended to report more anxiety symptoms. Compared to attentional bias, the role of memory bias on anxiety symptoms is relatively less investigated, especially among children and adolescents. This presentation will report the results of a study to examine the relationship between memory bias and anxiety symptoms.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The theory of intentional forgetting, that is the voluntary forgetting of material after it has been encoded, has been used to guide the study. Intentional forgetting was measured by the item-method directed forgetting paradigm (Figure 1). A total of 142 high school students between 12.25 to 17.70 years old (mean age=14.23 years; SD=1.25 years) participated in this study.
Findings: More anxious participants tended to exhibit more difficulty in forgetting negative stimuli. An anxiety x depression interaction effect on positive attentional bias was obtained. Individuals with higher anxiety levels would exhibit less positive memory bias only when they were also having high depression level. Anxiety had no relationship with positive memory bias among those non-depressed individuals.
Conclusion & Significance: Negative cognitive processing biases, including both attentional and memory biases play a more significant role in anxiety than positive cognitive processing biases.

Nasheed Imtiaz

Aligarh Muslim University, India

Title: Impact of parenting style on physiological empowerment and academic achievement
Speaker
Biography:

Nasheed Imtiaz completed her Masters degree in Psychology from the Aligarh Muslim University 1996 and Ph.D. in 2000 in Organizational Behavior from the same Department. She did Diploma in Business Management from Institute of Charted Financial Analysts of India University, Tripura. Qualified Net in June 1997, June 1998 & Dec 1998. She taught at Senior Secondary School (Girls) for Two Academic Sessions and there after she joined the department of Psychology as Lecturer in 2002. At present she is teaching in the capacity of Assistant Professor in the department of Psychology. She has a no. of research publications in reputed journals. She has also been invited by different institutions to deliver invited lectures. She also has attended no. of National /International seminar/conferences where she presented research papers. At present She is devoted to her specialized area of Organizational Behavior, HRD, HRM in addition to her fields of interest viz., cognitive psychology, Psychopathology & research Methods.

Abstract:

In this modern competitive age, one must be careful about children’s psychological empowerment and academic achievement which is most likely to be determined by parenting style. It is imperative to dwell upon the fact that each parent must be cautious with regard to rearing practices that may make them capable for accepting challenges of life with full confidence, competency and efficacy, so that they could handle and master all situations easily. Hence, it is a pressing demand of time that we must deliberate on and search for best parenting style which could be most appropriate for developing psychological empowerment and getting success in their academic endeavors because these two aspects viz., psychological empowerment and academic achievement are the hall mark for the success in life. Hence, present investigation was undertaken to explore the impact of parenting style on psychological empowerment and academic achievement. In this investigation, N=300 high school students were chosen from Delhi and NCR. After administering the test on the participants and analyzing the data the results have been discussed in detail in full length paper in the light of Indian socio-cultural milieu.

Nasheed Imtiaz

Aligarh Muslim University, India

Title: Impact of parenting style on physiological empowerment and academic achievement
Speaker
Biography:

Nasheed Imtiaz completed her Masters degree in Psychology from the Aligarh Muslim University 1996 and Ph.D. in 2000 in Organizational Behavior from the same Department. She did Diploma in Business Management from Institute of Charted Financial Analysts of India University, Tripura. Qualified Net in June 1997, June 1998 & Dec 1998. She taught at Senior Secondary School (Girls) for Two Academic Sessions and there after she joined the department of Psychology as Lecturer in 2002. At present she is teaching in the capacity of Assistant Professor in the department of Psychology. She has a no. of research publications in reputed journals. She has also been invited by different institutions to deliver invited lectures. She also has attended no. of National /International seminar/conferences where she presented research papers. At present She is devoted to her specialized area of Organizational Behavior, HRD, HRM in addition to her fields of interest viz., cognitive psychology, Psychopathology & research Methods.

Abstract:

In this modern competitive age, one must be careful about children’s psychological empowerment and academic achievement which is most likely to be determined by parenting style. It is imperative to dwell upon the fact that each parent must be cautious with regard to rearing practices that may make them capable for accepting challenges of life with full confidence, competency and efficacy, so that they could handle and master all situations easily. Hence, it is a pressing demand of time that we must deliberate on and search for best parenting style which could be most appropriate for developing psychological empowerment and getting success in their academic endeavors because these two aspects viz., psychological empowerment and academic achievement are the hall mark for the success in life. Hence, present investigation was undertaken to explore the impact of parenting style on psychological empowerment and academic achievement. In this investigation, N=300 high school students were chosen from Delhi and NCR. After administering the test on the participants and analyzing the data the results have been discussed in detail in full length paper in the light of Indian socio-cultural milieu.

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