DULTA 30, 60 mg. Each tablet contains 30, 60 mg duloxetine respectively. S5 A46/1.2/0889, 0890. NAM NS3 CUSTOMER CARE LINE +27 21 707 7000
18/1.2/0126, 0127. For full prescribing information, refer to the professional information approved by SAHPRA www.pharmadynamics.co.za
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0184. For full prescribing information, refer to the professional information approved by SAHPRA, January
2022. 1) Bates, D. et al (2019). A comprehensive algorithm for management of neuropathic pain. Pain
Medicine, 20(Supplement_1), pp.S2-S12. MAA778/06/2022
ISSN 2409-5699
AABBOOUUTT ththeeddiscisicpliipnelineFOFROtRhethdeiscdipislinceiplinisesue 32 • AUGUST 2022
15 - 18 SEPTEMBER 2022
BIOLOGICAL
P S Y C H I AT R Y
CONGRESS
ABSTRACTS & INVITED
SPEAKER PROFILES
PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE www.southafricanpsychiatry.co.za
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S6 CONTRAMYL XR 18 mg (Extended Release Tablets). Reg. No. 49/1.2/1137. Each extended release tablet contains 18 mg methylphenidate
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contains 27 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. Contains sugar (sucrose). S6 CONTRAMYL XR 36 mg (Extended Release Tablets). Reg. No. 49/1.2/1139.
Each extended release tablet contains 36 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. Contains sugar (sucrose).
S6 CONTRAMYL XR 54 mg (Extended Release Tablets). Reg. No. 49/1.2/1140. Each extended release
tablet contains 54 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. Contains sugar (sucrose). For full prescribing
information, refer to the Professional Information approved by the Regulatory Authority.
Mylan (Pty) Ltd. Reg. No.: 1949/035112/07. 4 Brewery Street, Isando, Kempton Park, 1600.
Tel: (011) 451 1300. Fax: (011) 451 1400. www.mylansa.co.za. 19874L. M3667m Exp: 03/2023.
CONTENTS
AUGUST 2022
6 WELCOME MESSAGE
8 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS INVITED SPEAKERS
15 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS ORAL PRESENTATION
ABSTRACTS
47 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS POSTER PRESENTATION AGENDA
52 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS POSTER PRESENTATION
ABSTRACTS
89 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS SANS POSTER PRESENTATION
AGENDA
92 BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
108 SASOP
* PLEASE NOTE: Each item is available as full text electronically and as an individual pdf online.
Editor-in-Chief: Christopher P. Szabo - Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand
Associate Editor: Renata Schoeman - University of Stellenbosch Business School
Advisory Board: Ugash Subramaney - Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand
Soraya Seedat - Head, Department of Psychiatry, Uiversity of Stellenbosch
Dan Stein - Head, Deprtment of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town
Taiwo Akindipe - Head, Department of Psychiatry, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Funeka Sokudela - Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pretoria
Janus Pretorius - Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of The Free State
Zuki Zingela - Head, Department of Psychiatry, Walter Sisulu University
Bonga Chiliza - Head, Department of Psychiatry UKZN; President South African Society of Psychiatrists
Design and Layout: Rigel Andreoli
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Disclaimer: No responsibility will be accepted for any statement made or opinion expressed in the publication.
Consequently, nobody connected with the publication including directors, employees or editorial team will be held liable for any opinion, loss or
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© South African Psychiatry This magazine is copyright under the Berne Convention. In terms of the South African Copyright Act No. 98 of 1978, no part
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SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 5
WELCOME MESSAGE
WELCOME
MESSAGE
CONGRESS CONVENOR
Dear colleagues and friends, a theme that speaks to the many
As time draws near, we welcome you to this ways in which the pandemic
year’s Biological Psychiatry Congress in all 11 official has impacted, and continues
languages - Wamukelekile (isiZulu); Wamkelekile to impact, on our science and
(isiXhosa); Welkom (Afrikaans); Re a le aomgela practice, and that addresses
(Sepedi); Le amogetswe (Setswana); Kena ka new and adapted intervention
khotso (Sesotho); Ndzaku amukela (Xitsonga); and prevention approaches for
Nemukelekile (SiSwati); No tanganezwa (Tshivenda); dealing with post-viral psychiatric
Siyalemukela (isiNdebele); and Welcome (English). and neuropsychiatric sequelae.
The organising committee is truly excited to get
Biological Psychiatry 2022 off the ground. We are As in previous years, we have Soraya Seedat
especially pleased, as the South African Society
of Biological Psychiatry, to host colleagues from both world-renowned scientific
the World Federation of Societies of Biological experts and emerging researchers who, through
Psychiatry (WFSBP) (Prof Lakshmi Yatham [President their participation, will provide a wonderful
of WFSBP] and Prof Michael Berk [Vice-President]), platform for knowledge sharing, discussion,
together with other notable international and local debate, networking, and collaboration. We have
speakers. Together they will cover state-of-the-art also infused this year’s programme with new
treatment approaches and emerging research sessions, including hot topic, paper update,
findings, straddling psychiatry, psychology, brainstorming, roundtable, and educational
neuroscience, pharmacology, and related fields. update sessions. Aside from a full scientific and fun
In addition to our longstanding collaborating with social programme, we hope that you will have the
the South African Neuroscience Society (SANS), chance to enjoy this beautiful part of the country
with a very rich scientific neuroscience track on with its scenic natural beauty, beaches and
Saturday 17th September, we are honoured to wineries, and world-class gastronomy.
partner for the first time with the African College of
Neuropsychopharmacology (AfCNP). AfCNP will be Soraya Seedat
hosting a symposium on Thursday 15h September, Congress Convenor
with a superb line-up of speakers and stimulating
topics. Organising committee members:
For any congress to be successful, it needs Stéfan du Plessis
a dynamic and committed local organising Dana Niehaus
committee. This year’s organising committee has Matthew Mausling
been a well-oiled machine, with members working Christine Lochner
closely behind the scenes with Sonja du Plessis and Jacqui Womersley,
the Londocor team. As we gather in person this year, Erine Bröcker
3 years since the last (pre-pandemic) Congress, the Vidette Juby
organising committee was intentional in selecting Lucy Jarvis
Sian Hemmings
Bonga Chiliza
Leigh van den Heuvel,
Michelle Hungwe
6 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
SSRI www.pharmadynamics.co.za
SNRI
For further product information contact PHARMA DYNAMICS
Email info@pharmadynamics.co.za CUSTOMER CARE LINE +27 21 707 7000
DULTA 30, 60 mg. Each tablet contains 30, 60 mg duloxetine respectively. S5 A46/1.2/0889, 890. NAM NS3 18/1.2/0126, 0127. DYNA SERTRALINE 50, 100. Each tablet contains 50, 100 mg sertraline
respectively. S5 A43/1.2/0339, 0340. NAM NS3 14/1.2/0627, 0628. EXLOV XR 50, 100 mg. Each extended-release tablet contains desvenlafaxine benzoate equivalent to 50, 100 mg desvenlafaxine respectively.
S5 A51/1.2/0009, 0010. ILLOVEX XR 37,5, 75, 150, 225, 300 mg. Each extended release film coated tablet contains venlafaxine hydrochloride equivalent to 37,5, 75, 150, 225, 300 mg venlafaxine respectively.
S5 A48/1.2/0910, 0911, 0912, 0913, A53/1.2/0467. SERRAPRESS 20 mg. Each tablet contains 20 mg paroxetine. S5 A38/1.2/0069. NAM NS3 08/1.2/0101. ZYTOMIL 10, 20 mg. Each film coated tablet contains 10,
20 mg escitalopram respectively. S5 A42/1.2/0912, 0914. NAM NS3 10/1.2/0479, 0481. For full prescribing information, refer to the professional information approved by SAHPRA. NSCRA765/06/2022
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS
INVITED
SPEAKERS
Professor Ole Andreassen Morningside Hospital from inception in 1991 to
(Norway) in-person 2002. She was the founding chairperson of the
Ole is Professor in psychiatry South African Sleep Society in the late 1990s and
at University of Oslo, and is the current chairperson of the South African
Director of Norwegian Centre Society for Sleep and Health (SASSH). She has also
for Mental Disorders Research represented Africa on the governing body of the
(NORMENT). Andreassen did his World Association of Sleep Medicine.
PhD in psychopharmacology Dr Bentley is nationally recognised as an expert on
at University of Bergen and his various sleep disorders, including adult and child
post doc training in molecular insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. Currently
neuroscience at Massachusetts General Hospital. she has a private practice devoted to sleep
He did his psychiatry residency at Oslo University disorders as well as a company which performs
Hospital, and is now attending psychiatrist at the home-based apnea screening studies as well as
Bipolar Disorder Clinic. CPAP titrations.
He applies clinical, neurocognitive, and brain
imaging phenotypes and molecular genetics tools Professor Michael Berk
to identify causes and underlying pathophysiology (Australia) in-person
of severe mental disorder, and develop multimodal Michael is an NHMRC Senior
stratification tools for precision psychiatry. Principal Research Fellow at
Andreassen builds his research on the Nordic Deakin University, where he heads
advantages, such as public health care system, the IMPACT institute. He is listed
large biobanks, health registries and longitudinal by Clarivate Web of Science as
cohorts. He chairs international consortia in highly cited (2015-2021) and was
psychiatric genetics (PGC) and brain imaging awarded the Brain & Behaviour
(ENIGMA), and coordinates European Research (NARSAD) Colvin Award for Mood Disorders in
Network (ECNP) and Horizon2020 projects. 2015, the Victoria Prize for life sciences in 2019, the
Dr Alison Bentley International Society for Bipolar Disorders Bob Post
(South Africa) in-person award for mentorship in 2020 and the RANZCP
Alison (MBBCh, PhD) has been Senior Research Award in 2021. On the bibliometric
involved with sleep medicine website Expertscape, he is ranked #1 in depression
and sleep research for 30 Years. and mental disorders. He is past president of the
She completed an MBBCH at Wits International Society for Bipolar Disorders and
followed by a PhD on Restless legs current vice president of the World Federation of
Syndrome also at Wits in 2007. She Societies of Biological Psychiatry. His major interests
developed the Dial-a-Bed Sleep are in the discovery and implementation of novel
laboratory) in the school of Physiology at Wits therapies.
into one of the leading sleep research entities in Dr Craig Bracken
South Africa. She is still active in research having (South Africa) in-person
supervised over 30 Masters students and 5 Phd Craig, MBBCh(WITS) FCPSYCH(SA)
students in multiple topics and co-authored 35 PGDip(Health Sciences Education)
journal articles. She left Wits to open a private (WITS), is a joint staff member at
practice dedicated to sleep disorders and WITS University. Has worked as
managed a sleep laboratory including all sleep clinical head in a general hospital
study scoring and reporting of sleep studies at psychiatry unit 1997-2015. Interest
8 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
in ECT, medical education and neuropsychiatry pro bono CEO of the non-profit organization
(subspecialist neuropsychiatry registration 2016). “Women’s Brain Project” which is addressing
Since 2016 has been the psychiatry consultant in the influence of sex and gender on mental and
a dedicated personality disorders psychotherapy brain diseases. Since then, she acts the pro
treatment program (ward 4&5, Tara Hospital, bono CEO of the organization. Antonella has
Johannesburg). He teaches and does DBT decades of experience in preclinical research,
groups in a program integrating evidence-based patient treatment, clinical development, medical
treatments of personality disorders across the affairs and international regulatory framework
severity spectrum. for therapeutics. Always focused on solving the
puzzles related to Alzheimer’s and other psychiatric
Professor Kristen Brennand diseases, she studied possible immunotherapies
(USA) – virtual (SANS Symposium) for AD in the laboratory of Roger Nitsch and
Kristen, PhD is a Professor of Christoph Hock at the university of Zurich where
Psychiatry and Genetics at Yale aducanumab, the first amyloid treatment for
University School of Medicine, Alzheimer’s disease was discovered. She also
formerly the Director of the Alper worked with Swissmedic, Roche diagnostic
Neural Stem Cell Center and an and Roche Pharma, Biogen, several European
Associate Professor in the Pamela Universities, the EU Commission Directorate for
Sklar Division of Psychiatric Health and Food Safety, the OECD, the CEOi and
Genomics at Mount Sinai. Her research combines several Alzheimer’s’ disease organizations.
expertise in genetics, neuroscience and stem Since 2018 she has been listed among the top 100
cells, in order to identify the mechanisms that Women in Business in Switzerland and in 2019, she
underlie brain disease. Her focus lies in resolving was elected Woman of the Year in Switzerland by
the convergence of, and complex interplay the Magazine "Women in Business". In 2020, she
between, the many risk variants linked to disease, received the World Sustainability Award for her
towards the goal of facilitating the clinical involvement in advancing Precision Medicine. She
translation of genetic findings. Dr. Brennand’s also received the award “Premio Medicina Italia”
work is funded by the National Institutes of Health, for her contribution to the management of the
the New York Stem Cell Foundation, the Brain pandemic. In 2021 she was acknowledged among
Research Foundation, and the Brain and Behavior the “Women for Innovation” in Switzerland from
Research Foundation. the University of Basel and received the N.1 award
Professor Eric Bui from the Italian Ambassy for her contribution to the
(France) in-person cooperation between Switzerland and Italy.
Eric, MD, PhD, is Professor of She is the Vice-president of Euresearch and acts as
Psychiatry at the University of Caen scientific advisor for several start-up and scientific
Normandy (France), and adjunct institutions. Dr. Santuccione Chadha is keenly
investigator at the Massachusetts interested in removing bias when developing
General Hospital (Boston, MA) solutions for mental and neurological diseases to
where he served in different achieve precision medicines and she is advocating
leadership capacities as a Harvard for the first worldwide sex and gender precision
Medical School faculty, for nearly a decade. His medicine research institute based in Switzerland.
research focuses specifically on understanding She is the author of several scientific publication,
the mechanisms and improving the treatment of TEDx and books, among them “Sex and Gender
anxiety and stress-related conditions, including Differences in Alzheimer’s disease” and “Una
PTSD and Complicated Grief. Bambina Senza Testa” which will become a TV
To date, he has published over 150 scientific articles series.
and book chapters, and edited two textbooks in
the field of anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, Professor Robin Emsley
and prolonged grief disorder. He currently (South Africa) in-person
serves as the immediate past president of the Robin is a Professor in Psychiatry
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, in the Faculty of Medicine and
as Associate Editor of the European Journal of Health Sciences, University
Psychotraumatology, and as Editor-in-Chief of the of Stellenbosch, Cape Town,
International Journal of Mental Health. South Africa. He holds the
Dr Santuccione Chadha Sarah Turoff Endowed Chair
(Switzerland) - virtual in Schizophrenia Research.
Antonella is a medical doctor Previously, he was Executive Head
with expertise in clinical of the Department of Psychiatry for 23 years. He
pathology, neuroscience and obtained his medical degree (MBChB) at the
psychiatric disorders. She is University of Cape Town in 1974 and his psychiatry
Chief medical officer at Altoida degree (MMed) at the University of Stellenbosch
inc. In 2016 she co-founded and in 1981. He received a Doctorate in Medicine in
1987 and a Doctor of Science degree in 2007 for
studies in the psychopathology, neurobiology and
psychopharmacology of schizophrenia.
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 9
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
His main areas of interest are in the clinical, and has previously held a Senior EDCTP Fellowship
neurobiological and pharmacological aspects of (2011-2013) and an MRC/DFID African Leadership
schizophrenia. Our group has published widely in Award (2014-2016). Over the last 15 years at the MRC/
this field. UVRI & LSHTM, Eugene has undertaken research
into the psychiatric disorders (PD) associated with
Professor Felice Jacka HIV/AIDS among adults, children and adolescents
(Australia) - virtual and older persons looking specifically at the
Felice is Professor of Nutritional epidemiology of psychiatric disorders (PD) in HIV/
Psychiatry and Director of the Food AIDS, risk/predictor factors and its impact on
& Mood Centre at Deakin University clinical, behavioural and social outcomes.
and founder and president of the
International Society for Nutritional He has explored the biological correlates of PD
Psychiatry Research. Professor doing studies into the genetics and immunological
Jacka has been responsible for the risk factors of major depressive disorder and
development of a highly innovative suicidality. He has also undertaken studies into the
field of research establishing diet and nutrition as HIV risk among war affected populations and more
of importance to common mental disorders. These recently among persons living with severe mental
include the first studies to document a role for diet illness. Through the Wellcome Trust Fellowship,
quality in both adult and adolescent depression, Eugene is developing and evaluating a model for
the first study to identify both maternal and early the integration of depression management into
life nutrition as important predictors of children’s adult HIV care in Uganda (HIV+D Trial).
mental health, and the first trial to show that dietary
improvement can address clinical depression. His other research interests include the epidemiology
The results of the studies she has conducted have of psychiatric disorders in both war affected and
been highly influential, and she is widely recognized non-war affected communities in Africa and
as international leader in the field of Nutritional suicidology. He has 110 peer reviewed publications
Psychiatry research. to his name.
Her current work focuses closely on the links between
diet, gut health and mental and brain health. Dr Tennyson Lee
Professor Jacka is an ISI Highly-Cited Researcher (UK) in person
(2020 and 2021). She has published ‘Brain Changer’
through Pan Macmillan Australia and Yellow Kite in Tennyson, FRCPsych FFCH(SA),
the UK and EU. Her children’s book, 'There’s a Zoo in is a Consultant in General
my Poo', was published in July 2020. In 2021 she was Adult Psychiatry and Medical
awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) Psychotherapy based at
for her services to Nutritional Psychiatry. DeanCross Personality Disorder
Professor John Joska Service in the East London NHS
(South Africa) in-person Foundation Trust. He is an honorary
John is a Professor of Psychiatry, Head senior lecturer at Barts Hospital, and co-director of
of the Division of Neuropsychiatry the Centre for Understanding of Personality (CUSP).
and Director of the HIV Mental Dr Lee is a supervisor in Transference Focused
Health Research Unit. He has more Psychotherapy (TFP), and is a member of the
than 15 years of experience in International Society of TFP certification board. Dr
research in neuroHIV. Lee leads a training programme in TFP in Chengdu,
Interests include clinical training in neuropsychiatry, China and teaches TFP in a range of countries.
mental health services and adherence, as well as
behavioural and biological interventions to improve He is an accredited practitioner of Mentalization
cognitive and mental outcomes in PWH. He is an Based Treatment (MBT) and a candidate at
amateur squash player and has now more or less the Institute of Psychoanalysis. Dr Lee trained at
given up on crayfishing. Groote Schuur Hospital and was a senior lecturer
Professor Eugene Kinyanda in the Dept of Community Health at the University
(Uganda) in-person at Witwatersrand, based in the Mental Health
Eugene, MBChB, M.Med (Psy), PhD Programme of the Centre for Health Policy, before
, is a Professor Mental Health and training at the Maudsley Hospital in London.
Head of the Mental Health Section
of the MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Professor Christine Lochner
Research Unit. He is a Senior (South Africa) in-person
Wellcome Trust Fellow (2017-2023)
Christine is a Professor in the
Department of Psychiatry at
Stellenbosch University, and Co-
Director of the SA MRC Unit on
Risk and Resilience in Mental
Disorders. She has obtained a PhD
in Psychiatry and has more than
20 years of clinical, epidemiological and basic
10 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
neuroscience research experience as a clinical Professor Dana Niehaus
psychologist working in the field of obsessive- (South Africa) in-person
compulsive and related disorders and anxiety Dana Niehaus completed his
disorders and has existing collaborative research undergraduate studies at the
projects with colleagues in Europe, the United University of the Free State. After an
States and in the United Kingdom. additional two-year research stint
She is principal investigator of a number of research focused on Fabry disease genetics
programs in the above-mentioned unit and mentors at Mount Sinai School of Medicine
masters, doctoral and postdoctoral students. in New York, he commenced his
Her Google h-index is 63, and she has published training as registrar in the Department of Psychiatry
over 155+ peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and at Stellenbosch University. He has spent the last 23
co-written 20+ book chapters to date. years in the dual role of academic and psychiatrist
at Stikland Hospital, first in Acute Female Services
Professor Suresh and later as subspecialist in Psychogeriatric
Muthukumaraswamy Services. During this period, he completed his
(New Zealand) - virtual doctoral degrees in Psychiatry (focusing on
Suresh completed his PhD in endophenotypes in schizophrenia) and a MPhil
Psychology at the University of in Geriatric Psychiatry. In collaboration with the
Auckland in 2005 after which University of Tampere (Finland), he is involved in a
he joined the newly established research study focusing on health parameters in
Cardiff University Brain Research mothers with severe mental illness and their babies.
Imaging Centre as a post-doctoral Professor Felix Potocnik
fellow. While at Cardiff he started research work (South Africa) in-person
with the psychedelics in 2011 in collaboration Prof Felix Potocnik is a sub-
with Professor David Nutt and Dr Robin Carhart- specialist in geriatric psychiatry
Harris investigating the neuroimaging correlates and an extra-ordinary lecturer
of the psychedelic drugs psilocybin and LSD. In in the Department of Psychiatry,
2014 Suresh received a prestigious Rutherford University of Stellenbosch. A
Discovery Fellowship and returned to the University former Wits graduate, he studied
of Auckland where he works in The School of psychiatry at UCT becoming head
Pharmacy at The Faculty of Medical and Health of their Psychogeriatric Unit in 1984; a position he
Sciences. maintained on joining Stellenbosch in 1994. He
Suresh’s main research interests are in is involved with individual and pharmaceutical
understanding how therapies alter brain function research in Alcohol in the Elderly, Chronic Fatigue
and behaviour and in testing methodologies to Syndrome, Zinc and Vitamins A&D, Alzheimer’s
measure these changes in both healthy individuals disease and Vascular Dementia since 1985. As
and patient groups – particularly in depressed National Principal Investigator he has helped in
patients. At The University of Auckland he has the research of more than 80 compounds, as well
conducted clinical trials in depressed patients as the launch of the four cognitive enhancers
involving ketamine, scopolamine and transcranial available globally to date. He has lectured and
magnetic stimulation. published widely.
He has received several Health Research Council Professor Christian Schmahl
of New Zealand research grants to support this (Germany) - virtual
work including a grant to investigate the effects of Prof Felix Potocnik is a sub-
microdoses of LSD on brain and cognitive function. specialist in geriatric psychiatry
Suresh has published 117 papers, with his work and an extra-ordinary lecturer
receiving >8000 citations and has an H-Index of 42 in the Department of Psychiatry,
(Google Scholar). University of Stellenbosch. A
Dr Sihle Nhlabathi former Wits graduate, he studied
(South Africa) in-person psychiatry at UCT becoming head
Sihle obtained her medical degree of their Psychogeriatric Unit in 1984; a position he
at the University of KwaZulu- maintained on joining Stellenbosch in 1994. He
Natal in 2006 and obtained is involved with individual and pharmaceutical
her psychiatric qualification at research in Alcohol in the Elderly, Chronic Fatigue
Stellenbosch University (SU) in Syndrome, Zinc and Vitamins A&D, Alzheimer’s
2015. Dr Nhlabathi is a Discovery disease and Vascular Dementia since 1985. As
Foundation Grant holder and National Principal Investigator he has helped in
is currently pursuing her sub-specialty degree in the research of more than 80 compounds, as well
Geriatric Psychiatry at SU. as the launch of the four cognitive enhancers
available globally to date. He has lectured and
published widely.
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 11
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
Professor Soraya Seedat in the treatment of personality disorders with
(South Africa) in-person complex comorbidity using psychodynamic and
Soraya is a Distinguished Professor mentalization-based approaches.
of Psychiatry and Executive Head
of the Department of Psychiatry at Dr Lindokuhle Thela
Stellenbosch University. She holds (South Africa) in-person
the South African Research Chair in Lindokuhle is a neuropsychiatrist
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and based in Durban. He obtained his
directs the South African Medical undergraduate and postgraduate
Research Council Unit on the Genomics of Brain medical degrees from the
Disorders. She has more than 20 years of clinical, University of KwaZulu Natal
epidemiological and basic neuroscience research (MBChB, FCPsych and MMed
experience as a psychiatrist working in the field of Psychiatry) and Neuropsychiatry
traumatic stress and anxiety and has published Subspecialty (2019) at the University of Cape
over 500 peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and Town. He is currently the head of Psychiatry at King
co-edited four books. Edward VIII Hospital in Durban. His research interest
She has served 2 terms as the President of the includes the biological markers of neuropsychiatric
College of Psychiatrists of South Africa and 3 terms disorders such as dementia and psychosis.
as Secretary, and is currently a member of the Professor Henning Tiemeier
Board of Directors and an Honorary Registrar of the (USA) in-person
Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. Henning, MA, MD, PhD, is Professor
Dr Maxine Taquet of Social and Behavioral Science
(UK) – virtual and the Sumner and Esther
Max is a senior research fellow Feldberg Chair of Maternal and
at the University of Oxford with Child Health at the Harvard T.H.
background in both clinical Chan School of Public Health. Dr.
psychiatry and engineering. He Tiemeier received both his medical
shares his time between seeing and sociological degree from the University of
patients with severe mental illness Bonn, Germany, and his PhD from the Erasmus
and doing research. University in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since 2018, he
His research focusses on the use of large multimodal leads the Maternal and Child Center of Excellence
dataset (including electronic health records, mobile at Harvard Chan.
phone data, and brain imaging) to try and better As one of just 13 HRSA-funded Centers of Excellence
characterise and treat mental illness and to better in Maternal and Child Health in the United States, the
understand the interface between psychiatric illness center trains future leaders in the field. Dr. Tiemeier
and the rest of medicine. Prior to studying medicine have worked broadly in pediatric epidemiology
at the University of Oxford, he was a research fellow for more than 20 years with an emphasis on child
in engineering at Harvard Medical School where developmental research.
he developed novel brain imaging technologies to At Harvard his research focusses on high-risk
map the brain microstructure. children, such as preterm children and homeless
Associate Professor Henk families. Together with colleagues and non-
Temmingh governmental agencies he has begun a cohort
(South Africa) in-person of women in Boston shelters and their children.
Henk, FCPsych (SA), MPH, PhD, Dr. Tiemeier has published extensively on the
is an associate professor at etiology of child developmental problems with
the University of Cape Town a particular focus on prenatal exposures. His
and consultant psychiatrist at other research interests include social and family
Valkenberg psychiatric hospital. environmental determinants of brain development,
He leads the specialized therapeutic unit and parental feeding and child eating behavior, and
inpatient psychotherapy service, providing psychometric studies of child development, among
treatment to patients with complex needs including others.
personality, trauma-related, mood, anxiety and co- He is a principal investigator of the Generation R
occurring substance use disorders (dual diagnosis). Study, a large pre-birth cohort in Rotterdam, that
He is also consultant to the assertive community enrolled nearly 10,000 mothers and their children.
treatment team (ACTT) and the intermediate stay Ongoing research projects and interests focus on
unit for patients with treatment resistant psychotic genetic and early life exposures; as his previous
disorders. He has training in group analytical therapy, work showed that this shapes the vulnerability to
mentalization-based treatment, and transference neurodevelopmental problems.
focused psychotherapy. He has a special interest His ongoing studies include investigate how
parenting and other environmental risk factors
12 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - INVITED SPEAKERS
relate to brain development as assessed by braining for distinctive and sustained contributions to the
imaging. Dr. Tiemeier has advised numerous field of bipolar disorder, Robert Post Mentorship
masters, doctoral and postdoctoral students as Award from the ISBD for mentoring and facilitating
a mentor, academic advisor and dissertation careers of junior researchers and clinicians,
committee member. He is also a Professor of Gerald L Klerman Award from Depression and
Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Erasmus University Bipolar Support Alliance in the USA for significant
Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Dr. contribution towards advancing causes, diagnosis
Tiemeier is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher (General and treatment of mood disorders and the Colvin
Social Science). Research Prize in Mood Disorders from the Brain and
Behaviour Foundation in the USA for his outstanding
Dr Lize Weich contributions to research in mood disorders.
(South Africa) in-person Dr. Yatham’s areas of interest include neurobiology
Lize is an addiction psychiatrist and treatment of bipolar disorder. He has a google
at Stikland Hospital and a senior scholar h-index of 86, and he has published over
lecturer in the Department 380 papers in peer-reviewed international journals
of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch including many in high impact journals.
University. She is responsible for
coordinating addiction services Professor Alan Young
for the psychiatric hospitals in (UK) in-person
the Western Province. She also coordinates pre- Allan is Chair of Mood Disorders and
and postgraduate training in addiction care at Director of the Centre for Affective
Stellenbosch University, including the Postgraduate Disorders in the Department of
diploma in Addiction Care, Masters in Addiction Psychological Medicine in the
Care and MPhil in Addiction Psychiatry programs. Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology
Professor Lakshmi N. Yatham and Neuroscience at King’s
(Canada) in-person College London, where he is also
Lakshmi is a Professor and Head of Head of School and Vice-Dean for Academic
the Department of Psychiatry and Psychiatry.
Director of the Institute of Mental Professor Young is the National Institute for Health
Health at the University of British Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical
Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Research Centre (BRC) Cluster and Theme Lead
He is also the Regional Head of in the Translational Therapeutics Cluster. He is
Psychiatry and Regional Program the clinical academic lead in the Psychological
Medical Director for Mental Health and Addictions Medicine and Integrated Care Clinical Academic
at Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Group in the South London and Maudsley NHS
Healthcare. He has an executive MBA in health Trust, where he is also Consultant Psychiatrist and
care from the Sauder School of Business. Head of the Affective Disorders Service. Professor
Dr. Yatham has held leadership positions for national Young’s research interests focus on the cause
and international professional organizations and treatments for severe psychiatric illnesses,
including the President of the International Society particularly mood disorders.
for Bipolar Disorders, the Secretary for the World He has received research grants from several
Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry funding agencies and has over 600 peer-reviewed
(WFSBP), and he is now the President of the WFSBP publications, including several books about
and the Editor in Chief for the Canadian Journal psychopharmacology and affective disorders. He is
of Psychiatry. Dr. Yatham was listed in the Clarivate past President of the International Society for Affective
Analytics 2017 to 2021 reports and Thomson Reuters’ Disorders, past President of the British Association
reports on “World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds of Psychopharmacology and past Chair of the
-2014 and 2015” as one of the most highly cited Special Committee for Psychopharmacology of the
researchers (publications with top 1% of citations) Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is also a trustee of
in psychiatry/psychology in the world based on the patient and family charity Bipolar UK, and of the
research published since 2002. Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU), internationally
He has won numerous prestigious national and respected for its work in Pharmacovigilance,
international awards for his contributions including Pharmacoepidemiology, Risk Management and
Mogen Schou Award for international education Training Services for over 30 years. Professor Young
and advocacy on bipolar disorder from the is a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. The highly
International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD), anticipated annual list identifies researchers who
Heinz Lehman Award as well as the Canadian demonstrated significant influence in their chosen
College of Neuropsychopharmacology Medal for field or fields through the publication of multiple
his contributions to psychopharmacology, John highly cited papers during the last decade. Their
M Cleghorn Award for excellence in research names are drawn from the publications that rank in
and leadership from the Canadian Psychiatric the top 1% by citations for field and publication year
Association, Frank and Kupfer Award from the ISBD in the Web of Science™ citation index
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 13
RESET EXPECTATIONS WITH ®
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Lundbeck SA (Pty) Ltd. Unit 9, Blueberry Office Park, Apple Street, Randpark Ridge Extension 114 Tel: +27 11 699 1600. For full prescribing information refer to the professional information approved by
the medicines regulatory authority. ZA-REXU-0113 February 2022
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS
ORAL PRESENTATION
ABSTRACTS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS (HIV) care in patients with psychiatric disorders is
Title: Dr poorly understood. Aim: This study determined the
Name: Adila prevalence of HIV and described its cascade of
Surname: Aboobaker care among patients with psychiatric disorders in
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study
Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health also examined the correlates of HIV comorbidity
Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, East with psychiatric disorders in the cohort.
London, South Africa; 2Department of METHODOLOGY:
Psychiatry, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, In this cross-sectional study, a total of 368 individuals
Mdantsane, East London, South Africa attending the Psychiatric Outpatients’ Department
of Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Eastern Cape
Email: adilaaboobaker@gmail.com were interviewed with a structured questionnaire.
Relevant items on demographics and clinical
AUTHORS information were extracted from the medical
records. Virologic suppression was defined as viral
Author 1: Adila Aboobaker load < 1000 RNA copies/mL.
Author 2: Department of Psychiatry and RESULTS:
Author 3: Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health The HIV prevalence after the intervention was
Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, East 18.8% and a significant proportion of participants
London, South Africa; Department of already knew their status (n = 320; 87.0%). Linkage to
Psychiatry, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, care and antiretroviral therapy initiation occurred
Mdantsane, East London, South Africa in 61 participants, of those diagnosed with HIV
Zukiswa Zingela (88.4%), with 84.1% being eligible for viral load
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural monitoring (n = 58) and 53.4% having achieved
Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, virologic suppression. Being female (AOR = 5.48;
Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, South 95% CI 2.61–11.51) and black (adjusted odds
Africa; Department of Psychiatry, Mthatha ratio [AOR] = 3.85; 95% confidence interval [CI]
Hospital Complex, Mthatha, South Africa 1.06–14.03) were independent predictors of HIV
Oladele V. Adeniyi comorbidity in individuals living with psychiatric
Department of Family Medicine & Rural disorders.
Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, CONCLUSION:
Walter Sisulu University, East London, This study found a moderately high prevalence
South Africa; Department of Family (close to 19%) of HIV in individuals with psychiatric
Medicine, Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, disorders, with a significant correlation with being
East London, South Africa female and being black people. This study also
found a significant gap in the linkage to antiretroviral
TITLE: therapy (ART) initiation and a low rate of virologic
Correlates and cascade of human suppression of 53.4%. Clinicians, therefore, should
immunodeficiency virus care in patients with monitor and provide interventions for patients with
psychiatric disorders in the Eastern Cape concomitant HIV infection along this cascade of
Province, South Africa. care.
BACKGROUND: SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 15
The cascade of human immunodeficiency virus
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS BACKGROUND:
Title: Dr Changes in sleep and mental health outcomes
Name: Alison have been observed because of COVID-19
Surname: Bentley pandemic-induced lockdowns. We hypothesized
Affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Wits that lockdown-induced disruption to daily life
would have a greater effect on sleep, anxiety and
Email: dralisonbentley@gmail.com depression symptoms in people with insomnia than
those without insomnia. The aim of this study was
AUTHORS to describe the impact of lockdown on individuals
Author 1: Alison Bentley with self-reported insomnia.
Department of Family Medicine, Faculty METHODOLOGY:
of Health Sciences, University of the An online survey assessed behaviors before and
Witwatersrand during a stringent 5-week-long lockdown in 1048
Author 2: Laura Roden South Africans in 2020. Participants self-identified as
Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life either currently or previously suffering or diagnosed
Sciences, School of Life Sciences, with insomnia, depression and anxiety. Insomnia
Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index,
Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 2DS, anxiety using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder
UK 7-item and depression severity using the Patient
Author 3: Jonathan Davy Health Questionnaire-2.
Department of Human Kinetics and
Ergonomics, Rhodes University, South RESULTS:
Africa Of the total sample, 33% reported at least one sleep
Author 4: Stella Iacovides disorder with 18% (n=135) reporting a previous or
Brain Function ResearchBrain Function current diagnosis of insomnia (Insomnia group)
Research Group, School of Physiology, and 700 participants reporting no sleep disorder
Faculty of Health Sciences, University (No-Insomnia group). Participants in the Insomnia
of the Witwatersrand Group, School of group were more likely to be women, have a
Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, chronic medical condition, and have higher
University of the Witwatersrand depression and/or anxiety scores. Both groups
Author 5: Karine Sheuermaier reported a significant increase in symptoms of
Brain Function Research Group, School insomnia, depression and anxiety during lockdown
of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, compared to before lockdown. However, the
University of the Witwatersrand increase in symptoms in the Insomnia group was
Author 6: Raphaella Lewis significantly more than the No-Insomnia group (all
UCT Sleep Sciences and Clinical p<0.001).
Neuropsychology, Department of
Psychology, University of Cape Town CONCLUSION:
Author 7: Gosia Lipinski Participants with self-reported insomnia, even if
UCT Sleep Sciences and Clinical currently asymptomatic, were more vulnerable
Neuropsychology, Department of to worsening symptoms of insomnia, anxiety and
Psychology, University of Cape Town depression during lockdown compared to those
Author 8: Candice Christie with no insomnia as predicted by the concepts of
Department of Human Kinetics and insomnia identity and stress reactivity.
Ergonomics, Rhodes University, South Africa
Author 9: Xavier Gomez-Olive ________________________________________
MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and
Health Transitions Research Unit PRESENTER'S DETAILS
(Agincourt), School of Public Health, Title: Dr
Faculty of Health Sciences, University Name: Kagiso
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Surname: Bojosi
South Africa. Affiliation: University of Botswana
Author 10: Dale Rae
Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle Email: kagboj@gmail.com
and Sport Research Centre & Division
of Physiological Sciences, Department AUTHORS
of Human Biology, Faculty of Health
Sciences, University of Cape Town, Author 1: Kagiso Bojosi
South Africa Author 2: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Botswana
TITLE: Anthony Ademola Olashore
Vulnerability of South Africans with self-reported Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of
insomnia to changes in sleep, depression and
anxiety symptoms during lockdown measures in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
16 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 3: Medicine, University of Botswana regression models to explore the variables that
Author 4: Keneilwe Molebatsi could predict the outcomes. The significance level
Author 5: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of was set at a p-value < 0.05.
Author 6: Medicine, University of Botswana RESULTS:
Otsetswe Musindo Majority of the 355 participants were females at
Author 7: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of 59%. Anxiety and depression were experienced by
Medicine, University of Botswana 14% and 23% of the participants, respectively. After
Author 8: Obadia Isaac multiple regression analyses, neuroticism predicted
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of depression (B = 0.22; p < 0.01) and anxiety disorder
Medicine, University of Botswana (B = 0.31; p < 0.01). Lower educational status (B =
Onkabetse Julia Molefe-Baikai −0.13; p = 0.007) predicted anxiety and younger
Department of Internal Medicine, age (B = −0.10; p = 0.038) predicted depression,
Faculty of Medicine, University of while resilience negatively correlated with both
Botswana disorders.
Stephane Tshitenge CONCLUSION:
Department of Family Medicine and There is a need to develop and implement
Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, interventions targeted at these identified risks and
University of Botswana protective factors that can be easily delivered to
Philip Opondo healthcare workers during this pandemic.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Botswana ________________________________________
TITLE: PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Psychosocial predictors of anxiety and depression Title: Dr
in a sample of healthcare workers in Botswana Name: Tanya
during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-centre Surname: Calvey
cross-sectional study. Affiliation: University of the Witwatersrand
BACKGROUND: Email: tanya.calvey@gmail.com
COVID 19 has been associated with adverse
mental health effects in the general population. AUTHORS
Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other stress-
related symptoms have been among the most Author 1: Tanya Calvey
common psychological effects of COVID- 19 Author 2: University of the Witwatersrand,
reported across heterogeneous studies. Some Author 3: Johannesburg, South Africa
studies have reported higher rates among health- Author 4:
care workers than the general population.
Author 5:
The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and Author 6: Demi Govender
psychosocial predictors of anxiety and depression, Author 7: University of the Witwatersrand,
among healthcare workers in Botswana during the Johannesburg, South Africa
COVID-19 outbreak. Nhanisi Ndlovu
University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa
METHODOLOGY: Nirvana Morgan
This was a cross-sectional study in five public-funded Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
hospitals from three districts in Botswana from June Gavin Owen
to October 2020. The study population included University of the Witwatersrand,
all medical professionals involved in patient care; Johannesburg, South Africa
support staff who have little or no contact with Jaishree Naidoo
patients were excluded, with a sample size of 355. University of the Witwatersrand,
Neuroticism, Depression, Social support, anxiety, Johannesburg, South Africa
and resilience were assessed using the neuroticism Martijn van den Heuvel
subscale of the 44-item Big Five Inventory, Patient Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,
Health Questionnaire, the Oslo 3-item Social Amsterdam, Netherlands
Support Scale, the Anxiety Rating Scale, and the
14-item Resilience Scale, respectively. TITLE:
Ibogaine may be able to repair reduced white
Descriptive statistics were used to describe socio- matter integrity in opioid use disorder- Evidence of
demographic variables. Independent t-tests opioid-induced white matter structural plasticity
were used to test the difference in the outcome in humans and rats.
variables’ scores and the categorical variables.
Pearson’s correlation was applied to explore the BACKGROUND:
relationship of the outcome variables with age, Opioid use disorder (OUD) is associated with
resilience, neuroticism. All the significant variables reduced white matter structural integrity. Ibogaine
on the bivariate analysis were entered into multiple
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 17
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
is a psychedelic used in South Africa to treat Author 2: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
OUD. Our aim was to assess specific white matter Author 3: of Medicine and Health Sciences,
changes in OUD and whether ibogaine’s treatment Author 4: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
effect lies in its ability to repair myelin. We analyzed Author 5: South Africa
fractional anisotropy (FA) in the white matter of Author 6: Ivan Crockart
heroin users and we conducted a rodent study to Author 7: Laila Asmal
assess ibogaine’s effect on CNPase- a marker for Author 8: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
myelination in the CNS. Author 9: of Medicine and Health Sciences,
METHODOLOGY: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
Twenty-eight male heroin users and 25 healthy, South Africa
matched controls were recruited from drug Marta Andreatta
rehabilitation centers and the surrounding Department of Psychology (Biological
community, respectively. Diffusion- weighted MRI Psychology, Clinical Psychology and
images were obtained using a 3 Tesla General Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg,
Electric Discovery. Tract-based spatial statistics Würzburg, Germany
(TBSS) and voxel-wise analysis from FreeSurfer Robin Emsley
and FSLeyes were used to identify differences in Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
white matter integrity between the two groups. of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Immunoblotting, enhanced chemiluminescence Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
and densitometry was used to analyse CNPase South Africa
protein in white matter tissue obtained from three Paul Pauli
groups of SD rats administered 1) a single ibogaine Department of Psychology (Biological
HCL dose (50mg/kg i.p.), 2) chronic morphine Psychology, Clinical Psychology and
(10mg/kg s.c. for 10 days) followed by a single Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg,
ibogaine HCL dose (50mg/kg i.p.) and 3) a saline Würzburg, Germany
control. Soraya Seedat
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
RESULTS: of Medicine and Health Sciences,
We found significant FA reductions (p<0.05) in the Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
following white matter tracts of heroin users: right South Africa
cingulum, right posterior limb of the internal capsule, David Rosenstein
superior longitudinal fasciculi, posterior corpus Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry,
callosum and tapetum and left posterior limb of University of Cape Town, South Africa
the internal capsule. The rodent results showed David van den Heever
that ibogaine administration following chronic Agricultural and Biological Engineering,
morphine administration increased the amount of Mississippi State University, Mississippi,
CNPase produced in white matter in comparison USA
to the saline control (p=0.04) and in comparison to
ibogaine administration alone (p=0.01). TITLE:
CONCLUSION: Developing Virtual Reality based biofeedback for
Our research indicates that heroin use is associated the use in acrophobia
with compromised white matter integrity in tracts
involved in executive function and that ibogaine BACKGROUND:
administration may be able to increase myelination. Exposure based therapy is one of the most well
validated therapeutic approaches in psychology,
________________________________________ yet uptake is still relatively limited, especially in
PRESENTER'S DETAILS low- and middle- income countries. VRET based
Title: Dr biofeedback is still relatively unresearched. VRET is
Name: Stefan a promising approach in terms of cost and safety
Surname: Du Plessis concerns. Here we aim to validate a biofeedback
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty based VRET tool for the use in acrophobia in healthy
of Medicine and Health Sciences, volunteers.
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa METHODOLOGY:
Twenty-two self-reported healthy adults (ages 22 to
Email: stefandup@sun.ac.za 36 yrs) took part in a fear of heights challenge. A
AUTHORS custom low-cost Arduino based feedback system
Author 1: Stefan du Plessis provided electrodermal activity (EDA) biofeedback.
The custom VR environment was modelled in Unreal
Engine (v. 4.24.2) using off the shelf components.
This single session VR simulation involved a
gradually rising platform (28 meters maximum) with
EDA based biofeedback being provided on an in-
18 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
environment display. Data was gathered in three Psychiatry and Mental Health, University
5-minute time periods, i.e. Baseline, an Exposure of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
period while the platform was in the air and a End Author 5: Liza Michalak
period. Data was pre-processed in MATLAB and Department of Psychiatry and Mental
entered into repeated measures ANOVAs. Health, University of Cape Town, Cape
RESULTS: Town, South Africa
No participant experienced significant VR related Author 6: Annerine Roos
simulation sickness or effects. Both tonic (p = Neuroscience Institute; Department
.002) and phasic (p < .001) physiological arousal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red
responses (electro-dermal activity, EDA), rose Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital,
significantly during the Exposure period relative to University of Cape Town, Cape Town,
Baseline, and returned to near Baseline levels at the South Africa
End period. Similarly increased self-reported stress Author 7: Roger P. Woods
measures correlated significantly with elevated Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry
EDA during the Exposure period (r = .673, p = .002). and Biobehavioral Sciences, University
Most participants reported that the EDA showed of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles,
believable responses that corresponded with their United States
own experience (n=13/22). Author 8: Katherine L. Narr
CONCLUSION: Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry
The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms that and Biobehavioral Sciences, University
persisted for >6 months post-Covid in this South of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles,
African cohort was alarmingly high. Psychiatrists United States
should be alerted to the possibility that persistent Author 9: Heather J. Zar
post-Covid neurocognitive symptoms are common South African MRC Unit on Child and
across the spectrum of severity. Adolescent Health; Department of
Paediatrics and Child Health, Red
_____________________________________________ Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital,
University of Cape Town, Cape Town,
PRESENTER'S DETAILS South Africa
Title: Dr Author 10: Kirsten A. Donald
Name: Nynke A. Neuroscience Institute; Department
Surname: Groenewold of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red
Affiliation: Neuroscience Institute; South African Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital,
MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent University of Cape Town, Cape Town,
Health; Department of Paediatrics and South Africa
Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Author 11: Dan J. Stein
Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Neuroscience Institute; South African
Town, Cape Town, South Africa MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in
Mental Disorders; Department of
Email: nynke.groenewold@uct.ac.za Psychiatry and Mental Health, University
of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
AUTHORS
TITLE:
Author 1: Nynke A. Groenewold Enlarged subcortical brain volumes in young
Neuroscience Institute; South African infants exposed to antenatal maternal depression:
Author 2: MRC Unit on Child and Adolescent findings in a south african birth cohort.
Author 3: Health; Department of Paediatrics and
Author 4: Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial BACKGROUND:
Children’s Hospital, University of Cape Several studies have found enlarged amygdala
Town, Cape Town, South Africa and smaller hippocampus volumes in children
Catherine J. Wedderburn exposed to maternal depression. However, it is
Department of Clinical Research, unclear whether regional brain abnormalities are
London School of Hygiene & Tropical detectable after exposure to antenatal maternal
Medicine, London, United Kingdom depression (AMD) in the infants’ first weeks of life.
Jennifer A. Pellowski Here, we used magnetic resonance imaging data
Department of Behavioral and Social from a South African birth cohort to assess whether
Sciences and International Health alterations in hippocampus and amygdala volumes
Institute, Brown University School of are present in 2-6 week old infants exposed to AMD,
Public Health, Providence, RI, USA and to explore whether volumetric alterations occur
Jean-Paul Fouche in other subcortical brain regions.
Neuroscience Institute; Department of
METHODOLOGY:
In the Drakenstein Child Health Study, a large
longitudinal birth cohort, AMD was assessed with
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 19
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
the Beck Depression Inventory 2nd edition (BDI-II) TITLE:
at 28-32 weeks of gestation. T2-weighted structural The relationship between distinct compulsive-
images were acquired during natural sleep in 2-6 like behavioural phenotypes in deer mice and
week old infants on a 3T Siemens Allegra scanner. working memory: response to levetiracetam
Subcortical gray matter volumes were obtained
from segmentations based on the University of North BACKGROUND:
Carolina neonatal brain atlas. The volumetric data Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii)
were compared between young infants exposed to that are housed under standard laboratory
AMD (BDI-II≥20) and unexposed to AMD (BDI-II<14), conditions variably present with two distinct
using analysis of covariance. compulsive-like behavioural phenotypes, i.e.
RESULTS: high motor stereotypy (HS) and large nesting
Larger volumes were observed in AMD-exposed (N=49) behaviour (LNB). However, it remains unknown
compared to unexposed infants (N=75) for the right if these phenotypes might be associated with
amygdala (1.98% difference, p=0.039) and bilateral impaired working memory and deficits in
caudate nucleus (left: 5.78% difference, p=0.001; cognitive flexibility. Levetiracetam (LEV), an
right: 6.06% difference, p<0.001). A significant AMD-by- antiepileptic agent, has demonstrated promise
sex interaction was found for the hippocampus (left: as a potential cognitive enhancer in patients
F(1,118)=4.80, p=0.030; right: F(1,118)=5.16, p=0.025), suffering from epilepsy. Here, we aimed to
reflecting greater volume in AMD-exposed females explore the relationships between HS, LNB and
(left: 5.09% difference, p=0.001, right: 3.53% difference, T-maze alternation (as a measure of working
p=0.010), but not males. memory) and how this might be modulated by
CONCLUSION: chronic LEV exposure from a young age.
Altered volumes of subcortical brain regions can
be detected in AMD exposed infants soon after METHODOLOGY:
birth, suggesting brain changes may occur in 80 juvenile deer mice of both sexes (aged 28
utero. Female infants might exhibit volumetric days at the onset of investigation; ethics approval
changes that are not observed in male infants. number: NWU-00423-21-A5) were divided into
The findings newly implicate the caudate nucleus two exposure groups (n = 39-40 per group), i.e.
as an important region of interest in the context a control (normal drinking water) and a LEV
of AMD exposure. The potential mechanisms exposed group (75 mg/kg/day; administered in
underlying these early volumetric differences, and the drinking water). After 56 days of uninterrupted
their significance for long-term child mental health, exposure, all animals were screened for
require further investigation. compulsive-like behaviour, i.e. nesting and
stereotypical expression, followed by assessment
_____________________________________________ in a T-maze.
PRESENTER'S DETAILS RESULTS:
Title: Ms Our data indicate that HS and LNB are two
Name: Bianca distinct phenotypes in deer mice that differentially
Surname: Hurter associate with performance in the T-maze.
Affiliation: Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Specifically, total nesting scores did not correlate
with alternation scores, while increased stereotypy
Department of Pharmacology, North- scores negatively correlated with total nesting size
West University, Potchefstroom, South and T-maze alternation (p < 0.05, where shown).
Africa Further, contrary to our hypothesis, we show that
a significant increase in running stereotypy (p =
Email: biancahurter413@gmail.com 0.008) and a lower degree of nesting variance was
associated with chronic LEV exposure.
AUTHORS
CONCLUSION:
Author 1: Bianca Hurter Here we provide evidence that HS and LNB
Author 2: Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences, are two distinct, though equally repetitive
Author 3: Department of Pharmacology, North- and persistent, behavioural phenotypes in
West University, Potchefstroom, South deer mice. This is valuable, since the study of
Africa such behaviours might be a useful avenue to
Petrus Dewet Wolmarans explore the psychobiological underpinnings
Centre for Pharmaceutical Sciences, of phenotypically heterogeneous compulsive-
Department of Pharmacology, North- like behaviours variably respond to the current
West University, Potchefstroom, South treatments. We also show that HS, but not LNB,
Africa negatively correlates with T-maze alternation and
Shannon Leigh Gourley that, if administered from a young age, LEV may
Department of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, potentially bolster the expression of persistent
Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, behaviours in adulthood. This finding should be
United States afforded further attention.
20 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
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References: 1. Who we are. Sandoz. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.sandoz.com/about-us/who-we-are. 2. Careers in Manufacturing and Supply. Novartis. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://www.novartis.com/careers/our-teams/careers-manufacturing-supply. 3. Sandoz SA (Pty)
Ltd. MEFEDINELTM. Professional information. February 2021. 4. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. ATASTRAT®. Professional information. 04 June 2021. 5. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. ARIZOFY®. Professional information. 02 November 2021. 6. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. PSYQUET® 100, 200, 300. Professional
information. 02 November 2021. 7. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. PSYQUET® 25. Professional information. 02 November 2021. 8. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. ZOLPIHEXAL® 10. Professional information. 27 August 2021. 9. Sandoz SA (Pty) Ltd. SANDOZ ZOPICLONE 7,5. Professional information. 18
February 1999.
S6 MEFEDINEL™ 18 (prolonged release tablets). Reg. No.: 48/1.2/0092. Composition: Each MEFEDINEL 18 (prolonged release tablet) contains 18 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. S6 MEFEDINEL™ 27 (prolonged release tablets). Reg. No.: 48/1.2/0093. Composition: Each
MEFEDINEL 27 (prolonged release tablet) contains 27 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. S6 MEFEDINEL™ 36 (prolonged release tablets). Reg. No.: 48/1.2/0094. Composition: Each MEFEDINEL 36 (prolonged release tablet) contains 36 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride.
S6 MEFEDINEL™ 54 (prolonged release tablets). Reg. No.: 48/1.2/0095. Composition: Each MEFEDINEL 54 (prolonged release tablet) contains 54 mg methylphenidate hydrochloride. Pharmacotherapeutic group: centrally acting sympathomimetics: ATC code: N06BA04.
ATASTRAT® 10 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0976. Composition: Each 10 mg hard capsule contains 11,428 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 10 mg atomoxetine. ATASTRAT® 18 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0977. Composition: Each 18 mg hard capsule
contains 20,570 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 18 mg atomoxetine. ATASTRAT® 25 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0978. Composition: Each 25 mg hard capsule contains 28,570 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 25 mg atomoxetine. ATASTRAT®
40 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0979. Composition: Each 40 mg hard capsule contains 45,711 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 40 mg atomoxetine. ATASTRAT® 60 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0980. Composition: Each 60 mg hard capsule contains
68,567 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 60 mg atomoxetine. ATASTRAT® 80 mg (hard capsules). Reg. No.: 52/1.2/0981. Composition: Each 80 mg hard capsule contains 91,422 mg atomoxetine hydrochloride equivalent to 80 mg atomoxetine. Pharmacotherapeutic
group: Psychoanaleptics, centrally acting sympathomimetics: ATC code: N06BA09.
ARIZOFY 5 mg (tablets). Reg. No.: 46/2.6.5/0874. ARIZOFY 10 mg (tablets). Reg. No.: 46/2.6.5/0875. ARIZOFY 15 mg (tablets). Reg. No.: 46/2.6.5/0876. Composition: Each tablet contains 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg aripiprazole respectively. Pharmacological Classification: A2.6.5
Tranquilisers – miscellaneous structures.
PSYQUET 25 (film coated tablet). Reg. No.: 43/2.6.5/0446. Composition: Each Psyquet 25 tablet contains quetiapine hemifumarate equivalent to 25 mg of quetiapine free base. PSYQUET® 100 (film-coated tablets). Reg. No.: 43/2.6.5/0849. Composition: Each PSYQUET 100
tablet contains quetiapine hemifumarate equivalent to 100 mg of quetiapine. PSYQUET® 200 film-coated tablets). Reg. No.: 43/2.6.5/0850. Composition: Each PSYQUET 200 tablet contains quetiapine hemifumarate equivalent to 200 mg of quetiapine. PSYQUET® 300
(film-coated tablets). Reg. No.: 43/2.6.5/0851. Composition: Each PSYQUET 300 tablet contains quetiapine hemifumarate equivalent to 300 mg of quetiapine. Pharmacological Classification: A2.6.5 Central nervous system depressants: Miscellaneous structures.
ZOLPIHEXAL® 10 (film-coated tablets). Reg. No.: 36/2.2/0095. Composition: Each ZOLPIHEXAL 10 film-coated tablet contains 10 mg zolpidem tartrate. Pharmacological classification: A2.2 Sedatives, Hypnotics.
SANDOZ ZOPICLONE 7,5 (film-coated tablets). Reg. No.: 32/2.2/0487. Composition: Each Sandoz Zopiclone 7,5 film-coated tablet contains 7,5 mg Zopiclone. Pharmacological Classification: A2.2 Sedatives, hypnotics.
For full prescribing information refer to the Sandoz Professional Information approved by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).
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Connecting. Educating.Enabling.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS involving 34 clinicians working in government health
Title: Dr care facilities in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Name: Katharine Participants were randomised in a 1:1 allocation to
Surname: Kirykowicz either a mental health app intervention (n=16) or a
Affiliation: Stellenbosch University waitlisted group (n=18). After one month outcome
assessments were repeated and the waitlisted group
Email: katharinekirykowicz@gmail.com then crossed over to the intervention for a month,
following which they again completed outcome
AUTHORS assessments. Self-report assessments were all
conducted remotely. Feasibility was assessed with
Author 1: Katharine Kirykowicz the Systems Usability Scale (SUS) and acceptability
Author 2: Department of psychiatry, Faculty with the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ). In
Author 3: of Medicine and Health Sciences, addition, efficacy outcomes were assessed through
Author 4: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, various mental health parameters between groups
Author 5: South Africa with repeated measures analysis of variance
Beth Jaworski tests and paired t-tests for combined pre-post
Author 6: United States Department of Veteran intervention.
Affairs RESULTS:
Jason Owen The mean SUS score was 76.6 (SD=14.6, range 0-100)
United States Department of Veteran and the mean CSQ score was 21.9 (SD=3.9, range
Affairs 8-32), with higher scores showing greater feasibility
Clemens Kirschbaum and acceptability. Anxiety scores decreased
Department of Biopsychology, TU significantly from pre- to post-intervention
Dresden, Germany (t(29)=2.20, p=.036, Cohen’s d= 0.40) as well as
Soraya Seedat from baseline to 1 month follow up between the
Department of psychiatry, Faculty groups (F(1,31)=4.97, p= .033, n2p=0.14), with
of Medicine and Health Sciences, greater improvement in the intervention group
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, compared to waitlisted. Symptoms of acute stress
South Africa; South African Medical disorder also showed a significant decrease
Research Council / Stellenbosch from pre- to post-intervention (t(29)= 2.72, p=.011,
University Genomics of Brain Disorders Cohen’s d= 0.50). The groups differed in resilience
Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & (F(1,31)=2.91, p=.098) and patient related burnout
Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, (F(1,31)=2.92, p=.098) from baseline to 1 month
Cape Town, South Africa follow up, with a trend towards significance, with
Leigh Van den Heuvel greater improvements in the intervention group.
Department of psychiatry, Faculty CONCLUSION:
of Medicine and Health Sciences, We demonstrated adequate feasibility and
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, acceptability, however time constraints were a
South Africa; South African Medical barrier limiting app use. In this pilot trial, we also
Research Council / Stellenbosch showed preliminary efficacy of the app, particularly
University Genomics of Brain Disorders on anxiety, acute stress, resilience and some
Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine & aspects of burnout, findings which will need to be
Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, replicated in an adequately powered trial.
Cape Town, South Africa
_____________________________________________
TITLE:
The feasibility, acceptability and preliminary PRESENTER'S DETAILS
efficacy of a mental health self-management Title: Ms
app in clinicians working during the COVID-19 Name: Natasha
pandemic: a pilot randomised controlled trial. Surname: Kitchin
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
BACKGROUND: University
COVID-19 has affected healthcare systems
globally, including the physical and emotional Email: natashak@sun.ac.za
well-being of health care workers (HCWs) who
have been considerably burdened and continue AUTHORS
to be burdened by this pandemic. Appropriate
and accessible interventions to support the mental Author 1: Natasha Kitchin
health of these HCWs are needed. Mobile mental Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
health interventions offer a possible wide reaching University; South African Medical
solution. Research Council/ Stellenbosch University
Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Unit
METHODOLOGY:
We conducted a pilot randomised control trial
22 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 2: Jacqueline S. Womersley data from infant dysmorphology examinations,
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch neurodevelopmental assessments, and maternal
Author 3: University; South African Medical interviews. The dada2 pipeline, PhyloSeq and
Author 4: Research Counc Department of vegan were used to process the data, calculate
Author 5: Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University; diversity measures and compute the statistical
Author 6: South African Medical Research analyses of microbial composition.
Author 7: Council/ Stellenbosch University RESULTS:
Genomics of Brain Disorders Research Ruminococcus was lower (p = 0.003) in women with
Author 8: Unitl/Stellenbosch University Genomics infants with FASD, while Alloprevotella was higher (p
of Brain Disorders Research Unit = 0.011) in these women. Ruminococcus has similarly
Andrea Engelbrecht been found to be less abundant in individuals
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch with inflammatory bowel disease. A recent study
University found higher proportions of Alloprevotella in mice
Anna-Susan Marais subjected to early adversity.
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
University Bifidobacteria was higher (p = 0.017) in infants
Marlene M. de Vries diagnosed with FASD. A lower abundance of
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch Bifidobacteria has been observed in children with
University Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), making this finding
Philip A. May unexpected. Prevotella was higher (p = 0.003) in
Department of Nutrition, Gillings School infants diagnosed with FASD, a finding that mirrors
of Global Public Health, Nutrition findings in individuals diagnosed with ASD in other
Research Institute, University of North low- and middle-income countries. Prevotella readily
Carolina breaks down mucin - a structural component of mucus
Soraya Seedat which protects the colon. Increased abundance
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch of Prevotella may compromise the intestinal barrier,
University; South African Medical allowing bacteria and their metabolic outputs to enter
Research Council/ Stellenbosch the bloodstream and influence neurodevelopment.
University Genomics of Brain Disorders CONCLUSION:
Research Unit The microbial differences observed in this study
Sian M. J. Hemmings may contribute to the neurocognitive deficits'
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch characteristic of FASD. These findings are promising
University; South African Medical for microbe-based therapeutic interventions to
Research Council/ Stellenbosch reduce the extent of neurocognitive deficits and
University Genomics of Brain Disorders the debilitating symptoms associated with FASD.
Research Unit
_____________________________________________
TITLE:
The gut microbiota in Foetal Alcohol Spectrum PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Disorders. Title: Prof
Name: Carla
BACKGROUND: Surname: Kotzé
The prevalence of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorders (FASD) in the Western Cape of South Affiliation: Weskoppies Hospital /
Africa is up to 31%, significantly higher than the Department of Psychiatry, University of
global prevalence of 0.77%. Alcohol consumption Pretoria
alters gut microbial composition and compromises
the integrity of the intestinal barrier thereby allowing Email: carla.kotze@up.ac.za
bacteria to enter the bloodstream, and in doing so, AUTHORS
be transported to the foetus. Altered foetal bacterial Author 1: Johannes Lodewikus Roos
colonisation may subsequently alter infant gut
microbiota functioning resulting in increased risk Weskoppies Hospital / Department of
of developing a neurodevelopmental disorder. Psychiatry, University of Pretoria
This study therefore aimed to (1) compare the TITLE:
gut microbial composition of women who birthed Confronting ageism and preservation of dignity
infants diagnosed with and without FASD and (2) and human rights in end-of-life care for older
compare the gut microbial composition of infants people with serious mental illness.
diagnosed with and without FASD. BACKGROUND:
There are many complex concepts to consider
METHODOLOGY:
Methodology:
16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was performed
on microbial DNA extracted from 207 maternal
stool samples and 211 infant stool samples. Each
infant was assessed for FASD by triangulating
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 23
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
during end-of-life discussions and advance care METHODOLOGY:
planning, especially when vulnerable populations Rust is a game of round-the-clock survival in the
such as older individuals with serious mental illness wilderness whereby players must manage the
are involved. This presentation aims to summarise basic essence of human needs to "stay alive".
some of these important concepts, such as the However, it requires a player to be present for a
effects of ageism, preservation of dignity and consistent duration of time, or risk "dying". What
human rights, supported or shared decision making does this mean for an adolescent, entering their
and palliative approaches. final two years of school? What is their focus? How
METHODOLOGY: does this potentially affect the development of the
The perspective article on which this presentation young mind, still vulnerable to an immediate (real)
will be based emerged from a study that found world molding a brain from adolescence to young
65% of 100 participants 60 years of age and older adulthood?
with serious mental illness had end-of-life decision-
making capacity. Questions regarding adolescent epigenetics, and
RESULTS: addiction erupt in mental health when Rust and
The finding of high rates of decision-making capacity other international multiplayer survival games
in older participants with serious mental illness capture and imprison the mind of our youth.
highlighted the individual and contextual nature RESULTS:
of decision-making capacity, the importance of The WHO added “gaming disorder” to the 2018
consideration of individual values and protection International Classification of Diseases. But the APA
of human dignity during end-of-life care. manual, the DSM-5, did not. The University of New
CONCLUSION: Mexico suggests that 6-15% of all gamers exhibit
Healthcare providers have a duty to initiate end- signs and symptoms consistent with addiction. In an
of-life and advance care discussions, to optimise article published in February 2019 BioPsychoSocial
decision-making capacity, and to protect Medicine states: ‘Across studies, the presence
autonomous decision-making. Chronological of International Gaming Disorder (IGD) had a
age or diagnostic categories should never be negative effect on sleep and schoolwork in minors
used as reasons for discrimination and all patients . . . Brain imaging studies indicate that impaired
should receive end-of-life care in keeping with their cognitive control in minors with IGD is associated
preferences and values. with abnormal function in the prefrontal cortex and
striatum.’
_____________________________________________ CONCLUSION:
Today we ask: of the 83.5% of online gamers and
PRESENTER'S DETAILS 3.9% of youth reporting problematic behaviour are
Title: Dr we Rust-ed beyond Repair?
Name: Kim
Surname: Laxton _____________________________________________
Affiliation: None
PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Email: drkimlaxton@gmail.com Title: Dr
AUTHORS Name: Hilmar
Author 1: Dr Kim Laxton Surname: Luckhoff
None Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
TITLE:
Rust-ed Beyond Repair? of Medicine and Health Sciences,
BACKGROUND: Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
“Rust is one of the cruelest games on Steam, and South Africa
that's what makes it so compelling” (PC Gamer).
Rust is a multiplayer-only survival video game. Email: hilmarklausl@gmail.com
It’s full release was in 2018. The average age of a
player is between 17 and 40 years. However, one AUTHORS
must question the age group that enters the game
and continues to play. This presentation will focus Author 1: Hilmar Luckhoff
on adolescence, gaming addiction, and the Author 2: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
developing brain. of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Laila Asmal
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
24 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 3: Freda Scheffler of other MetS risk factors and psychopathology on
Department of Psychiatry and Mental the brain ROIs.
Author 4: Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, RESULTS:
Author 5: University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Both FES diagnosis and BMI significantly predicted the
Author 6: South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, grouped prefrontal cortical thickness ROIs, whereas
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, only BMI predicted the grouped subcortical volume
Author 7: South Africa ROIs. For the individual ROIs, schizophrenia diagnosis
Author 8: Lebogang Phahladira predicted thinner left and right frontal pole and
Author 9: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty right lateral orbitofrontal thickness, and increased
of Medicine and Health Sciences, BMI predicted thinner left and right caudal anterior
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, cingulate cortex thickness. There were no significant
South Africa main or interaction effects for diagnosis and BMI
Retha Smit on any of the individual subcortical volume ROIs.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty Secondary analyses suggest associations between
of Medicine and Health Sciences, several brain ROIs and individual MetS risk factors,
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, but not with psychopathology.
South Africa CONCLUSION:
Leigh van den Heuvel Our findings suggest differential, independent
South African Medical Research effects of FES diagnosis and BMI on brain structure.
Council, Stellenbosch University Limited evidence suggests that the BMI effects are
Genomics of Brain Disorders Research more prominent in FES. Exploratory analyses suggest
Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty associations between other MetS risk factors and
of Medicine and Health Sciences, some brain ROIs.
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, _____________________________________________
South Africa, 7550;
Robin Emsley PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty Title: Ms
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Name: Ruvimbo
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Surname: Mishi
South Africa Affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Department
Soraya Seedat
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Human Biology, University of Cape
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Town, Neuroscience Institute, University
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, of Cape Town
South Africa Email: ruvimbo.mishi@gmail.com
Stefan du Plessis AUTHORS
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty Author 1: Ruvimbo Mishi
of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Cell Biology, Department
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, of Human Biology, University of Cape
South Africa Town, Neuroscience Institute, University
of Cape Town
TITLE: Author 21: Christina Steyn
Associations between BMI and brain structures Division of Cell Biology, Department
involved in food intake regulation in first-episode of Human Biology, University of Cape
schizophrenia spectrum disorders and healthy Town, Neuroscience Institute, University
controls. of Cape Town
Author 3: Thijs Verhoog
BACKGROUND: Division of Cell Biology, Department of
Structural brain differences have been described Human Biology, University of Cape Town
in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders Neuroscience Institute, University of
(FES), and these often overlap with those evident Cape Town
in the metabolic syndrome (MetS). We examined Author 4: Ursula Rohlwink
the associations of body mass index (BMI) with Neuroscience Institute, University of
brain structures involved in food intake regulation in Cape Town, Division of Neurosurgery,
minimally treated FES patients (n = 117) compared University of Cape Town
to healthy controls (n = 117). Author 5: Nico Enslin
Neuroscience Institute, University of
METHODOLOGY: Cape Town , Division of Neurosurgery,
The effects of FES diagnosis, BMI, and their University of Cape Town
interactions on our selected prefrontal cortical
thickness and subcortical gray matter volume
regions of interest (ROIs) were investigated with
hierarchical multivariate regressions, followed by
post-hoc regressions for the individual ROIs. In a
secondary analysis, we examined the relationships
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 25
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 6: Chris Dulla To spatially map the brain cell types, visium data
Graduate School of Biomedical was integrated with snRNAseq data using the
Sciences, Tufts University cell2location method. In situ hybridization chain
reaction was used to validate the identified gene
Author 7: Joseph V. Raimando expression patterns.
Division of Cell Biology, Department RESULTS:
of Human Biology, University of Cape H & E staining confirmed that there were no
Town , Neuroscience Institute, University dysmorphic neurons or balloon cells which are
of Cape Town, Institute of Infectious phenotypic signs of epilepsy. Fifty-six cell types,
Disease and Molecular Medicine, annotated using the current published human
University of Cape Town temporal lobe cell atlas, were spatially mapped
by integrating Visium spatial gene expression
Author 8: Muazzam Jacobs and snRNA-seq datasets from the same samples.
Neuroscience Institute, University of Previously identified layer-enriched genes were
Cape Town, Institute of Infectious confirmed to be present in all the samples.
Disease and Molecular Medicine, Furthermore, novel layer-enriched genes that
University of Cape Town showed an increase in expression during brain
maturation were identified.
Author 9: Anthony Figaji CONCLUSION:
Neuroscience Institute, University of The findings of this study contribute to the human
Cape Town, Division of Neurosurgery, brain cell atlas through the provision of spatial gene
University of Cape Town expression information in the maturing temporal
cortex.
Author 10: Dorit Hockman
Division of Cell Biology, Department _____________________________________________
of Human Biology, University of Cape
Town, Neuroscience Institute, University PRESENTER'S DETAILS
of Cape Town Title: Ms
Name: Evashini
TITLE: Surname: Moodley
Profiling the dynamics of the active transcriptome Affiliation: University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, Westville.
in juvenile and adult brain using spatial
transcriptomics Laboratory Medicine and Medical
Science, South Africa
BACKGROUND:
The human brain is made up of a collection of Email: eve.moodley08@gmail.com
distinct cell types that play specialized roles in
maintaining proper brain function. The process AUTHORS
of maturation of this complex organ can be
assessed by examining the dynamics of gene Author 1: Evashini Moodley
expression within the various cell types. Previous Author 2: University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, Westville.
studies have used single-cell RNA-sequencing Author 3: Laboratory Medicine and Medical
(scRNA-seq) to provide vital information on gene Science, South Africa
expression at a cell-specific level. These studies, Musa V. Mabandla
which focused on either the pre-natal or adult University of Kwa Zulu-Natal, Nelson
brain, lacked comprehensive information about Mandela, School of Medicine.
the spatial dynamics of cell type-specific gene Laboratory Medicine and Medical
expression over the course of brain maturation. Science, South Africa
This information is important for understanding Oualid Abboussi
the dynamics of gene expression in the context University of Hassan Settat, Morocco,
of changing tissue architecture over the course Laboratory of Biochemistry and
of maturation. This study aims to contribute to our Neurosciences
understanding of the maturing human brain by
obtaining the spatial gene expression information TITLE:
of the antemortem brain as it matures from Characterization of the neuroinflammatory
postnatal to adult state. mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in an
animal model of HIV Tat protein infection and
METHODOLOGY: drug abuse
Samples from the human temporal cortex (4-, 15-
(x2) and 31-year-old) were obtained during elective BACKGROUND:
surgeries to treat epilepsy. Tissue samples were Tat has resulted in progressive neuronal
freshly frozen in OCT. H & E (hematoxylin and eosin)
staining was employed for the initial screening
of the tissue samples. The 10x Genomics Visium
Spatial gene expression system was used to obtain
genome-wide spatial gene expression patterns.
The Visium FASTQ files were aligned to the human
transcriptome using 10X Genomics SpaceRanger.
26 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
deregulation culminating in HIV related PRESENTER'S DETAILS
psychoactive disorders which present with varying Title: Dr
degrees of cognitive impairments. Antiretroviral Name: Lynette
treatments have reduced HIV infection-associated Surname: Moodley
morbidity and mortality by preventing the Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R.
progression of HIV however, numerous side effects
have been reported. Mandela School of Medicine, University
of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road,
The incidence of psychoactive disorders in relation Congella, Private Bag X7, Durban, South
to HIV is thus increased with concomitant use of Africa
drugs. These psychostimulants exert molecular
changes within the brain impairing neuronal Email: lynette_moodley@yahoo.ca
survival. We aim to Investigate the underlying
molecular mechanisms by which cocaine AUTHORS
exacerbates HIV pathology through immune
activation and inflammation in the presence Author 1: Lynette Moodley
of HAART by investigating a cascade of neuro Author 2: Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R.
inflammatory cytokines and to study its combined Author 3: Mandela School of Medicine, University
effects on brain CYP enzymes (CYP11B1) and Author 4: of Kwa-Zulu Natal, 719 Umbilo Road,
associated oxidative stress, immune activation, Congella, Private Bag X7, Durban, South
and inflammation. Africa
Vuyokazi Ntlantsana
METHODOLOGY: Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R.
Sprague-Dawley rats (250g) underwent stereotaxic Mandela School of Medicine, University
surgery, where 10μg/10μl of Tat protein was of Kwa-Zulu Natal, 719 Umbilo Road,
injected bilaterally into the dorsal hippocampus. Congella, Private Bag X7, Durban, South
Behaviour was assessed using the Morris water Africa
maze, Conditioned place preference tests. Animals Andrew Tomita
were treated with TDF and Nevirapine and dosed Centre for Rural Health, School of
with 0.3mg/kg cocaine to evaluate drug seeking Nursing and Public Health, University of
behaviour. ELISA, Bioplex and a Western blot Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
analysis were conducted, followed by statistical Saeeda Paruk
analysis of the results. Department of Psychiatry, Nelson R.
RESULTS: Mandela School of Medicine, University
Increased latency, anxiety-like behaviour of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Road,
and reduced preference for quadrant 1 was Congella, Private Bag X7, Durban, South
observed amongst the Tat; HAART + Cocaine; Tat Africa
+ Cocaine and Tat + Cocaine + HAART groups
and is indicative of impaired learning and TITLE:
diminished memory. Animals treated with HAART The Ultimate Betrayal-missed pandemic-intimate
showed reduced latency to find the platform, partner violence among females with mental
reduced anxiety-like symptoms and preference illness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
for quadrant 1, which signified improved memory
and learning capacity. The Tat; HAART + Cocaine; BACKGROUND:
Tat + Cocaine and Tat + Cocaine + HAART groups Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and
showed increased corticosterone production interpersonal violence (IPV) in women with severe
and increased IL-1ß, IL-10, IL-6, TNF-α, Dopamine, mental illness (SMI) is neglected and needs review
GABA and CYP11B1 levels in the hippocampus in light of the suggested increase in IPV during the
and prefrontal cortex as opposed to the groups COVID-19 pandemic.
treated with HAART.
CONCLUSION: OBJECTIVES:
Cocaine compromises ARV treatment in HIV To assess prevalence of ACEs and IPV in women
infected individuals and further exacerbates living with SMI attending an outpatient psychiatry
neurological and cognitive impairments brought service at a public hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South
about by psychoactive disorders by impairing Africa during the pandemic.
the innate immune system and exacerbating
inflammatory responses. Results from this study METHODOLOGY:
may help discover therapeutic interventions for A cross-sectional survey comprising of socio-
attenuating chronic inflammation-associated demographic and clinical questionnaire, WHO
co morbidities as well as restoring/improving Adverse Childhood Experiences International
HAART efficacy in HIV-infected drug-abusing Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) for ACEs and the Women
populations. abuse screening tool (WAST) for IPV, was completed
by 154 women with SMI. The study was conducted
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 27
Do your patients When vigilance is vital. PROVIGIL®, a selective wakefulness-
suffer from promoting agent, is indicated to
excessive daytime improve wakefulness in patients
s le e pi ne s s? with excessive daytime sleepiness
associated with narcolepsy1
WITH THE
ONE AND ONLY MODAFINIL, The FACTS on Modafinil
THEY WON’T MISS A MOMENT
• Does not affect night-time sleep2,3,4
• Does not lead to rebound
hypersomnia or amphetamine
withdrawal syndrome1,3,4
• Has a low likelihood of tolerance
developing4,5
• Does not cause clinically significant
increase in heart rate2,4
References: 1. Approved professional information October 2007. Full prescribing information. 2. Inoue Y, Tabata T, Tsukimori N. Efficacy and safety of modafinil in patients with idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group
comparison study. Sleep Med 2021;80:315-321. 3. Ooi T, Wong SH, See B. Modafinil as a stimulant for military aviators. Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2019;90(5):480-483. 4. Billiard M, Broughton R. Modafinil: its discovery, the early European and North American experience in the treatment of narcolepsy and
idiopathic hypersomnia, and its subsequent use in other medical conditions. Sleep 2018;49:69-72. 5. Perez-Carbonell L. Treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with narcolepsy. Curr Treat Options Neurol 2019;21:57
S5 PROVIGIL® 100 (TABLETS). Reg. No.: 37/1.1/0025. Each tablet contains 100 mg modafinil. For full prescribing information, please refer to the professional information approved by the medicines regulatory authority (10/2007). Further information available on request from the holder of certificate of
registration. HCR: Acino Pharma (Pty) Ltd. Reg. No.: 1994/008717/07. 106 16th Rd, Midrand. Tel. No.: 087 742 1860. www.acino.co.za. LP4100 05/2022. EXP: 05/2024.
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References: 1. Wigal T, Brams M, Gasior M, Gao J, Squires L, Giblin J, for 316 Study Group. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of the efficacy and safety of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder:
novel findings using a simulated adult workplace environment design. Behav Brain Funct. 2010;6:34. Available from: http://www.behavioralandbrainfunctions.com/content/6/1/34 [Accessed 18th August 2021]. 2. Pennick M. Absorption of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate and
its enzymatic conversion to d-amfetamine. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2010;6:317-327. 3. Frampton JE. Lisdexamfetamine: A Review in ADHD in Adults. CNS Drugs 2016: 30(4):343-54.DOI 10.1007/s40263-016-0327-6. 4. Adler LA, Dirks B, Deas PF, Raychaudhuri A, Dauphin
MR, Lasser RA, et al. Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate in Adults With Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Who Report Clinically Significant Impairment in Executive Function: Results From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. J Clin Psychiatry.
2013;74(7):694-702. 5. VYVANSE® 30,50,70. SAHPRA approved professional information. Takeda (Pty) Ltd. 24 July, 2020. 6. Coghill DR, Caballero B, Sorooshian S, Civil R. A Systematic Review of the Safety of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate. CNS Drugs 2014;28:497–511.
S6 VYVANSE® 30. Each capsule contains 30 mg lisdexamfetamine dimesilate. Reg. No: 48/1.6/0407. S6 VYVANSE® 50. Each capsule contains 50 mg
lisdexamfetamine dimesilate. Reg. No: 48/1.6/0408. S6 VYVANSE® 70. Each capsule contains 70 mg lisdexamfetamine dimesilate. Reg. No: 48/1.6/0409. For
full prescribing information, refer to the Vyvanse Professional Information as approved by SAHPRA. Takeda (Pty) Ltd, Reg. No.: 1982/011215/07, Building A,
Monte Circle, 64 Montecasino Boulevard, Fourways 2191. Tel: +2711 514 3000. Marketed by Acino Pharma (Pty) Ltd. Reg. No: 1994/008717/07. No 106, 16th Road,
Midrand, 1686, Gauteng, South Africa. (011) 516 1700. www.acino.co.za C-APROM/ZA/Vyv/0024.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
from January 2020 to April 2020, of the COVID-19 (n=10) practicing KMC in a tertiary hospital in the
pandemic. Western Cape, South Africa. All interviews were
RESULTS: conducted in IsiXhosa, audio recorded, and
104 (67.5%) participants had experienced three or transcribed.
more ACEs. The most prevalent forms of ACEs were,
emotional neglect 72 (46.8%), one or no parents, The transcribed data were analysed using thematic
parental separation, or divorce 104 (67.5%), contact analysis and Atlas.ti v22 as a data management
sexual abuse 67 (43.5%) and witnessing a household tool.
member treated violently 67 (43.5). Sixty-one (46.6%) RESULTS:
participants reported IPV with scores ≥ 13 (indicative Four themes emerged: (1) KMC, a beneficial but
of abuse). On logistic regression, experience of three foreign concept; (2) distress in the KMC ward; due
or more ACEs was significantly associated with IPV in to factors like poor milk supply, uncomfortable
adulthood (aOR 3.3, 95% CI: 1.2-9.6). nursing positions and sleep deprivation; (3) the
CONCLUSION: missing umbilical cord: experiences of mothers in
The high prevalence of IPV and association of the KMC ward reflecting on respect for cultural and
IPV with cumulative ACEs reflects firstly the hidden traditional practices but having limited knowledge
epidemic of IPV and secondly the vulnerability of its significance themselves; and (4) the KMC
of those with SMI and ACEs to become victims village: interpersonal relations in the ward that
of abuse later. This highlights the need to screen oscillates between staff and fellow patient mothers.
for IPV and include psychosocial interventions to CONCLUSION:
empower women to report and address IPV. Our study showed that cultural practices still pose a
challenge to fully accepting KMC.
_____________________________________________
We suggest more studies on cultural sensitivity to
PRESENTER'S DETAILS encourage acceptance of interventions that affect
Title: Dr culturally diverse groups.
Name: Sibongile
Surname: Mpongwana-Ncetani _____________________________________________
Affiliation: Stellenbosch University- Registrar
PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Email: sbongile983@gmail.com Title: Dr
Name: Samantha
AUTHORS Surname: Naidoo
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of
Author 1: Sibongile Mpongwana-Ncetani
Author 2: Stellenbosch University Registrar Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health
Author 3: Anusha Lachman Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Stellenbosch University - Child Psychiatry
Rizwana Roomaney Email: drsnaidoo@hotmail.com
Stellenbosch University - Psychology
Department AUTHORS
TITLE: Author 1: Samantha Naidoo
Experiences of Xhosa women providing Kangaroo Author 2: Department of Psychiatry, School of
Mother Care in a Tertiary Hospital in the Western Author 3: Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health
Cape, South Africa. Author 4: Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Liezel Ferreira
BACKGROUND: Department of Psychiatry, School of
Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been recognized Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health
as one of the interventions to improve preterm Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
birth outcomes by the World Health Organization. Ugasvaree Subramaney
KMC requires high user engagement and consists Department of Psychiatry, School of
of continuous skin‐to‐skin contact between the Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health
mother and infant and exclusive breastfeeding. Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
The aim of the study is to explore the experiences Saeeda Paruk
of Xhosa mothers providing continuous kangaroo Discipline of Psychiatry, Colleges of
mother care to their preterm infants in the kangaroo Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-
mother care ward at Tygerberg hospital. Natal
METHODOLOGY: TITLE:
We conducted a qualitative study of Xhosa women Beaten, broken and behind bars: A story of female
inmates with a lifetime history of mental illness
and trauma in Durban, South Africa.
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 29
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
BACKGROUND: AUTHORS
The high prevalence of lifetime trauma among
female inmates is well documented internationally. Author 1: Naeemah Abrahams
However, there is a dearth of such research on the Author 2 Gender and Health Research Unit, South
African continent, and specifically in South Africa. African Medical Research Council, P.O.
In addition, there remains a gap in the literature Author 3: Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
with respect to the impact this trauma has on the Author 4: Sylvanus Toikumo
development of mental illness and the trajectory Author 5: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
towards criminality in female inmates. This study Author 6: University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town 8000,
aimed at an in-depth exploration of the lived South Africa; South African Medical
experiences of trauma in female inmates’ lives, in a Author 7: Research Council Unit on the Genomics
South African cultural setting. of Brain Disorders, Department of
METHODOLOGY: Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, P.O.
The findings of this study emanate from the Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
second phase of a two-phased, mixed methods, Matthew Suderman
sequential, explanatory design study. Fourteen MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit,
women with a lifetime history of trauma and mental Population Health Sciences, Bristol
illness, were purposively selected to participate in Medical School, University of Bristol,
semi-structured, in-depth interviews, from the initial Bristol, United Kingdom
pool of 126 women who had participated in the Shibe Mhlongo
quantitative first phase. Gender and Health Research Unit, South
RESULTS: African Medical Research Council, P.O.
The major themes that were developed with respect Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
to the trauma were: abuse is common; women Carl Lombard
endured many different types of abuse; they often Biostatistics Unit, South African Medical
suffered multiple traumas during their lifetime; abuse Research Council, P.O. Box 19070,
was experienced as a cycle which was difficult Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
to escape; and the context in which the abuse Soraya Seedat
occurred was described. The women also described Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
the pervasive and lasting emotional, psychological, University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town 8000,
interpersonal and behavioural impact of the abuse. South Africa; South African Medical
CONCLUSION: Research Council Unit on the Genomics
All the female inmates who participated in this of Brain Disorders, Department of
phase of the study reported traumatic experiences Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, P.O.
during their lifetime; the majority of whom had Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
suffered complex trauma. They reported that Sian Megan Joanna Hemmings
their experiences of trauma contributed to their Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
development of mental illnesses, including University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town 8000,
substance use disorders, as well as to their South Africa; South African Medical
trajectories into crime. Trauma screening on Research Council Unit on the Genomics
admission to, and discharge from, correctional of Brain Disorders, Department of
services is imperative. Correctional services should Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, P.O.
address this unmet need in order to improve mental Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
health outcomes and to decrease recidivism
among female inmates. TITLE:
Genome-wide differentially methylated genes
_____________________________________________ associated with posttraumatic stress disorder
and longitudinal change in methylation in rape
PRESENTER'S DETAILS survivors.
Title: Dr
Name: Jani BACKGROUND:
Surname: Nöthling Rape is associated with a high risk for
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). DNA
methylation changes may confer risk or protection
University, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town for PTSD following rape by regulating expression
8000, South Africa; (2) Gender and of genes implicated in pathways affected by
Health Research Unit, South African PTSD. We aimed to: (1) identify epigenome-
Medical Research Council, P.O. Box wide differences in methylation profiles of a
19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa demographically and ethnically similar group of
rape-exposed women, drawn from a low-income
Email: janinothling@sun.ac.za setting and; (2) longitudinally investigate PTSD
symptom changes over time (baseline, 3-months
and 6-months post-rape) in relation to methylation
changes in selected gene regions identified from
the epigenome-wide association study (EWAS)
results (BRSK2 and ADCYAP1).
30 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
METHODOLOGY: TITLE:
Epigenome-wide differentially methylated CpG Fluoranthene induced neuronal degeneration,
sites between rape-exposed women with (n impaired behaviour and activated upregulation
= 24) and without (n = 24) PTSD at 3-months of SKN-1 expression in Caenorhabditis elegans
post-rape were investigated using the Illumina
MethylationEpic BeadChip. Longitudinal change BACKGROUND:
in methylation of BRSK2 and ADCYAP1 in relation Fluoranthene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
to PTSD symptom change was investigated using (PAH) and has been identified as a ubiquitous
EpiTYPER technology (n = 96). environmental pollutant. Most PAHs including
fluoranthene are produced via incomplete
RESULTS: combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, fuel and
At 3-months post-rape, one differentially methylated wood. Fluoranthene is present in air, surface and
CpG site (chr10: 61385771/ cg01700569, adjusted drinking water, smoked foods, exhaust emissions,
for multiple comparisons p = .049) and thirty-four cigars, and smokes of cigarettes and edible
differentially methylated regions were associated aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the
with PTSD. Increased methylation of ADCYAP1 was neurotoxic potential of Fluoranthene via its effects
associated with decreased PTSD symptom scores on cholinergic, dopaminergic and GABAergic
from baseline to 3-months post-rape. neurons, behaviour and genes linked to antioxidant
defense system in Caenorhabditis elegans.
CONCLUSION:
Decreased methylation of BRSK2 may result METHODOLOGY:
in abnormal neuronal polarisation, synaptic Wild-type worms and worms expressing green
development, vesicle formation and disrupted fluorescent protein (GFP) in either cholinergic,
neurotransmission in individuals with PTSD at dopaminergic or GABAergic neurons were treated
3-months post-rape. PTSD symptom change may with Fluoranthene (50 – 1000 µM) for 48 h at the fourth
be mediated by change in methylation of the larval (L4) stage and survival rate was determined.
ADCYAP1 gene, which is involved in regulating the The median lethal dose obtained was used for further
stress response. Replication of these findings are experiment. Neurodegeneration were monitored in
required to provide support for ADCYAP1 and BRSK2 the worms after treatment with fluoranthene using
as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets of confocal microscope and scored for both treated and
PTSD. untreated groups. Alteration in behavioural activities
were monitored using the basal slow response and
____________________________________________ locomotion speed assays and compared to the
control (untreated group). Data obtained were
PRESENTER'S DETAILS analysed using worm lab software. Quantitative
Title: Dr polymerase chain reaction was used to assess the
Name: Tosin expression of genes (skn-1, gst-4 and cat-1) linked to
Surname: Olasehinde neurodegeneration in treated and untreated worms.
Affiliation: University of Kwazulu-Natal
RESULTS:
Email: olasehindet@ukzn.ac.za Fluoranthene (50 – 1000 µM) significantly (P < 0.05)
reduced the survival of the worms after 48 h with a
AUTHORS median lethal dose (LD50) of 223.4 µM compared
to the control. Fluorescent micrographs revealed
Author 1: Tosin A. Olasehinde that fluoranthene induced degeneration of
Author 2: Department of Biochemistry, Genetics cholinergic, dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons
Author 3: and Microbiology, School of Life with increasing concentrations. Fluoranthene also
Author 4: Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, reduced locomotor behaviour (basal slowing
Westville, Durban response and locomotion speed via forward
Airton C. Martins speed) of the worms. Real-time polymerase chain
Department of Molecular reaction data showed a significant increase in skn-
Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College 1 (a homolog of Nrf2), gst-4 and cat-1 expression
of Medicine, Bronx, New York, United after exposure to Fluoranthene.
States
Ademola Olufolahan Olaniran CONCLUSION:
Department of Biochemistry, Genetics Our findings revealed that Fluoranthene induced
and Microbiology, School of Life upregulation of associated with oxidative
Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, stress which may contribute to degeneration of
Westville, Durban cholinergic, dopaminergic and GABAergic neurons
Michael Aschner and altered locomotor behaviour. Hence, exposure
Department of Molecular Pharmacology, to polluted air, smoke or aquatic animals with
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, high concentration of fluoranthene may induce
Bronx, New York, United States neurodegeneration
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 31
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS RESULTS:
Title: Mr Irrespective of intervention, female FSL rats displayed
Name: Henlo (Henry) significantly more depressive-like behaviour (i.e.,
Surname: Oosthuizen increased immobility time) in the FST (p ≤ 0.0005),
Affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical relevant to their FRL counterparts. Swimming behaviour
was, however, increased by FLX (regardless of EXE)
Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, only in FSL rats (p = 0.007). Moreover, female FSL rats
North-West University, Potchefstroom, (irrespective of treatment) displayed reduced nose-
South Africa tail interactions with male counterparts in the SIT (p
= 0.02), indicative of decreased sexual interest. Time
Email: henlo7.oosthuizen@gmail.com spent together was also increased by FLX treatment,
across both strains and regardless of EXE (p = 0.002).
AUTHORS
CONCLUSION:
Author 1: Henry Victor Oosthuizen The investigated treatment strategies were both
Author 2: Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical unsuccessful in reversing depressive-like behaviour
Author 3: Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, in the postpartum period. Still, that the female
North-West University, Potchefstroom, FSL rats, irrespective of oestrous cycle, displayed
South Africa a characteristically depressive-like phenotype,
Linda Brand in relation to FRL controls during the postpartum
Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical period, strengthens the validity of this animal model
Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, for future studies.
North-West University, Potchefstroom,
South Africa ____________________________________________
Stephan F Steyn
Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Title: Dr
North-West University, Potchefstroom, Name: Nagendra
South Africa Surname: Ramanjinappa
Affiliation: Head - Medical Affairs, Asia and SSA &
TITLE:
Female FSL rats display depressive-like phenotype Global Medical Lead - Oncology,
during the postpartum period, regardless
of fluoxetine and/or low intensity exercise Email: Nagendra.Ramanjinappa@viatris.com
interventions.
BACKGROUND: AUTHORS
Postpartum depression is one of the most common
psychiatric disorders, adversely affecting the entire Author 1: Nagendra Ramanjinappa
household. Peripartum hormonal fluctuations may Author 2: Viatris Inc., India
significantly increase the risk to develop depression, Author 3: Renata Schoeman
particularly in women with a history of psychiatric Author 4: University of Stellenbosch Business
disorders. Although fluoxetine (FLX) is considered School, South Africa
an effective treatment option, fear of potential side Author 5: Yen-yu (Evelyn) Lai
effects in the breastfeeding infant, render women Author 6: Mylan (Pty) Ltd, a company of Viatris,
sceptic about pharmacological treatments during Author 7: South Africa (Former Employee)
this period. Therefore, non-pharmacological Anne-Marie Nel
strategies, such as exercise is often preferred or Robert Broom Medical Centre,
prescribed, based on the perceived improved Noordheuwel, Krugersdorp, South
safety profile. We therefore investigated and Africa
compared the antidepressant-like properties of Neyaseelan K Gounden
these interventions during the postpartum period Medi centre, Shallcross, South Africa
of an approved animal model of depression. Muhammed A Fulat
Clinical Trial Systems, Pretoria, South
METHODOLOGY: Africa
Starting on postpartum day 5 (PPD05), female Flinders Akbar Anvar Mahomed
sensitive (FSL; n= 47) and resistant line (FRL; n= 38) Zinakekele Medical Centre,
rats (mean age = 83 ± 7 days) were exposed to low Mpumalanga, South Africa
intensity exercise (EXE) with or without FLX (10 mg/
kg/day) for fourteen days, and compared to vehicle TITLE:
(H2O) and/or sedentary controls. Depressive-like Safety and effectiveness of multiple-unit
parameters were analysed in the open field (OFT), pellet system delivered extended-release
forced swim (FST) and social interaction (SIT) tests methylphenidate in patients with ADHD in the
between PPD 19 and PPD21. Following behavioural real-world clinical settings: PACER studycognitive
analyses, animals were euthanized, and brain symptoms in a cohort of SARsCOV2 PCR positive
tissue harvested for neurochemical analyses. patients in Cape Town, South Africa.
32 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
BACKGROUND: PRESENTER'S DETAILS and
Methylphenidate is a central nervous system Title: Dr
stimulant indicated for the treatment of attention Name: Annerine
deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). The aim of this Surname: Roos
study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Multiple- Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry
Unit Pellet System Delivered Extended-Release
Methylphenidate (Contramyl XR), on symptom Neuroscience Institute
control, functionality and reported outcomes in Email: annerine.roos@uct.ac.za
patients with ADHD, either as a de novo therapy or as
a switch therapy in methylphenidate-experienced AUTHORS
patients, in a real-world setting. Author 1: Nehpal Singh
METHODOLOGY:
This was an open label, flexible dose, prospective, Department of Pediatrics and Child
observational study to evaluate the effectiveness of Health, University of Cape Town, South
Contramyl XR. Patients (children: aged 6-17 years; Africa
adults: aged 18-65 years) with a primary diagnosis Author 2: Annerine Roos
of ADHD and who met the DSM-IV/V criteria were Department of Psychiatry and Mental
included. Patients were either initiated on (18 mg or Health and Neuroscience Institute,
36 mg once daily, respectively) or switched to (18 – University of Cape Town, South Africa
72 mg once daily) Contramyl XR. Author 3: Catherine Wedderburn
Department of Pediatrics and Child
Primary efficacy variables were symptom and Health, University of Cape Town,
functionality improvements, assessed by patient- South Africa; & Department of Clinical
reported Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale Research, London School of Hygiene &
(WFIRS) composite score and clinician reported Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
CGI-I and CGI-S scale scores over 12 weeks. Author 4: Aneesa Vanker
RESULTS: Department of Pediatrics and Child
Totally, 119 participants from 6 study sites completed Health, University of Cape Town, South
the study, of which 46% (n=55) were newly Africa
diagnosed ADHD patients and 54% (n=64) were Author 5: Jean-Paul Fouche
treatment-experienced patients who switched to Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
Contramyl XR. University, South Africa
Author 6: Shantanu Joshi
Satisfaction with treatment was observed in Departments of Neurology and of
treatment-naïve ADHD patients, indicated by Bioengineering, University of California,
significant improvement in WFIRS scores over 12 Los Angeles, USA
weeks. Author 7: Roger Woods
Departments of Neurology and of
Comparable effectiveness was also demonstrated Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,
in switch-over patients. For changes in WFIRS vs. University of California, Los Angeles, USA
CGI-S the correlation coefficients were statistically Author 8: Katherine Narr
significant at visits 2 (p=0.041) and 3 (p=0.006). In Departments of Neurology and of
treatment-naïve patients, the changes in total WFIRS Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,
vs. CGI-S and CGI-I were statistically significant University of California, Los Angeles, USA
(p<0.001) at visit 2. Author 9: Heather Zar
Department of Pediatrics and Child
At visit 3, similar significance was observed except Health, University of Cape Town, South
for change in total WFIRS vs. CGI-I. In switch-over Africa
patients, the changes in total WFIRS vs. CGI-S and Author 10: Kirsten Donald
CGI-I were statistically significant (p<0.001) at visits Department of Pediatrics and Child
2 and 3. Contramyl XR was well tolerated, and all Health and Neuroscience Institute,
patients chose to continue with Contramyl XR. University of Cape Town, South Africa
CONCLUSION: Author 11: Dan Stein
Contramyl XR is found to be clinically effective Department of Psychiatry and Mental
in all age groups either as initial therapy or as Health and Neuroscience Institute,
switch therapy. This study further supports the University of Cape Town, South Africa
interchangeability of Contramyl XR as a generic
formulation compared with the reference TITLE:
methylphenidate. The impact of prenatal tobacco exposure on brain
structure and function in 2-3-year-old children: a
Drakenstein Child Health Study.
BACKGROUND:
Although prenatal tobacco exposure (PTE) is a risk
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 33
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
factor for child development with previous work Author 3: Debra Alexander
showing adverse clinical and neurodevelopment Author 4: Stellenbosch University
outcomes, few neuroimaging studies have Soraya Seedat
assessed the impact of PTE on neurodevelopment Stellenbosch University
in toddlers. Effects may persist into adulthood and
be as deleterious as prenatal exposure to alcohol TITLE:
and illicit substances. This study explored early brain Long term effectiveness of Prolonged Exposure
structure and associated cognitive and behavioral for adolescents with PTSD, in a task-shifted
outcomes following PTE in 2-3-year-old children. intervention in South Africa: Comparative trial of
supportive counselling.
METHODOLOGY:
Structural MRI data were acquired using a 3T BACKGROUND:
Siemens Skyra scanner in a subset of children There is a need for a longer term follow-up (FU) on
(mean age=34 months) enrolled in the Drakenstein the effectiveness of task-shifted psychotherapeutic
Child Health Study situated in South Africa. The level treatments for adolescents with posttraumatic stress
of PTE was defined by maternal urine cotinine level disorder (PTSD) in low- and middle-income countries
determined antenatally (> 499 ng/mL active smoker; (LIMICs). Few studies internationally include a
10-499 ng/mL passive exposure). The sample 5-year follow-up, especially of adolescents.
included 28 active PTE (54% boys), 51 passive PTE
(63% boys) and 27 unexposed control children Their is to report on the comparative effectiveness
(63% boys). Structural measures were derived using of prolonged exposure (PE-A) and supportive
FreeSurfer v6 and compared between groups using counselling (SC) for PTSD in adolescents at 1-. 2-
general linear models controlling for biological sex and especially at 5-years follow-up.
and age. Regions with significant group differences
were associated with cognitive function as assessed METHODOLOGY:
at 24 months with the Bayley Scales of Infant Toddler Sixty-three adolescents were randomly assigned
Development III using linear regression. to receive either intervention and completed 7-14
RESULTS: treatment sessions. Nurses previously naive to PE-A
Children with active PTE had greater cortical and SC provided these treatments at the high
thickness in sub-regions of the frontal gyrus and schools of adolescents. Data were analysed as
certain occipital (including left latero-occipital) intention to treat.
and temporal (including right temporal pole)
regions in contrast to the other groups (all p 0.0588). The primary outcome, PTSD symptom severity,
CONCLUSION: was independently assessed with the Child PTSD
Our findings on the impact of PTE concur with previous Symptom Scale-Interview (CPSS-I). Some of the
findings of cortical thickness alterations in older secondary measures, such as depression severity
children. Greater cortical thickness of frontal, occipital (BDI), PTSD diagnosis with the MINI-Kid, are also
and temporal regions may underlie alterations reported.
in adaptive behavior in children affected by PTE.
Ongoing analysis will center on the added effect of RESULTS:
postnatal tobacco smoking on neurodevelopment Participants receiving PE-A experienced greater
in toddlers. Longitudinal studies are needed to improvement in PTSD symptom severity than those
investigate the impact of PTE on brain development receiving SC (between group differences at post-
trajectories and the longevity of changes. intervention, mean 12.49, 95% CI 6.82-18.17, p<0.001;
d=1.22).
____________________________________________
A similar pattern was observed with the above
PRESENTER'S DETAILS mentioned secondary measure and at FU (3-, 6-,
Title: Dr 12-, 24-months) And now the 60-month results will
Name: Jaco be included.
Surname: Rossouw
Affiliation: Stellenbosch University CONCLUSION:
The maintenance of treatment gains at longer term
Email: jacorossouw@hotmail.co.za FU of adolescents receiving treatment for PTSD from
non-specialist health workers within a community
setting in Cape Town, South Africa are reported.
AUTHORS Comparing these longer-term outcomes with the
limited available 5-year or longer FU data available
Author 1: Jaco Rossouw will guide us on implementation of interventions for
Author 2: Stellenbosch University PTSD in children and adolescents within community
Elna Yadin settings. Lessons learnt from this study interns of
UPEN community-based implementation is discussed.
34 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
Beethoven Recovery Centre, a well-established, private Psychiatric
Hospital and substance abuse Rehabilitation Centre, has an
opportunity for a general Psychiatrist to join our team.
60- bed Psychiatric Hospital
20- bed Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Centre
Voluntary admissions
16+ years of age
Located in Hartbeespoort, at the foot of the tranquil Magaliesberg mountains,
Beethoven Recovery Centre is a short drive from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Rustenburg.
Contact: Henri Gastrow (Hospital Manager) | 083 441 6224 | henrig@beethovenrecovery.co.za
www.beethovenrecovery.co.za
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS were then assessed in an anxiogenic, white-
Title: Mr floored mirrored open field arena (MA). However,
Name: Devan ambulation in the anxiogenic open section of the
Surname: Saaiman MA was optional, since animals could opt to remain
Affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical in a separate dark compartment in the arena.
RESULTS:
Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, Data from the present investigation show that NNB
North-West University, Potchefstroom, and LNB expressing animals present with distinct
South Africa anxiety-like profiles in the MA test. Notably, LNB-
expressing animals spent significantly more time
Email: devies8588@gmail.com in the proximity of the mirrored walls, compared to
NNB-expressing mice (p = 0.01). Further, compared
AUTHORS to NNB-expressing mice, LNB-expressing mice spent
more time in the border zone during each open
Author 1: Devan Saaiman field visit, than in the centre zone of the arena (p =
Author 2: Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical 0.036).
Author 3: Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, CONCLUSION:
Author 4: North-West University, Potchefstroom, In support of earlier work from our laboratory, we
South Africa show here that when introduced into an anxiogenic
Dewet Wolmarans environment, i.e. the MA, LNB animals present
Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical with a lower degree of open field anxiety which
Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, is likely reminiscent of increased boldness. Our
North-West University, Potchefstroom, findings thus highlight a potentially unique anxiety-
South Africa related signature in LNB mice that might underlie
Linda Brand the expression of inflated, as opposed to normal
Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical behaviours that might be valuable for further
Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, therapeutic investigation.
North-West University, Potchefstroom,
South Africa ____________________________________________
Thomas Krahe
Department of Psychology, Pontifical
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro
(PUC- Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
TITLE: PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Distinct anxiety-like behaviours in normal and Title: Dr
large nesting deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus Name: Haseena
bairdii): towards an understanding of compulsive- Surname: Sablay
like behavioural persistence. Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Mental
BACKGROUND: Health, University of Cape Town
Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is
not classified as an anxiety disorder, compulsive Email: haseenasablay@yahoo.com
symptom expression is related to intrusive anxiety-
provoking stimuli. Naturalistic large nesting (LNB) AUTHORS
expression in deer mice is proposed as a model of
compulsive-like behavioural expression. However, its Author 1: Haseena Bibi Sablay
psychobiological underpinnings remain unclear. To Author 2: Department of Psychiatry and Mental
this end, we aimed to broaden our understanding Author 3: Health, University of Cape Town
of the potential relationship between anxiety- Qhama Cossie
related behaviour and LNB by exploring the open Department of Psychiatry and Mental
field behaviour of LNB, compared to normal nesting Health, University of Cape Town
(NNB) deer mice. Deirde Pieterse
Department of Psychiatry and Mental
METHODOLOGY: Health, University of Cape Town
Forty-nine (49) deer mice of both sexes (aged 12
weeks at the onset of investigation; ethics approval TITLE:
number: NWU-00422-21-A5) were singly housed COVID-19 and serious mental illness: Experience
and screened for nesting behaviour over one week. from a psychiatric hospital in Cape Town, South
From this, two groups of mice, i.e. NNB and LNB (n = Africa.
10 per group; as far as possible equally distributed
between sexes), were identified. Since these groups BACKGROUND:
constituted the respective control groups for other Several factors make patients admitted to specialist
drug-exposed groups still to be completed, they psychiatric units more vulnerable and susceptible to
were left undisturbed for 21 days, after which the infections like SARS-COV-2. This includes psychiatric
nesting assessment was repeated. All animals hospital infrastructure and service design, the
36 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
mental health profiles of patients, and the medical AUTHORS Business
competency of staff employed. We aimed to Author 1: Renata Schoeman
describe the psychiatric and medical profile as well
as clinical outcomes of patients with serious mental University of Stellenbosch
illness (SMI) and COVID-19 admitted to a specialist School; private practice
psychiatric hospital in South Africa.
METHODOLOGY: TITLE:
Demographic and clinical information was PANDAS: a “difficult” child, or difficult diagnosis
collected on all Valkenberg hospital in patients who
tested positive for SARS-COV-2 for the period1 April BACKGROUND:
2020 to 30 September 2021. All patients who tested Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders
positive were included in the study. associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS)
RESULTS: is a childhood syndrome thought to be triggered
Two hundred and fifty-seven (257) participants by streptococcal bacteria – especially throat
tested positive for SARS-COV-2 over the study infections. It is suggested that PANDAS may affect
period. The sample included 75%(n=194) male as many as 1 in 200 children, yet the controversy
and 25%(n=63) female patients with a mean age related to underdiagnosis, misdiagnosis, and
of 35,7 years old. Most patients were diagnosed overdiagnosis remains.
with schizophrenia 37%(n=96), bipolar disorder
21%(n=55) and schizoaffective disorder 19%(n=49). METHODOLOGY:
Comorbidities reported were smoking 64%(n=164), In this presentation, the author will present a case
other 20%(n=51), hypertension 11%(n=28), HIV of a young adult with a sudden onset of psychiatric
7%(n=18), previous tuberculosis 6%(n=15), chronic symptoms at the age of 10 and the convoluted
lung disease 5%(n=14), diabetes mellitus 4%(n=10), and complicated road the patient and his parents
BMI>30 4%(n=10) and cardiovascular disease have traveled. Many psychiatric diagnoses (which
2%(n=4). include juvenile-onset schizophrenia, bipolar mood
disorder, autism, and OCD – amongst others) were
The most common substance used was nicotine made and many treatments were offered.
71%(n=183) followed by cannabis 59%(n=151),
methamphetamine 36%(n=92) and alcohol Yet, although PANDAS appears to be a suitable
18%(n=45). diagnosis, it cannot be confirmed retrospectively,
and the final word is not out. The author will also
Most of the patients 62%(n=159) were symptomatic provide a narrative review of the current evidence
for COVID-19, however only 7%(n=17) required for and controversies surrounding the diagnosis of
transfer to a medical ward. Almost all patients PANDAS syndrome.
99%(n=255) recovered and 1%(n=2) demised.
CONCLUSION: RESULTS:
A large portion of our sample were symptomatic The author will present a narrative review of
with only 4% presenting with anosmia, initially the literature on PANDAS, with a specific focus
thought to be indicative of SARS-COV-2. The on the 2013 PANS Consensus Conference and
majority of symptoms were elicitable through history recommendations for assessment and diagnosis.
taking. Despite the concerns that poor social and The author will critically review the case presented
lifestyle factors, and high comorbidity of substance accordingly.
use would worsen outcome, most of the patients
had mild illness and recovered (n=255, 99%). This CONCLUSION:
contrasts with concerns that were raised early in the PANDAS is a diagnosis of exclusion. Therefore, a
pandemic that institutionalised patients with severe comprehensive evaluation is needed to eliminate
mental illness were at increased risk of mortality disorders presenting with similar neuropsychiatric
and an increased rate of hospitalisation. symptoms.
____________________________________________ The individual PANDAS symptoms overlap with
a variety of psychiatric disorders, such as OCD,
PRESENTER'S DETAILS Tourette's syndrome, ADHD, depression, and
Title: Prof bipolar disorder. However, the acuity of onset and
Name: Renata simultaneous presentation of these symptoms
Surname: Schoeman differentiate PANS from these psychiatric
Affiliation: University of Stellenbosch conditions.
School; private practice Business In some instances, children with PANS experience
visual or auditory hallucinations; these cases
Email: renatas@usb.ac.za deserve special note, as symptoms can appear
identical to the psychotic symptoms seen in
conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
and lupus cerebritis.
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 37
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTER'S DETAILS often rooted in management of maternal mental
Title: Prof health in a holistic manner, with attention to a
Name: Ugash biopsychosocial approach, particularly in women
Surname: Subramaney at risk. As well, the context of a health system that
Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of went awry is emphasised in these cases.
_____________________________________________
Clinical Medicine, University of the
Witwatersrand, JHB
Email: Ugasvaree.subramaney@wits.ac.za PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Title: Prof
AUTHORS Name: Ugash
Surname: Subramaney
Author 1: Ugasvaree Subramaney Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, School of
TITLE: Department of Psychiatry, School of
Clinical Medicine, University of the Clinical Medicine, University of the
Witwatersrand, JHB Witwatersrand, JHB
Falling through the cracks: Maternal mental Email: Ugasvaree.subramaney@wits.ac.za
health and neonaticide in the context of forensic
psychiatry. AUTHORS
BACKGROUND: Author 1: Ugasvaree Subramaney
In many parts of the world mentally ill women TITLE: Department of Psychiatry, School of
who commit infanticide may receive long prison Clinical Medicine, University of the
sentences or even the death penalty (Razali S et al., Witwatersrand, JHB
2019). England, Canada, Australia, and more than
20 European countries have “infanticide laws” which Exploring Trauma histories among forensic state
provide more humane treatment and psychiatric patients charged with murder.
care for mentally ill mothers who kill (Spinelli 2019).
South Africa does not have an infanticide law and is BACKGROUND:
characterized by a constitution that is human rights South Africa has a high rate of violence and abuse,
focused and laws that are much more progressive evidenced by its inclusion in the country’s quadruple
in many instances. However, there it has a high rate disease burden (Bradshaw, et al., 2003). It is
of perinatal mental illness. As with other LMIC, there already well established that physical, sexual and
is limited epidemiological data regarding perinatal emotional abuse (henceforth, collectively referred
depression, but more recent studies indicate to as “trauma”) has a profound, detrimental impact
percentages of up to 47% (This was one study on an individual’s psyche. Studies have shown links
conducted at a primary health care facility in rural between adverse events and mental illness such
KwaZulu Natal, where HIV rates are high). Beyond as depression, anxiety, PTSD and schizophrenia,
antenatal depression, other psychiatric disorders especially in those already predisposed to
often worsen in the perinatal period, with some mental illness (Radmanoviü, 2020). Research has
index presentations as well. Methods: The author also demonstrated that the risk for violent and
will discuss a review of perinatal psychiatric illness antagonistic behaviour is closely associated with
that come to the attention of forensic psychiatry a history of exposure to traumatic abuse (Wolff &
and illustrate, by means of case reports the dire Shi, 2012). Mental illness has also been linked to
consequences of untreated perinatal mental illness more extreme forms of violence, specifically murder
in the postpartum period. (Valenca & de Moraes, 2006). However, there
remains a paucity in research on the intersection
METHODOLOGY: between the three elements – trauma exposure,
The author will discuss a review of perinatal mental illness and homicide. This research study
psychiatric illness that come to the attention of examined exposure to trauma among forensic
forensic psychiatry and illustrate, by means of state patients who had committed murder.
case reports the dire consequences of untreated
perinatal mental illness in the postpartum period. METHODOLOGY:
A 21-year review of the records of state patients
RESULTS: at Sterkfontein hospital charged with murder was
3 cases of neonaticide will be presented, within conducted. Data was analysed using descriptive
the context of perinatal mental illness, referral for statistics, The Chi2 test was employed to assess the
observation in terms of the criminal procedures act associations between types of trauma and mental
(CPA), outcomes and finally their rehabilitation as illnesses, Mental illness and substance abuse at the
state patients. time of the murder and childhood vs adult trauma.
CONCLUSION: RESULTS:
Prevention of the tragic crime of neonaticide is High rates of trauma (up to 40%) were found. More
38 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
females experienced both childhood trauma (DFI) questionnaire and the Kessler Psychological
exposure and sexual trauma histories than men. Distress Scale (K10) questionnaire, respectively.
Substance use was more prevalent in males, who The Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index was
killed more strangers than their female counterparts, completed by the attending dermatology registrar
where more victims were family members, often or consultant seeing the patient and was used to
their own children. measure the severity of AD symptoms experienced
CONCLUSION: by the patient.
The interplay between trauma, mental illness RESULTS:
and the commission of violent offences deserve For most caregivers having a child with AD had a
further interrogation, with larger studies using a moderately negative effect on their QOL (mean
longitudinal method of study. as well, in addition (SD) DFI score = 12.78 (7.48)) and the majority
to the neurobiology of serious mental illness, of caregivers experienced mild psychological
contextual factors such as environmental and other distress (mean (SD) K10 score = 22.07 (9.68)). Most
adverse events might serve as mediating factors for of the children in this study experienced mild AD
the commission of violent acts such as murder. symptoms (median (IQR) SCORAD score = 14.15
(5.67-32.88)). Almost 90% of the children had an
_____________________________________________ identifiable trigger, with the most common triggers
being an environmental temperature change
PRESENTER'S DETAILS (n=36, 66.7%) and stress (n=31, 57.4%). We noted
a weak but significant correlation between QOL
Title: Dr Psychiatry, and AD severity (rs = 0.395, p = 0.003) and a strong
Name: Shwetha positive correlation between the caregivers’ QOL
Surname: Suresh and their mental health (rs = 0.650, p < 0.001).
Affiliation: Registrar, Department of CONCLUSION:
The use of easy and fast screening tools for caregiver
University of Stellenbosch mental health and QOL should be implemented
when treating patients with AD. Understanding the
Email: shwethasuresh01@gmail.com burden and allowing room for mitigation of these
modifiable factors will play a large role in ensuring a
AUTHORS better therapeutic outcome for those children with
a chronic illness like AD.
Author 1: Shwetha Suresh
Author 2: Registrar,Department of Psychiatry, _____________________________________________
Author 3: University of Stellenbosch
Anusha Lachman PRESENTER'S DETAILS
Department of Psychiatry, University of Title: Dr
Stellenbosch Name: Patricia Cathryn
Susanna Kannenberg Surname: Swart
Department of Dermatology, University Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
of Stellenbosch
of Medicine and Health Sciences,
TITLE: Stellenbosch University. 2 Stellenbosch
Assessing the impact of paediatric atopic University/South African Medical
dermatitis on the mental health and quality of life Research Council Genomics of Brain
of their caregiver at a tertiary hospital in Cape Disorders Unit
Town, South Africa.
BACKGROUND: Email: patswart@sun.ac.za
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and often
debilitating illness for children but also has a AUTHORS
significant effect on caregiver quality of life (QOL)
and mental health. We aimed to explore the Author 1: Patricia C Swart
relationship between AD in children on the QOL Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
and the mental health of their caregivers in a South Author 2: of Medicine and Health Sciences,
African population. Author 3: Stellenbosch University. 2 Stellenbosch
University/South African Medical
METHODOLOGY: Research Council Genomics of Brain
We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients Disorders Unit
and their caregivers attending the Dermatology Stefanie Malan-Müller
Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
Africa. Of the 65 patients accessing treatment of Medicine and Health Sciences,
between February 2021 and August 2021, 54 Stellenbosch University. 3 Universidad
participants met the inclusion criteria and were Complutense de Madrid
recruited. Caregiver QOL and mental health were Soraya Seedat
measured using the Dermatitis Impact Family Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 39
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
of Medicine and Health Sciences, to investigate if the genetic predisposition towards
Stellenbosch University. 2 Stellenbosch developing a stress-related disorder is associated
University/South African Medical with gut microbial composition.
Research Council Genomics of Brain RESULTS:
Disorders Unit The above analysis is currently underway.
Author 4: PGC-PTSD Microbiome Workgroup CONCLUSION:
Author 5: The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium Results from this investigation intends to provide
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder valuable insight into the complex relationship
Microbiome Workgroup between the gut microbiome and host genome, in
Sian MJ Hemmings the context of PTSD.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
of Medicine and Health Sciences, _____________________________________________
Stellenbosch University. 2 Stellenbosch
University/South African Medical
Research Council Genomics of Brain
Disorders Unit
TITLE: PRESENTER'S DETAILS
The interaction between the gut microbiome and Title: Dr
host genome in posttraumatic stress disorder. Name: Yanga
Surname: Thungana
BACKGROUND: Affiliation: Walter Sisulu University
Stress-related disorders, such as anxiety, depression,
and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often Email: ythungana@wsu.ac.za
develop following exposure to a traumatic event.
However, not all individuals exposed to trauma AUTHORS
develop these disorders, indicating that there must
be a degree of susceptibility/resilience among Author 1: Yanga Thungana
individuals. This is partly explained by underlying Author 2: Dept of Psychiatry and behavioural
genetic risk. Recently, alterations in gut microbial Sciences, Walter Sisulu University,
composition have been observed in relation to Author 3: Mthatha, South Africa
psychiatric disorders, which may explain some of the Prof. Robert John Wilkinson
variation in susceptibility to stress-related disorders. Wellcome Center for Infectious Diseases
In addition, the host genome has been found to Research in Africa, Institute of Infect.
regulate certain aspects of the gut microbiome. Disease and Mol. Med and Dept.
There is much to be understood about the role med. Univ. Cape Town, South Africa.
of the gut microbiome, and genome, in human Department of Infectious Disease,
brain function and behaviour. By investigating the Imperial College, London, W12 ONN,
association between characteristics of the gut UK. The Francis Crick Institute, London,
microbiome and host genetic components, this NW1 IAT, UK
study aims to provide insight into the interaction Prof. Zukiswa Zingela
between the gut microbiome and host genome in Executive Dean’s Office, Nelson
the context of stress-related disorders, specifically Mandela University, Port Elizabeth,
PTSD. South Africa
METHODOLOGY: TITLE:
As part of the SHARED ROOTS project, genome-wide The Point Prevalence of Co-Morbid Mental Ill-
genotype data and 16S rRNA gene (V4) sequence Health in Tuberculosis Patients under Treatment in
gut microbiome data from 56 trauma-exposed a Rural Province of South Africa.
controls and 78 PTSD patients of self-reported
mixed-ancestry, will be used in an exploratory BACKGROUND:
analysis to examine the association between Tuberculosis remains prevalent despite the
host genotype and gut microbiome traits, such availability of effective anti-TB medications. South
as α-diversity, β-diversity, and relative abundance Africa is among the top eight countries that
profiles. The relative abundance analysis will focus account for two-thirds of the global TB infections.
on four previously identified genera (Mitsuokella, Evidence suggests a high rate of mental disorders
Odoribacter, Catenibacterium, and Olsenella), in people with TB. Psychiatric disorders and
for which the total relative abundance positively tuberculosis share several risk factors, such as
correlated with the severity of PTSD symptoms homelessness, HIV/AIDS, substance use, stigma,
and was higher in PTSD participants compared to malnutrition, and poor socioeconomic status.
trauma-exposed controls. In addition, available Psychiatric comorbidities in tuberculosis patients
GWAS summary statistics from the Psychiatric are associated with poor treatment outcomes
Genomics Consortium will be used to calculate and treating comorbid psychiatric disorders can
the polygenic risk scores for PTSD and major improve tuberculosis outcomes. This study explored
depressive disorder, two highly comorbid disorders, psychiatric comorbidity and its clinical correlation
in individuals receiving tuberculosis treatment.
40 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
METHODOLOGY: Author 2: Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl
A cross-sectional survey was conducted at two Drive, Tygerberg 7505; Cape Town, South
primary care clinics at King Sabata Dalindyebo Africa 2 Genomics of Brain Disorders,
District, Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
Patients receiving TB treatment in these two clinics of Medicine and Health Sciences,
were interviewed between September 2020 and Stellenbosch University, South Africa
June 2021 by a trained interviewer using the Mini- Stefan du Plessis
International Neuropsychiatric Interview to screen 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
for psychiatric disorders. of Medicine and Health Sciences,
All descriptive and inferential statistics were Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl
performed with STATA/SE “(version 16.1 for Mac),” Drive, Tygerberg 7505; Cape Town, South
and the significance level was p < 0.05. Africa 2 Genomics of Brain Disorders,
RESULTS: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
In a sample of 197 participants, most patients of Medicine and Health Sciences,
were male (62%), had HIV diagnosis (65%), and Stellenbosch University, South Africa
screened positive for a mental disorder (82%) with
anxiety (48%), depression (38%), and substance Author 3: Chanellé Juanita Hendrikse
use disorders (43%) being the most common Author 4: 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
psychiatric conditions. On average, individuals of Medicine and Health Sciences,
had 4 (SD 2) lifetime mental disorders, excluding Stellenbosch University, Francie van
substance use disorders. Females had higher rates Zijl Drive, Tygerberg 7505; Cape Town,
of depression (p = 0.005) and nonadherence to South Africa
tuberculosis treatment (p = 0.003). Alcohol use Soraya Seedat
disorder was more common in males (p< 0.001) 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
and those nonadherent to tuberculosis treatment. of Medicine and Health Sciences,
Low education levels and unemployment were also Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl
associated with depressive and anxiety disorders Drive, Tygerberg 7505; Cape Town, South
(p < 0.05). Africa 2 Genomics of Brain Disorders,
CONCLUSION: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty
There is a high burden of mental disorders in of Medicine and Health Sciences,
patients with tuberculosis, and mental health Stellenbosch University, South Africa
services must be integrated into the management
of patients with tuberculosis. Routine screening TITLE:
of common psychiatric disorders, including Resilience and reward functioning in PTSD and
depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, metabolic syndrome.
using already available easy-to-use screening tools
amenable for use at the primary care level could BACKGROUND:
aid the early detection, referral, and treatment of Higher rates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) are
those with mental illness and tuberculosis. observed in patients with posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD). Reward system dysfunction has
_____________________________________________ been observed in both PTSD and MetS. Resilience,
through its effects on the reward system, may play a
PRESENTER'S DETAILS role in the comorbidity of MetS and PTSD.
Title: Dr
Name: Leigh METHODOLOGY:
Surname: van den Heuvel In a case-control study of 88 patients with PTSD
Affiliation: 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty (30.7% with MetS) and 85 trauma exposed controls
(TEC, 31.8% with MetS) we investigated the role
of Medicine and Health Sciences, of resilience, as measured with the Connor-
Stellenbosch University, Francie van Zijl Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), on the
Drive, Tygerberg 7505; Cape Town, South function of the reward system using a functional
Africa 2 Genomics of Brain Disorders, MRI (fMRI) monetary incentive delay (MID) task.
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty We utilised repeated measure analysis of variance
of Medicine and Health Sciences, (RMANOVAs) to assess change in activation in the
Stellenbosch University, South Africa ventral striatum (VS) during reward anticipation
and in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during reward
Email: llvdh@sun.ac.za outcome, controlling for age.
AUTHORS
Author 1: Leigh Luella van den Heuvel RESULTS:
The mean age of participants was 43.3 years
1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty (SD 14.1) and 73.4% were female. There were no
of Medicine and Health Sciences, significant differences in reward anticipation in
the VS and reward outcome in the OFC in relation
to PTSD and MetS. Resilience was significantly
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 41
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1-21. 4. SPRAVATO® (esketamine) Approved Professional Information. 06 April, 2022. 5. Bozymski KM, Crouse EL, Titus-Lay EN, et al.
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BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
associated with activation in the VS during reward TITLE:
anticipation (F (1, 168) = 12.83, p < 0.001) and Electroporation: a cost-effective method to
activation in the OFC during reward outcome (F (1, validate putative enhancers in the context of the
168) = 6.34, p = 0.013). maturing human brain.
BACKGROUND:
CONCLUSION: Spatiotemporal differential gene expression
Resilience was significantly associated with altered throughout human brain maturation is tightly
reward system function, with higher resilience regulated by a complex gene regulatory network
associated with decreased activation in the (GRN). Understanding this GRN can help elucidate
VS during reward anticipation and increased the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders,
activation in the OFC during reward outcome. infections or diseases that affect the brain.
Although reward function was not altered in relation
to PTSD and MetS, resilience appears to play a role. The identification of putative enhancers and their
_____________________________________________ targets is essential for building a comprehensive
GRN. Once these putative enhancers have been
PRESENTER'S DETAILS identified, their activity needs to be verified. This
Title: Ms study aims to develop a cost-effective system to test
Name: Justine enhancer activity in a model that mimics the in vivo
Surname: van Greenen human brain.
Affiliation: Division of Cell Biology, Department of METHODOLOGY:
An electroporation system was optimised to
Human Biology, University of Cape Town transfect enhancer-reporter vectors into mouse
and human organotypic brain slices. 7-day old
Email: justine.vgreenen@gmail.com mouse hippocampal slices were used to optimise
the system. The human tissue was access tissue
AUTHORS from the temporal cortex removed during surgeries
to treat epilepsy.
Author 1: Justine van Greenen
Author 2: Division of Cell Biology, Department Ubiquitously expressed reporter constructs, pCI-
Author 3: of Human Biology, University of Cape H2B-GFP/RFP and pCAG-DsRed, served as positive
Author 4: Town; Neuroscience Institute, University electroporation controls. A published enhancer
Author 5: of Cape Town (MEC-13-123), that drives reporter expression in the
Thijs Verhoog mouse hippocampus and cortex, was cloned into
Author 6: Division of Cell Biology, Department the Stagia3-GFP-PLAP enhancer-reporter vector to
Author 7: of Human Biology, University of Cape be used as a positive enhancer control.
Author 8: Town; Neuroscience Institute, University
of Cape Town Tissue slices were transferred on culture membranes
Ursula Rohlwink to an agarose bed atop a positive electrode. The
Neuroscience Institute, University of reporter construct solution was added to the negative
Cape Town; Division of Neurosurgery, electrode which would be lowered down on to the slice.
University of Cape Town
Nico Enslin Immunohistochemistry (IHC) at 2-days post
Neuroscience Institute, University of electroporation was used to assess the overlap of
Cape Town; Division of Neurosurgery, reporter genes with known cell type markers. PLAP
University of Cape Town activity was assessed by staining with NBT/BCIP.
Joseph V. Raimondo RESULTS:
Division of Cell Biology, Department Effective electroporation of the positive control
of Human Biology, University of Cape vectors was achieved after 7 days in culture using
Town; Neuroscience Institute, University 60 and 100 volts on the human and mouse slices
of Cape Town; Institute of Infectious respectively.
Disease and Molecular Medicine,
University of Cape Town Preliminary IHC analysis showed that both neurons
Anthony Figaji and astrocytes were targeted. Analysis of PLAP
Neuroscience Institute, University of activity to visualise MEC-13-123 enhancer activity
Cape Town; Division of Neurosurgery, revealed that the electroporation of the enhancer
University of Cape Town control vector was a success.
Rachael Dangarembizi CONCLUSION:
Division of Cell Biology, Department An electroporation system for testing enhancer
of Human Biology, University of Cape activity has been successfully optimised for mouse
Town; Neuroscience Institute, University and human organotypic brain tissue slices. This
of Cape Town
Dorit Hockman
Division of Cell Biology, Department
of Human Biology, University of Cape
Town; Neuroscience Institute, University
of Cape Town
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 43
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
system is cost-effective, safe to use and does not that sampled hospitalised patients across the first
require genetically modified organisms, making it three Covid waves; and the BCG vaccine study,
attainable to most labs. that identified asymptomatic or mild SARS-COV-2
_____________________________________________ infection through seroconversion data.
PRESENTER'S DETAILS Participants from these cohorts were approached for
Title: Dr this Post-Covid study, and if consenting completed
Name: Inette a Case Report Form, WHO Self-Report Questionnaire
Surname: van Niekerk (SRQ-20), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-
Affiliation: University of Cape Town 7), Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS-11) and tele-MoCA
(Montreal Cognitive Assessment).
Email: inette.vanniekerk@gmail.com
RESULTS:
AUTHORS Ninety-nine participants completed telephonic
questionnaires. Fifty-four (54.5%) were female, with
Author 1: Inette van Niekerk a mean age of 50.5 years. SARS-CoV2 infection
University of Cape Town severity included: asymptomatic 13.8%, mild 25.5%,
Author 2: A/Prof Jonny Peter moderate 19.1%, severe 24.5%, and critical 17%.
University of Cape Town Most participants (79.3%) had never struggled with
Author 3: Prof Dan Stein mental health concerns pre-Covid19.
University of Cape Town
Author 4: Monica Panieri A total of 37 (37.3%) reported experiencing mental
University of Cape Town health problems post-Covid, of which only 13 (35%)
Author 5: Talitha Müller saw a doctor and/or were prescribed medication
University of Cape Town for mental health reasons post-Covid.
Author 6: Cascia Day
University of Cape Town Overall, self-reported mental health symptoms
Author 7: Bukiwe Thwala experienced by participants to persist > 6
University of Cape Town months post-Covid as measured with screening
tools included: anxiety (24.2%), fatigue (54.5%),
TITLE: headaches (34.3%), and memory and cognitive
Persistent (>6 months) neuropsychiatric and problems (58.6%). Tele-MoCA scores revealed that
cognitive symptoms in a cohort of SARsCOV2 PCR delayed recall was the domain most frequently
positive patients in Cape Town, South Africa. affected.
BACKGROUND: CONCLUSION:
SARS-CoV-2 is a neurotrophic and pro-inflammatory The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms that
virus. Several acute and more persistent persisted for >6 months post-Covid in this South
neuropsychiatric and neurocognitive sequelae African cohort was alarmingly high.
have been reported. Very limited psychiatric and
neurocognitive longitudinal data from African Psychiatrists should be alerted to the possibility that
cohorts of asymptomatic and hospitalised COVID19 persistent post-Covid neurocognitive symptoms are
patients is available. common across the spectrum of severity.
_____________________________________________
OBJECTIVES: PRESENTER'S DETAILS
To determine the prevalence of anxiety, fatigue, Title: Ms
memory and cognitive symptoms in a cohort of Name: Ashleigh Jade
South African SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients Surname: Whitney
across the disease severity spectrum from Affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical
asymptomatic to critical, >=6 months following
infection/hospitalisation. Sciences, Department of Pharmacology,
Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West
To examine the relationship between Covid19 illness University.
severity (WHO and FDA severity stratifications),
biochemical markers at the time of acute illness, Email: ashjwhitney96@gmail.com
and post-Covid symptomatology.
AUTHORS
METHODOLOGY:
Prospective SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients were Author 1: Ashleigh Jade Whitney
recruited from two parent studies in Cape Town, Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical
South Africa – the UCT FHS COVID19 biorepository, Sciences, Department of Pharmacology,
Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West
44 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 2: University. immobile (and less escape-directed behaviour),
Author 3: Zander Lindeque compared to non-MSEW FRL controls (p < 0.05).
Author 4: Human Metabolomics, Faculty of MSEW increased FST immobility time (main effect;
TITLE: Natural and Agricultural Sciences, p ≤ 0.0005), yet this increase was only significant
North-West University in FRLs (p ≤ 0.0005). EXE was unable to reverse the
Ruan Kruger behavioural effects of MSEW in the FST. Still, only
Hypertension in Africa Research MSEW/SED (and not MSEW/EXE) rats were more
Team (HART) & MRC Research Unit immobile, compared to non-MSEW controls (p =
for Hypertension and Cardiovascular 0.02).
Disease, North-West University
Stephan Frederik Steyn CONCLUSION:
Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Constant and predictive early-life stress induced a
Sciences, Department of Pharmacology, transient antidepressant-like effect early in life, that
Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West worsened during puberty. With these effects being
University more prominent in "healthy" subjects, suggests
different response mechanisms. Regardless, low
Pre-pubertal low intensity exercise is unable to intensity exercise, during pre-pubertal development
reverse the depressogenic effects of maternal was unable to reverse these effects.
separation and early weaning in FSL rats.
_____________________________________________
BACKGROUND:
Juvenile depression is a debilitating disorder PRESENTER'S DETAILS
with immediate and long-lasting health effects. Title: Dr
Childhood and adolescence are developmental Name: Victoria
periods, sensitive to early-life insults. Surname: Williams
Affiliation: School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty
Mitochondrial function is proposed as a novel
treatment target for juvenile depression and is of Health Sciences, University of the
influenced by both early-life adversity and exercise. Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown,
2193, Johannesburg, South Africa;
We investigated whether maternal separation and 2School of Human and Community
early weaning (MSEW) exacerbates depressive-like Development, Faculty of Humanities,
behaviour in an animal model of depression, and University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan
whether pre-pubertal, low intensity exercise (EXE) Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein, 2001,
could reverse this. Johannesburg, South Africa
Email: victoria.williams@wits.ac.za
METHODOLOGY: AUTHORS
Male and female Flinders sensitive (FSL) and
resistant line (FRL) pups were either subjected to Author 1: Victoria Williams
an early-life stressor (i.e., MSEW) between postnatal School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty
days (PND) 2 and 17, or not. MSEW animals were Author 2: of Health Sciences, University of the
maternally separated for three hours per day and Author 3: Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown,
weaned on PND17, instead of 21. Author 4: 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa;
School of Human and Community
Early-life depressive-like behaviour was analysed in Development, Faculty of Humanities,
the open field (OFT) and tail suspension test (TST) University of the Witwatersrand, 1 Jan
on PND21. From PND22, FSL rats were also subjected Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein, 2001,
to EXE (or not, i.e., sedentary; SED) from PND22 to 35. Johannesburg, South Africa
On PND36, depressive-like behaviour was screened Adhil Bhagwandin
with the forced swim test (FST), whereafter animals Division of Clinical Anatomy and
were euthanised and brain tissue harvested for Biological Anthropology, Department
neuro and biochemical analyses of Human Biology, University of Cape
Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
RESULTS: Jordan Swiegers
Although MSEW reduced time spent immobile in the School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty
TST, compared to non-MSEW controls (main effect; of Health Sciences, University of the
p = 0.002), this reduction was only significant in FRL Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown,
rats (p = 0.0008). FRL rats, regardless of MSEW also 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa
covered less distance moved in the OFT, compared Mads F. Bertelsen
to FSL counterparts (main effect; p ≤ 0.0005). Centre for Zoo and Wild Animal Health,
Later in life, non-MSEW FSL rats spent more time Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg,
Denmark
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 45
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Author 5: Therese Hård Both positive and negative controls were performed
Author 6: Borås Zoo, Borås, Sweden prior to the IHC runs. The stained sections were
Chet Sherwood then mounted on gelatin-coated slides, cover-
Author 7: Department of Anthropology and slipped, and photomicrographs were taken, using
Centre for the Advanced Study of a Zeiss axioskop. In addition, neuronal numbers
Human Paleobiology, The George and volumes were quantitatively examined with
Washington University, Washington, DC, stereological methods.
USA. RESULTS:
Paul Manger For the most part, the neural systems observed in
School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty the ape brains studied are similar to those found
of Health Sciences, University of the in a range of mammals studied to date, including
Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, other species of primates, especially humans.
2193, Johannesburg, South Africa Despite the similarities, some unique anatomical
features were observed that appear to be
TITLE: exclusive to Hominoidea (lesser and greater
The Contributions of Non-Human Apes in Clinical apes, including humans). For example, the
Research retrorubral (A8) nucleus of the locus coeruleus
(i.e., implicated in emotional processing), was
BACKGROUND: greatly expanded in the two ape brains studied,
Neural systems, such as the cholinergic, especially the common chimpanzee. Interestingly,
catecholaminergic, serotonergic, and orexinergic it is also present in humans.
systems, are essential for memory, cognition and In addition, multipolar neurons in the lateral
emotional regulation. In addition, dysfunctions in subdivision of the dorsal raphe were observed only
their neurotransmission are often associated with in the common chimpanzee studied, and thus it
neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. appears to be unique to Hominidae (great apes,
including humans).
Despite the clinical significance of this research, These larger serotonergic neurons appear to be the
there are limited studies on the anatomy of these most vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases,
neuromodulatory systems in a range of primates, such as Parkinson's disease, in humans.
including humans. Given the close phylogenetic CONCLUSION:
relationship between non-human apes and The current study comprehensively describes the
humans, we examined the anatomy of these four anatomy of the cholinergic, catecholaminergic,
neural systems in the brains of two apes, the lar serotonergic and orexinergic systems in the brains of the
gibbon (Hylobates lar) and chimpanzee (Pan apes, the lar gibbon and the common chimpanzee.
troglodytes), using immunohistochemical methods. The main findings from this study reveal that
anatomical organisation is generally similar to
The current study thus aims to provide further those observed in a range of Eutherian mammals,
insight into the anatomy and evolution of the including other primates studied to date, especially
neural mechanisms underlying clinically important humans.
processes in the brain of apes, including humans. Despite the similarities, unique neuroanatomical
features were observed that appear to be unique
METHODOLOGY: to Hominoidea and Hominidae. The study thus
The brains of two apes, a lar gibbon (Hylobates provides significant contributions to the field
lar) (brain mass: 112 g) and chimpanzee (Pan of comparative anatomy and evolutionary
troglodytes) (brain mass: 388.1 g) were used in this neuroscience.
study. No behavioural or neurological impairments It also reveals important clues regarding evolutionary
were observed in either of these two apes. variations in primates, especially humans. Given the
overall consistencies across mammals, including
The brains were perfusion-fixed and cut into 50 μm primates, it can be argued that animal models
thick serial coronal sections, using a microtome. play an important role in understanding (clinically
A one-in-twenty series of serial sections were significant) neuromodulatory systems in humans at
immunohistochemically stained for Nissl substance a systems level
and myelin (to identify the architectural borders),
choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) (to identify the
cholinergic system), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (to
identify the catecholaminergic system), serotonin
(5HT) (to identify the serotonergic system), and
orexin-A (OxA) (to identify the orexinergic system).
46 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - POSTER AGENDA
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS
POSTER PRESENTATION
AGENDA
12:15 - 13:15 FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2022
Session 1 (A)
1 Akeem Adedolapo
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch, University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Xenophobic experiences and association with mental health in African students at a South African
university
2 Fatima Ahmed
Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University
Effect of brief coping skill training on alcohol use in high-risk student drinkers
3 Alison Bentley
Department of Family Medicine, University of Witwatersrand
Symptom assessment by questionnaire and narratives of insomnia disorder in a South African population
4 Kimberly Blake
Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Advanced brain ageing in adult psychopathology: A systematic review and meta-analysis of structural
MRI studies
5 Judith Boshe
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre
Psychometric properties of the Isi-Xhosa version of the Subjective Wellbeing Under Neuroleptic Treatment
scale
6 Erine Bröcker
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of web-based and mobile PTSD Coach: A systematic review
and meta-analysis
7 Belinda Bruwer
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
The role of social-cognitive processes in mother-infant bonding
8 Fatima Dangor
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South
Africa
Psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour seen at a Transgender Clinic in South Africa
9 Michelle Veronica Daniels
Department of Psychiatry, University of KwaZulu Natal
A retrospective chart review on clozapine monitoring at a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Durban
10 Morne Du Plessis
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa.
Evaluating the performance of polygenic risk score- and machine learning-based classification for the
prediction of PTSD in a South African population
11 Evan Eiselen
University of Pretoria
Attitudes of final year medical students toward the legalisation of cannabis
SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021 * 47
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - POSTER AGENDA
12:15 - 13:15 FRIDAY 16 SEPTEMBER 2022
Session 1 (B)
1 Jean-Paul Fouche
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South AfricaSAMRC Genomics of Brain Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and
Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Abnormal cortical gyrification morphology in PTSD and association with symptom severity and metabolic
parameters
2 Ezethu Gaxo
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Pandemic anxiety and stress: COVID-19 pandemic stress and anxiety among South African parents and
their children
3 Sisikelelwe Gwanya-Mdletye
Department of Psychiatry, Walter Sisulu University
Psychotropic treatment and risk of Covid-19 adverse outcomes in patients with serious mental illness
4 Chanellé Hendrikse
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Fronto-limbic white matter microstructural changes in healthy adults with childhood trauma
5 Chanellé Hendrikse
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
White matter changes in 6-year-old children with prenatal alcohol exposure: Preliminary findings from a
South African birth cohort
6 Georgina Spies
NRF/DSI South African Research Chair in PTSD (SARChI), Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch
University, Cape Town, South AfricaSAMRC Genomics of Brain Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry,
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment: Development and validation of an abbreviated
neuropsychological test battery
7 Lianna Kapp
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape
Town, South AfricaSouth African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain
Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University
The association between pituitary adenylate-cyclase-activating polypeptide plasma levels and
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in a sample of rape-exposed women over 12 months
8 Anusha Lachman
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health difficulties and associated risk factors early in the
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
9 Catherine Lohrentz
South African Medical Research Council / Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain Disorders Research
Unit, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape TownDivision of Molecular
Biology and Human Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health
Science, Stellenbosch University
The role of oxytocin receptor gene variants in appetitive aggression: A study in a South African
population
10 Hilmar Luckhoff
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Sexual dysfunction in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders
48 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY CONGRESS - POSTER AGENDA
12:15 - 13:15 SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2022
Session 2 (A)
1 Kabelo Maloka
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape
Town, South AfricaSouth African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain
Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Genetic differences in the ADCYAP1, ADCYAP1R1 and BRSK2 genes in rape exposed women with and
without PTSD
2 Lucy Mgopa
Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences
Clinical care of victims of interpersonal violence and rape in Tanzania: A qualitative investigation
3 Khanya Mona
University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, School of clinical medicine, College of Health sciences
A retrospective chart review of cannabis use in people living with psychosis at a psychiatric hospital in
KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
4 Creeshen Muddapah
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Assessing the Revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal for Alcohol Scale (CIWA-Ar) use at Stikland Hospital
5 Dorothy Mushi
Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar
es Salaam TanzaniaDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis
Ababa University, EthiopiaCentre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutics Trial for Africa (CDT-
Africa) College of Health Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Missed opportunity for alcohol use disorder screening and management in primary health care facilities
in northern rural Tanzania: A cross-sectional survey
6 Rivona Harricharan
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Outcomes of patients with diffuse traumatic brain Injuries at a quaternary hospital in Durban – A
retrospective study
7 Mbalenhle Pearl Nompumelelo Mwelase
Discipline of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-
Natal, South Africa
HIV prevalence and access to HIV testing and care among patients with recent onset psychosis
8 Jani Nöthling
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape
Town, South AfricaSouth African Medical Research Council/Stellenbosch University Genomics of Brain
Disorders Research Unit, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town
The relationship between FKBP5 intron 7 methylation and posttraumatic stress disorder in rape-exposed
women
9 Jani Nöthling
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town
Risk and protective factors affecting the symptom trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder post-rape
10 Amanda Sibanyoni
University of Pretoria
Are female bipolar patients of reproductive age aware of the teratogenic risk of sodium valproate? A
qualitative study
11 Retha Smit
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
South Africa
Predictors of relapse other than treatment non-adherence in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum
disorders: A 24-month follow-up study
50 * SOUTH AFRICAN PSYCHIATRY ISSUE 29 2021