Only a few studies seem to address suicidality as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in persons previously affected by psychiatric disorders. The relationship between fear and stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the level of social support and suicidality in patients diagnosed with affective and stress-induced psychiatric disorders prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. This study was observational and involved 100 participants. The examined period was from April 2020 to April 2022. The Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Oslo Social Support Scale 3 (OSSS-3) and general psychiatric interviews were used to obtain data. A statistically significant relationship between the impact of COVID-19-related distress on the occurrence of suicidality and the year of the pandemic χ²(2, N = 100) = 8.347, p = 0.015 was observed. No statistically significant correlation was found between suicidal behavior, stress intensity, fear and the score on the social support scale (p > 0.05). Fear related to the COVID-19 pandemic can only be seen as a contributor to suicidality. Overall, social support does not always act protectively. Previously stressful experiences such as wars, poverty and natural disasters seem to play a significant role in the resilience to each new public health crisis.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the rates of vaccination against COVID-19 infection in psychiatric outpatients and the general population, as well as rates of infected patients. In addition, the level and type of anxiety due to the pandemic were observed in patients with psychotic, anxiety, and depressive disorders. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 171 patients with pre-existing mental disorders completed the questionnaire about the doses and types of vaccination against COVID-19. During 2021–2023, patients with different mental disorders, aged from 18 to 80, were included. All patients filled in a self-reported questionnaire including general information (age, sex, marriage, education, working status, comorbid conditions) as well as questions about mental health, receiving vaccination, and the course of COVID-19 infection if it was present. All patients gave informed consent for the interview. Results: Patients with pre-existing mental disorders were more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 compared with the general population. The Sinopharm vaccine was most frequently applied. In the observed patients, 46.8% were infected, but just 7% had a medium or serious form of infection and were not vaccinated. Conclusions: In our study, the percentage of vaccinated psychiatric patients was greater than that in the general population, except in psychotic patients, who were mostly limited by fear. Such results can be explained by the high percentage of somatic comorbidities in this population and perhaps insufficient information about the positive effects of vaccination.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemics caused both physical and mental health problems raising global social tension, anxiety and discomfort which toghether lead to the increase in the consumption of psychoactive substances, among which alcohol was the most common, as a way of self-help. The hypothesis of this paper is the rising number of type II (anxious model) and type III (depressive model) alcohol dependent patients (as identified by the Lesch Typology) in the post-COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the pre-pandemic period, as a likely consequence of the stress, fear, problems and adversities that were caused by the pandemic. Method: The research was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study. It included 218 patients who were diagnosed with alcohol dependence. To classify the patients by the Lesch Typology, the MS Windows softer package for data processing available in public domain was used. Results: In relation to the Lesch Typology, 111 (50.9%) patients belonged to type III, 45 (20.6%) to type I, 37 (17.0%) to type II and 25 (11.5%) to type IV. Conclusion: Compared to the pre-pandemic findings of alcohol dependents classification according to the Lesch Typology, there was no increase in types II and III after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Depressive and anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions, as stated by the WHO in 2015. These disorders often manifest during adolescence or young adulthood, making it unsurprising for women in pregnancy or lactation periods to experience either a first manifestation or a recurrence of symptoms. When these disorders occur during pregnancy or lactation, antidepressant treatment may be required per established protocols. However, concerns often arise among patients, such as: "Is this medication safe for me and my baby? Could it negatively affect my baby's development?" These hesitations can sometimes extend to healthcare providers if they lack adequate education on the topic. Therapeutic guidelines worldwide recommend psychotherapy for mild symptoms, whereas pharmacotherapy, often combined with psychotherapy , is carefully considered for moderate symptoms. Case Report: This paper presents three case studies of pregnant women with depressive and anxiety disorders. The first case involves a patient with prenatal depression who achieved complete remission after starting antidepressant therapy. The second case highlights the recurrence of symptoms following the dis-continuation of psychopharmaceuticals. The third case emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment plans and illustrates the recurrence of symptoms in a patient previously in remission. Conclusion: Pregnant women with mental health challenges often have significant concerns about using psychopharmaceuticals during pregnancy. This paper aims to underscore that the appropriate selection and dosage of antidepressant medications can lead to remission of disorders without adverse effects on either the mother or child.

Background and Clinical Significance: NMDAR autoimmune encephalitis is a rare but potentially life-threatening autoimmune disorder that can be hard to recognize initially because it has nonspecific symptoms. In the early phase of the disease, clinical presentation is often dominated by psychiatric symptoms, which can be misleading. A diagnosis is established by demonstrating specific anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, with cerebrospinal fluid analysis considered the most reliable diagnostic method. Timely initiation of immunomodulatory therapy, including corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, and therapeutic plasmapheresis, significantly improves disease outcomes, while second-line therapies are used in refractory cases. Case Presentation: A 21-year-old female patient (M.B.) was admitted to the Psychiatry Clinic at the University Clinical Center of Vojvodina due to the sudden onset of behavioral changes, including social withdrawal, absence of verbal communication, and unusual orofacial grimacing. During hospitalization, the patient was intermittently in a state of severe psychomotor agitation and poorly communicative, with pronounced orofacial dyskinesias and involuntary tongue movements. Anti-NMDA receptor autoantibodies were detected in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and the patient was subsequently transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of the Neurology Clinic. Due to the lack of an adequate clinical response to pulse corticosteroid therapy, six cycles of therapeutic plasmapheresis were performed. Following this treatment, significant clinical improvement was observed. Conclusions: Timely recognition of this condition and a multidisciplinary approach allow for early initiation of immunomodulatory therapy and significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Background: Mental health is the main factor of the overall quality of life of both individuals and the community. In contemporary society, mental health is gaining more and more significance, although there is still an insufficient level of awareness among people about what factors can affect our mental health and why it is of such importance for daily functioning. Material: The research used an anonymous questionnaire created by a team of doctors from the Clinic for Psychiatry in Novi Sad with the aim of assessing how the ongoing social situation in Serbia affects the mental health of the population. Results: It was shown that there is a statistically significant link between levels of feeling tense and following the news about the ongoing protests. The research has shown that there are statistically significant differences in emotional response in relation to gender and age resulting from the current situation. A statistically significant association between sleep problems and the use of anxiolytic therapy has been proven. Most of the respondents declared that the current situation in which we live has a negative impact on mental health. Conclusions: The results of the research indicate that social circumstances in Serbia significantly affect the psychological functioning of the population.