Background: Correctional facility staff experience elevated stress and anxiety levels due to their occupational environment, which may adversely affect mental health, sleep, and workplace functioning. Auricular acupuncture (AA), particularly the standardized National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol, has shown promise in various clinical populations but remains underinvestigated in correctional settings. Objective: To explore the feasibility and perceived effects of AA in reducing stress and improving wellbeing among correctional staff working in a psychiatric prison unit. Methods: In this pilot feasibility study, 10 staff members voluntarily received weekly AA treatments over 6 weeks, following the NADA protocol (Shen Men, Sympathetic, Liver, Lung, Kidney). Postintervention, participants completed semistructured interviews assessing perceived changes in stress, sleep, emotional regulation, and the feasibility of implementation. Results: Most participants reported subjective improvements in psychological stress, sleep quality, emotional regulation, and resilience to daily occupational stressors, although individual responses varied. The intervention was perceived as feasible, acceptable, and free of adverse effects. Conclusion: This pilot feasibility study demonstrates that AA is safe, feasible, and well accepted among correctional staff working in a high-stress psychiatric prison unit, with participants reporting perceived improvements in stress, sleep, and emotional regulation. These preliminary findings support the feasibility of integrating AA into institutional wellness programs while highlighting the need for larger controlled studies with diverse populations and quantitative outcome measures to establish effectiveness.

Forensic psychiatric patients often present with severe psychopathology, functional impairment, and poor quality of life. Longitudinal follow-up studies in forensic psychiatric outpatient populations remain limited. The objective is to assess psychopathology, quality of life, global functioning, and general health in forensic psychiatric outpatients compared with psychiatric patients without a forensic history over 24 months. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted with 120 participants (63 forensic and 57 psychiatric outpatients). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months using validate psychometric tools, PANSS, GHQ-28, WHOQOL-BREF, and GAF. Longitudinal changes within and between groups were analyzed. Most participants were male (82.5%), single (64.2%), unemployed (72.3%), and living in urban areas (93.3%). Forensic psychiatric outpatients reported less social support than psychiatric patients (68.3% vs. 89.5%). Most had a history of incarceration (93.8%). Schizophrenia was the predominant diagnosis (98.3%). Psychopathology, functioning, quality of life, and general health improved significantly over time in both groups (p < 0.001). Positive symptoms improved more in psychiatric patients (mean change -8.96). Psychiatric patients scored significantly higher in the WHOQOL-BREF "environment" domain at baseline and at 6 months. Greater improvement in anxiety/insomnia symptoms was observed in psychiatric patients (mean change -6.44). Long-term outpatient psychiatric follow-up was associated with significant improvements in symptom severity, functioning, quality of life, and general health in both groups. However, forensic psychiatric outpatients continued to experience greater disadvantages, highlighting the need for tailored, long-term, community-based interventions in forensic mental health care.

While the majority of individuals with schizophrenia do not engage in violent behavior, the presence of the disorder is associated with a modestly increased risk of violence, particularly within familial contexts. Parricide-defined as the killing of a parent-is a rare but severe form of domestic violence often linked to untreated or poorly managed psychotic illness. A case review was conducted at the Korydallos Prison Psychiatric Hospital in Greece, the country's sole forensic psychiatric facility. Clinical histories, sociodemographic data, and diagnostic profiles were analyzed. Both siblings were diagnosed with schizophrenia and shared significant similarities in terms of psychosocial background, lifestyle, and mental health history. The findings align with epidemiological evidence that highlights the influence of genetic vulnerability, environmental adversity, and familial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and its potential progression to extreme violence. This case underscores the rare but devastating intersection of shared genetic risk, severe mental illness, and familial homicide. It highlights the importance of early diagnosis, integrated family-based interventions, and sustained psychiatric care in mitigating the risk of violent outcomes in genetically vulnerable populations.

Involuntary hospitalization for the treatment of patients with psychiatric disorders is a necessity in modern scientific psychiatric practice. Hospitalization, in general, of the mentally ill is an important and complex issue. The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of nurses working in the psychiatric field regarding involuntary hospitalization. In order to achieve this, a questionnaire on "Attitudes and perceptions of nursing staff working in psychiatric clinics and psychosocial rehabilitation structures regarding involuntary hospitalization" was created as a research tool. Results were analyzed with the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25.0. The results showed that the opinions of the respondents are consistent with those resulting from surveys, both in Greece and abroad. The majority agree with the process of involuntary hospitalization, while staff in psychiatric units are knowledgeable about the legislation governing this type of hospitalization. In conclusion, it is necessary to investigate the legal framework that governs involuntary hospitalization in Greece, as well as the conditions that prevail in the hospitals that accept such cases.

Background/Objectives: Incarcerated people experience high rates of trauma, psychological distress, and social marginalization. Yoga has been introduced in prisons as a trauma-sensitive mind-body practice, yet its rehabilitative contribution remains uncertain. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of yoga interventions delivered in correctional settings. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines and a preregistered PROSPERO protocol, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus for peer-reviewed publications from May 2012 to November 2025. Eligible studies involved structured yoga interventions for incarcerated populations and reported psychological, behavioral, or institutional outcomes. Two reviewers independently performed screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal using the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Results: Ten studies reported in twelve publications and involving 1815 incarcerated individuals met the inclusion criteria. Interventions included Hatha-based protocols, Krimyoga, trauma-informed approaches, and multicomponent programs. Across randomized, quasi-experimental, and pre-post designs, yoga was feasible and acceptable. Reported benefits included reduced psychological distress, negative affect, anger, and trauma-related symptoms, as well as improved mood, self-regulation, and mindfulness. Evidence specific to women and girls was limited, but the available trauma-informed and gender-responsive studies suggested potential reductions in post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety, alongside increases in self-compassion. One large quasi-experimental cohort found lower reincarceration rates among yoga participants, although institutional outcomes were otherwise limited. Evidence was constrained by small samples, heterogeneous intervention formats, short follow-up, and variable outcome measures. Conclusions: Yoga appears to be a promising adjunct to rehabilitation in correctional settings. However, methodological limitations prevent firm conclusions. Larger, well-controlled studies with standardized outcomes and longer follow-up are needed to clarify effectiveness and support integration into correctional health and rehabilitation policy.

The aim of the present study was to provide a forensic psychiatric characterization of perpetrators of parricide who were found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). We conducted a study involving 52 NGRI patients who had committed homicide or attempted homicide within the Department of Forensic Psychiatry in Thessaloniki, Greece, between January 2015 and 2020. Subjects were categorized into two groups: parricide ( n = 21) and a control group ( n = 31). Our findings revealed that in the parricide group, the majority of patients were unmarried males in their thirties, with a history of prior contact with mental health services and nonadherence to treatment. Additionally, they had a background of substance abuse and exhibited violent behavior before the index crime. A notable trend observed among parricide offenders was the tendency to seek hospitalization, possibly as a means of distancing themselves from stressful family environments, based on information obtained in the interviews conducted as a part of this research. All instances of parricide involved the use of sharp weapons, and the crimes were consistently committed in private settings. Symptomatology among parricide patients was assessed as moderate to severe, with a significant long-term risk observed following the crime. The primary differences identified between the two groups were the higher pre-crime voluntary admissions and the elevated estimated postcrime risk observed in the parricide group. Early intervention, comprehensive assessment of risk factors, family support, and assistance in resolving conflicts and reintegrating patients into society are emphasized as critical interventions that can potentially prevent future tragedies.

Introduction: Preoperative anxiety is a common attitude in patients scheduled to undergo r surgery and represents with psychological and physical disturbances affecting postoperative recovery and quality of life (QoL). Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the effect of preoperative education on preoperative and postoperative anxiety and postoperative QoLin patients scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and inguinal hernia (IH) repair, without prior surgical experience. Methods: Patients scheduled to underwent LC and IH repair were randomly assigned to control group (CG) and to interventional group (IG). The 'State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults' questionnaire was used to validate anxiety before surgery and after 3 months postoperatively. The 36- item Medical Outcomes Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to investigate mental, physical and emotional domains of QoL. The CG was received only routine information by doctors. The IG received additionally oral information plus a booklet from an experienced surgical nurse. Data analyzed using paired and unpaired t-test and Αnova tests. The level of statistical signicance was set at ≤ 5%. Results: Four hundred and fty patients were scheduled to undergo either LC or IH repair, with 200 assigned to the IG and 250 to the CG. Age, sex, marital status and educational level were similar in both groups. Postoperative State anxiety was signicantly lower in IG (p<0.001). Patients of the IG showed greater improvement in all of the SF-36 scale domains, specically in physical functionality (p<0.001), physical role (p<0.001), physical pain (p<0.001), general health (p<0.001), vitality (p<0.001), social functionality (p<0.001), emotional role (p<0.001) and mental health (p<0.001). There was not mortality or signicant morbidity in both groups. Conclusion: Preoperative education by an experienced nurse with oral and written information improves perioperative state anxiety and QoL. This method could be used for all surgical patients, irrespective for the surgical procedure.