Presents case reports of two psychiatric patients who suddenly deteriorated and burned in a severe psychiatric condition due to the circumstances they faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which required urgent admission and intensive psychiatric treatment. In the first case report, pandemic and restrictive measures were the predisposing factors for suicide attempt of the patient who is the war veteran with diagnosed complex PTSD, while the precipitating factors for the suicide attempt were impaired physician-patient communication, fear of losing a job and existential issues. There is a need to raise awareness in society that rising unemployment is associated with an increased number of suicides, as well as responsible and balanced media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second case report, our patient with bipolar disorder got into relapse of disease with psychotic symptoms during the pandemic of COVID-19 after changes the work structure and after she illegally visited her son who was self-isolated after returning to B&H from abroad, with no self-protected equipment. Overall, both case studies illustrate the psychological potential that the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has on at-risk groups of psychiatric patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

It is the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and the world has been divided into new layers within its already deeply layered and disorganized soul. While some follow the news about new patients and their fate with complete trust, fearing for their fragile health and possible horrifying end, others are doubtful, distrustful and angry, seeking the right of freedom to breathe without a mask, freedom of movement and association, the basic freedom and right to choose illness and death versus the masked freedom of survival, burdened by new fears. This gap of mistrust and frustration results from being shut inside four walls, the loss of employment and the huge quantity of contradictory information, creating additional tension in the already fragile structure of the human psyche. The story of apartheid can also be told in this situation. And like so many times before in its history, when life becomes complicated until it is almost unbearable, when the earth quakes and the waters are in uproar, some (selected) examples of humanity come to the fore and become visible, that arouse both admiration and hope. The pandemic has helped one more, this time admirable division to become visible to the world - the division into those who, weakened by the virus, have become dependent on the care and concern of others, and those who fight ruthlessly to provide them with care and increase their chances for victory of health over illness, life over death. In this great family of praiseworthy helpers, psychotherapists have bravely taken their place, literally becoming organized overnight and re-organizing their work in person to work remotely. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

Introduction: Chronic HCV infection is chronic inflamatory liver disease caused by hepatitis C virus. Anti HCV prevalence among intravenous drug users (IVDU) is very high and it accounts 40% -90% (60%-90%) with the risk of 80% of developing the chronic infection. Aim: The aims of this study were: a) to compare clinical characteristics of chronic HCV infection among IVDU and non-users population and to detect their impact to treatment outcome; b) to investigate the treatment efficacy comparing sustained viral response (SVR) in these two populations in Tuzla Canton. Patients and methods: The study was retrospective-prospective and included 45 IVDU of both sexes from Tuzla Canton which were treated from chronic HCV infection with Pegilated interferon 2a/2b + ribavirin in the Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Clinic for Internal Disease of University Clinical Centre in Tuzla. The control group were presented by non-users who completed therapy in both Clinics. For statistical analyses it was used statistical package SPSS 20,0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) with tests of descriptive statistics with measures of central tendency and dispersion. Quantitative variables were tested by t-test or by Mann-Whitney test. Qualitative variables were tested by hi-square test or by Fisher’s test. The standard analyse of level’s risk was used too. The analyse of predictive value of EVR for achieving the ETR and SVR was done by cross-tabulation. The impact of known factors for achieving the SVR was evaluated by logistic regression analyses. All tests were done with statistical level of significance of 95% (p=0,05). Results: Men were more dominant in the test group (93,3% / 61,7%), also younger age (p<0,001) and lower BMI (p=0,019). The test group had significant higher basal values of Le, Hb, Plt and ALT and tendency to lower stages of fibrosis (p=0,08). The difference in genotype frequencies was statistically significant (p=0,001) with clearly dominance of G3 and G4 among IVDU. Treatment was not complited by two patients in both groups (4,4% /3,3%). EVR was significantly higher in test group (p=0,001) so did the ETR (p=0,002) and SVR (p<0,001). Predictive factors for SVR were: age (negative predictive factor), male sex, absence of reduction of pegilated interferon and ribavirin, Metavir stage of fibrosis and presence of EVR. Conclusion: Population of IVDU were adherent to treatment protocol and with excellent treatment response they justified the hope of health care workers for success treatment of this population.

An EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved EMDR Training provides trained clinicians with the knowledge and skills to utilize EMDR therapy, a comprehensive understanding of case conceptualization and treatment planning, and the ability to integrate EMDR therapy into their clinical practice. Also, an EMDRIA approved EMDR Training provides, at a minimum, instruction in the current explanatory model, methodology, and underlying mechanisms of EMDR through lecture, practice, and integrated consultation. While the EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training Curriculum outlines the minimum requirements which need to be met, the developer of a specific curriculum can enhance or expand any portion as they see fit. These minimum training requirements include: 20 hours instructional material, 20 hours supervised practicum, and 10 hours consultation. Supervised Practicum which need to be realized in 21 hours has the goal to facilitate the demonstration and practice of the EMDR therapy methodology by trainees as outlined in the Shapiro text, and the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) Definition of EMDR therapy. To achieve the goals of the Supervised Practicum, practice may be done in dyads or triads. The role of the clinician is required, as is the role of clinical recipient. The role of “observer” is preferred but not mandatory; the number of participants will determine the availability of the Observer role during the supervised practicum. To help apply theory and practice, trainees will receive direct behavioral observation and feedback while they work on real life experiences. An additional EMDRIA Approved Consultant or Consultant in Training may help to facilitate the practicum under the consultation of the trainer. The ratio of practicum supervisor to trainees will not exceed 1:10 to allow for direct behavioral observation of each trainee. (https://dragonflyinternationaltherapy.com/ pdf/EMDRTrainingTCs.pdf) Trainees are required to obtain and read the Francine Shapiro’s primary text (2001) prior to the beginning of the course. Trainees are also required to read Francine Shapiro’s book (2012) for clients prior to beginning of the course. Additional recommended reading is A Guide to the Standard EMDR Protocols for Clinicians, Supervisors, and Consultants from Leeds (2009). Thanks to the humanitarian non-governmental organization Trauma Aid UK (earlier it was Humanitarian Assistance Programmes UK and Ireland) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH), EMDR has been carrying out education for mental health professionals since 2010 (Hasanovi et al. 2011, 2016, 2017) so that EMDR trainees in BH have benefits from EMDR therapy through practicing of EMDR eight phases protocol in mandatory supervised practicum.

THE EFFICIENCY OF EMDR THERAPY IN TREATING EARLY MULTIPLE TRAUMAS A CASE REPORT Lejla Smaji -Hodži 1 & Mevludin Hasanovi 2,3 Department of Psychology, Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center of University Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina School of Medicine University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Although the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina ended 22 years ago, it is still largely present in the souls of the largest number of citizens who stayed in this country during the war in the nineties (Hasanovi 2009, Deli et al. 2014, Kravi , Pajevi & Hasanovi 2013). So, despite not being in situation to hear the sound of shells, sniper shootings, and not being in situation of a shortage of food, electricity and water, ordinary people experience war horror every day. Every day we witness the consequences that the war and war events lingered on the survivors. The pictures of the war keep coming back, and a contributing situation to this is a disadvantageous political, economic and social situation in the country we live in. The exact number of people affected by the war trauma is unknown. The most affected are those who were in combat, women who were raped, the ones who escaped and have been displaced, and all of them suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder. But, even those who do not suffer from it, feel that their life perspective has changed, are more inclined to depression, and taking antidepressants. People suffering from trauma aren’t the sole victims, the trauma is transmitted to the entire family and the balance of family life is disrupted. Often, children of the veterans show that they are disturbed in their mental functioning, as well as their wives, so entire families of war veterans could be present during treatment. The mode of communication within these families is often silence or disclosure of war traumas, leaving the children traumatized by both options (Hasanovi et al. 2011, Brennen et al. 2010, Kravi et al. 2013, Avdibegovi & Hasanovi 2017). "PTSD is an anxiety disorder that occurs in some people after testifying or experiencing a dangerous event. When a person finds himself in a dangerous situation, it is natural to feel fear. This fear triggers many exceptionally fast changes in the body that prepare a person to defend against danger or avoid it. This body response "fight or flight" is a normal reaction whose purpose is to protect a person from injury. However, in PTSD, this reaction has been altered or damaged. People who are at risk of developing PTSD include: war veterans (Pavlovi et al. 2012), people who experienced physical or sexual assault, abuse, accidents, natural disasters and many other difficult events. A person does not have to survive a dangerous event to get struck by PTSD. People suffering from PTSD feel tension and fear even when they are no longer in danger. PTSD can cause many symptoms that are grouped into three categories: Symptoms of Reexperience: Flashbacks-repeatedly experience of trauma, including physical symptoms such as fast heartbeat and sweating; Nightmares; Scary thoughts.

INTRODUCTION The needs for EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) treatment of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) citizens, affected by 1992-1995 war, increased. The Trauma Aid UK (former Humanitarian Assistance Programs UK & Ireland) works in partnership with mental health professionals in BH. AIM We aim to build an environment in which qualified and experienced professionals trained in EMDR may establish and sustain complete EMDR education and to keep international standards of EMDR practice. METHOD Authors described the history of idea and its realization of EMDR education considering all needed phases that were provided from the Trauma Aid UK with non profit, humanitarian approach in sharing skills of EMDR to mental health therapists in BH. RESULTS The trainers from Trauma Aid UK completed five EMDR trainings in Bosnia-Herzegovina for recruited trainees from different cities and entities in BH. For continual professional development (CPD) all of these mental health professionals need to be active participants in professional and scientific meetings. Though, Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina EMDR Therapists, member of EMDR Europe, organized the First EMDR conference in Bosnia-Herzegovina sponsored by Trauma Aid UK under the patronage of EMDR Association of UK & Ireland. CONCLUSION Five training of Bosnia-Herzegovina mental health workers to effectively use EMDR with enthusiastic help of EMDR trainers from Trauma Aid UK resulted with European accredited EMDR practitioners, one European accredited EMDR consultant and the first EMDR conference in BH. This will keep national development of psychotherapy capacities in post-war BH.

BUPRENORPHINE/NALOXONE IN THE TREATMENT OF OPIATE DEPENDENCY DURING UNINTENTIONAL PREGNANCIES – BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA EXPERIENCES Mevludin Hasanovi , Izet Pajevi , Abdurahman Kuldija, Amra Deli 1,3 & Dženita Hrvi 1 Department of Psychiatry, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina School of Medicine, University of Tuzla, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany

No abstract available.