Posturographic stabilisation of healthy subjects exposed to full-length mirror image is inversely related to body-image preoccupations.

Affective states, anxiety in particular, have been shown to negatively influence human postural control efficiency as measured by posturographic means, while exposure to a full-length mirror image of one's body exerts a stabilizing effect. We tested the hypothesis that body image concerns and preoccupations would relate negatively to this stabilising effect. Sixty-six healthy students, who screened negative for psychiatric disorders, completed rating scales for anxiety, depression and body image concerns. Posturography recordings of body sway were taken under three conditions: with eyes closed, looking at a vertical bar and looking at a full-length mirror. The Eyes Open/Mirror Stabilometric Quotient [EOMQ=(sway path with eyes closed/sway path looking at the mirror)x100], an index of how much postural control is stabilized by mirror feedback in comparison to the visual vertical bar condition, was significantly inversely related to body image concerns and preoccupations, and to trait anxiety. This finding confirms the impact of emotional factors on human postural control, which warrant further studies. If confirmed in clinical populations characterized by high levels of body image disturbances, e.g. eating disorders, it could lead to developments in the assessment and monitoring of these patients.

Integration of a psychiatric service in a long-term charitable facility for people with intellectual disabilities: a 5-year medication survey.

Since the implementation of a psychiatric service in a long-term facility for people with intellectual disability, the usage of psychotropic and anti-convulsant drugs has been surveyed over the 5-year period 1994-1999. At that time, although the overall prevalence rate of residents on medication was not declining significantly, a decrease in number, dosage and polypharmacy of those receiving neuroleptic drugs occurred than 1994. A reduction also resulted among the in-patients prescribed anxiolytic preparations, despite a relative increase in their mean daily intake. Anti-convulsant drugs climbed slightly during the same interval with a parallel increase in the mean daily dosage. A retrospective comparison of current findings to prevalence, dosage and type of psychoactive medications dispensed 10 years previously in 1989 revealed no trend towards drug rationalisation. Until interdisciplinary training programmes as well as effective community services combining disability and mental health needs are forthcoming, a therapeutic approach involving early psychiatric inputs may contribute to ensure a more rational prescribing practice for long-stay adults with intellectual disability who are referred for neuro-psychiatric consultation.