[Anticipatory Cognitions Questionnaire (ACQ). Presentation and validation]. / Le questionnaire des cognitions anticipatoires (QCA). Présentation et validation.

The capacity of anticipation is fundamentally disturbed in depressed patients. These patients make negative predictions. Anticipation disturbances are reflected in different symptoms but also in the patient's cognitions. The cognitive approach is an operational way to deal with the concept of anticipation. The cognitive model of depression has been extensively studied and cognitive therapies have been validated as effective treatments of depression. A self-questionnaire has been elaborated, taking into account the different cognitive mechanisms disturbed in depressed patients. The "Anticipatory Cognitions Questionnaire" (ACQ) explores patient's cognitions in concrete daily life situations that require anticipation. The first version of this questionnaire contained 18 items. A previous study had led to reduce the number of items and to modify the form of the questionnaire. In its final version, the ACQ has 8 items. Each of them refers to a concrete situation (i.e. "I have no news from a loved one") and the patient is asked to say how a proposed cognition (i.e. "I will call him to get in touch") applies to him, choosing one of the four answers "true", "rather true", "rather wrong" and "wrong". The validation of this questionnaire has been carried out, in comparison with the MADRS and Pichot's QD2A. 151 subjects were included in this validation study, 72% of them meeting with the DSM III-R diagnostic criteria of clinical depression and 28% not having any psychiatric disorder. Statistical analysis shows that the ACQ is more sensible than the QD2A but less than the MADRS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Cognitive approach to anticipation in depression]. / Approche cognitive de l'anticipation dans les dépressions.

There is an extensive philosophical and humanistic literature concerning anticipation. Behavioural and cognitive theories have approached the concept of anticipation and have led to therapeutic solutions. The Lewinsohn model enables prediction and restoration of the activities of mastery and pleasure. The social psychology model (Bandura) forms the basis of training in assertiveness, using role-playing in order to be able to produce the relational situations which the patient will encounter. Learned helplessness for action (Seligman), teaches the reattribution of failures or successes, which leads the depressed patient to once again become involved in the action concerned. Exposure to feared situations (Marks) modifies catastrophic anticipations. The social reinforcement model (Liberman) enables prediction by functional analysis of factors involved in the persistence of problems and their modification. The mechanisms of anticipation have been reviewed since Bartlett and Ellis and up to the work of Beck. Structured patterns during existence determine thought processes in face of the circumstances which provoke them. Thus, in the opinion of the authors, our past affects our future in terms of the manner in which these patterns deal with information and determine our thoughts (cognitive events) and our vision of the future. The experimental basis of the cognitive model and the validation of these therapeutic approaches are described. The depressed patient makes negative predictions. Negative cognitions vary in conjunction with mood. Modification of these cognitions changes mood. Numerous studies are presented. They establish the effectiveness of this model, comparable to the action of antidepressant drugs and appearing to have a prolonged effect. The evaluation and cognitive treatment of anticipation are described: cognitive rating scales and analysis are proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A new therapeutic approach: the behavioral prescription of anxiolytics]. / Une nouvelle approche thérapeutique: la prescription comportementale de l'anxiolytique.

Nowadays, two major therapeutic approaches (pharmacological and behavioural) have proven their efficiency and efficacy in the treatment of anxious disorders. These two methods have been used separately, alternatively or simultaneously. The prescription of benzodiazepines is necessary, because they are efficient and fast-acting. But this is not enough and may be hazardous for a prolonged period. Behavioural methodology and therapeutics improve the assessment of anxious disorders and offer a large variety of specific techniques to the physician. The innovative and integrative behavioural prescription (BP) is pragmatic and reliable. For instance, drugs are markers for assessment of anxious behaviours, in an agenda and may be used both to support functional analysis, and as agents of therapeutic contracts. The synergic action of behavioural prescription is clear in three dimensions: BP deepens muscle relaxation and gives better self-control and self-regulation of arousal level. BP alleviates social inhibition by developing social skills. BP modifies cognitions and affective disorders, which is necessary for permanent results and drug withdrawal. Other applications of BP will be considered in the future.

[Back pain at the French National Electricity and Gas Company]. / Les douleurs du rachis parmi les travailleurs d'Electricité de France et Gaz de France.

Frequency and severity of sickness absence due to back pain were studied among workers in the French National Electric and Gas Company. The results showed that the prevalence of back pain was less than 10% a year but the annual duration of absence that it involved was relatively important: 30 days in the average per disabled person. In a second part, the prevalence was studied according to individual and occupational variables. Differences according to occupational category are very important: between the occupations the most prone to absence, those of "switchboard operator", "mechanics driver" and "warehouseman" and the ones least exposed "managerial staff" and "skilled technician and upper management", the ratio for the prevalences was 10.