Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and psychological comorbidity in eating disorder patients.

PURPOSE: There is some evidence that eating disorders (ED) and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) share common clinical features and that ADHD might contribute to the severity of eating disorders. A greater understanding of how the presence of comorbid ADHD may affect the psychopathological framework of eating disorder seems of primary importance. The aim of our study was to evaluate rates of ADHD in three ED subgroups of inpatients: anorexia nervosa restricting type (AN-R), anorexia nervosa binge-eating/purging type (AN-BP) and bulimia nervosa (BN). The secondary aim was the evaluation of the associated psychological characteristics. METHOD: The sample consisted of 73 females inpatients (mean age 28.07 ± 7.30), all with longstanding histories of eating disorder (ED). The presence of a diagnosis of ADHD was evaluated in a clinical interview based on DSM-IV-TR criteria. The following psychometric instruments were used: the eating attitude test (EAT-40), the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE), the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), the Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scale (BADDS), the Hamilton scales for Anxiety (HAM-A) and Depression (HAM-D), and the Barrat Impulsivity Scale (BIS-10). RESULTS: Among the three ED subgroups, 13 patients reported comorbidity with ADHD; three in the AN-R subtype, nine in the AN-BP and one in the BN. The remaining 60 patients (n = 34 AN-R; n = 19 AN-BP; n = 7 BN) presented only a diagnosis of ED. The EAT (p = 0.04) and HAM-A (p = 0.02) mean scores were significantly higher in patients with comorbid ADHD. CONCLUSIONS: In our study the comorbidity between ADHD and ED appeared to be frequent, particularly among patients with AN-BP. ED inpatients with higher level of anxiety and more abnormal eating attitudes and bulimic symptoms should be assessed for potentially associated ADHD.

Follow-up study of patients treated with olanzapine pamoate in France in real-life treatment situation.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize patients treated with olanzapine pamoate in French centers and investigate the conditions of use of olanzapine pamoate in real-life treatment situation. METHODS: Data came from French sites participating in an international post-authorization safety study. In this observational study, patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were receiving commercially available olanzapine pamoate, in accordance with their physician's usual standard of care. Data were collected during routine visits within the standard course of patient care. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty eight patients (male, 73.9%; mean age, 39.4 years; mean duration of disease, 12.7years) received olanzapine pamoate and were included in the study by 32 investigative psychiatrists distributed across 20 different sites (psychiatric hospitals). During the period of analysis, a total of 2975 injections of olanzapine pamoate was administered to the patients. The mean duration of olanzapine pamoate exposure was 475 days (1.3years). During follow-up, 13.8% of all patients had at least one psychiatric hospitalization, 15.9% had at least one same-day psychiatric hospitalization (information documented for 116patients), and 44.2% received at least one concomitant drug. Three cases of post-injection delirium/sedation syndrome were reported during the analysis period. Treatment emergent adverse events (incidence, 20.3%) were in line with the known profile of olanzapine. CONCLUSION: Patients were administered olanzapine pamoate and monitored in compliance with label recommendations. The safety profile assessment of olanzapine pamoate in actual conditions was consistent with that described in clinical studies.

[Reflection on the psychiatric financial allocation in France]. / Réflexion sur la péréquation financière de psychiatrie en France.

For 25years work has been underway in France for the implementation of an alternative to public financing of health care. In the absence of progress, some regional health agencies are engaged in work related to the reallocation of public finances between psychiatric institutions. We propose a reflection with suggestion on the method proposed by the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Regional Health Agency. Without questioning the need for a reallocation of resources between psychiatric institutions, the method proposed here needs to evolve further to be applied in a legitimate and appropriate manner. There is a kind of urgency for a reallocation of resources between psychiatric institutions in France, but it implies a collective thinking and especially the definition of evaluation procedures for the selected models. These conditions are necessary to guarantee the quality of French psychiatry and equity in access to psychiatric care.

[Vigilance level for cardiovascular risk factors in schizophrenic patients]. / Niveau de vigilance des psychiatres pour les facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire chez les patients schizophrènes.

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenic patients have increased cardiovascular risk factors and morbi-mortality as compared with the general population. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of French psychiatrists vigilance regarding cardiovascular risk factors in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: Prospective, transverse, multicentric observational study implemented in France in 2007 and conducted by psychiatrists with a liberal activity. The included patients had to meet the following selection criteria: patients ≥ 18 years old, fulfilling the DSM-IV-TR criteria for schizophrenia, treated or not treated for their schizophrenia, with an ambulatory follow-up, without schizophreniform, schizoaffective, or other psychotic disorder. The psychiatrists "vigilance level" for a given cardiovascular risk factor was defined as a systematic investigation of this cardiovascular risk factor for at least 75% of the schizophrenic patients included in the study by the psychiatrist. RESULTS: A total of 382 psychiatrists included 2242 patients, the data collected for 2222 patients were finally analysed. The mean age was 41 years old, 59% were men. The mean BMI was 27 kg/m(2), 34% of the patients were overweight, 23% were obese. The paranoid and residual schizophrenia were the most frequently described subtypes of the disease (41.3 and 25.0% respectively), 58% of the patients were moderately or markedly ill according to the CGI-S scale. Most of the patients were treated with atypical antipsychotics (77%). Only 58% of the psychiatrists were vigilant for the weight of their patients, 38% for the arterial tension, 25% for the family history of premature coronary disease, 14% for the glycemia, 12% for the triglycerides, 10% for HDL cholesterol, 6% for the waist measurement; 35% of the psychiatrists were vigilant for no cardiovascular risk factor. Less than 30% of the psychiatrists recommended their patients to other specialists to manage cardiovascular disorders. CONCLUSION: Similarly to other countries, French psychiatrists provide insufficient care of cardiovascular risk factors of schizophrenic patients in their current clinical practice.

[Patterns of alcohol consumption in France and their medical and social consequences as seen through the family circle and friends and general practitioners]. / L'alcool en France et ses conséquences médicales et sociales: regard de l'entourage et des médecins généralistes.

BACKGROUND: Data on the frequency of high-risk alcohol consumption and its medical and social consequences in the French general population remain fragmented. Therefore, our aim was two-fold: (i) to assess the prevalence of different patterns of alcohol consumption using the AUDIT-C scale, according to two different perspectives, i.e., that of family circle members or friends, and that of the general practitioners (GPs), and (ii) to examine the prevalence of medical and social consequences associated with alcohol consumption profiles. METHOD: Data were drawn from two national surveys conducted in 2013. Investigators were respectively GPs and family circle members or friends. These surveys were respectively representative of GPs (n=1308) and of the general adult population (n=1018). RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence rates of harmful or at risk alcohol consumption rose respectively to 11.1% in the GPs adult patients and to 11.9% in the general adult population. The majority of participants with "at risk" alcohol consumption presented with significant social and medical consequences. Thus, more than seven out of ten participants with chronic at risk consumption endorsed significant negative social event potentially associated with alcohol like withdrawal of driving licence, getting divorced or separated, and losing friends. Over 10% of these participants had liver disease and diabetes mellitus, more than 30% increased blood pressure and nearly 50% anxiety disorder or major depression. Following adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics and alcohol treatment, prevalences of numerous social and medical consequences significantly differed between alcohol-dependent participants, chronic at risk consumers and episodic at risk consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that more than one adult out of ten in France showed during the past year harmful or "at risk" alcohol consumption, which appears insufficiently detected and treated. In addition, the majority of at risk alcohol consumers already presents with serious medical and social consequences. Furthermore, we found that AUDIT-C scale can identify different patterns of alcohol consumption, which form a continuum in terms of medical and social consequences. Our study indicates the need for vigorous education efforts for the public, professionals and policy makers about alcohol use disorders, to encourage help-seeking among those who cannot stop drinking despite considerable harm to themselves and others, and ideally to promote early detection and treatment of individuals with at risk alcohol consumption before the development of social and medical consequences and alcohol dependence.

[Excessive alcohol consumption: what is the burden on natural caregivers?]. / La consommation excessive d'alcool: un lourd fardeau pour l'entourage.

BACKGROUND: Data on the natural caregivers burdened by the excessive consumption of alcohol by members of the family circle or friends in the general population are lacking. Therefore, our aim was twofold: (i) to assess the burden of individuals with excessive alcohol consumption on natural caregivers and (ii) to examine the factors explaining the association between alcohol consumption and the level of burden. METHOD: Data were derived from a national representative survey of the French adult population, conducted in 2013, that involved 1018 participants who had in their close environment a person consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. The level of burden was assessed using the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBI). RESULTS: The average score of the ZBI was 28.5 (SE=16.0). The average volume of alcohol consumed per day, heavy drinking days, as well as the consumers' profiles defined by the AUDIT-C were significantly associated with the level of burden. Following adjustments for the participants' characteristics and for the closeness between participants and individuals with excessive consumption, these associations remained significant. Following adjustments for these variables as well as demographic, social, behavioral and medical characteristics of individuals with excessive consumption, the associations between the level of burden and respectively consumers' profiles and heavy drinking days remained significant. At last, following adjustments for social, behavioral and medical characteristics of individuals with excessive consumption and for the closeness between them and participants, only the association between heavy drinking days and the level of burden remained significant. CONCLUSIONS: One out of five participants having in their close environment a person consuming excessive amount of alcohol reported an important burden. The association between the individuals' alcohol intake and the level of burden for natural caregivers was mainly influenced by social, behavioral and medical consequences of alcohol consumption and by the physical and affective proximity between them. Furthermore, we found that the AUDIT-C scores could define alcohol consumers' profiles which form a continuum in terms of the level of burden, even after adjustments for potentially confounding variables. At last, the high prevalence of psychological complications in participants calls for greater recognition of the natural caregivers' burden in the management of patients with alcohol dependence.

Trajectories of antipsychotic response in drug-naive schizophrenia patients: results from the 6-month ESPASS follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore any heterogeneity in the 6-month clinical response in patients with antipsychotic drug-naive schizophrenia and to determine predictors of that outcome. METHOD: 467 patients with antipsychotic drug-naive schizophrenia were included in France nationwide and followed up over 6 months. To identify trajectories of clinical response, a latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was performed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) scores at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months. Regression models were used to identify predictors of trajectory membership. RESULTS: Five trajectory groups were identified: a rapid response group (n = 45), a gradual response group (n = 204), patients remaining mildly ill (n = 133), patients remaining very ill (n = 23), and a group with unsustained clinical response (n = 62). Predictors of the 6-month clinical response were baseline CGI-S score (odds ratio: 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-4.4) and negative symptoms (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9). The sole predictor of rapid response as compared to gradual response was employment (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2-4.9). CONCLUSION: Clinical response in patients with schizophrenia 6 months after a first-ever antipsychotic drug initiation is heterogeneous. Therapeutic strategies in first episode should take account of symptom severity and early clinical response, to maximize the chances of recovery.

[Perceived oral health and use of dental services during pregnancy: the MaterniDent study]. / Santé bucco-dentaire perçue et recours aux soins pendant la grossesse : étude MaterniDent.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of the MaterniDent study was to determine the nature and frequency of dental problems experienced by pregnant women and their associated factors. The secondary objective was to determine the frequency of dental visits during pregnancy and to identify associated factors. METHODS: The MaterniDent study was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted among 904 postpartum women in three French maternity wards. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires. Measured variables included socio-demographic, health and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS: 57% of women reported having experienced at least one dental problem during pregnancy, while 20% had experienced dental pain during pregnancy. Multiparity, vomiting, soda consumption and increased sugar consumption during pregnancy were significantly associated with dental pain (p<0.05). 56% of women did not visit a dentist during pregnancy, 26% consulted a dentist for a perceived problem, and 18% visited a dentist for a check-up. Younger pregnant women and those without supplemental insurance were less likely to see a dentist for a preventive dental visit (p <0.05). DISCUSSION: A significant proportion of women experienced a dental problem during pregnancy, although they did not necessarily consult a dentist to treat the problem. Given the impact of oral diseases for both mother and child, prevention and professional dental care during pregnancy should be promoted.

[The impact of information and communication technologies on nurse retention]. / L'influence des technologies de l'information et des communications sur le maintien en poste des infirmières.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the potential impact of information and communication technologies (ICTs) on nursing practice and nurse retention in remote, intermediate and peripheral regions of Quebec, Canada. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews (n=21) was conducted among nursing managers from 16 health and social services centers (French acronym: CSSS) in the province of Quebec. RESULTS: The study found that a range of ICT applications are used, though not to the same extent in all organizations. The participants assessed the impact of computerization and telehealth applications on nursing practice and emphasized the relationships between telehealth and nurse retention, particularly through professional development. The participants also reported that ICTs can have different impacts on nurse retention (i.e. little or no impact, unclear impact, or indirect positive impact). CONCLUSIONS: The main findings indicate significant heterogeneity, both in terms of the nursing shortage and in terms of the integration of ICT in nursing practice. While focusing on a comparative approach, future research should further explore the impact of ICT on nursing practice and, indirectly, on nurse retention, which requires a contextual approach to ICT applications and workplaces and an analysis of staff characteristics.

[Evaluation of functional remission in schizophrenic disorder. The FROGS Scale]. / Évaluation de la rémission fonctionnelle dans le trouble schizophrénique: l'échelle FROGS.

INTRODUCTION: Functional remission is an important treatment goal in schizophrenia, as independent living and reintegration of patients into the community is the ultimate goal of any treatment. Nevertheless, assessing functional remission in schizophrenia is problematic, as it is a multifactorial entity reflecting various aspects such as symptoms severity, personal skills and sociocultural expectancies. METHOD: The purpose of this study was to create and validate a novel scale for the evaluation of functional remission in schizophrenia. Unlike previous scales, this one was built on the basis of patients with few schizophrenia symptoms. The "Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia" (FROGS) scale was developed using the expert consensus method following a MEDLINE and standard database search. Out of the 61 initially proposed, 19 items were selected as gathering the core aspects of functional remission in schizophrenia detected in the literature. The FROGS was then evaluated in 432 patients with DSM-IV criteria of schizophrenia, all of them meeting Andreasen's symptomatic remission criteria. Such an instrument should have a stable structure over time but also be able to detect improvement in functioning with time. So we have further analysed the validity of the FROGS scale, specifically assessing time stability. We re-evaluated the initial patient sample around 1.5 years after the first evaluation (mean=17.1 months ± 1.9), restricting the analyses to patients who were still being followed-up and in clinical remission (n=140). RESULTS: Total score was highly reliable. Exploratory factor analysis after oblique rotation revealed that a three-factor solution was the most meaningful. On the basis of item content these three factors were labelled 'Social Functioning', 'Daily Life' and 'Treatment'. The FROGS total score can be used to measure a general construct for the evaluation of functional remission in schizophrenia. The mean FROGS total score was 75.8 (sd=10.8) at the second evaluation showing a significant improvement with time (3.8; P<0.0001 versus the first evaluation). The internal consistency/reliability of the FROGS scale was still very high (Cronbach's α=0.919). Significant improvement between the first and second evaluation were also apparent for all the individual items in the FROGS scale (P<0.01) as well as for the subscores for three extracted factors (P<0.0001). Statistically significant correlations were observed between the FROGS scale and other indices, including the Global Assessment of functioning (r=0.58; P<0.0001). These results provide further evidence of the solid psychometric properties of the FROGS scale. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The results of these two validation studies provide further evidence of the scale's utility and its solid psychometric properties. Furthermore, it is sensitive to the duration of clinical remission. Our scale may be a step towards developing a consensual definition of functional remission in schizophrenia.

[The role of inhibition in obsessional-compulsive disorders]. / Place de l'inhibition dans le trouble obsessionnel-compulsif.

INTRODUCTION: The nature of neuropsychological mechanisms underlying the clinical picture of obsessions and compulsions has not been clearly determined. A number of studies has emphasized the role of cognitive deficits, but diversity of methodology and overlapping of clinical sub-groups have not established a specific cognitive functioning of these patients. The studies carried out on executive functions have, however, helped to identify the important role that both inhibition and cognitive flexibility play in obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms. Most of them have found that a deficit of inhibition and alteration of cognitive flexibility could explain inflexibility and repetitive thoughts and actions typical of all types of OC disorders. The aim of the paper is to present the published data supporting the hypothesis of a specific role played by a deficit of inhibition and cognitive inflexibility. In the first, theoretical part, we present the neuropsychological approach emphasizing inhibition and lack of flexibility as a promising explanation of the functioning of OC disorders. In the second part, we will present studies using various measurements of inhibition and the results of which, therefore, support this hypothesis. ARGUMENTS AND DISCUSSION: On the theoretical level, it is the model of attention that was used in explaining the OCD hypothesis. In the model of attention control of action, described by Norman, Shallice and Burgess, three systems were emphasized: one that takes care of routine actions, and the second that takes over the first in situations where automatic activities must stop in order to establish an attention control and therefore inhibit automatic responses. When selection of everyday and automatic activities is not sufficient to accomplish a task, it is the third system, that of cognitive control, which takes over. This supervisory attentional system operates in non-routine and ambiguous activities. The cognitive control is charged with detecting potential or emitted cognitive errors and resolving ambiguous situations. Neurocognitive studies show that cingular anterior cortex and prefrontal lateral cortex are engaged in ambiguous and conflicting situations. These two regions are considered essential for inhibition of routine actions, adjustment to change and, more generally, for an efficient and flexible behaviour. Repetitive nature of verification rituals in OCD could be explained in terms of lack of relationship between two systems, leaving in action the one that regulates automatic activities. Therefore, the rituals are considered to be under particular influence of the system which, being in charge of automatic actions, has a deficit in disengagement. Another model of attention, described by Posner, gives a further explanation of OCD. Mental inhibition has the capacity to treat information, either by applying strategies to control it (i.e. trying not to remember an unpleasant event) or leaving it to automatic control (i.e. incapacity to experience an emotion in relation to a particular event). In this way, the effort to suppress an intrusive thought is considered as controlled and deliberate cognitive treatment of emotionally charged information. In OCD, in the context of heightened anxiety, the assumed negative valence of information would influence habitual suppression of thought during controlled treatment. As a result, controlled efforts to suppress obsessions in emotionally stressful situations, would lead to the production of repetitive thoughts, as controlled treatment of information has failed in this action. On a clinical and experimental level, these studies have led to a better understanding and conceptualization of OCD. In spite of some conflicting results, there are concordant data in favour of hypotheses of the role of sub-cortical and frontal regions and their function in inhibition/desinhibition implied in the onset and maintenance of OCD. Functional neuroimagery anomalies are also in favour of the role of sub-cortical-frontal region in clinical manifestations of OCD. They are often associated with low performance in cognitive tasks, especially those implying frontal functions, which are, in turn, dependent on a necessary level of attention in order to guide or inhibit motor and cognitive programs.

Body dissatisfaction is improved but the ideal silhouette is unchanged during weight recovery in anorexia nervosa female inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the impact of weight gain on body image disturbance (BID) in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aims to explore the evolution of body distortion and body dissatisfaction following inpatient treatment. METHOD: Sixty-four women suffering from AN enrolled in our inpatient Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy programme and undertook a body image perception test and completed the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI). Thirty-four participants completed a total of four evaluations over a three-month period. RESULTS: Patients' weight gain following treatment was significant. Weight regain was accompanied by significant reductions in both body distortion and body dissatisfaction. These reductions were complemented by improved scores for both EDI Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction. Perceived body image differed significantly between the onset and the completion of inpatient treatment whereas ideal body image did not. DISCUSSION: The high severity of the included patients and the significant attrition rate should limit our conclusions for a subgroup of patients. New approaches are needed to facilitate changes in the way patients assess their ideal body image.

Imprisonment, alcohol dependence and risk of delusional disorder: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Compared to the general population, an excess of psychotic illnesses, major depression and dependence disorders among prisoners has been reported. However, the impact of prison on detainees' psychopathology has rarely been studied. OBJECTIVE: To determine the mental disorders liable to develop or regress on entry into prison and over time. METHOD: Two samples of French prisoners detained in local prisons were interviewed using the same methodology. The first sample consisted of 267 new arrivals. The second was a random sample of 450 prisoners. Diagnoses were assessed using a thorough methodology: each prisoner was interviewed for approximately 2 hours by two clinicians. One of the clinicians used a structured clinical interview, which generates DSM IV diagnoses (MINI plus v 5.0); the second completed the procedure with an open clinical interview. The final DSM IV diagnoses were obtained as a consensus between the two approaches. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to take into account potential confounders. RESULTS: Prevalence rates of mental disorders were substantially higher in prison even for the sample of newcomers (major depression disorder: 24.7%, substance dependence: 17.6% and schizophrenia: 4.1%). Alcohol dependence disorder was significantly more frequent in the sample of newcomers (OR 1.84 [1.01-3.51]). No significant difference was evidenced between samples for substance dependence disorder. Psychotic disorders were significantly less frequent at entry into prison, particularly delusional disorder (OR 0.29 [0.08-0.98]). CONCLUSION: This study shows the contrasted potential effects of prison on psychopathology: alcohol dependence disorders were significantly more frequent for the newcomers, while the frequency of delusional disorders was lower. This evidence is arguing in favour of the validity of the old concept: prison psychosis. Moreover, prisoners should receive relevant help from clinicians to cope with these disorders.

Time-stability of the "Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia" (FROGS) scale.

Functional remission in schizophrenia is an important treatment goal, particularly for patients who have achieved symptomatic remission. The Functional Remission of General Schizophrenia (FROGS) scale has recently been developed, with the FROGS total score being reported as reliable in a cross-sectional study, with an exploratory factor analysis showing three oblique meaningful factors. As such an instrument should have a stable structure over time, but also be able to detect improvement of functioning with time, we have further analysed the validity of the FROGS scale, specifically assessing time-stability. We re-evaluated the initial patient sample around 1.5 years after the first evaluation (mean=17.1 months, standard deviation=1.9), restricting the analyses to patients who were still being followed-up and in clinical remission (n=140 patients). The mean (standard deviation) FROGS total score was 75.82 (10.85) at the second evaluation, showing a significant improvement with time (3.84; P<0.0001 versus the first evaluation). The internal consistency/reliability of the FROGS scale was still very high (Cronbach's α=0.919). Significant improvements between the first and second evaluations were also apparent for all the individual items in the FROGS scale (P<0.01) as well as for the subscores for the three extracted factors (P<0.0001). Statistically significant correlations were observed between the FROGS scale and other indices, including the Global Assessment of Functioning (r=0.58; P<0.0001). These results provide further evidence of the solid psychometric properties of the FROGS scale.

Factors predictive of ten-year mortality in severe anorexia nervosa patients.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known concerning mortality and predictive factors for anorexia nervosa in-patients. This study aimed to establish mortality rates and identify predictors in a large sample of adults through a 10-year post in-patient treatment follow-up. METHOD: Vital status was established for 601 anorexia nervosa (DSM-IV) consecutive in-patients with initial evaluation at admission. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was calculated. Cox analyses for hypothesized predictors of mortality were performed. RESULTS: Forty deaths were recorded. SMR was 10.6 [CI 95% (7.6-14.4)]. Six factors at admission were associated with death: older age, longer eating disorder duration, history of suicide attempt, diuretic use, intensity of eating disorder symptoms, and desired body mass index at admission. CONCLUSION: Anorexia nervosa in-patients are at high risk of death. This risk can be predicted by both chronicity and seriousness of illness at hospitalization. These elements should be considered as warnings to adapt care provision and could be targeted by treatment.

The level of associated depression and anxiety traits improves during weight regain in eating disorder patients.

We assessed whether re-nutrition and weight gain have an influence on comorbid depression and anxiety in patients hospitalised for chronic eating disorders (ED). Seventy-five inpatients agreed to participate by completing the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y) before, during and after three months of treatment. Patients suffering from either anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa successfully regained weight during treatment. This weight gain was accompanied by statistically significant reductions in ED symptoms. Anxiety and, to a lesser extent, depressive symptoms diminished, but remained at pathological levels, with between diagnostic subtype differences. Improvement of depressive (r=0.77) and anxiety (r=0.64) levels were significantly (p<0.001) and positively correlated with the reduction of eating attitudes (EAT). These results are discussed in the context of re-orienting the therapeutic strategies aimed at reducing emotional suffering in patients with ED.

[Evolution of the social autonomy scale (EAS) in schizophrenic patients depending on their management]. / Évolution de l'autonomie sociale chez des patients schizophrènes selon les prises en charge. L'étude ESPASS.

It is becoming clear to clinicians that functional prognosis is the issue that should be guiding their choice of therapeutic strategy offered to people with schizophrenic disorders. An individual's degree of social autonomy is one of the principal factors determining functional prognosis, and it has become essential to identify the variables that influence it. The ESPASS survey was set up to follow a cohort of 6000 schizophrenic patients in a naturalistic setting, and was conducted over six months by 1170 psychiatrists. Patients were required to meet DSM-IV TR criteria for schizophrenia, with the exception of those suffering from an acute psychotic episode, and to either need a change in their antipsychotic treatment or its initiation. Data collected included patients' sociodemographical characteristics, types of treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), illness characteristics (as determined by the DSM-IV TR criteria), degree of social autonomy (EAS), effectiveness (IAQ scale), overall severity of the illness (CGI - S scale) and patient satisfaction with medical treatment (PASAP self-questionnaire). Concerning the non-pharmacological aspects of treatment that offer patients programmes to increase their autonomy, the survey made it possible to collect data describing real practices and to measure the actual availability of rehabilitation services. It has been verified that the sample of psychiatrists included in this survey, as well as the schizophrenic patients under evaluation, were representative of the French psychiatrist and patient populations. Most importantly, the survey made it possible to objectively evaluate the healthcare services available in France. It seems that the vast majority of public-service psychiatrists have access to hospital and ambulatory facilities for treatment (medical-psychological centers, day-care hospitals and rest centers), as well as access to facilities providing simulated real-life activities. Psychiatrists who are private practitioners have less access to such arrangements for their patients. The vast majority of psychiatrists in both categories are unable to offer their patients active rehabilitation techniques: training in social skills (25%), cognitive remediation (16%), cognitive-behavioral therapies (20%), even though psychoeducation is quite widespread (44%). However, the survey demonstrated that the actual use of these methods was much lower still (2%, 1% and 2%, respectively), although the use of alternative facilities to hospitalization was quite high (day-care hospitals 9%, rest-centers 8%). In total, at the end of the study, the proportion of patients benefiting from some kind of programme to increase their level of autonomy was 41%. These results have demonstrated a link between the evolution of patients' clinical symptoms and their social autonomy. Within the findings, the items that varied most were patient's level of personal care and relations with others, whereas the ability to manage resources seems difficult to influence. Moreover, the results have shown that better development of social autonomy is significantly correlated with the prescription of second-generation antipsychotics. Regarding non-pharmacological treatment, better development of social autonomy is significantly correlated with setting up programmes to achieve this objective, including the use of active rehabilitation techniques. Overall, the survey confirmed the results of earlier work to validate the scale of social autonomy (EAS), and confirmed the robustness of its objective measurements.

[Use of services and treatment adequacy of major depressive episodes in France]. / Recours aux soins et adéquation des traitements de l'épisode dépressif majeur en France.

INTRODUCTION: Though depressive disorders are major problems of public health, general population data about use of services and treatment adequacy are scarce in France. The literature suggests that the percentage of people suffering from mental disorders who are adequately treated is low. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study was to estimate the 12-month use of services in the French general population suffering from major depressive episodes (MDE) and levels of treatment adequacy. METHOD: This analysis was conducted on data from the Health barometer 2005, an epidemiological survey concerning several health topics. Thirty thousand five hundred and fourteen individuals from 12 to 75 years old were interviewed by telephone from October 2004 to February 2005. Depressive disorders were assessed by a standardized tool, the CIDI-SF, according to DSM-IV classification. RESULTS: The mental health questions were answered by 16,883 individuals; i.e. by 60% of individuals aged 15 or older. One year prevalence of MDE was 7.8%. In this group, 58.2% used services in a 12-month period, though only 21% of the service users received adequate treatment. Amongst those who used services, 2/3 consulted health care professionals (i.e. 1/3 of people presenting a MDE). The remaining percentage - 21.4% - of people presenting a MDE used psychotropic drugs without mentioning any use of services for mental health problems. The vast majority of individuals with MDE who used services (34.6% of those with MDE) consulted a professional trained to treat depression (general practitioner, psychiatrist, psychologist and psychotherapist). Only a small proportion (19.9%) of those consulting a professional went to a non-specialist professional as well; and even less (6%) consulted only a non-specialist professional. Amongst trained professionals, most consultations (61%, or 21.1% of the MDE group) concern general practitioners; another 38.4% (13.3% of the MDE group) involved psychiatrists; and 27.8% (9.6% of the MDE group) went to psychologists or psychotherapists. Amongst the psychologists and psychotherapists, most consultations were with psychologists (74.1%). The proportion with adequate treatment differed according to the type of professional. Consulting a general practitioner is associated with the lowest levels of adequate treatment (37.2%, and for general practitioners only, 21.5%). Consulting a psychiatrist is associated with higher proportions of adequate treatment (65.1%, and for consulting a psychiatrist only, 60.7%). Consulting both a general practitioner and a psychiatrist is associated with the highest levels of adequate treatment (79.7%). Antidepressants (ATD) are used far more frequently than psychotherapy (PT): 33.4% of individuals with MDE used ATD, and among the latter, 58.4% had also used anxiolytic drugs (AXL). Finally, 26.9% of the MDE group used AXL, 7.5% without any use of ATD. For PT, 10.8% used PT, and 8.1% used PT and ATD. DISCUSSION: Improving use of professionals and treatment adequacy are two primary objectives from a public health perspective. Since most adequately treated people used an antidepressant therapy (90%), and only 30% a PT, use of psychotherapeutic approaches might be improved. Moreover, levels of treatment adequacy are very low in people presenting an MDE who did not consult for "mental health reasons". Improving the recognition of symptoms of depression might contribute to better treatment adequacy.

[Factors associated with treatment adequacy of major depressive episodes in France]. / Facteurs associés à l'adéquation des traitements de l'épisode dépressif majeur en France.

INTRODUCTION: Level of treatment inadequacy amongst people suffering from a major depressive episode (MDE) remains an important issue in the literature. Moreover, from a public health perspective, it's important to know how this situation can be improved. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study was to identify which factors are associated with adequate treatment for depression in France. A More specific objective was to investigate if being adequately treated is associated with the type of health care professionals consulted and, furthermore, to test the specific effect of providers taking sociodemographic and clinical variables into account. METHOD: This study was carried out from the data of the Health Barometer 2005, a random survey on various health topics. Thirty thousand five hundred and fourteen individuals from 12 to 75 years old were interviewed by telephone from October 2004 to February 2005. Depressive disorders were assessed by a standardized tool (CIDI-SF) according to the classification of the DSM-IV (16,883 individuals had answered the questions of mental health: 60% of the individuals aged 15 or older). RESULTS: Levels of treatment adequacy are higher for women, more severe disorders, and for people living in Paris or Central Eastern regions. They are lower for students. Significant differences were found between types of professionals and levels of treatment adequacy. They are higher for psychiatrists than for psychologists and psychotherapists and higher than for general practitioners. Lowest levels of adequate treatment were found for depressed people who used services without considering this recourse being for "mental health reasons". There are also some significant differences in sociodemographic and clinical patient characteristics between health care professionals. The population of depressed people consulting without "mental health reasons" is older and less educated. The population of depressed people consulting a psychiatrist suffers from more severe disorders and is more educated than those consulting a general practitioner. The population of depressed people consulting a psychologist or a psychotherapist is younger and more educated. Taking sociodemographic and clinical variables into account, the probability of receiving an adequate treatment increases when using specialized care only, or conjointly with the primary care sector. To be retired and to be yet another "inactive" is associated with better treatment adequacy, as is living in Mediterranean, Paris or Central Eastern regions. Severe MDE also increases the probability of being adequately treated. DISCUSSION: Levels of treatment adequacy differ between health professionals, even when sociodemographic characteristics of their patients and the severity of their disorders are controlled; specialized care, in particular when associated with primary care use of services, is correlated with the highest rates of adequate treatments, and should therefore be recommended. Geographical areas are associated with adequation of treatments, but not with use of healthcare systems. This suggests that disparities in the organization of the healthcare systems and in the collaboration between professional might exist in the different areas.