Triadic nonverbal communication in mother-infant consultations: Two contrasted cases.

The aim of the present case study was to present and discuss the analysis of triadic nonverbal communication between mother, infant, and therapist in two early consultations as an indicator of the therapeutic alliance. The analysis explored nonverbal triadic interactions (body positions and facial orientations of the mother, infant, and therapist, and expressive behaviors of the infant) and triadic affective sharing (via a microanalytic interview of the therapist). The quality of the therapeutic alliance and clinical outcome for each case are described. The description of the two cases illustrates the importance of the progressive development of nonverbal "engagement" by the three people (triadic alliance) and of moments with triadic emotional sharing. The contribution of the therapist appears to be crucial, in particular via his or her body and affective engagement with the infant. The triadic alliance appears to be both an indicator of the therapeutic alliance and an element that can foster it.

[The demonstration of communication behaviors in children with early psychoses]. / Mise en évidence de comportements de communication chez des enfants souffrant de psychose précoce.

The authors present a research project on the ways children suffering from early psychosis communicate non-verbally. These children are studied in their regular treatment center, using a behavioral method using a set of possibilities described for a normal young child. For the three children who were studied, rather different means of non-verbal communication were highlighted, which changed and were enriched when the adult taking care of them "improved" the way his interaction with the child was organized. Our findings raise questions concerning the semiology of these conditions and it's treatment.

[Pregnancies occurring after a perinatal death. Preparation of a psychological risk index]. / Grossesses survenant après une mort périnatale. Elaboration d'un indice de risque psychologique.

The authors have interviewed 21 women who were attending the gynaecological and obstetrical service of the hospital for pregnancies occurring after a perinatal death. They show that anxiety is characteristic of these situations, but that the intensity of anxiety varies from woman to woman. They describe, after analysing the interviews, the different variations that can be found as these pregnancies progress according to the type of anxiety. By using a statistical analysis they can separate out the most important criteria and they can work out a method of illustrating a threshold which can easily be used by obstetricians in everyday practice. They suggest a method of handling the patients according to the level of anxiety found.

[Dystonia musculorum deformans. Elements of a favorable development]. / Dystonie musculaire déformante. Eléments d'une évolution favorable.

The therapeutic benefits of a concomitant approach to the disease and to the patient's identity experienced by the authors is illustrated by this case of a child presenting with dystonia musculorum deformans and severe disturbances of identity. This work was part of a research program concerning the function of these approaches and the operative modalities of their combinations.

Circannual fluctuation of a stereotyped behaviour with possible self-mutilation in a mentally deficient adolescent.

A stereotyped behaviour with possible self-mutilation was measured in a mentally deficient child (age 17) with autistic features; the subject was observed 5 minutes each hour, daily from 0800 to 2000, for fourteen months. We studied variations of his behaviour (number of acts per minute of observation and per day) and especially circannual fluctuations with maximum in summer and minimum in winter. The origins of this variation are discussed, particularly from the chronobiological point of view. Eventual therapeutic issues of this kind of study are also considered.