Improving the Assessment Process of Family Functioning in Adult Bipolar Disorders: A PRISMA Systematic Review.

In order to determine family functioning in the treatment of adults with bipolar disorders, guidelines are needed regarding the way family functioning may be assessed. The present systematic review aims to investigate how family functioning is assessed in this context. Following PRISMA guidelines, a total of 29 studies were reviewed. Results showed that although there was no consensual family functioning assessment across studies, 27 studies (93%) relied on self-report questionnaires, 12 studies (41%) relied on one family member as an informant (adult with bipolar disorder or other) and the adult considered was mostly a woman in the acute phase of bipolar I disorder. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the assessment of family functioning. Methodological considerations regarding the assessment of family functioning are discussed.

Chronic back pain and its association with quality of life in a large French population survey.

BACKGROUND: Chronic back pain is associated with significant burden, yet few epidemiological studies have provided data on chronic back pain, its predictors and correlates in France. METHODS: Data were drawn from a cross-sectional survey conducted in France (n = 17,249) using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Sample age ranges from 18 to 98 with a mean of 46.39 years (SD = 17.44), and was 56.7% female. Medical conditions were assessed using the CIDI, quality of life was assessed using both the physical and mental component scores of the SF-36. RESULTS: Overall, 38.3% of adults reported chronic back pain. Female gender, older age, lower education, manual labor occupation, and population density were significantly associated with the distribution of chronic back pain. Chronic back pain was associated with lower scores on all SF-36 mean scores and on the Physical Composite Score and Mental Composite Score controlling for comorbid medical conditions including other types of chronic pain. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the burden of chronic back pain in the general population and underscores its correlation with quality of life. Such data contribute to raise awareness among clinicians and health policy makers on the necessity of prevention, early diagnosis, proper management and rehabilitation policies in order to minimize the burden associated with chronic pain.

[Using the SHiPA with the elderly: a person-centered approach]. / Utilisation des << Sept histoires pour personnes âgées >> (SHiPA) : une analyse centrée sur la personne.

Qualitative differences in control, distance and relationship with other people were examined using multidimensional and configurational analyses with data from the SHiPA. The SHiPA, developed by Bouisson (2005), contributes to inform on psychological functioning the elderly, using open responses, no limited into choices, and assesses some aspects of distress and adaptative resources in common daily life events that are frequently causes of difficulties. Based on scores in differential weighting of SHiPA dimensions, multivariate analyses revealed five psychological functioning profiles, characterized by anxiety, depression, cognition, internality, satisfaction with life, and routinization levels. Analyse of the differences between SHiPA profiles suggested a first discrimination depending on the individuals, psychological resources level, and the situation of subjects in third and fourth age.

[Validation of the French translation of Beck's Sociotropy-Autonomy Scale]. / Validation de la version française du questionnaire de Sociotropie-Autonomie de Beck et collègues.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the French version of the Sociotropy- Autonomy Scale (SAS) developed by Beck and others. The SAS is a self-questionnaire of 60 items divided into 2 dimensions measuring sociotropy and autonomy. METHOD: The SAS was completed by 1028 students, 140 of whom jointly completed Robins' Personal Style Inventory-Revised, and 75 of whom completed the SAS again 3 months later. RESULTS: The principal-axes factor analysis conducted on all 60 items yielded 2 distinct dimensions: sociotropy and autonomy. The factor analysis of each dimension led us to identify 6 subdimensions, just as in the original instrument. CONCLUSION: The French translation features satisfying psychometric and conceptual characteristics and allows these dimensions to be studied in a French sample. Results are discussed with regards to adequacy when compared with the original Beck's version.

[Burn out of formal carers in geriatric facilities]. / Risque d'épuisement professionnel chez les soignants en gériatrie: une approche centrée sur la personne.

From a person-centered perspective, this study investigates the relationship between burn out and anxiety-depression, among geriatric caregivers, according to the helplessness-hopelessness theory. The population studied consists of 150 caregivers, drawn from different geriatric facilities throughout France. Data was collected from three self-administered questionnaires: the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) measures burn out, whereas the STAI measures anxiety and the CES-D assesses symptoms of depression. These tools have been used to analyze the effects of several potential vulnerability factors. Three distinct groups have been identified by cluster analysis on the MBI's dimensions. Subjects from the first cluster (n = 88) did not suffer from burn out, whereas subjects from group 2 (n = 46) and group 3 (n = 16) have been rated "at risk" and "at high risk" of developing burn out. The three groups have significantly different levels of anxiety and depression. Age, profession and type of facility appeared as vulnerability factors for professional burn out.