Évaluation de la dangerosité du malade mental psychotique: Introduction

Assessing dangerousness among persons with a mental illness is an old and complex clinical issue. In accordance with scientific literature, it is based upon a rigorous and systematic analysis of risk factors for violence. It also requires good relational abilities from the clinician, as well as a level-headed judgment at the term of the evaluation. Moreover, the practice of dangerousness estimation represents the first step of the therapeutic process and the establishment of a bond with the patient.     

Sensory abnormalities in autism: A brief report

Sensory abnormalities were assessed in a population-based group of 208 20-54-month-old children, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and referred to a specialized habilitation centre for early intervention. The children were subgrouped based upon degree of autistic symptoms and cognitive level by a research team at the centre. Parents were interviewed systematically about any abnormal sensory reactions in the child. In the whole group, pain and hearing were the most commonly affected modalities. Children in the most typical autism subgroup (nuclear autism with no learning disability) had the highest number of affected modalities. The children who were classified in an “autistic features” subgroup had the lowest number of affected modalities. There were no group differences in number of affected sensory modalities between groups of different cognitive levels or level of expressive speech. The findings provide support for the notion that sensory abnormality is very common in young children with autism. This symptom has been proposed for inclusion among the diagnostic criteria for ASD in the upcoming DSM-V.