Clinique de la douleur chronique et approche psychanalytique

A surprising history of conflict, ambiguity, mis-understandings and even missed opportunities has characterised the relationship between the body and psychoanalysis. Is the body relevant to psychoanalysis? Is the body the object of psychoanalysis? Can psychoanalysis do anything for the body? How does psychoanalysis define the body? These questions are all irrelevant if the body is indeed a full-fledged component of psychoanalytic theory and practice. This reality is particularly evident in chronic pain clinics, where care is based on systematic, multifaceted treatments led by anaesthesiologists, psychoanalysts and chemists/pharmacists who take a multidisciplinary approach that raises fundamental questions about the psychotherapeutic aspects of each course of treatment. The potential of the clinic to heal or alleviate disorders confirm the basic tenet of Freud’s theory that phantasm is fundamentally built around a basic relationship with the body.     

Analyse des représentations sociales du cancer et de la souffrance

Social psychology makes it possible to link individual and social interpretations of the suffering associated with the experience of cancer. The aim of this field of psychology is to offer a branch of research that focuses on studying the potential impact of the meanings associated with cancer and societal models of coping. The psychosocial analysis of the links between suffering and cancer underlines the role of the collective experience in creating meaning with respect to suffering as well as the role of social imagery in the development of individual behaviour. This kind of analysis makes it possible to understand a significant number of the issues associated with therapeutic interaction.     

Démarche palliative et prévention de la souffrance des soignants

The palliative approach was defined in a French ministerial document of 22 February 2002. The definition stressed the importance of a participatory model for all health professionals caring for terminal patients and their families and friends. The systems developed can be formally structured or informal to ensure flexibility in responding to immediate circumstances.     

Devenir une mère malade: entre impact de la maladie et nouages familiaux

Maria is a young patient whose cancer was discovered during her first pregnancy. Several psychological interventions have been necessary to support the patient and her partner during treatment. The main focuses of this support are reported here. Psychological interventions must take into account the impact of the cancer but also need to integrate patient and family stories.     

Les mécanismes de la douleur

Les principaux éléments sous-tendant les mécanismes de la douleur sont présentés. La douleur chronique résulte de processus de sensibilisation périphérique (inflammation, lésion de nerf) et centrale (neuroplasticité). D’un point de vue psycho-physiologique, la douleur résulte de l’expérience subjective d’une sensation émotive déplaisante, résultant de processus adaptatifs au sein de réseaux de neurones situés à différents niveaux du système nerveux central, dont les composantes peuvent augmenter ou diminuer en fonction des caractéristiques du stimulus, de l’état du sujet et du contexte dans lequel ce stimulus est appliqué.     

La fatigue: mode d’expression de la souffrance psychique

Sans résumé     

État des lieux des organisations de la prise en charge psychologique dans les réseaux et recommandations de la SFPO

The SFPO, the French Psycho-Oncological Society, has created in 2007 a Care Network Commission. During two years, this commission has conducted a survey regarding the organization of the psychological management within 148 networks of oncologic and palliative care in France. The results show the necessity to support the training of psychologists. We present some of the SFPO Recommendations on this scope.