DSM-5 : critiques et contempteurs. Réception en France

DSM-5 English version was published in 2013. The French translation is due at 2014. Many critical (french) books have been published against this “American Bible of psychiatry”. Inventory and critic of these critics.     

Les prises de risque sexuel liées au VIH-sida chez les homosexuels masculins : synthèse des recherches sociologiques et psychologiques,perspectives cliniques

The main object of this article is to introduce and critically discuss international research in sociology and psychology dealing with the issue of sexual risk behaviour in male homosexuals in context with HIV. Based on the example of France, epidemiological statistics in fact show that some homosexuals systematically abstain from safer sexual intercourse despite the information they possess about the modalities of HIV transmission. Considering that HIV prevalence is almost 120 times greater in the homosexual than it is in the heterosexual population, this relative failure of prevention is a major challenge to public health. This article reviews risk behaviour research and differentiates between studies basing their methods on preformed questionnaires which are passed on to cohorts of subjects and statistically evaluated on the one hand and studies allowing the subjects to detail on their subjective experience in a more particular manner. It is this second type of studies, which especially seems to be apt to produce heuristic data needed in clinical psychopathology. In order to complete this review, the article presents the results of clinical research performed on this subject by the two authors. Based on an atypical clinical case the relevance of a psychopathological analysis of male homosexuals’ risk behaviour taking the unconscious dimension of the psyche into account is shown.     

Effets de la pollution particulaire sur le risque de maladies cardiovasculaires

The effects of air pollution on health are quite well-documented and the influence of particulate pollution on morbidity and mortality from myocardial infarction and stroke is increasingly evident. The objective of this literature review is to identify and synthesize articles on the impact of air pollution by PM10 and PM2.5 of myocardial infarction and stroke. A total of 14 studies were reported on the effects of PM10 and five on the effects of PM2.5. Nine out of 14 studies for PM10 and two studies of five for PM2.5 have found a significant association with myocardial infarction and/or stroke. Particle composition according to location, study period and population must be considered in interpreting the results on the health effects of air pollution. The integration of these elements is important for decision making in tune with social and economic conditions specific to each environment.     

Type I complex regional pain syndrome

First described by Ambroise Paré in the mid-17th century complex, regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be defined as an articular and periarticular pain syndrome associated with vasomotor deregulation triggered by various stresses with no relationship between the intensity of the initial injury and severity of the continuing pain. Several names have been given to Type 1 complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS-I): causalgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, shoulder-hand syndrome and algodystrophy. The reported incidence of CRPS-I is about 25 per 100,000. Predisposing factors are tobacco consumption and being female (W/M ratio = 4). Although all the limbs can be affected, the upper limb is by far the most affected. CRPS-I is a classic complication of distal radius fractures (4–37%) and carpal tunnel surgery (2–4%). Early diagnosis and management are the most important elements of treatment because this syndrome has a long and disabling course. Some of the proposed treatments include NSAIDs, antidepressants and anticonvulsants. The latter, despite their good analgesic effects, do not cure CRPS-I. In select cases, a surgical procedure aiming at removing a nociceptive stimulus can lead to spectacular improvements.     

Endometriosis anatomoclinical entities

The aim of this literature review is to precise definition, anatomoclinical entities and natural history of endometriosis to allow clinical guideline establishment. DEFINITION: Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue (glands and stroma) outside the uterus. This histologic definition does not implicate symptoms. Macroscopic lesions supposed to be endometriosis are not always confirmed by histology. Histology is recommended to confirm endometriosis. Negative histology does not exclude endometriosis. ANATOMOCLINICAL ENTITIES: Three endometriosis entities are described: peritoneal endometriosis, ovarian endometrial cyst, and deeply infiltrating endometriosis. There is no evidence to establish a different pathogenesis of theses entities. ENDOMETRIOSIS NATURAL HISTORY: It is not well known. It may progress or regress with or without treatment. There is no evidence of treatment in case of asymptomatic endometriosis. There is an association between endometriosis and ovarian cancer. The risk of endometriosis malignant transformation is still a subject of controversy. There is no evidence for a specific oncologic follow-up of woman having endometriosis.     

The scientific contributions of United States plastic surgeons to the Revue de Chirurgie Plastique and the Revue de Chirurgie Structive Brussels (1931–1938)

The author emphasizes the close cooperation between United States plastic surgeons and the first international journal devoted entirely to plastic surgery, the Revue de Chirurgie Plastique (from 1931 to 1934) later to become the Revue de Chirurgie Structive (from 1935 to 1938) published under the editorship of Maurice Coelst, M.D., from Brussels. By the accurate recording of original articles, book reviews, proceedings of their annual meetings, and summaries in three different languages (English, French, German), the author stressed the intense scientific dynamism and the achievements made by the U.S. pioneers of this new specialty which really started during World War I. Received: 24 July 1998 / Accepted: 27 October 1998     

Mood and anxiety disorders in relatives of anorexia nervosa patients: a review

In the literature, no review concerning the family comorbidity of mood and anxiety disorders of anorexic subjects exists. However, this data can be important for the comprehension of this disorder and for the assumption of responsibility. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a critical literature review on studies assessing the prevalence of anxiety disorders (AD) and mood disorders in relatives of anorexia nervosa (AN) subjects. In the first part, we discuss methodological issues relevant to these comorbidity studies. In the second part, taking into account the methodological considerations raised, we summarise the findings of these studies. METHOD: We performed a manual and computerised search (Medline) for all published studies on the frequency of MD and AD in AN relatives and MD or AD, limiting our search to the 1980-2002 period, in order to get sufficiently homogeneous diagnostic criteria for both categories of disorders (most often RDC, DSM III, DSM III-R, or DSM IV criteria). RESULTS: We review methodological issues regarding population sources, general methodological procedures, diagnostic criteria for AN, MD and AD, diagnostic instruments, age of subjects and course of the eating disorder. DISCUSSION: We discuss the results taking into account the methodological problems observed. We give implications for reviewing the results of published studies and planning future research.