[Capacity to experience pleasure and displeasure by Cloninger and von Knorring in type I and II alcoholism]. / Capacité à éprouver du plaisir et du déplaisir et alcoolisme de types I et II selon Cloninger et von Knorring.

The aim of the present study is to test the hypothesis that Cloninger and von Knorring's type II alcoholics are more hedonic and experience less displeasure than type I alcoholics. 55 inpatients filled out the DSM III-R criteria for abuse or alcoholic dependence. The alcoholics were dichotomized into type I or type II using the onset of their alcoholism (type II < 25 years, type I > or = 25 years). In the few days of their hospitalization, the subjects filled out the Fawcett Clark Pleasure Capacity Scale-Physical Pleasure (FCPCS-PP), the Hardy Displeasure Capacity Scale-Physical Displeasure (HDCS-PD) and the abridged form of the Beck Depression inventory (BDI). The sociodemographic characteristics, the proportions of "abusers" and "dependents" and the scales scores were compared between the two groups. The sex-ratio and the educative level were not different between the two groups; the values of the chi 2 were respectively 1.36 (df = 1), p = 0.24 and 1.03 (df = 2), p = 0.59. The ratio "abusers" /"dependents" was not different (chi 2 = 1.115, p = 0.291). The mean age of the type I alcoholics was higher (m = 46.7, sd = 11.2) than that of the type II (m = 38.9, sd = 7.9) (U = 218.5, p = 0.013). Using covariance analyses (ANCOVA) to control the age, the results have shown that the FCPCS-PP and HDCS-PD scores of the type II alcoholics were not different than these of the type I alcoholics [respectively F (1.52) = 1.5, p = 0.23 and F (1.52) = 0.14, p = 0.7]. In conclusion, we failed to confirm the hypothesis that type II alcoholics would experience more pleasure and less displeasure than type I alcoholics. These negative results were discussed and the potential factors that could explain them are detailed.

[Validation of the French version of the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS, Snaith et al. 1995). Determination of the statistical parameters in 208 normal subjects and 103 hospitalized patients presenting with depression or schizophrenia]. / Etude de validation de la version française de l'échelle de plaisir de Snaith et Hamilton (Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale, SHAPS, Snaith et al. 1995). Détermination des paramètres métrologiques chez 208 sujets sains et chez 103 malades hospitalisés présentant une dépression ou une schizophrénie.

The aim of the study is to explore the validity and the reliability of the French version of the SHAPS in two groups of subjects. 208 healthy students and 103 inpatients meeting the RDC criteria for schizophrenia or depression filled out the French versions of the SHAPS and the revised Physical Anhedonia Scale of Chapman and Chapman. The internal consistency of the SHAPS was measured in each group using first the Kuder Richardson coefficient (point biserial) between the items and the total score. The concurrent validity was studied using the Pearson correlation coefficient between the SHAPS and the PAS in each group. The predictive validity was determined by the comparison of the SHAPS score between the two groups. The reliability was studied using a test-retest in a sub-group (n = 32) extracted of the control group. The values of the KR 20 in the healthy and psychiatric groups were respectively 0.47 and 0.80. The mean of the correlations between the items and the total score were respectively 0.35 and 0.52. The values of the correlations between the SHAPS and the PAS were respectively in the normal and psychiatric groups 0.39 (p < 0.001) and 0.34 (p < 0.001). Psychiatric subjects had a higher score (m = 2.33, sd = 2.68) on the SHAPS than the normals (m = 0.89, sd = 1.18) [F (1,303) = 12.26, p = 0.0005]. The test-retest showed a correlation of 0.56 (p < 0.01) between the two passations of the SHAPS. The metrological parameters of the SHAPS were discussed as well as the utility of that scale compared to the PAS.

[Exploratory study of amitriptyline resistance in depressed patients: results of WHO French collaborating center on depressions resistant to treatments]. / Etude exploratoire de la résistance à l'amitriptyline chez les déprimés : résultats du centre français collaborateur OMS sur les dépressions résistantes aux traitements.

A multicountry, multicentre double-blind study in a group of depressives, coordinated by the Mental Health Division of the World Health Association (WHO) has been done. The goal of the study is to determine whether the therapeutic effects of amitriptyline can be enhanced and potentiated by combining it with an antioxydant (gingko biloba). An exploratory study has preceded the main study which had the objective to estimate the proportion of non-response patient to amitriptyline. We report the results concerning the French center. 23 inpatients meet the ICD-10 criteria for depression (F32 and F33) and were treated during 6 weeks by amitriptyline with the initial daily dose of 50 mg until the maximum dose of 200 mg. The proportion of non-responsive patient to amitriptyline was 34.78 (95% confidence interval : 15.32 to 54.24%), all clinically deteriorated.