Epidemiology of alcohol use disorder in the general population of Togo and Benin: the ALCOTRANS study.

INTRODUCTION: Access to data concerning mental health, particularly alcohol use disorders (AUD), in sub-Saharan Africa is very limited. This study aimed to estimate AUD prevalence and identify the associated factors in Togo and Benin. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May 2022, targeting individuals aged 18 years and above in the Yoto commune of Togo and the Lalo commune of Benin. Subjects were recruited using a multi-stage random sampling technique. AUD diagnoses were made using the MINI adapted to DSM-5 criteria. Our study collected sociodemographic information, data on psychiatric comorbidities, stigmatization, and assessed cravings, using a series of scales. The association between AUD and various factors was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: In Togo, 55 of the 445 people investigated had AUD (12.4%; [95% CI: 9.5-15.7%]). Among them, 39 (70.9%) had severe AUD and the main associated comorbidities were suicidal risk (36.4%), and major depressive disorder (16.4%). Associated factors with AUD were male gender (aOR: 11.3; [95% CI: 4.8-26.7]), a higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score (aOR: 1.2; [95% CI: 1.1-1.3]) and a lower Stigma score measured by the Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) (aOR: 0.9; [95% CI: 0.8-0.9). The stigma scores reflect perceived societal stigma towards individuals with AUD. In Benin, 38 of the 435 people investigated had AUD (8.7%; [95% CI: 6.4-11.7]), and the main associated comorbidities were suicidal risk (18.4%), tobacco use disorder (13.2%) and major depressive episode (16.4%). Associated factors with AUD were male gender (aOR: 6.4; [95% CI: 2.4-17.0]), major depressive disorder (aOR: 21.0; [95% CI: 1.5-289.8]), suicidal risk (aOR: 3.7; [95% CI: 1.2-11.3]), a lower Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) score (aOR:0.8; [95% CI: 0.8-0.9]) and a lower perceived stigma score (by EMIC )(aOR: 0.9; [95% CI: 0.8-0.9]). CONCLUSION: In these communes of Togo and Benin, AUD prevalence is notably high. A deeper understanding of the disease and its local determinants, paired with effective prevention campaigns, could mitigate its impact on both countries.

The body interior in anorexia nervosa: from interoception to conceptual representation of body interior.

Background: Body image disorders are well documented in anorexia nervosa (AN); however, knowledge of interoceptive awareness (IA) in this population remains poor. This descriptive study investigated whether and how the representation of the interior of the body may have an impact on IA. Methods: The representations and knowledge of the body interior were evaluated with a drawing task in 34 women with AN and 34 healthy controls (HCs). A lexicometric analysis was performed on the vocabulary used to describe the drawn body parts in a structured interview. It was assumed that the conceptual representation of the body interior could be affected by or influence IA. Thus, the relationship between IA, measured with the heartbeat task and the ischemia-induction test, and the drawings was explored. Other scales, such as those of body shape, awareness or satisfaction, were used to assess affective representations of the body. Results: The drawing, lexicometric and IA results were similar in the two groups. No correlations were found among IA, body representation scores and representation level of body interior. Only the representation of bones by the AN group was significantly different. Discussion: Increased visual attention to the skeleton or greater awareness of bone health could explain the stronger representation of bones in the AN group. The psychophysical therapy received by some AN participants (73%) did not seem to have influenced IA. Our results do not support a relationship between IA and the representation of the body interior.Clinical trial registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT03988218.

Cognitive complaint inversely associated to UHR transition.

The aim of this study was to identify the impact of staging on a six-months transition in Ultra-High Risk (UHR) youth. Subjects were enrolled at assessment; evolution was monitored for six months. Clinical determinants (unusual thought content, perceptual abnormalities, cognitive complaint, etc.) were collected. 37 non-psychotic and 39 UHR subjects were included. 13 UHR (35.2 %) experienced psychotic transition, while none of non-psychotic subjects did log-rank p < 0.001. Self-reported cognitive complaint was inversely associated to transition OR 0.13 95 % IC [0.03-0.64]. Unusual Thought Content was associated to psychotic transition 0R 8.57 95 % IC [1.17-63]. Self-reported cognitive complaint could be a protective transition marker in UHR.