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Biomedical subjects

A Verrier

Publications and source records attributed to A Verrier.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Depression and dependency: distinct or overlapping constructs?

BACKGROUND: Previous research has found a significant positive relationship between dependency and level of depression. The aim of the present study, using factor analysis method, is to test the hypothesis that dependency and depression constitute distinct dimensions. METHODS: In a sample of 202 university students, a correlation matrix comprising items from both the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory and the abridged form of the Beck Depression Inventory was analysed using a principal components analysis followed by an orthogonal varimax rotation. RESULTS: Evidence for a four-factor solution was found with almost no overlap of the significant factor loadings for the items from each scale, and with the factors corresponding closely with their respective construct. CONCLUSION: The findings support the view that depression and dependency constitute different constructs. LIMITATION: The results must be confirmed on clinical and heterogeneous nonclinical samples. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The independency between depression and dependency could lead to different therapeutic strategies notably in 'socially dependent' type of depression.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence and time trends of disabilities in school-age children.

BACKGROUND: Although the evolution of the prevalence of cerebral palsy is now well documented, much less is known about the evolution of the prevalence of other disabilities such as mental retardation, sensorial defects, autism and psychosis. The aim of this paper is to determine those trends. METHODS: A population-based survey was carried out in 1992-1993 in three French 'départments'. All disabled children born between 1976 and 1985 and receiving a special education and/or financial assistance were systematically registered. RESULTS: The comparison of three cohorts of children born in 1976-1978, 1979-1981 and 1982-1984 using the test for trend in proportion showed a significant decrease (P = 0.03) in the prevalence of severe mental retardation, after exclusion of Down syndrome. This decrease was significant for severe mental retardation associated with psychosis. The time trend prevalence for cerebral palsy increased (P = 0.03) but was irregular. The time trend prevalence of other disabilities (other motor defects, severe sensorial disabilities, autism and psychosis) did not change significantly. A detailed analysis of severe mental retardation and cerebral palsy was performed by geographical area, age at first registration and type of disability. CONCLUSION: The increase in prevalence of cerebral palsy is possibly due to earlier registration of disabled children. The decrease in prevalence of severe mental retardation does not seem to be due to recruitment bias, but there is a possibility of classification bias.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Motor deficiencies in children: for a nosologic clarification in epidemiological studies].

In order to clarify the epidemiological research on childhood motor deficiency in France there is a need to better differenciate the two terms used to define this pathology: the French term "infirmité motrice cérébrale" (IMC) and the English term "cerebral palsy" (CP). The distinction between IMC and CP is highlighted on the basis of clinical examples. IMC recovers motor deficiencies which are quite similar, however, it can be very difficult to control the variations in its use. CP has the advantage of a greater exhaustivity as well as a greater reproductibility for epidemiological records. Recently a study was conducted for measuring the prevalence of childhood deficiencies in France, and the results were expressed either as IMC or as CP. When using the CP definition the prevalence rate in France was found to be close to that of foreign studies (1.9 per thousand). In studies with etiological purposes involving several countries, a preliminary agreement on the definition of the clinical groups is absolutely necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Factor analysis of the French version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20).

A French version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 Items (TAS-20) was factor-analyzed on a sample of 263 university students and its factor solution analyzed along with the studies using the Canadian version. Our results show a two-factor solution where the items rating the difficulty to identify feelings and the items rating the difficulty to describe feelings constitute a sole factor contrary to the Canadian version. These data are reviewed in the context of previous research and offer two subscales for future investigations utilizing the TAS-20.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Prevalence of alexithymia in a general population. Study in 183 "normal" subjects and in 263 students].

The prevalence of alexithymia has been studied in two groups of healthy subjects, 183 normals and 263 university students. In the normal group the alexithymia was rated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) and in the student group the alexithymia was rated using the revised version of the TAS (Twenty-items TAS or TAS-20). Using our cutoff scores (> or = 73 for the TAS, > or = 56 for the TAS-20), the prevalence in the normal group and the student group were respectively 23% and 17.1%.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[High-risk suicide attempts: intent and severity].

This study of 764 suicide attempts has for objective to define the factors which distinguish the "high-risk" group from other groups. The "high-risk" group is composed of people having scored more than 10 on Pierce's Intent Scale and more than 45 on the Weissman scale. Results show that the intensity and form of depressive symptomatology and some representations of death and age distinguish this group (n = 80) and that previous suicidal attempts, alcohol intake, chronic alcoholism and recent events have no statistical value.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Validation of the French version of the revised Personal Style Inventory (revised Personal Style Inventory, PSI-II, Robins et al., 1994)].

The aim of the present study is to determine the validity and reliability of the French version of the PSI-II. The PSI-II is a self-rating scale divided into two subscales containing each 24 items and rating sociotropy and autonomy. 202 university students (170 females, 32 males) with a mean age of 21.54 years (sd = 4.16) were included. They filled out the PSI-II and the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI). The construct validity was explored using an exploratory principal components analysis followed by an orthogonal varimax rotation. The results had shown a three-factor solution with a "sociotropy" factor and two "autonomy" factors. The Cronbach alpha coefficients were respectively 0.83 and 0.72 for the sociotropy and autonomy subscales. The Pearson correlations between the PSI-II and IDI subscales showed significant correlation first between the sociotropy subscale and the two subscales of the IDI rating dependency, the values were respectively 0.67 (p < 0.001) and 0.44 (p < 0.001), and secondly between the autonomy subscales of the PSI-II and IDI, the value was 0.39 (p < 0.001). The sociotropy subscale items correlated significantly with the total score of the subscale with a mean of 0.46. 23 items of the autonomy subscale correlated with the total score with a mean of 0.36. The sociotropy and autonomy scores were respectively 93.98 (sd = 14.22) and 84.55 (sd = 11.69). The French version of the PSI-II had satisfactory metrological parameters and allows to study sociotropy and autonomy in French population.

Adolescent↗