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Biomedical subjects

C Zittoun

Publications and source records attributed to C Zittoun.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

A comparative study of defense styles of bulimic, anorexic and normal females.

We have compared the defense styles of anorexic (N = 41), bulimic (N = 37) and normal females (N = 72) living in Paris, using the Bond Defense Style Questionnaire relating to 17 defenses: sublimation, anticipation, suppression, undoing, idealization, reaction formation, projection, passive aggression, acting out, isolation, devaluation, autistic fantasy, denial, displacement, dissociation, splitting and somatization. The objective of this study was to better understand the personality structure in terms of psychological defenses of adolescent girls and young women suffering from anorexia or bulimia nervosa (DSM-III-R). Data showed significant differences of psychological functioning between control subjects and eating disorder subjects, particularly for the projection, undoing and sublimation defenses. Anorexics differed from the bulimic females only on the passive aggression, isolation and devaluation defenses. These data are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that anorexics and bulimics can be situated on the same continuum ranging from normal to eating disorders with certain common psychological features as risk factors shared by the eating disorder females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Preliminary study of eating disorders among French female adolescents and young adults.

We have performed an exploratory study of eating disorders among female adolescents (N = 38) and young adult (N = 38) students living in Paris, France. A high percentage of the subjects in the adolescent (68.4%) and young adult (50%) groups displayed one or more atypical eating behaviors with grazing being prominent (60.5% and 42.1%, respectively) in both groups. Bulimia nervosa (DSM-III-R) was found only in the older group (3/38 vs. 0/38). Binge eating was significantly more frequent among the older subjects (12/38 vs. 1/38). Nicotine dependence and daily grazing with a history of grazing during childhood were reported in all subjects with bulimia nervosa (DSM-III-R). These data, while requiring replication in larger samples, indicate that atypical eating behaviors are common in the populations sampled. Furthermore, daily grazing (especially with a history of grazing during childhood) and nicotine dependence may be strongly associated with the development of bulimia nervosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Anxiety and depressive disorders in the postpartum period in pregnant females].

Several authors have found that caesarean section might be a risk factor for post-partum depression, while others consider that mood disturbances are not a specific response to delivery and can be observed in women undergoing hysterectomy. This longitudinal prospective study was carried out in 156 in-patient women at the Maternity department of Louis Mourier hospital, near Paris. These women were divided into three groups: 52 with normal delivery, 63 with caesarean section and 41 with gynecological surgery. Seventeen per cent of the women who had delivered suffered from baby-blues. The figure for anxiety (De Bonis scale > or = 20) was 23% in the 1st group, 41% in the 2nd group and 54% in the 3rd group. The figure for mood disturbances (according to DSM III criteria) was 4% in the 1st group, 16% in the 2nd group and 21% in the 3rd group. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups in figures for anxiety and depression during the first 3 months after delivery or surgery, but anxiety and depression ratings seem to fall faster and more steadily in women who had surgery.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bulimia and epidemiology].

Despite the multiplication of the epidemiological studies related to bulimia, the prevalence of the syndrome remains difficult to estimate, due to the variance of the results. 1 to 17% of the students will be bulimic. Numerous methodological imperfections may explain this disparity. In the studies the populations differentiate in accordance with age, social or economical level or ethnic group. Furthermore many of them were not randomly selected. Additionally, a few studies draw a comparison between the respondents and the sample from which they were drawn. This comparison is very important when the response rates are low. These two factors weaken the representation of the studies. All but one of the studies evaluated subjects by means of self-report questionnaires. The terms used are often not precise enough and there is a risk that individual subjects will interpret them idiosyncratically. Moreover, a lot of these questionnaires were pioneered in the studies, and reliability and validity data are lacking. The screening instruments "BITE" and "BULIT" have been formally evaluated, although they have not been used for the epidemiological evaluations. The BEQ has a good reliability, but has a low rate of identifying false positives. Studies using these self-report questionnaires operationalize the DSM III, the DSM III-R or the Russell criterias. As far as bulimia is concerned, there exist a small relationship between DSM III and DSM III-R. Furthermore, the DSM III criteria for bulimia have been criticized for being overinclusive. The inclusion in the DSM III-R of "methods of weight control" and "a persistent overconcern with shape and weight" contribute to decrease the prevalence of the disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗