Family therapy is recognized as one of the most effective treatment modalities in adolescent anorexia nervosa, but family therapists continue to be guided by conflicting models of family functioning that either rely on the notion of a family cause that needs to be remedied or support a more positive view of family factors. Most often, these models are anchored to clinical observations or incomplete self-report assessments. The aim of this study was to determine whether a specific pattern of self-assessed family functioning is associated with adolescent anorexia nervosa. All family members from 40 French families with an anorexic adolescent completed the FACES III and results were compared with a reference population. Findings tend to refute the notion of a specific pathological pattern in these families while also pointing to unique trends in family relationships (flexible distance) and unique areas of dissatisfaction and distress. Overall, results encourage family therapists to hold a more flexible view of family functioning, adapting therapeutic interventions to each family's style and level of functioning, and to acknowledge the voice of all family members living with the anorexic patient.

Over the last 20 years, melatonin, a pineal hormone synthesized from serotonin, has been implicated in various studies on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and altered melatonin levels were detected in subgroups of subjects with ASD. Its effect on sleep disturbances got the attention of clinicians and several investigations were carried out to determine the usefulness and safety of melatonin administration in this disorder. Hypotheses were also raised regarding the possibility that the dysfunctional synthesis and secretion of melatonin detected in subgroups of subjects with ASD may increase the risk as well the severity of ASD. The purpose of this paper is to review our pharmacokinetic knowledge on melatonin and present results from recent studies on sleep disorders in autism, their treatment with melatonin and the impact of melatonin prescription in children with ASD evaluated in a Diagnostic Center for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Paris, France.

The intensity of the disease affects the timing of menarche but not adult height in most patients. Hospitalization, despite often being an effective means of managing AN, does not reduce the impact of AN on growth.

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The aim of the study was to explore the effect of eye movements (saccades and pursuits) on postural stability in children with autism versus typically developing children of comparable age. Postural stability was recorded with a platform (Techno Concept) in seven children with autism (mean age: 6 ± 0.8) while fixating a target or making saccades or pursuit eye movements. Data was compared to that of seven age-matched typically developing children. Surface area and mean speed of the center of pressure (CoP) were measured. Autistic children (AC) were more instable than typically developing children (TD), both in simple as well as dual task conditions. Performing a dual task thus affects AC and TD children in a different way. AC stability is not improved during saccades or pursuit eye movements in the dual task condition; in contrast, saccades significantly improve postural stability in TD children. The postural instability observed in AC during simple as well as dual task supports the hypothesis that such children have deficits in cerebellar functions.