This study confirms the good psychometric characteristics of Kessler's psychological distress scale. Even though similar performances were observed for K6/10, the brevity of the K6 makes it more suitable for use in EDs.

BackgroundFew studies have used standardized QOL instruments to assess the quality of life (QOL) in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) patients. This work investigates the QOL of adult GTS patients and examines the relationships between physical and psychological variables and QOL.MethodsEpidemiological investigation by anonymous national postal survey of QOL of patients of the French Association of Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (AFGTS) aged 16 years or older. The clinical and QOL measures were collected by four questionnaires: a sociodemographic and GTS-related symptoms questionnaire, the World Health Organization Quality Of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-26), the Functional Status Questionnaire (FSQ), and a self-rating questionnaire on psychiatric symptoms (SCL-90), all validated in French. We used stepwise regression analysis to explicitly investigate the relationships between physical and psychological variables and QOL domains in GTS.ResultsQuestionnaires were posted to 303 patients, of whom 167 (55%) completed and returned them. Our results, adjusted for age and gender, show that patients with GTS have a worse QOL than the general healthy population. In particular, the “Depression” psychological variable was a significant predictor of impairment in all WHOQOL-26 domains, psychological but also physical and social.ConclusionsThe present study demonstrates a strong relationship between QOL in GTS and psychiatric symptoms, in particular those of depression.

AlQoL 9 epitomizes QoL in alcohol-dependence. It gives a global measurement with good psychometric properties. It could be used in clinical practice as a diagnosis and management support instrument and may also be useful in research for evaluating treatment efficacy.

CAGE is a good screening tool for alcohol abuse or alcohol dependency. Given the frequent-and insufficiently diagnosed-alcohol problems among inpatients, CAGE is indicated as a first-line tool for screening for the most severe alcohol use disorders in hospital. It should ideally be used systematically. A positive reply to any of the first three items should alert the clinician and prompt further investigation.

This exhaustive study demonstrates the degree of alcohol-related morbidity among hospitalized patients, which is particularly high in men, in the Auvergne region of France. The study emphasizes the lack of diagnosis, particularly for the young, and the apparent deficiencies in the hospital management of these patients.

Our study underscores for the first time the need to adapt, taking into account gender, the thresholds of tests typically used for detection of abuse and dependence in this population.

Alcohol consumption was evaluated in 1,027 pregnant women in the Auvergne region of central France. Only 53% declared total abstinence during pregnancy. 33% had 1-4 units on monthly occasion, while 13% drunk more frequently. One percent had 5 or more units per occasion. Despite the consensus recommending total abstinence during pregnancy, prenatal alcohol exposure remains a major public health issue.

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