Attitude face au choix vocationnel chez des adolescents maghrébins: Dynamique conflictuelle à travers T.A.T. et Rorschach

in Bulletin de Psychologie (1990), 43(396), 705-715

Intérêt de l'étude de la VCN dans les migraines et les céphalées de tension.

in Revue d'Eléctroencephalographie et de Neurophysiologie Clinique (1987), 17(3), 259-70

The aim of this study was to display the result obtained by the contingent negative variation (CNV) recording in patients suffering from headache. Eighty-five patients were taken into account: 59 with ... [more ▼]

The aim of this study was to display the result obtained by the contingent negative variation (CNV) recording in patients suffering from headache. Eighty-five patients were taken into account: 59 with migraines (M) and 26 with tension headache (TH). A typical CNV pattern (high CNV amplitude with no habituation) differentiated M from TH. Moreover, psychological data were collected through Rorschach ink blot test among 42 headache sufferers (31 M and 11 TH). The typical Rorschach repressive pattern of alexithymia was found as well in M as in TH while CNV amplitude was significantly higher in the 31 M (-25 microV) than in the 11 TH (-19 microV FP less than 0.04). Biochemical data collected among 28 patients (17 M and 11 TH) revealed a positive correlation between CNV amplitude and plasma level of noradrenaline, regardless of the type of headache (r = 0.58; P less than 0.01). Thus, besides psychological factors, catecholaminergic mechanisms seem implicated in the determination of the CNV pattern in migraine. CNV may help the clinician both to specify diagnosis and to decide between the many therapeutic strategies available. [less ▲]

Contingent negative variation and efficacy of beta-blocking agents in migraine

in Cephalalgia : An International Journal of Headache (1986), 6(4), 229-33

Thirty-three patients with common migraine underwent contingent negative variation (CNV) recordings before receiving prophylactic beta-blocker treatment with either metoprolol (27 patients) or propranolol ... [more ▼]

Thirty-three patients with common migraine underwent contingent negative variation (CNV) recordings before receiving prophylactic beta-blocker treatment with either metoprolol (27 patients) or propranolol (6 patients) at mean daily dosages of 110 mg and 122 mg, respectively. After 3 months the therapeutic efficacy of the beta-blocker was assessed in each patient by means of a global severity score and compared with the initial CNV recordings. The mean clinical improvement was 62%. A significant positive correlation was found between CNV amplitude before prophylaxis and the clinical response to beta-blockers: patients with higher CNV tended to respond better to therapy. Eight of 10 patients with a CNV amplitude higher than -25 microV had a more than 50% reduction of the severity score--that is, a good or excellent response to the beta-blocking agent--whereas only 2 of 9 patients with an amplitude lower than -20 microV had a good response. [less ▲]

A psychophysiological approach to psychosomatic headache

in Mc Callum, W. C.; Zappoli, R.; Denoth, F. (Eds.) Cerebral Psychophysiology: Studies in Event-related Potentials (1986)