This contribution reports on the results of an uncontrolled longitudinal study investigating the effects of a Multi-Family Therapy (MFT) as treatment for adolescent Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and the role played by perceived family functioning in these effects. 150 patients (144 females) and their families took part in an MFT and were assessed at the beginning, middle, end of the therapy, as well as 6 and 12 months after the end of therapy. BMI, eating disorders symptomatology (EDI-II) and perceived family functioning (FAD) all improved over the time of MFT, and these benefits remained at both times of follow-up. Ultimately, we found that the improvement of some dimensions of family functioning (i.e., roles, communication, and general family functioning) mediated the improvement of several dimensions of symptomatology (i.e., ineffectiveness, impulsivity, social insecurity, interpersonal distrust). These observations provide further support for MFT as useful for improving mental health, weight restoration, and perceived family functioning of adolescents with AN.

Multiple family therapy (MFT) is a therapeutic method that brings together several families affected by the same pathology. Although from an ideological and conceptual point of view, MFT is often linked to family therapy and group therapy, it is difficult to define it with precision, a weakness which may in turn hinder research on therapeutic effectiveness. This is most notable in the field of eating disorders (ED) where, in spite of MFT's great popularity, research evidence remains limited. Within the context of a systematic review of the literature on MFT in the treatment of anorexia nervosa, the purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical and clinical framework for describing two MFT models, in an attempt to explore their common and distinct concepts, principles, techniques, and factors of change. The first program is a day treatment adaptation of the Maudsley family-based MFT approach, developed in Belgium at the Therapeutic Centre for Adolescents suffering from Eating Disorders: it focuses on the management of ED symptoms, using a strong cognitive behavioral orientation. The second is an integrated systemic MFT outpatient and inpatient program carried out on the ED unit of a pediatric hospital in Paris, France: it emphasizes intra- and inter-family relationships within a systemic framework. Our effort to describe and compare these two models constitutes a first step toward determining the relative value of different models of MFT. Indeed, each model presents specific characteristics that may make it best suited for specific ED populations and/or types of families.

Body size estimation and dissatisfaction can be assessed with figure rating scales (FRS). These scales represent a continuum of silhouettes where participants have to select the figure that best fits their perceived and/or ideal body. Nevertheless, current FRS have limitations (e.g., small number of figures). We therefore developed a novel FRS—the Computer-Generated Figure Rating Scale (CGFRS)—that consists of a broad continuum of 27 computer-generated women’s bodies. It was validated among a sample of 113 women from the community and its discriminant power was examined in a sample of 20 women diagnosed with eating disorders (compared to age-matched control women). The CGFRS presented satisfactory psychometric properties (sensitivity, test–retest reliability, content, construct and convergent validities). Moreover, the scale dissociated women with eating disorders from control women: the former group overestimated their body size more and had higher body dissatisfaction.

Multiple Family Therapy (MFT) has gained increasing popularity in the treatment of eating disorders and many programs have been developed over the past decade. In this presentation, we examine the effects of a particular model of MFT on eating disorder symptoms, quality of life (OQ-45) and percentage of expected body weight (%EBW) in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Eighty-two ED adolescents, aged between 11 and 19 years, were assessed pre-, post- treatment and at one-year follow-up using the EDI-2, the OQ-45 and %EBW. Results showed a significant increase in %EBW between the beginning of treatment and the end of treatment. At one-year follow- up, %EBW continue to improve significantly. Symptoms relative to all EDI dimensions (except for bulimia) significantly decreased during treatment. The three dimensions related to quality of life assessment also improved over the course of MFT. At the end of treatment, 70.7% of the patients had a total OQ-45 score below clinical significance. At one-year follow-up, no significant differences were found for the OQ measures and for the EDI measures, showing quality of life, ED symptoms and related psychological features stabilise after the end of treatment. This study suggests that Multiple Family Therapy may benefit adolescents with anorexia nervosa, with improvement on several outcome measures at the end of treatment, remaining stable at one-year follow-up. The improvement of %EBW at one-year follow-up indicate MFT continue to have effects after treatment is complete. However, the lack of a comparison group entails caution when drawing conclusions.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is a qualitative inductive research method that attempts to explore and make sense of the subjective meanings of people’s experiences. This method offers a systematic approach to the interpretation of first-person accounts and is committed to the examination of how people make sense of their major life experiences (Smith, Flower & Larkin, 2009). First, we present the theoretical and epistemological foundations of IPA. Second, we illustrate this method through a piece of research carried out in our clinical psychology department at the University of Mons. This study attempts to demonstrate how IPA can contribute to the exploration and understanding of change processes involved in multiple-family therapy for adolescents with eating disorders.

L’ Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Analyse Phénoménologique Interprétative ou IPA) est une méthode de recherche qualitative relativement récente et qui a été développée spécifiquement pour la recherche en psychologie. A partir de récits au sujet d’événements significatifs de vie, elle offre une approche systématique à l’interprétation de la production de sens. Nous présenterons, dans un premier temps, les fondements théoriques et épistémologiques de l’IPA. Dans un second temps, nous illustrerons la démarche analytique qui a permis d’analyser le vécu d’une famille ayant participé à une thérapie multifamiliale pour adolescents souffrant d’anorexie mentale. Cette recherche clinique vise à démontrer comment l’IPA peut contribuer à l’étude des processus de changement dans le cadre de l’évaluation des psychothérapies.

L’Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Analyse Phenomenologique Interpretative ou IPA) est une methode de recherche qualitative relativement recente et qui a ete developpee specifiquement pour la recherche en psychologie. A partir de recits au sujet d’evenements significatifs de vie, elle offre une approche systematique a l’interpretation de la production de sens. Nous presenterons, dans un premier temps, les fondements theoriques et epistemologiques de l’IPA. Dans un second temps, nous illustrerons la demarche analytique qui a permis d’analyser le vecu d’une famille ayant participe a une therapie multifamiliale pour adolescents souffrant d’anorexie mentale. Cette recherche clinique vise a demontrer comment l’IPA peut contribuer a l’etude des processus de changement dans le cadre de l’evaluation des psychotherapies.

La thérapie multifamiliale est une approche à la croisée de la thérapie de groupe et de la thérapie familiale. Elle consiste à regrouper plusieurs familles autour d’un même type de pathologie dans l’idée de créer un cadre et un réseau social thérapeutique (Cook-Darzens, 2007). Nous proposons d’analyser la thérapie multifamiliale à la lumière des trois phases du concept d’Etienne Dessoy (1996, 1997) de rite de passage : la phase de cohésion/séparation, la phase de ritualisation des points de vue différents et la phase de confirmation de la réussite du rite. Comment la conceptualisation de la thérapie multifamiliale comme un processus de rite de passage permet-elle d’expliquer le changement ?

Multiple Family Therapy (MFT) has gained increasing popularity in the treatment of eating disorders and many programs have been developed over the past decade. Still, there is little evidence in the literature on the effectiveness on MFT for treating eating disorders. The present study examines the effects of a particular model of Multiple Family Therapy on eating disorder symptoms, quality of life, and percentage of Expected Body Weight (%EBW) in adolescents with eating disorders (ED). Eighty-two adolescents with ED, aged between 11 and 19 years, were assessed before and after treatment using the Eating Disorders Inventory 2 (EDI-2), the Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) and %EBW. Results showed a significant increase in %EBW between the beginning and end of treatment, with a large effect size. 52.4% of patients achieved an EBW above 85%. Symptoms relative to all EDI dimensions (except for bulimia) significantly decreased during treatment. The three dimensions related to quality of life assessment also improved over the course of MFT. At the end of treatment, 70.7% of patients had a total OQ-45 score below clinical significance. This study suggests that Multiple Family Therapy may benefit adolescents with eating disorders, with improvement on several outcome measures (%EBW, ED symptoms, and quality of life). However, the lack of a comparison group entails caution when drawing conclusions.

Monitoring parameters for anorexia nervosa include clinical, biological and psychological factors. Many research groups are currently trying to identify parameters more likely to predict the severity or the evolution of the illness. Body composition has been proposed as one of those parameters. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate that measures of body composition are more accurate and efficient than the use of body composition index (BMI). We also aim to show that body composition could be used as a prognostic factor in the long-term evolution of patients with anorexia nervosa. It's a retrospective study investigating body composition and BMI in 44 patients treated in a specialized unit for eating disorder. Measures of body composition and BMI were gathered at the time of admission and again 3 months after refeeding onset. Data was correlated to the EDI-2 questionnaire scores. BMI and %FM where found to be increased (P < 0.05) between admission and after 3 months refeeding. The double objective of reaching a BMI value > or = 20 kg/m2 and a %FM value > or = 2% was achieved by 22% of patients. No significant correlation was found between EDI-2 scores and measures of BMI and %FM either on admission or after the 3 months refeeding period. In conclusion, results of our study don't allow concluding for a prognostic superiority of %FM. Nonetheless, BMI currently used as a reference for the monitoring of eating disorders patients seems to lack sensitivity where measures of body composition seem more informative regarding nutritional status. Furthermore, fat mass plays an important role in other clinical manifestations. In addition, measures of body composition should allow more individualised therapeutic support.

A kinetic study of the partial oxidation of propane was performed in a jet stirred reactor. The main goal of this study was to establish a detailed homogeneous mechanism of this reaction and explore the capability to produce H-2 and olefins. Various operating parameters are modified: temperature, residence time, and O-2/C3H8 ratio. The mechanism was validated by comparing experimental and simulated results. A different behavior was observed depending on the temperature. At 600 degrees C, the mechanism contains both an oxidation and a pyrolytic path. The main products are HD C2H4, CH4, CO, and O-2. At 800 degrees C, the mechanism mostly contains a pyrolytic path. The main products are H-2 and CO.

In the present study we investigated the evaluation of body shapes in patients with restrictive anorexia nervosa (AN) on both automatic and controlled levels. The first aim of the study was to examine whether an ultra-thin ideal or negative attitudes toward overweight might be the motivation behind pathological restriction. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between body figure evaluations, eating disorder symptoms and mood. A Modified Affective Priming Test was used to measure implicit evaluations of body silhouettes, while a Likert scale was used to assess explicit evaluations. The study involved 35 women with restrictive anorexia nervosa and 35 age- and education-level-matched controls with normal body weight. In contrast to the control group, the patients did not show a positive attitude toward the ultra-thin body shape on the automatic level. The AN group both on the automatic and the self-reported levels evaluated the overweight body as negative. Depression and anxiety did not influence body evaluation. Strong negative evaluation of overweight appears to be a key issue in AN rather than positive evaluation of ultra-thin role models.

The partial oxidation of methane was investigated using a self-stirred reactor under a wide range of operating conditions. The recation mechanism was determined by comparing ecperimental results with the results of simulations made using the Chemkin-Surface software. The proposed mechanism includes 444 homogeneous reactions and 33 surface reactions.

The prevalence for anorexia nervosa is estimated at 0.5% in the young girls and the highest incidence was found between ten to 19 years. Among women, the prevalence for anorexia nervosa is estimated between 0 to 1.5%. The lifetime prevalence varies between 0.6 and 4%. The methodological limitations relate to the variety of the instruments to diagnose an eating disorder and the lack of definition approved for eating disorders not otherwise specified. The empirical models of the pathogenesis of eating disorders continue to stress the role of social pressure to thinness, this one being transmitted by the media, the family environment and the peers. The methodological limitations continue to pose a challenge in the interpretation of the modulation by the sociocultural factors of the etiologic ways for anorexia nervosa. A complex multifactor aetiology is considered, implying the interaction of genetic predisposition and certain specific environmental risk factors, in particular social factors. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.

A complete kinetic study of the partial oxidation of methane has been performed in a "catalytic jet-stirred reactor". The main goal of this study was to elucidate the interactions between gas-phase reactions and surface reactions and to propose a detailed heterogeneous−homogeneous mechanism. The catalyst used in this study was lanthanum oxide (La2O3). Various kinetic parameters were considered, including the temperature, the residence time, the contact time, and the amount of catalyst. The results revealed a complex behavior. In this first part of the study, the experimental results are given and discussed.