Les hommes et la fonction paternelle dans la famille antillaise

Le modèle matrifocal d'organisation familiale reste toujours prépondérant dans les Petites Antilles malgré une confrontation ancienne au modèle nucléaire occidental. Il doit ses particularités aux conditions de son développement initial dans le contexte de l'esclavage et son maintien est favorisé par certaines dispositions sociales dans les Antilles françaises. Dans ce modèle les pères semblent graviter à la périphérie de la famille sans toutefois être invisibles, ni absents ou en conflit. Leur présence au domicile peut même être intermittente, mais de manière prévisible et régulière, rassurante pour l'enfant auquel ils accordent toute leur attention à ces moments-là. Le rôle dit paternel est assuré de manière plus complexe, non seulement par le père mais aussi par d'autres personnages masculins ou même féminins et même par l'ensemble du réseau social lorsque celui-ci garde une bonne cohésion. Lorsqu'il est fonctionnel, ce modèle est tout aussi à même qu'un autre de répondre aux besoins affectifs, éducatifs et de socialisation d'un enfant. Après un rappel des conditions historiques et économiques ayant donné naissance à ce type très particulier d'organisation familiale, cet article présente à travers l'étude de trois cas cliniques comment les deux modèles (nucléaire et matrifocal) se côtoient dans les Antilles françaises, et comment les professionnels de santé mentale procèdent aux raccommodages en cas d'accrocs.Men and the paternal function in Caribbean families It has previously been noted that one of the essential features of Caribbean families is the dominant position of women. Compared with the Western model of the nuclear family, these "matrifocal" families can give the impression that men and fathers are only marginally present or completely absent from the family scene, thus encouraging clinicians to view these families as deficient or pathological and their children as being "single-parented". Following a review of historical and economic factors contributing to this particular organization of the Afro-Caribbean family, this article uses three clinical cases studies to highlight the following points : 1) extended matrifocal families can resourcefully respond to the child's fundamental socialization needs ; 2) the paternal role can be and is often fulfilled in these families in a variety of ways (by fathers as well as others persons or social groups) which appropriately meet the developmental needs of the child ; and 3) when Caribbean families' ability to "father" the child is disrupted (through social isolation, emigration, developmental problems), mental health professionals should try to promote the (re)construction of an extended family network which applies more flexible concepts of "fatherhood" than those dictated by the nuclear family model.Los hombres y la función paternal en la familia antillana El modelo matrifocal de la organisación familial queda siempre preponderante en las Antillas Menores a pesar de una confrontación anciana al modelo nuclear occidental. Debe sus particularidades a las condiciones de su desarrollo inicial en el contexto de la esclavitud y su conservación esta favorisada por ciertas disposiciones sociales en las Antillas francesas. En este modelo los padres parecen gravitar a la periferia de la familia pero sin embargo estar invisibles, ausentes o en conflicto. Su presencia en el domicilio puede ser intermitente, pero de manera previsible y regular, tranquilizadora para el niño a quien acuerdan toda su atención durante estos momentos. El papel dicho paternal esta asegurado de manera más compleja, no solamente por el padre pero tambien por otros personajes masculinos o aun femeninos y hasta por el conjunto del red social cuando este mantiene una buena cohesión. Cuando es funcional, este modelo puede a pesar de todo responder como otro a las necesidades afectivas, educativas y de socialización de un niño. Después de una evocación de las condiciones historicas y economicas que dieron nacimiento a este tipo particular de organisación familial, a través el estudio de tres casos clinicos, este artículo presenta como los dos modelos (nuclear y matrifocal) se relacionan en las Antillas francesas y como los profesionales de la salud proceden en el arreglo en casos de desgarrones

Training Symbol-Based Equalization for Quadrature Duobinary PDM-FTN Systems

A training symbol-based equalization algorithm is proposed for polarization de-multiplexing in quadrature duobinary (QDB) modulated polarization division multiplexedfaster-than-Nyquist (FTN) coherent optical systems. The proposed algorithm is based on the least mean square algorithm, and multiple location candidates of a symbol are considered in order to make use of the training symbols with QDB modulation.Results show that an excellent convergence performance is obtained using the proposed algorithm under different polarization alignment scenarios. The optical signal-to-noise ratio required to attain a bit error rate of 2*10-2 is reduced by 1.7 and 1.8 dB using the proposed algorithm, compared to systems using the constant modulus algorithm with differential coding for 4-ary quadrature amplitude modulation(4-QAM) and 16-QAM systems with symbol-by-symbol detection, respectively.Furthermore, comparisons with the Tomlinson-Harashima precoding-based FTN systems illustrate that QDB is preferable when 4-QAM is utilized

Conceptualising, designing and drafting a monthly multi-family therapy programme and manual for adolescents with anorexia nervosa

International audienceThe written transmission of therapists' expertise in manuals is an important issue which is highlighted in the literature. Manuals are essential for research, training and therapeutic guidance. However, the conceptualisation, design and drafting of therapy manuals have received little attention. Our team conceptualised and designed a 10-monthly session multi-family therapy programme for adolescents suffering from anorexia nervosa. This paper presents the methodology used to evolve from training and theoretical models to designing a programme and drafting the accompanying manual. We then describe how our team reached a consensus regarding the role to be attributed to food-related symptoms in the programme. These arduous tasks were rewarded by fruitful discussions among team members, which led to a shared theory of treatment. The methodology presented here is drawn from both the experience of specialised teams and from that of families in providing care to adolescents with anorexia nervosa

Evolution of essential clinical characteristics between baseline and 18-month follow-up.

<p>Evolution of essential clinical characteristics between baseline and 18-month follow-up.</p

Statistical analysis: Predictive factors at baseline of the 18-month outcome criteria and adjustment variables.

<p>EE: Expressed Emotion; TAU: Treatment as Usual; systemic FT: Family Therapy; EOI: Emotional Over-Involvement; BMI: Body Mass Index; AN: Anorexia Nervosa.</p

Multivariate regression models predictors of 18-month outcome criteria.

<p>Multivariate regression models predictors of 18-month outcome criteria.</p

Parental levels of Expressed Emotion at baseline.

<p>Parental levels of Expressed Emotion at baseline.</p

Caregivers in anorexia nervosa: is grief underlying parental burden?

AUTEURS : The members of the EVHAN GroupInternational audiencePurpose: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a severe chronic disorder and parents’ experience of caregiving is usually marked by emotional distress and burden. Severe chronic psychiatric disorders are known to be linked with the concept of grief. Grief has not been investigated in AN. The aim of this study was to explore parents’ and adolescents’ characteristics that may be related to parental burden and grief in AN, and the link between these two dimensions. Methods: Eighty mothers, 55 fathers and their adolescents (N = 84) hospitalized for AN participated in this study. Evaluations of clinical characteristics of the adolescent’s illness were completed, as well as self-evaluations of adolescent and parental emotional distress (anxiety, depression, alexithymia). Levels of parental burden were evaluated with the Experience of Caregiving Inventory and levels of parental grief with the Mental Illness Version of the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief. Results: Main findings indicated that the burden was higher in parents of adolescents with a more severe AN; fathers’ burden was also significantly and positively related to their own level of anxiety. Parental grief was higher when adolescents’ clinical state was more severe. Paternal grief was related to higher anxiety and depression, while maternal grief was correlated to higher alexithymia and depression. Paternal burden was explained by the father’s anxiety and grief, maternal burden by the mother’s grief and her child’s clinical state. Conclusion: Parents of adolescents suffering from AN showed high levels of burden, emotional distress and grief. These inter-related experiences should be specific targets for intervention aimed at supporting parents. Our results support the extensive literature on the need to assist fathers and mothers in their caregiving role. This in turn may improve both their mental health and their abilities as caregivers of their suffering child. Level of evidence: Level III: Evidence obtained from cohort or case-control analytic studies