Actualités Psychiatriques Européennes

As an aftermath to the 60th Congress of French-speaking psychiatrists, held in Antwerp last July, a retrospective of the main subjects studied at those sittings is attempted. New clhemotherapies belonging to the butyrophenone group such as Haloperidol, Haloanisone and Dipiperon raised interesting comments just as Valium and Amitryptilin Hydrochloride (Elavyl) was effective in endogenous depressions. A few personal considerations are made as to the value of psychopharmacology and the importance of an associated psychotherapy. Other papers were centered on the submission and discussion of two main reports. The authors summarize and comment reports one of which, entitled “Psychopathology of Expression” is a review of the various ways of verbal and plastic expression in the mental patient. Semantics of the language in the schizophrenic patient and the existence of a psychopathologic art offer interesting viewpoints. The Second Report of that Congress is both a criticism of occupational guidance tests and an outline of principles basic to the operation of psychomedico-social services. The definition of the test and the analysis of its various components are found in that Report. Finally, papers on conditioning in neuroses, post-puerperal psychoses and modern principles of psychiatric assistance retained the attention of Congress delegates. The rehabilitation of the mental patient is emphasized and the major problems of psychiatric hospitals are the same for our overesas neighbours.