OBJETIVOS: Avaliar associações prospectivas dos transtornos de humor e da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio em adultos jovens provenientes da população geral. MÉTODO: Coorte prospectiva de base populacional. Adultos jovens (18-24 anos) foram recrutados e acompanhados em média cinco anos depois. Risco de suicídio, transtornos de humor e de ansiedade foram avaliados usando o Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Transtornos por uso de substâncias foram avaliados utilizando o Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. A religiosidade foi avaliada na linha de base e agrupada de acordo com a afiliação religiosa e de acordo com a freqüência de participação. RESULTADOS: A amostra incluiu 1560 adultos jovens na linha de base, com 1244 reavaliados no seguimento (80,6%). Os episódios depressivos, tanto atuais como prévios, tiveram um impacto significativo no risco de suicídio. Os episódios maníacos prévios, no entanto, foram associados com uma menor consistência a um risco de suicídio. Nenhuma associação da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio foi encontrada nas duas etapas da pesquisa. Este resultado permaneceu na análise em todas as afiliações religiosas, mesmo quando subdivididas de acordo com a freqüência de participação. CONCLUSÕES: Os episódios depressivos têm um robusto efeito prospectivo, independente, sobre o risco de suicídio. O efeito dos episódios maníacos, por outro lado, foi dependente da análise e merece uma melhor investigação. Embora existam evidências prévias sugerindo um papel protetor da religiosidade sobre o risco de suicídio, essas não foram confirmadas nessa amostra específica de adultos jovens. / OBJECTIVES: To assess the prospective associations of mood disorders, religiosity and suicidality in a community sample of young adults. METHODS: Prospective population-based cohort study. Young adults (18-24 years old) were recruited and followed-up five years later. Suicidality, mood and anxiety disorders were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Substance use disorders were assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Religiosity were assessed at baseline and grouped according to religious affiliation and according to attendance frequency. RESULTS: The sample included 1560 young adults at baseline, with 1244 reassessed at follow-up (80.6%). Depressive episodes, both current and past had a significant impact on suicidality. Previous manic episodes, however, were less consistently associated with suicidality. No association of religiosity with suicidality was found in the two waves of the research. This effect is maintained in all religious affiliations, even when subdivided the analysis according to the frequency of attendance in religious service. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive episodes have an independent and robust effect on prospective suicidality. The effect of manic episodes, on the other hand, was dependent on the analysis and deserves further exploration. Although there is prior general evidence suggesting a protective role of religiosity on suicidality, these were not confirmed in this specific sample of young adults.

This program of research examines the experience of chronic pain in a community sample. While, it is clear that like patient samples, chronic pain in non-patient samples is also associated with psychological distress and physical disability, the experience of pain across the total spectrum of pain conditions (including acute and episodic pain conditions) and during the early course of chronic pain is less clear. Information about these aspects of the pain experience is important because effective early intervention for chronic pain relies on identification of people who are likely to progress to chronicity post-injury. A conceptual model of the transition from acute to chronic pain was proposed by Gatchel (1991a). In brief, Gatchel’s model describes three stages that individuals who have a serious pain experience move through, each with worsening psychological dysfunction and physical disability. The aims of this program of research were to describe the experience of pain in a community sample in order to obtain pain-specific data on the problem of pain in Queensland, and to explore the usefulness of Gatchel’s Model in a non-clinical sample. Additionally, five risk factors and six protective factors were proposed as possible extensions to Gatchel’s Model. To address these aims, a prospective longitudinal mixed-method research design was used. Quantitative data was collected in Phase 1 via a comprehensive postal questionnaire. Phase 2 consisted of a follow-up questionnaire 3 months post-baseline. Phase 3 consisted of semi-structured interviews with a subset of the original sample 12 months post follow-up, which used qualitative data to provide a further in-depth examination of the experience and process of chronic pain from respondents’ point of view. The results indicate chronic pain is associated with high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms. However, the levels of disability reported by this Queensland sample were generally lower than those reported by clinical samples and consistent with disability data reported in a New South Wales population-based study. With regard to the second aim of this program of research, while some elements of the pain experience of this sample were consistent with that described by Gatchel’s Model, overall the model was not a good fit with the experience of this non-clinical sample. The findings indicate that passive coping strategies (minimising activity), catastrophising, self efficacy, optimism, social support, active strategies (use of distraction) and the belief that emotions affect pain may be important to consider in understanding the processes that underlie the transition to and continuation of chronic pain.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar associações prospectivas dos transtornos de humor e da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio em adultos jovens provenientes da população geral. MÉTODO: Coorte prospectiva de base populacional. Adultos jovens (18-24 anos) foram recrutados e acompanhados em média cinco anos depois. Risco de suicídio, transtornos de humor e de ansiedade foram avaliados usando o Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Transtornos por uso de substâncias foram avaliados utilizando o Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. A religiosidade foi avaliada na linha de base e agrupada de acordo com a afiliação religiosa e de acordo com a freqüência de participação. RESULTADOS: A amostra incluiu 1560 adultos jovens na linha de base, com 1244 reavaliados no seguimento (80,6%). Os episódios depressivos, tanto atuais como prévios, tiveram um impacto significativo no risco de suicídio. Os episódios maníacos prévios, no entanto, foram associados com uma menor consistência a um risco de suicídio. Nenhuma associação da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio foi encontrada nas duas etapas da pesquisa. Este resultado permaneceu na análise em todas as afiliações religiosas, mesmo quando subdivididas de acordo com a freqüência de participação. CONCLUSÕES: Os episódios depressivos têm um robusto efeito prospectivo, independente, sobre o risco de suicídio. O efeito dos episódios maníacos, por outro lado, foi dependente da análise e merece uma melhor investigação. Embora existam evidências prévias sugerindo um papel protetor da religiosidade sobre o risco de suicídio, essas não foram confirmadas nessa amostra específica de adultos jovens. / OBJECTIVES: To assess the prospective associations of mood disorders, religiosity and suicidality in a community sample of young adults. METHODS: Prospective population-based cohort study. Young adults (18-24 years old) were recruited and followed-up five years later. Suicidality, mood and anxiety disorders were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Substance use disorders were assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Religiosity were assessed at baseline and grouped according to religious affiliation and according to attendance frequency. RESULTS: The sample included 1560 young adults at baseline, with 1244 reassessed at follow-up (80.6%). Depressive episodes, both current and past had a significant impact on suicidality. Previous manic episodes, however, were less consistently associated with suicidality. No association of religiosity with suicidality was found in the two waves of the research. This effect is maintained in all religious affiliations, even when subdivided the analysis according to the frequency of attendance in religious service. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive episodes have an independent and robust effect on prospective suicidality. The effect of manic episodes, on the other hand, was dependent on the analysis and deserves further exploration. Although there is prior general evidence suggesting a protective role of religiosity on suicidality, these were not confirmed in this specific sample of young adults.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar associações prospectivas dos transtornos de humor e da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio em adultos jovens provenientes da população geral. MÉTODO: Coorte prospectiva de base populacional. Adultos jovens (18-24 anos) foram recrutados e acompanhados em média cinco anos depois. Risco de suicídio, transtornos de humor e de ansiedade foram avaliados usando o Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Transtornos por uso de substâncias foram avaliados utilizando o Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. A religiosidade foi avaliada na linha de base e agrupada de acordo com a afiliação religiosa e de acordo com a freqüência de participação. RESULTADOS: A amostra incluiu 1560 adultos jovens na linha de base, com 1244 reavaliados no seguimento (80,6%). Os episódios depressivos, tanto atuais como prévios, tiveram um impacto significativo no risco de suicídio. Os episódios maníacos prévios, no entanto, foram associados com uma menor consistência a um risco de suicídio. Nenhuma associação da religiosidade com o risco de suicídio foi encontrada nas duas etapas da pesquisa. Este resultado permaneceu na análise em todas as afiliações religiosas, mesmo quando subdivididas de acordo com a freqüência de participação. CONCLUSÕES: Os episódios depressivos têm um robusto efeito prospectivo, independente, sobre o risco de suicídio. O efeito dos episódios maníacos, por outro lado, foi dependente da análise e merece uma melhor investigação. Embora existam evidências prévias sugerindo um papel protetor da religiosidade sobre o risco de suicídio, essas não foram confirmadas nessa amostra específica de adultos jovens. / OBJECTIVES: To assess the prospective associations of mood disorders, religiosity and suicidality in a community sample of young adults. METHODS: Prospective population-based cohort study. Young adults (18-24 years old) were recruited and followed-up five years later. Suicidality, mood and anxiety disorders were assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Substance use disorders were assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Religiosity were assessed at baseline and grouped according to religious affiliation and according to attendance frequency. RESULTS: The sample included 1560 young adults at baseline, with 1244 reassessed at follow-up (80.6%). Depressive episodes, both current and past had a significant impact on suicidality. Previous manic episodes, however, were less consistently associated with suicidality. No association of religiosity with suicidality was found in the two waves of the research. This effect is maintained in all religious affiliations, even when subdivided the analysis according to the frequency of attendance in religious service. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive episodes have an independent and robust effect on prospective suicidality. The effect of manic episodes, on the other hand, was dependent on the analysis and deserves further exploration. Although there is prior general evidence suggesting a protective role of religiosity on suicidality, these were not confirmed in this specific sample of young adults.

Pouco se sabe sobre a presença de sintomas psicóticos em idosos sem diagnóstico de demência, levando a dificuldades no esclarecimento da etiologia, na ausência de informações quanto a possíveis diagnósticos e no manejo clínico. Os estudos sobre a incidência de sintomas psicóticos nessa população são ainda mais escassos e limitados. Os dados disponíveis na literatura são todos provenientes de estudos em populações de países desenvolvidos. A prevalência de sintomas psicóticos em idosos sem diagnóstico de demência varia de 0,9 a 10,5%, já a incidência na literatura varia entre 4,8 e 8,0%. É possível especular sobre alguns fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de sintomas psicóticos em indivíduos sem demência: idade avançada, gênero feminino, comprometimento sensorial, pior desempenho cognitivo, isolamento social, pior funcionalidade. Dados recentes sugerem os sintomas psicóticos como uma expressão prodrômica da demência, devido a sintomas como alucinações, delírios e ideação paranoide estarem associados ao aumento da incidência de demência no acompanhamento, à maior presença deles à medida que a faixa etária sobe e à menor média no escore do Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) em indivíduos com tais sintomas. Objetivamos determinar a incidência de sintomas psicóticos, correlacioná-los com características clínicas e estabelecer uma taxa de conversão em idosos sem comprometimento cognitivo. Este estudo foi realizado em uma amostra de idosos de comunidade de São Paulo, sendo a amostra inicial composta por 1.125 indivíduos acima de 60 anos. Destes, 547 foram reavaliados em 2011 e submetidos ao mesmo protocolo inicial. Não tinham sintomas psicóticos na primeira fase 199 e 64 já possuíam em 2006. A incidência de ao menos um sintoma psicótico em 7 anos foi 8,0% (alucinações visuais/táteis: 4,5%; ideias persecutórias: 3,0%; alucinações auditivas: 2,5%). A incidência esteve relacionada à epilepsia (OR: 7,75 e 15,83), baixa pontuação no MEEM (OR: 0,72) e depressão referida (OR: 6,48). 57,8% dos indivíduos com sintomas psicóticos, mas sem demência na fase I, desenvolveram comprometimento cognitivo em 7 anos (alucinações visuais/táteis foram preditivas - OR: 5,66), o que estava relacionado a baixo MEEM e comprometimento funcional. A incidência de sintomas psicóticos e a taxa de conversão em comprometimento cognitivo estão no limite superior dos dados da literatura. Alucinações visuais/táteis foram os sintomas mais incidentes e os únicos preditivos para a evolução para comprometimento cognitivo em 5 anos. Encontramos importantes relações entre sintomas psicóticos e MEEM, crises convulsivas, depressão referida, diabetes e sífilis / Background: Studies of the incidence of psychotic symptoms in elderly people at risk of dementia are scarce. This is a seven year follow up study aiming to determine the incidence of psychotic symptoms and their correlation with other clinical aspects as well as conversion rates to cognitive impairment. Objectives: To determine the incidence of psychotic symptoms, correlate these symptoms with clinical characteristics and establish the conversion rate to cognitively impaired individuals. Design: Cross-sectional study of a community-based sample of elderly subjects. Setting: City of Sao Paulo, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants: The original sample was composed of 1,125 individuals aged 60 years and older from a community. Among this sample, 547 subjects were re-evaluated in 2011 and submitted to the same protocol. Of these, 199 did not have psychotic symptoms at phase I and 64 already had psychotic symptoms in 2006. Results: The incidence of at least one psychotic symptom in 7 years was 8.0% (Visual/tactile hallucinations: 4.5%; Persecutory delusions: 3.0%; Auditory hallucinations: 2.5%). Psychotic symptom incidence was associated with epilepsy (OR: 7.75 and 15.83), lower MMSE (OR: 0.72) and reported depression (OR: 6.48). A total of 57.8% of individuals with psychotic symptoms but without dementia at phase I developed cognitive impairment after 7 years (visual/tactile hallucinations were the only psychotic symptom predictive of this impairment - OR: 5.66), which was related to lower MMSE and increased functional impairment. Conclusions: The incidence of psychotic symptoms and the conversion rate to cognitive impairment was in the upper range of previous literature reports. Visual/tactile hallucinations were the most incident symptoms and the only predictive psychotic symptoms for cognitive impairment in 5 years. Important relationships were found between psychotic symptoms incidence and MMSE, epilepsy, reported depression, diabetes and syphilis

We examined prospectively whether mania and hypomania are associated with an elevated risk for suicidality in a community sample of adolescents and young adults. Baseline and four-year follow-up data were used from the Early-Developmental- Stages-of-Psychopathology (EDSP) Study, a prospective longitudinal study of adolescents and young adults in Munich. Suicidal tendencies (ideation/attempts), mania, and hypomania were assessed using the standardized Munich-Composite-International- Diagnostic-Interview. At baseline, mania/hypomania was associated to a different degree with suicidality (Odds ratios [OR] range from 1.9 to 13.7). In the prospective analyses, the risk for subsequent incident suicidal ideation was increased in the presence of prior mania (38.0% vs. 14.1%; OR = 4:4; 95% CI = 1.4–13.5). No associations could be found between prior mania/hypo-mania and incident suicide attempts. The prospective analyses revealed a remarkable relationship between preexisting mania and increased risk for subsequent suicidal ideation.

Unipolar depression, estimated to be the leading contributor to burden of disease in middle- and high-income countries, often has an onset in adolescence. The disorder is associated with substantial role impairment and is highly recurrent. This raises questions about both subsequent mental health and social outcome. In order to shed light on this, a community sample of adolescents with depression and non-depressed peers was followed-up after 15 years. In 1991-93, first-year students in upper secondary school (age 16-17) in the town of Uppsala, Sweden, were screened for depression. Adolescents with positive screening and selected peers with negative screening (n=631 in total) were assessed regarding mental health, social situation, and personality. At around age 31, the participants were followed-up in both national registers (n=609) and personal interviews (n=409). Outcome regarding social factors, mental health, and personality was assessed. At follow-up, the former depressed adolescents had completed higher education to a lesser extent than the former non-depressed adolescents. The females with adolescent depression were also at increased risk of subsequent abortion, divorce, single parenthood, and partner violence. Characteristics associated with depression in adolescence (such as poor school performance and disruptive disorders) seemed to contribute to the poor outcome in the social domain. Regarding adult mental health, long-term depression in adolescence was associated with a particularly poor outcome. Compared to adolescents with shorter episodes of depression, those with long-term depression were more likely to report recurrent depression, suicidal ideation, and a range of other mental disorders in adulthood. Measures of personality traits related to neuroticism (a tendency towards negative emotionality) were elevated during ongoing depression and anxiety disorders, but were normalized with remission. However, repeated depressive episodes seemed to leave the individual more vulnerable to stress. It is now important to assess if early treatment can alter the poor outcome depicted in this thesis. Since social adversity, educational difficulties, and interpersonal problems accompany the depressive disorder from adolescence onward, it should also be investigated if interventions aimed at such contextual factors can prevent recurrence and improve quality of life.

Pouco se sabe sobre a presença de sintomas psicóticos em idosos sem diagnóstico de demência, levando a dificuldades no esclarecimento da etiologia, na ausência de informações quanto a possíveis diagnósticos e no manejo clínico. Os estudos sobre a incidência de sintomas psicóticos nessa população são ainda mais escassos e limitados. Os dados disponíveis na literatura são todos provenientes de estudos em populações de países desenvolvidos. A prevalência de sintomas psicóticos em idosos sem diagnóstico de demência varia de 0,9 a 10,5%, já a incidência na literatura varia entre 4,8 e 8,0%. É possível especular sobre alguns fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de sintomas psicóticos em indivíduos sem demência: idade avançada, gênero feminino, comprometimento sensorial, pior desempenho cognitivo, isolamento social, pior funcionalidade. Dados recentes sugerem os sintomas psicóticos como uma expressão prodrômica da demência, devido a sintomas como alucinações, delírios e ideação paranoide estarem associados ao aumento da incidência de demência no acompanhamento, à maior presença deles à medida que a faixa etária sobe e à menor média no escore do Miniexame do Estado Mental (MEEM) em indivíduos com tais sintomas. Objetivamos determinar a incidência de sintomas psicóticos, correlacioná-los com características clínicas e estabelecer uma taxa de conversão em idosos sem comprometimento cognitivo. Este estudo foi realizado em uma amostra de idosos de comunidade de São Paulo, sendo a amostra inicial composta por 1.125 indivíduos acima de 60 anos. Destes, 547 foram reavaliados em 2011 e submetidos ao mesmo protocolo inicial. Não tinham sintomas psicóticos na primeira fase 199 e 64 já possuíam em 2006. A incidência de ao menos um sintoma psicótico em 7 anos foi 8,0% (alucinações visuais/táteis: 4,5%; ideias persecutórias: 3,0%; alucinações auditivas: 2,5%). A incidência esteve relacionada à epilepsia (OR: 7,75 e 15,83), baixa pontuação no MEEM (OR: 0,72) e depressão referida (OR: 6,48). 57,8% dos indivíduos com sintomas psicóticos, mas sem demência na fase I, desenvolveram comprometimento cognitivo em 7 anos (alucinações visuais/táteis foram preditivas - OR: 5,66), o que estava relacionado a baixo MEEM e comprometimento funcional. A incidência de sintomas psicóticos e a taxa de conversão em comprometimento cognitivo estão no limite superior dos dados da literatura. Alucinações visuais/táteis foram os sintomas mais incidentes e os únicos preditivos para a evolução para comprometimento cognitivo em 5 anos. Encontramos importantes relações entre sintomas psicóticos e MEEM, crises convulsivas, depressão referida, diabetes e sífilis / Background: Studies of the incidence of psychotic symptoms in elderly people at risk of dementia are scarce. This is a seven year follow up study aiming to determine the incidence of psychotic symptoms and their correlation with other clinical aspects as well as conversion rates to cognitive impairment. Objectives: To determine the incidence of psychotic symptoms, correlate these symptoms with clinical characteristics and establish the conversion rate to cognitively impaired individuals. Design: Cross-sectional study of a community-based sample of elderly subjects. Setting: City of Sao Paulo, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Participants: The original sample was composed of 1,125 individuals aged 60 years and older from a community. Among this sample, 547 subjects were re-evaluated in 2011 and submitted to the same protocol. Of these, 199 did not have psychotic symptoms at phase I and 64 already had psychotic symptoms in 2006. Results: The incidence of at least one psychotic symptom in 7 years was 8.0% (Visual/tactile hallucinations: 4.5%; Persecutory delusions: 3.0%; Auditory hallucinations: 2.5%). Psychotic symptom incidence was associated with epilepsy (OR: 7.75 and 15.83), lower MMSE (OR: 0.72) and reported depression (OR: 6.48). A total of 57.8% of individuals with psychotic symptoms but without dementia at phase I developed cognitive impairment after 7 years (visual/tactile hallucinations were the only psychotic symptom predictive of this impairment - OR: 5.66), which was related to lower MMSE and increased functional impairment. Conclusions: The incidence of psychotic symptoms and the conversion rate to cognitive impairment was in the upper range of previous literature reports. Visual/tactile hallucinations were the most incident symptoms and the only predictive psychotic symptoms for cognitive impairment in 5 years. Important relationships were found between psychotic symptoms incidence and MMSE, epilepsy, reported depression, diabetes and syphilis

Les liens entre facteurs socio démographiques et trajectoires de consommation d’alcool chez les jeunes restent peu connus. De même, les études sur les liens entre trajectoire socio-économique et consommation d’alcool ont échoué à montrer un effet propre de la trajectoire socio-économique. Enfin, la littérature qui est disponible actuellement ne permet pas de dégager un consensus sur l'effet du sexe des enfants et des parents dans la transmission intergénérationnelle de la consommation d'alcool. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’identifier les déterminants sociaux, économiques et démographiques des trajectoires de consommation d’alcool chez les jeunes. Il s’est agi d’une étude de cohorte prospective menée en population générale dans la cohorte TEMPO [(n=2.582, âgées de 4 à 16 ans en 1991), (n=1.333, âgés de 12 à 25 ans en 1999), (n=1.103, âgés de 22 à 35 ans en 2009)], et pour lesquels les données ont été recueillies par auto-questionnaire postal, incluant des jeunes dont un des parents participe à la cohorte GAZEL. Il est ressorti de nos analyses que la consommation excessive d’alcool qui s’installe au début de l’adolescence est un phénomène limité dans le temps chez la majorité des jeunes. Elle persiste dans des sous populations particulières comme les personnes issues de catégorie sociale défavorisée et les jeunes femmes. La situation sociale, mesurée par la trajectoire sociale de l’enfance au début de l’âge adulte, est un facteur prédictif de la consommation d’alcool au début de l’âge adulte. Les tendances de certains de nos résultats laissent penser que les mécanismes à l’œuvre dans un possible lien parents-descendance pour l'abus d'alcool pourraient être en lien avec le sexe des jeunes. Ces résultats suggèrent que la trajectoire de consommation d’alcool chez les jeunes est en partie déterminée par des facteurs sociodémographiques présents précocement, au cours de l’enfance et l’adolescence. Etant donné les risques de l’abus d'alcool chez les jeunes tant sur leur santé que sur leur devenir social et professionnel à long terme, les trajectoires d'abus d'alcool devraient faire l'objet d'une surveillance plus accrue. La prise en compte des mécanismes sociaux à l’œuvre dans les trajectoires d'abus d'alcool chez les jeunes pourrait être contributive. / Young adulthood is a critical period in terms of establishing lifelong health behaviors, including alcohol use. Yet, trajectories of alcohol abuse from adolescence onwards are not well known.Using data from a longitudinal cohort study set up in France [(n=2,582, age 4-16 years in 1991), (n=1,333, age 12-25 years in 1999), (n=1,103, age 22-35 years in 2009)], we examined the relationship between repeated alcohol intoxication in adolescence and later alcohol abuse, testing whether this association varies depending on individuals’ sociodemographic characteristics. We also studied the hypothesis that patterns of alcohol use in young adulthood are associated with lifecourse socioeconomic trajectory. In addition, we examined the relationship between parental history of alcohol use and offspring’s alcohol use in young adulthood, testing differences according to sex.In most adolescents, alcohol abuse is a time-limited behavior. Nonetheless, in adolescent participants from low income families, in girls, the likelihood of persistent alcohol abuse beyond adolescence may be increased. We also found that young adults who had a persistently low socioeconomic position from childhood to young adulthood were more likely to abstain from alcohol even after controlling for demographic, social, psychological and family characteristics. Additionally, participants with a downward social trajectory were disproportionately likely to abuse alcohol. In addition, parental history of alcohol use is especially predictive of offspring’s young adulthood alcohol misuse in men.Our findings suggest that alcohol use patterns in young adulthood may be influenced by early socioeconomic factors, which should be confirmed by additional studies in the future. Given young people alcohol abuse risks about their health and their future social and professional situation, alcohol use trajectories from adolescence onwards should be better monitored. Taking into account social mechanisms that influence trajectories of alcohol abuse among young people could be contributive, which should be brought to the attention of policymakers and mental health specialists.

Bien que les contacts sexuels entre humains et animaux (bestialité et zoophilie) semblent exister depuis le tout début de l’histoire de l’humanité, les écrits scientifiques sur ce sujet demeurent peu nombreux. Au fil du temps, ce phénomène a été illustré dans l’art, dans la mythologie, dans les textes religieux, dans les procès de mœurs, les procès sur la défense des droits des animaux et dans bien d’autres sphères témoignant de la présence et de l’intérêt public pour ce phénomène. Ceci dit, ce n’est que dans les dernières décennies que les chercheurs ont tenté de décrire et de comprendre la zoophilie et la bestialité, et à ce jour, les études demeurent largement descriptives. La perception que les chercheurs ont de la zoophilie et de la bestialité est encore fragmentée et cette étude tente d’ajouter un nouveau morceau à cette mosaïque de connaissances en comparant sur différentes variables des personnes ayant ou ayant eu par le passé des contacts sexuels avec des animaux à des personnes n’ayant pas eu de tels contacts. Pour ce faire, nous nous sommes intéressés aux écrits, anciens et récents, et avons cherché à vérifier certaines des informations répertoriées dans ces écrits, et surtout, nous nous sommes demandé ce qui différenciait les deux groupes (outre les contacts sexuels avec les animaux). Au moyen de questionnaires informatisés et déposés sur un site internet créé pour l’étude, nous avons sondé 440 personnes à travers 27 pays (219 zoophiles et 221 non-zoophiles). Tous les participants ont été recrutés via internet et la participation à l’étude était entièrement anonyme. Les données colligées ont ensuite été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives (moyenne, écart-type, pourcentage), et d’analyses comparatives et exploratoires (ANONVA 2x2, Test-T, Chi-carré, Analyses de fonction discriminante). Plusieurs différences statistiquement significatives ont été observées. Ainsi, les différences observées portaient sur les caractéristiques démographiques, les variables psychosociales et la sexualité. Les principaux résultats ont établi que dans notre échantillon communautaire, les zoophiles étaient moins anxieux et avaient une meilleure estime de soi que les participants du groupe contrôle. Ils étaient aussi moins éduqués, moins fortunés et vivaient davantage en milieux ruraux ou mixte que les participants du groupe contrôle. La présente étude visait donc à contraster les données de zoophiles à celles de non-zoophiles sur des variables mise de l’avant dans des études antérieures afin de les mettre en perspective. Les études sur la zoophilie n’ayant jamais, à notre connaissance, utilisé de groupe contrôle, cette thèse offre un point de vue unique sur les caractéristiques des zoophiles ayant participé à l’étude. Enfin, cette thèse avait aussi pour but de fournir des pistes de réflexion pour de prochaines recherches sur le sujet. / Although sexual contacts between humans and animals (bestiality and zoophilia) seem to have existed since the very beginning of human history, the scientific literature on this subject remains scarce. Over time, this phenomenon has been illustrated in arts, mythology, religious texts, morals’ trials, animal rights’ trials, and in many other fields acknowledging the existence and public interest for the phenomenon. It is only in recent decades that researchers have attempted to describe and understand zoophilia and bestiality, and to date, these studies have remained largely descriptive. The researchers' understanding of zoophilia and bestiality is still fragmented, and the present study attempts to add a new piece to this mosaic of knowledge by comparing different variables of people who have or have had sexual contacts with animals to people who have not had such contacts. In order to do this, we took an interest in recent and older writings, and sought to verify some of the information provided in these writings. More precisely, we attempted to differentiate between these two groups. Using computerized questionnaires, we surveyed 440 people from 27 countries (219 zoophiles and 221 non-zoophiles). All participants were recruited via the internet and their participation to the study was entirely anonymous. The data collected were then analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage), and comparative and exploratory analyzes (ANONVA 2x2, T-test, Chi-square, Discriminant Function Analysis). Several statistically significant differences were observed in demographic characteristics, psychosocial variables and sexuality. The main findings were that in our community sample, zoophiles were less anxious and had better self-esteem than participants from the control group. They were also less educated, not as wealthy, felt lonelier, and lived more in rural or mixed environments than participants from the control group. This study aimed to contrast the data of zoophiles with those of non-zoophiles on variables put forward in previous studies in order to put them into perspective. Since studies on zoophilia have never, to our knowledge, used a control group, this thesis offers a unique point of view on the characteristics of the zoophiles who participated in the study. Finally, this thesis was also intended to provide some ideas for future research on the subject.