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The nature and frequency of comorbidities upon notification of multiple sclerosis (MS) are not well known. In France, MS is one of the 30 long-term illnesses (affections de longue durée, ALD) for which 100 % of patients' health care costs are covered by the main French health insurance system. We conducted a study among 22,087 patients who had contracted MS before their 45th birthday and had obtained ALD status between 1995 and 2004. Comorbidities diagnosed at MS notification were described. The age at which MS was registered in patients with a previous comorbidity was compared with that in those patients with no previous comorbidities. Among the 22,087 patients, 21,119 (95 %) had ALD status for MS only, 653 (3 %) had a comorbidity status diagnosed at the same time as MS. Of these comorbidities, 86.8 % could be grouped into five main categories: psychiatric disease (40.2 %), autoimmune disease (24.5 %), cardiovascular disease (16.2 %), cancer (12.2 %), and metabolic disease (9.0 %). Psychiatric disorders and diabetes were more frequent in MS patients than in the general population of the same age. The mean age at request for ALD status for MS in patients with no comorbidity was 33.6 ± 7.2 years, whereas it was 36.9 ± 6.5 years in those with comorbidities. Comorbidities at MS notification are rare. Psychiatric disorders and diabetes were more frequent in MS patients than in the general population.

Background: Pathological Internet use (PIU) has been conceptualized as an impulse-control disorder that shares characteristics with behavioral addiction. Research has indicated a potential link between PIU and psychopathology; however, the significance of the correlation remains ambiguous. The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify and evaluate studies performed on the correlation between PIU and comorbid psychopathology; the secondary aims were to map the geographical distribution of studies, present a current synthesis of the evidence, and assess the quality of available research., Sampling and Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, PsycARTICLES, PsychINFO, Global Health, and Web of Science. PIU and known synonyms were included in the search. Data were extracted based on PIU and psychopathology, including depression, anxiety, symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive symptoms, social phobia and hostility/aggression. Effect sizes for the correlations observed were identified from either the respective publication or calculated using Cohen's d or R(2). The potential effect of publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot model and evaluated by Egger's test based on a linear regression., Results: The majority of research was conducted in Asia and comprised cross-sectional designs. Only one prospective study was identified. Twenty articles met the preset inclusion and exclusion criteria; 75% reported significant correlations of PIU with depression, 57% with anxiety, 100% with symptoms of ADHD, 60% with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and 66% with hostility/aggression. No study reported associations between PIU and social phobia. The majority of studies reported a higher rate of PIU among males than females. The relative risks ranged from an OR of 1.02 to an OR of 11.66. The strongest correlations were observed between PIU and depression; the weakest was hostility/aggression., Conclusions: Depression and symptoms of ADHD appeared to have the most significant and consistent correlation with PIU. Associations were reported to be higher among males in all age groups. Limitations included heterogeneity in the definition and diagnosis of PIU. More studies with prospective designs in Western countries are critically needed., (Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Aims: To investigate the prevalence of pathological internet use (PIU) and maladaptive internet use (MIU) among adolescents in 11 European countries in relation to demographic, social factors and internet accessibility., Design: Cross-sectional survey., Setting: The 7th Framework European Union (EU) funded project, Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE), is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating interventions for risk behaviours among adolescents in Austria, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Romania, Slovenia and Spain, with Sweden serving as the coordinating centre., Participants: A total of 11 956 adolescents (female/male: 6731/5225; mean age: 14.9 ± 0.89) recruited from randomly selected schools within the 11 study sites., Measurements: Internet users were classified by gender into three categories: adaptive, maladaptive and pathological, based on their score in the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction (YDQ)., Findings: The overall prevalence of PIU was 4.4%; it was higher among males than females (5.2% versus 3.8%) and differed between countries (χ(2)  = 309.98; d.f. = 20; P < 0.001). PIU correlated significantly with mean hours online and male gender. The highest-ranked online activities were watching videos, frequenting chatrooms and social networking; significantly higher rates of playing single-user games were found in males and social networking in females. Living in metropolitan areas was associated with PIU. Students not living with a biological parent, low parental involvement and parental unemployment showed the highest relative risks of both MIU and PIU., Conclusions: Across a range of countries in Europe, using the Young Diagnostic Questionnaire for Internet Addiction yields a prevalence of 'pathological internet use' of 4.4% among adolescents, but varies by country and gender; adolescents lacking emotional and psychological support are at highest risk., (© 2012 The Authors, Addiction © 2012 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

Background: In France, the incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is not well known, and MS is one of the 30 long-term illnesses for which patients are covered for 100% of their health care costs., Objective: To estimate the incidence of MS in France and its geographic variations., Methods: We estimated the national rate for notification of MS to the main French health insurance system, and its confidence interval (CI), between November 2000 and October 2007, which covers 87% of the population. We analysed geographic variations using a Bayesian approach., Results: Between November 2000 and October 2007, among a covered population of 52,449,871, some 28,682 individuals were registered as having MS. After age standardization according to the European population, the notification rate for MS was 6.8 per 100,000 (6.7-6.9), 9.8 (9.7-10.0) in women and 3.7 (3.6-3.8) in men. When the under-notification rate (11.5% and 29%) was taken into account, the notification rate per 100,000 inhabitants was estimated between 7.6 and 8.8. The notification rate was higher in north-eastern France, and lower on the Atlantic coast and in the Alps as well as on both sides of the Rhône River., Conclusions: This study, conducted on a representative French population, provides for the first time national estimates of MS incidence between November 2000 and October 2007.

It has been suggested that a high intake of dietary fibre helps regulate energy intake and satiety. The present study aimed to examine whether dietary fibre influenced the liking and wanting components of the food reward system, the metabolic state or subsequent intake. Five sessions involving 32 normal-weight subjects (16 men and 16 women, 30.6 ± 7.6 year) were held. The sessions differed in the composition of the bread eaten during breakfasts (dietary fibre content varied from 2.4 to 12.8 g/100 g). Several factors such as the palatability, weight, volume, energy content and macronutrient composition of the breakfasts were adjusted. Energy expenditure, the respiratory quotient (R), olfactory liking for four foods, wanting for six other foods, and hunger sensations were evaluated before and after the breakfast, as well as before a morning snack. The results showed no significant differences after ingestion of the various breads. Interestingly, R correlated with olfactory liking and with wanting, which highlights in an original manner the influence of the metabolic state on hedonic sensations for food. In conclusion, dietary fibre was found to have no effect on olfactory liking and wanting, and had no detectable effect on satiety sensations or on subsequent energy intake., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)