ContextIn order to understand how certain personality traits influence the relation between depression symptoms and craving for alcohol, trait self-consciousness (trait SC) was examined during a withdrawal and detoxification program.MethodsCraving (Obsessive and Compulsive Drinking Scale), depressive state (Beck Depression Inventory) and trait SC (Revised Self-Consciousness Scale) were assessed in alcohol-dependent inpatients (DSM-IV, N = 30) both at the beginning (T1: day 1 or 2) and at the end (T2: day 14 to18) of protracted withdrawal during rehabilitation.ResultsA significant decrease in craving and depressive symptoms was observed from T1 to T2, while SC scores remained stable. At both times, strong positive correlations were observed between craving and depression. Moreover, regression analyses indicated that trait SC significantly moderated the impact of depression on cravings for alcohol.LimitationsThis study was performed on a relatively small sample size. Administration of medications during detoxification treatment can also be a confounding factor. Finally, craving could have been evaluated through other types of measurements.ConclusionsDuring protracted withdrawal, alcohol craving decreased with the same magnitude as depressive mood. Depressive symptoms were related to alcohol craving but only among patients with high trait SC scores. Our results suggest that metacognitive approaches targeting SC could decrease craving and, in turn, prevent future relapses.

Objective: Cancer patients consider the oncologist as their main resource insofar as the medical needs generally take precedence over psychological needs. Nevertheless, the psychological intervention is also important. The systematic consultation implemented in our hospital after a diagnosis of cancer is a manner to answer patients' psychological needs. In a survey, we assessed the satisfaction and expectations of the patients about this consultation. Methods: One year after a diagnosis of breast cancer, 104 patients answered a retrospective questionnaire assessing: sociodemographic data, cancer medical information, systematic consultation satisfaction, patients' expectations for a systematic intervention, and patients' characteristics who began a psychological follow-up. Results: 72.1% of the patients were satisfied with having the opportunity to consult a psychologist during a systematic consultation after cancer diagnosis. Their expectations were to have opportunities of emotional expression, reassurance, obtaining additional medical information, talking about their fear over additional treatments, and identifying further support. 28.8% of the patients re-contacted the psychologist for further help after the systematic consultation. They were significantly younger (p < 0.001) than the others. Conclusions: Besides the importance of support by medical specialists [1], offering the opportunity to breast cancer patients to discuss inner feelings and treatment expectations during a systematic psychological consultation was useful for most of them. About one third of the patients asked for a further consultation with a psychologist after a first systematic consultation, especially younger patients. This stressed the importance D. Ogez et al. 316 of the role of psychologists for psycho-social support of the patient after cancer treatment.