[Cognitive and emotional approach to assertiveness].

Assertiveness is an individual function which allows adaptation to social interaction. It needs an heterogeneous psychological processus using behavioral, cognitive and emotional components in its expression. Dysfunction in assertiveness contributes to anxious, depressive and personality disorders, representing a frequent impairment for patients.

[How to recognize personality disorders in general medicine].

Definition: The psychological traits characteristic of an individual define that person's personality. A personality disorder is considered to exist when it causes the person or his/her family or friends to suffer. Personality disorders are often associated with a state of depression, aggravating or prolonging it.

[Between anxiety and depression. The status of assertiveness disorders and social phobias].

The authors try to answer the question of the nosological status of social phobias and assertiveness difficulties, which are usually included in the large group of anxious troubles. The correlation between Rathus Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and sub-scores of HDRS were studied in two populations; the first one was constituted by anxious and/or depressed patients, the second, extracted from the first one, by anxious patients only. The results show that lack of assertiveness has probably both affective and anxious components.