[Stockholm Syndrome and controlling relationships: to understand and act].

Stockholm Syndrome is not a validated psychiatric diagnosis but is widely used in abusive situations where the behaviour of the victims is otherwise inexplicable. It carries a heavily judgmental weight. Comparison with ascendency abusive relationship shows common points, giving a better understanding of its mechanisms and subsequent victims behavior, which are of dire consequences in social, therapeutic and legal terms.

[Ascendency abusive relationship: submission is not consent].

Known since the 80's, control relationship is a fundamental of perverse interactions. It has grievous consequences on individuals and societal mental health. We will describe its definition, who are the perpe-trators and their strategies, who are the victims, how it develops with what consequences, what are the therapeutic principles.

[Short and medium-term effectiveness of the emergency-crisis treatments for couples and families: results and perspectives].

From 2007 to 2010, the emergency-crisis unit of the Couple and Family Consultation Unit -UCCF (West Psychiatric Service, Prangins Psychiatric Hospital, Psychiatric Department of CHUV) has carried out a research about the relevance and usefulness of emergency-crisis, systemic-oriented treatments, for deeply distressed couples and families. Besides epidemiologic data, we present results demonstrating the efficiency of those treatments, both at short-term and at a one year's range. The global impact of such treatments in terms of public health, but also economical issues, make us believe that they should be fully included in the new trend of psychiatric ambulatory care, into the social net.

[Couples and families emergency/crisis consultation: emergency patterns and treatment assessment].

Since the opening in 2003 of the Couple & Family Consultation Unit (UCCF) at Prangins Hospital, we have met urgent demands and observed that the suffering systems (i.e., couples and families) couldn't face any waiting period.

[Acute confusional episode--delirium in elderly patients. Definition, etiology and treatment].

Delirium, (acute confusional episode in European nomenclature) frequently occurs to elderly patients. This confusional condition is characterized by a sudden beginning and fluctuating clinical manifestations. It can bring out or showup a large number of illnesses.