NPG Neurologie - Psychiatrie - Geriatrie
Volume 17, Issue 97, 2017, Pages 28-36

The situation of Tunisian migrants with Alzheimer's disease: A transcultural approach [Situation migratoire tunisienne à l’épreuve de la maladie d'Alzheimer : une approche transculturelle] (Article)

Dachraoui S.* , Cupa D. , Ben Rejeb R.M.
  • a Service de gériatrie à orientation neuropsychogériatrique, université Nanterre Paris Ouest La Défense, hôpital Charles-Foix, AP–HP, Paris, 75014, France
  • b Unité de psycho-néphrologie (UPN), association pour l'utilisation du rein artificiel (Aura), LASI-centre de recherche Didier-Anzieu, EA 4430, université de Nanterre Paris Ouest La Défense, Paris, 75013, France
  • c Unité de recherche psychopathologie clinique (URPC), faculté des sciences humaines et sociales de Tunis, association tunisienne pour le développement de la psychanalyse (ATDP), Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract

The loss of identity markers and boundaries observed in Alzheimer type dementia are here explored in a transcultural approach which aims to shed light on ‘pathogenetic’ and ‘pathoplastic’ components of the illness. While certain components in this condition occurring worldwide appear constant, what is the influence of the socio-cultural setting on symptoms? To capture the heterogeneity of this illness, the meaning of a person's needs must be taken into account, as well as relational and contextual factors. The analysis of the psychic function of ten Tunisians living in France and ten living in Tunisia was performed following protocols from the Thematic Apperception Test. While the characteristic representational ‘emptying’ does not differ from one population to another, the study shows that altered representations of self are more noticeable in the group of immigrant subjects. The challenges of migration also seem to reinforce the quest for an archaic object relationship, where attachment drives play a large part. © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS

Author Keywords

Elderly Identity Transcultural Immigration Alzheimer disease Psycholyse Tunisian

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85006340432&doi=10.1016%2fj.npg.2016.04.007&partnerID=40&md5=95b8da9ab282c71d121c0cfab7d91395
DOI: 10.1016/j.npg.2016.04.007
ISSN: 16274830
Original Language: English; French