Macha Dubuson

Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, driving the development of digital mental health technologies and raising important socio-anthropological questions. This study examines the representations and practices surrounding these tools among individuals experiencing anxiety, carers, and healthcare professionals across six European countries. Drawing on qualitative analysis of 100 focus group participants, this study explores lived experiences and perspectives on integrating digital technologies into mental health care. Participants valued the potential of digital tools to foster social connexion, reduce isolation, and empower users, viewing them as complementary to, rather than a substitute for, human interaction due to their limitations in addressing complex needs. Concerns about data security, intrusiveness, and the risk of dehumanising care were also prominent. Cross-country differences highlighted how healthcare policies, socioeconomic conditions, and cultural norms shape attitudes and usage patterns. Individuals experiencing anxiety expressed optimism, while professionals adopted a more cautious stance, emphasising personalisation and ethical oversight. These findings highlight the importance of designing digital mental health tools that are inclusive, equitable, and sensitive to users’ material conditions and needs. This study contributes to sociological debates on health digitalisation, by demonstrating how such technologies can both mitigate and reinforce existing inequalities.

Introduction: This exploratory study investigates approach/avoidance tendencies in male patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) through a gait initiation task combined with posturography. Method: Seventy-four male participants (N = 74), including 47 AUD patients undergoing detoxification and 27 healthy controls, were exposed to alcohol-related, erotic, and neutral visual stimuli. Reaction times (RTs) and postural micromovements preceding gait initiation (forward/backward steps) were recorded to assess their predictive value for relapse (n = 13) or abstinence (n = 34) within two weeks post-detoxification. Results: A mixed ANOVA (2x2x3) revealed significant group differences in RTs to alcohol-related stimuli (Stimuli × Group interaction: p = .029), with relapsers showing slower responses to alcohol cues than abstainers for forward as well as backward steps. Additionally, postural micromovements before gait initiation (measured through the standard deviation of the center of pressure’s position) showed a significant Stimuli × Group interaction (p = 0.05), with relapsers displaying increased micromovements when exposed to alcohol-related stimuli (p = .044). Conclusion: These findings suggest that relapsers exhibited distinct motor responses to alcohol-related stimuli, characterized by delayed RTs and increased postural instability. These early indicators of relapse risk highlight the potential of posturography as a clinical tool in alcohol detoxification programs.