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Seasonal Affective Disorder, described in 1984 by Rosenthal in the United States of America, was individualized in France since this concept entered the DSM III-R in 1989. Firstly, the purpose of the authors was an attempt to draw the historical evolution of the concept, his clinical and epidemiological aspects. Secondly, they considered the physiological hypothesises, which followed two ways of research: on the one hand the impairment of endogenous chronobiological rhythms, especially melatonin and serotonin rhythms; on the other hand the photoperiodical hypothesis. Thildly, the authors proposed the main specific prospects of treatments: chimiotherapeutic methods--particularly 5-methoxypsoralen--and non chimiotherapeutic such as phototherapy.

This paper deals with an aspect of inmate's psychology. One of us is consultant psychiatrist in a jail. According to his experience, the behaviour of the prisoners appears to be very regressive. Inmates chiefly complain of digestive pains. They put a great emphasis on food, nourishment and drinking. That regression to the oral phase explains an unconscious will of staying in jail: It is rather frequent, for example, to see prisoners, who are about to recover their freedom, attempting a ridiculous and futile escape, with, as only result, one more year in jail. Obviously they want, through this absurd acting out, to keep living their childish and regressive way of life.

This paper deals with the historical problem of "les Vapeurs". The word was largely used in ancient times, especially during the 18th century. The philosophical background goes back as far as Plato and Aristotle, but the turning point of the concept was given by a french scientist: B. Pomme. According his hypothesis "the nerves were shrinking because of drying" and the treatment had to be long, prolonged bathing. After being very fashionable, the treatment became obsolete and B. Pomme retired in his home city of Arles. This history of "les vapeurs" is of a great interest, because it shows how scientists are being easily abused by intellectual conceptions and words, only "words without meaning".

Biorhythm theory, if it seems to know a certain success with the public, however, remains ignored by the medical world, in spite of the fact that it claims to be a means of medical safety.