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The condition of the families of patients with schizophrenia in Italy: burden, social network and professional support

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2011

Lorenza Magliano ,
Claudio Malangone ,
Manuela Guarneri ,
Cecilia Marasco ,
Andrea Fiorillo ,
Mario Maj  and
Gruppo Di Lavoro
Lorenza Magliano*
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Claudio Malangone
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Manuela Guarneri
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Cecilia Marasco
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Andrea Fiorillo
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Mario Maj
Affiliation:
Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN
Gruppo Di Lavoro
Affiliation:
Lara Adinolfi, CSM di Fermo (AP); Valentina Aguglia, CSM di Palermo; Donatella Airoldi, CSM di Abbiategrasso (MI); Adriano Aletti, CSM di Cremona; Simona Laura Benzi, CSM di Tortona (AL); Marco Bertelli, CSM di Firenze; Giuliana Boine, CSM di S. Mauro Torinese (TO); Emi Bondi, CSM di Bormio (SO); Federica Bortolazzi, CSM di Portomaggiore (FE); Erica Brigidi, CSM di Ferentino (FR); Carmen Cangiano, CSM di Gragnano (NA); Anna Carniani, CSM di Castel del Piano (GR); Simona Cesano, CSM di Torino; Angelo Cucciniello, CSM di Angri (SA); Benedetto Del Vecchio, CSM di Barletta (BA); Laura Di Fazio, CSM di Livorno; Simona Fazi e Valeria Modesti, CSM di Narni (TR); Massimo Federici, CSM di La Spezia; Elisabetta Greco, CSM di Roma; Enrico La Delfa, CSM di Catania; Giovanni Marcone, CSM di Fondi (LT); Angela Martino, CSM di Pace del Mela (ME); Marco Nurra, CSM di Oristano; Gianluca Piemontese, CSM di Foggia; Flaminia Poletti, CSM di Ascoli Piceno; Antonella Sambuco, CSM di Squinzano (LE); Claudio Scuto, CSM di Como; Patrizia Thei, CSM di Milano; Alberto Trisolini, CSM di Vetralla (VT); Francesco Tuligi, CSM di Lanusei (NU)
*
Indirizzo per la corrispondenza: Dr.ssa L. Magliano, Istituto di Psichiatria, Università di Napoli SUN. Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Napoli. Fax: +39-81-5666523 E-mail: Iorenza.magliano@unina2.it
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Summary

Objective – This study aimed to describe: a) the interventions received by patients with schizophrenia attending Italian mental health services (MHS); b) the relatives' burden and social network and the professional support received by the families. Design – The study has been carried out in 30 MHS, randomly selected and stratified by geographic areas and population density. 25 patients with a DSM–IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and 25 relatives were recruited in each MHS. Family burden was evaluated in relation to: a) geographic area; b) interventions received by the patients; c) social and professional sup– port received by the families. Main outcome measures – a) patients: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Disability Assessment Interview (AD); b) key-relatives: Family Problems Questionnaire (QPF) and Social Network Questionnaire (QRS); c) interventions received by the patients and their families: Scheda di Rilevazione degli Interventi – Pattern of Care Schedule (SRI). Results – Data on 709 patients and their key-relatives were collected. In the two months preceding the data collection, 35% of patients attended rehabilitative programmes; 80% of the families were in regular contact with the MHS and 8% received family psychoeducational interventions. Family burden was higher in Southern than in Central and Northern Italy. This difference disappeared when rehabilitative interventions and family support were provided. Conclusions – This study highlights that the situation of the families of patients with schizophrenia is more burdensome in Southern Italy and is greatly influenced by the type of interventions provided by the MHS.

Riassunto

Scopo – Questo studio ha inteso documentare: a) gli interventi che i pazienti con schizofrenia ricevono nei Servizi di Salute Mentale (SSM); b) il carico e la rete sociale dei familiari nonché il sostegno professionale che essi ricevono dai servizi. Disegno – Lo studio è stato condotto in 30 CSM selezionati in maniera randomizzata e stratificati per area geografica e densita di popolazione sull'intero territorio nazionale. In ciascun CSM selezionato, sono stati consecutivamente reclutati 25 pazienti con diagnosi DSM-IV di schizofrenia in fase di compenso clinico e altrettanti familiari-chiave. Il carico dei familiari è stato esplorato in relazione alia zona geografica, agli interventi ricevuti dai pazienti e al sostegno professionale e sociale prestato ai loro familiari. Principal misure utilizzate – a) paziente: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) e intervista per 1'Accertamento delta Disabilita (AD); b) familiare-chiave: Questionari auto-compilati sui Problemi Familiari (QPF) e sulla Rete Sociale (QRS); c) interventi: Scheda di Rilevazione degli Interventi (SRI). Risultati – Sono stati raccolti dati relativi a 709 pazienti e altrettanti familiari-chiave. Nei due mesi precedenti la rilevazione dei dati, il 35% dei pazienti aveva partecipato a programmi riabilitativi, l'80% dei familiari era stato in contatto regolare con i CSM e P8% aveva ricevuto un intervento psicoeducativo familiare. I livelli di carico familiare erano maggiori al Sud. Tale differenza veniva meno quando la presa in ca-rico comprendeva interventi psico-riabilitativi e di sostegno familiare. Conclusioni – Questo studio mette in evidenza che la situazione delle famiglie dei pazienti con schizofrenia è attualmente più difficile al Sud, ed è sensibilmente influenzata dai tipo di presa in carico.

Keywords

schizofreniacarico familiarerete socialeinterventischizophreniafamily burdensocial networkinterventions
Type
Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , June 2001 , pp. 96 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2001

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