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Family burden in bipolar disorders: Results from the Italian Mood Disorders Study (IMDS)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2011

Lorenza Magliano ,
Ada Orrico ,
Andrea Fiorillo ,
Heidegret Del Vecchio ,
Giuseppina Castiello ,
Claudio Malangone ,
Corrado De Rosa ,
Vittorio Capuano  and
Mario Maj
Lorenza Magliano*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Ada Orrico
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Andrea Fiorillo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Heidegret Del Vecchio
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Giuseppina Castiello
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Claudio Malangone
Affiliation:
Mental Health Centre of Ravello, Salerno (Italy)
Corrado De Rosa
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Vittorio Capuano
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
Mario Maj
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples (Italy)
*
Professor L. Magliano, Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Naples (Italy). Fax: +39-081-5666523 E-mail: lorenza.magliano@unina2.it
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Summary

Aims – To explore: a) the burden of care, and the professional and social support in relatives of patients with bipolar disorders; b) the psychosocial interventions provided to patients and their families by Italian mental health centres. Methods – 342 outpatients with a bipolar disorder and their key-relatives were randomly recruited in 26 Italian mental health centres, randomly selected and stratified by geographical area and population density. Family burden was explored in relation to: a) patient's clinical status and disability; b) relatives’ social and professional support; c) interventions received by patients and their families; d) geographical area. Results – In the previous two months, global functioning was moderately impaired in 36% of the patients, and severely impaired in 34% of them. Twenty-one percent of patients attended a rehabilitative programme, and 3% of their families received a psychoeducational intervention. Burden was higher when patient's symptoms and disability were more severe, the relatives had poorer psychological support and help in emergencies by the social network, and the family lived in Southern Italy. Differences in family burden in relation to geographical area disappeared when psychosocial interventions were provided. Conclusion – This study highlights the need to increase the availability of rehabilitative interventions for patients with bipolar disorders and of psychological support for their families, especially in Southern Italy.

Keywords

bipolar disordersburden of illnesssocial supportfamily
Type
Original Articles
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2009 , pp. 137 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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