Premium
The impact of professional and social network support on the burden of families of patients with schizophrenia in Italy
Author(s) -
Magliano L.,
Marasco C.,
Fiorillo A.,
Malangone C.,
Guarneri M.,
Maj M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.02223.x
Subject(s) - psychosocial , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , social support , psychological intervention , hostility , psychiatry , social network (sociolinguistics) , medicine , caregiver burden , psychology , clinical psychology , disease , dementia , pathology , political science , law , psychotherapist , social media
Objective: (a) To explore burden related to caregiving and support received from professionals and social network in relatives of patients with schizophrenia in Northern, Central and Southern Italy; and (b) to test whether a higher level of family burden is associated with a lower level of professional and social network support. Method: Seven hundred and nine patients with schizophrenia and their key‐relatives were consecutively recruited in 30 Italian mental health departments. Data were collected on: (a) patients' clinical status and levels of disability; (b) relatives' burden, social and professional support; (c) interventions received by patients and their families. Results: Family burden was found lower in Northern Italy. However, after controlling for psychosocial interventions, differences in family burden among the three geographical areas disappeared. Family burden was associated with patients' levels of disability and manic/hostility symptoms, and with professional and social network support received by the family. Conclusion: Professional and social network support represent crucial resources to reduce family burden in schizophrenia.