Family burden in bipolar disorders: results from the Italian Mood Disorders Study (IMDS).
OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Magliano
Lorenza
L
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Naples, Italy. lorenza.magliano@unina2.it
Orrico
Ada
A
Fiorillo
Andrea
A
Del Vecchio
Heidegret
H
Castiello
Giuseppina
G
Malangone
Claudio
C
De Rosa
Corrado
C
Capuano
Vittorio
V
Maj
Mario
M
Torchio
Elisabetta
E
Franzoi
Valeria
V
Pingani
Luca
L
Curti
Cristina
C
Spanarello
Stefano
S
Scattina
Monica
M
Fuchs
Heidi
H
Test
Giuseppina Robustelli
GR
Ferrigno
Jessica
J
Minciotti
Enrico
E
Innocente
Paola
P
Bardicchia
Francesco
F
Galli
Anna
A
La Rovere
Raffaella
R
Maroncelli
Massimo
M
Iapichino
Sonia
S
Pannozzo
Marta
M
Nuccetelli
Francesco
F
Di Nunzio
Rita
R
Armellino
Rosa
R
Palladino
Carmela
C
Delcuratolo
Vincenzo
V
Cadoni
Manuella
M
Cannas
Alessandra
A
Caniglia
Antonio
A
Cudia
Mirella
M
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged