title: [Burden in caregivers of psychiatric patients attending psychodynamic multifamily groups: preliminary results of an empirical study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study is to investigate the burden in relatives of psychiatric patients attending long-term psychodynamic multifamily groups (18 months) of some Mental Health Departments of Lazio Region. A further aim is to verify if the decrease of the burden and the group participation are associated with a reduction of psychiatric symptoms in patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 13 patients (10 men and 3 women) with severe personality disorder with at least one psychotic episode and 42 caregivers (15 men and 27 women). We administered a psychiatric protocol composed of the MCMI-III for the patients and QRS for the caregivers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show a reduction of the subjective burden especially in mothers (F=4.231; sig.=.021). Further results show that the reduction of anxiety (F=1.446; p<.001), somatoform (F=3.573; p<.001), dysthymia (F=2.203; p<.001) and thought disorder (F=2.992; p<.001) in the patients is influenced by the relationship between the "time spent in group" and the "lower subjective burden".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest a burden decrease, particularly in women caregivers, with direct effects on the structural modifications of the severe syndromes in psychiatric patients.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Palermo.
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gargano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Psicologia, Sapienza Università di Roma.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serantoni
authors.affiliation: Gnosis Cooperativa Sociale Onlus, Marino (RM). Laboratorio Italiano di Psicoanalisi Multifamiliare.
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceppi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 6.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Alema
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1 Laboratorio Italiano di Psicoanalisi Multifamiliare.
authors.forename: Luisella
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferraris
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1 Laboratorio Italiano di Psicoanalisi Multifamiliare.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Innocente
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 6.
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanzi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1 Laboratorio Italiano di Psicoanalisi Multifamiliare.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narracci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 1 Laboratorio Italiano di Psicoanalisi Multifamiliare.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Salute Mentale, Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 6.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D064889:Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult