Francesco Corallo1, Lilla Bonanno2, Viviana Lo Buono2, Simona De Salvo2, Carmela Rifici2, Alessia Bramanti2, Silvia Marino2,3. 1. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", S.S. 113, Via Palermo, Cda. Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy. francesco.corallo80@yahoo.it. 2. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi "Bonino-Pulejo", S.S. 113, Via Palermo, Cda. Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy. 3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The management of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) has raised several important ethical, social, and medical issues. It is also known that families and caregivers are subjected to physical and emotional load due to their assistance activity. The aim of this observational study was to compare distress and coping strategies used among caregivers of two kinds of DOC: vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). METHODS: We have enrolled 80 caregivers (mean age 47.87 ± 11-28 years) that were tested with self-administered measures of distress and coping to individuate which coping strategies were adopted by caregivers of DOC patients and to analyze how these have influenced the degree of distress. RESULTS: Data showed that the reaction to stress was different between two groups of caregivers (VS and MCS); moreover, it may vary according to the coping strategies used. CONCLUSION: Results showed the importance to develop effective coping strategies aimed to reduce psychological distress and improving caregiver's well-being.
OBJECTIVE: The management of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) has raised several important ethical, social, and medical issues. It is also known that families and caregivers are subjected to physical and emotional load due to their assistance activity. The aim of this observational study was to compare distress and coping strategies used among caregivers of two kinds of DOC: vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS). METHODS: We have enrolled 80 caregivers (mean age 47.87 ± 11-28 years) that were tested with self-administered measures of distress and coping to individuate which coping strategies were adopted by caregivers of DOC patients and to analyze how these have influenced the degree of distress. RESULTS: Data showed that the reaction to stress was different between two groups of caregivers (VS and MCS); moreover, it may vary according to the coping strategies used. CONCLUSION: Results showed the importance to develop effective coping strategies aimed to reduce psychological distress and improving caregiver's well-being.
Entities:
Keywords:
Caregivers; Coping strategies; Disorders of consciousness; Psychological distress
Authors: Umberto Bivona; Rita Formisano; Sara De Laurentiis; Natascia Accetta; Maria Rita Di Cosimo; Roberta Massicci; Paola Ciurli; Eva Azicnuda; Daniela Silvestro; Umberto Sabatini; Chiara Falletta Caravasso; Giovanni Augusto Carlesimo; Carlo Caltagirone; Alberto Costa Journal: Restor Neurol Neurosci Date: 2015 Impact factor: 2.406
Authors: Francesco Corallo; Lilla Bonanno; Simona De Salvo; Antonio Giorgio; Carmela Rifici; Viviana Lo Buono; Placido Bramanti; Silvia Marino Journal: Am J Health Behav Date: 2015-11