DIGITALTHE INFLUENCE OF PARENTS’ CAREGIVING EXPERIENCE ON PSYCHIATRIC ADOLESCENTS’ OUTCOME
1 Neuropsychiatric Unit of Child and Adolescent (ITALY)
2 University of Padua, Department of General Psychology (ITALY)
3 University of Padua, Department of Woman’s and Child Health (ITALY)
2 University of Padua, Department of General Psychology (ITALY)
3 University of Padua, Department of Woman’s and Child Health (ITALY)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2012 Proceedings
Publication year: 2012
Pages: 5848-5856
ISBN: 978-84-616-0763-1
ISSN: 2340-1095
Publication year: 2012
Pages: 5848-5856
ISBN: 978-84-616-0763-1
ISSN: 2340-1095
Conference name: 5th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 19-21 November, 2012
Location: Madrid, Spain
Dates: 19-21 November, 2012
Location: Madrid, Spain
Abstract:
Introduction:The quality of parents’ caregiving experience of adolescents with mental diseases can deeply influence the clinical evolution of patients and the quality of life of the whole family.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to assess the predictable value of parental caregiving experience referred to the clinical evolution of psychiatric adolescents and their quality of life (QoL).
Sample and methodology:
The sample consists of 24 adolescents (10 female and 14 male aged between 12 and 18 years) in charge to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents within the Neuropsychiatric Unit for Children and Adolescents of Padua (Italy). Patients were assessed throughout 4 tests with a six-monthly test – retest methodology: the Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) to analyze the adolescent’s QoL, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to estimate the presence of alexithymia, the Self-Report Symptom Inventory revise (SCL 90 R) and the Youth Self Report (YSR 11 – 18) of T. Achenbach to point out the presence of psychiatric symptoms, competences and psycho- behavioural profile. Moreover, it was filled in by operators the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) to evaluate patients global social functioning.
Parents of patients were assessed with the Experience of Caregiving Inventory (ECI).
For each patient the following data were collected: personal and familiar details, schooling, diagnosis, type of intervention, therapeutic compliance, working alliance. data was analysed to find out the possible significant relation between the parental caregiving experience and other variables referred to adolescents’ clinical and psychosocial outcome.
Data about patients and parents were collected and transferred into a computerised database for computation, which is performed using SPSS version 14.
Results and conclusions: from this study it emerges that the positive caregiving parental experience (positive total ECI scale) rather than the negative one, is linked to an improvement in symptomatology ( SCL 90 R): the higher is the positive experience grade, the better will be the clinical improvement achievable with the treatment. It is discussed the important clinical implications of these in regards to the intervention towards parents.