RT Journal Article
T1 Psychological status and role of caregivers in the neuro-rehabilitation of patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
A1 Bivona, Umberto
A1 Villalobos Tornero, María Dolores
A1 De Luca, María
A1 Zilli, Federica
A1 Ferri, Giulia
A1 Lucatello, Susana
A1 Iannetti, Maria
A1 Cellupica, Laura
A1 Mungiello, Fabiana
A1 Lo Sterzo, Paola
AB ObjectiveTo investigate the relationships between (a) the psychological status of the caregiver, (b) the specific features of caregiving as perceived by the cognitive therapist in neuro-rehabilitation, (c) the caregivers’ subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation, and (d) the functional outcome of the patient.MethodsTwenty-four patients with severe acquired brain injury and their 24 caregivers participated in this observational study. Caregivers underwent a psychological assessment examining emotional distress, burden and family strain; their subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation has been evaluated by two specific answers. The patients' cognitive therapists responded to an ad-hoc questionnaire, namely the “Caregiving Impact on Neuro-Rehabilitation Scale” (CINRS), evaluating the features (i.e., amount and quality) of caregiving. Finally, the functional outcome of the patient was assessed through standardized scales of disability and cognitive functioning.ResultsThe caregivers’ psychological well-being was associated to the features of caregiving, to the subjective approach to neuro-rehabilitation, and to the functional recovery of their loved ones. A better caregivers’ approach to neuro-rehabilitation was also associated to an overall positive impact of caregiving in neuro-rehabilitation and to a better functional outcome of the patients.ConclusionsWe posited a virtuous circle involving caregivers within the neuro-rehabilitation process, according to which the caregivers’ psychological well-being could be strictly associated to a better level of caregiving and to a better functional outcome of the patients that, in turn, could positively influence the caregivers’ psychological well-being. Although preliminary, these results suggest a specific psycho-educational intervention, aimed at improving the caregivers’ psychological well-being and at facilitating their caring of the loved one.
PB Taylor & Francis
SN 0269-9052
YR 2020
FD 2020
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/91930
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/91930
LA eng
NO Bivona, U., Villalobos, D., De Luca, M., Zilli, F., Ferri, G., Lucatello, S., … Formisano, R. (2020). Psychological status and role of caregivers in the neuro-rehabilitation of patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). Brain Injury, 34(13–14), 1714–1722. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2020.1812002
DS Docta Complutense
RD 5 abr 2025