%0 Journal Article
%T Psychological status and role of caregivers in the neuro-rehabilitation of patients with severe acquired brain injury (ABI)
%J Brain injury
%D 2020
%A Bivona, U.
%A Villalobos, D.
%A De Luca, M.
%A Zilli, F.
%A Ferri, G.
%A Lucatello, S.
%A Iannetti, M.
%A Cellupica, L.
%A Mungiello, F.
%A Lo Sterzo, P.
%A Marchegiani, V.
%A Puccitti, A.
%A Lombardi, G.
%A Moretti, G.
%A Donvito, T.
%A Penza, F.
%A Formisano, R.
%V ePub
%N ePub
%P ePub-ePub
%X OBJECTIVE: To 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.   METHODS: Twenty-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.   RESULTS: The 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.   CONCLUSIONS: We 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.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Informa - Taylor and Francis Group
%@ 0269-9052
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2020.1812002