Supervisors info:
Μαρίνα Οικονόμου, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Δημήτριος Πλουμπίδης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Ευγενία Τριανταφύλλου, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, Ε.Κ.Π.Α.
Summary:
The role of the family environment in the course and treatment of serious mental disorders is very detailed, as well as the serious burden on families, but also the necessity and efficiency of their support models. Systematically, however, it is not a key part of the healing process, at the same time that families have a much greater weight in caring for the person with the mental disorder than in the past. The paper describes the theories, programs and proposals that have been implemented or recorded for the psychosocial support of families, and tries to explain the reasons for their non-systematic adoption and application, as a key part of the treatment provided, despite the necessity and effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on the historical, theoretical and therapeutic coexistence of the science of Social Work with mental health services and care of the persons with mental disorders and their families, in combination with the need for their systematic psychosocial support. The model of psychosocial intervention in the families of the persons, who are hospitalized and / or treated on external basis in the Psychiatric Department of the General Hospital of Athens «G. Gennimatas», is described in detail.
The research was carried out on a sample of 53 people, with a family member with a severe mental disorder, who was hospitalized in the Psychiatric Department of the General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas" and who received systematic psychosocial support during the hospitalization and / or external monitoring, as part of the overall treatment. The sample was given a questionnaire of 30 questions, which recorded their previous experience in receiving psychosocial support services, their degree of satisfaction with the support they have received now, and their suggestions on the need and how to provide systematic support to families. Demographics of participants and the patient and data from a psychiatric history were, also, recorded. The research findings showed overwhelming rates of insufficiency or dissatisfaction with previous fragmented experiences and particularly high rates of satisfaction and efficiency of the consistent, systematic support program they received, regardless of individual characteristics or psychopathology. Finally, proposals are made for the design and implementation of a basic psychosocial support program for the families of people with severe mental disorders, as permanent part of their treatment plan.
Keywords:
Family, Mental disorder, Social Work, Systematic psychosocial support
