Psychological intervention for grief in caregivers of adults diagnosed with intellectual disabilities

The objective of this pilot study was to adapt and provide preliminary data of the efficacy of an intervention aimed at family caregivers of adults with intellectual disability to provide them with different coping resources to better cope with their role as caregivers, as well as to reduce the psychological overload and pain associated with the diagnosis. A total of 24 caregivers participated, of which 14 were assigned to an intervention group (IG) and 10 to a control group (CG) through simple randomization. Variables of overload, mental health and feelings of grief produced by the diagnosis were measured. Linear models for repeated measures were used to evaluate the effect of the program. After the intervention, significant differences (p< .5) were found in the dimensions of emotional pain, relational loss and acceptance of loss, and feelings of grief brought on by the diagnosis. In conclusion, it is necessary that this type of program be given early to these caregivers in order to avoid the pathological and chronic grief into which they frequently end up.El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y aportar datos preliminares de la eficacia de una intervención psicológica para cuidadores familiares de adultos con discapacidad intelectual, con el fin de proporcionarles recursos de afrontamiento para sobrellevar su rol de cuidador y reducir la sobrecarga psicológica y el dolor que conlleva el diagnóstico. Participaron 24 cuidadores, de los cuales 14 fueron asignados a un grupo intervención (GI) y 10 a un grupo control (GC) mediante una aleatorización simple. Se midieron variables de sobrecarga, salud mental y sentimientos de duelo derivados del diagnóstico. Se utilizaron modelos lineales de medidas repetidas para evaluar el efecto del programa. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p< 0,05) en las variables de dolor emocional, aceptación de la pérdida y en la experiencia actual del duelo, mostrando el GI una mejora tras la intervención. Como conclusión, es necesario que este tipo de programas se impartan de forma temprana en estos cuidadores con el fin de evitar el duelo patológico y crónico en el que terminan desembocando frecuentemente.This work has received a grant from the University Teaching Research Networks Program of the Institute of Educational Sciences of the University of Alicante (2021-22 call). Ref: 5537

Feeling of grief and loss in parental caregivers of adults diagnosed with intellectual disability

Background: The diagnosis of intellectual disability in children can produce complex grief‐related feelings in their parents. Previous studies have focused on the moment of the diagnosis or the early life of the children, and little research has been conducted on their feelings of grief in adulthood. The objective was to analyse the process of grief/loss in parents of adult offspring with intellectual disability. Method: The intentional sampling included sixteen parents who responded to semi‐structured interviews. A qualitative study was conducted based on grounded theory. Results: Five categories were identified: “Reception of the diagnosis”, “Emotional bonds with the child”, “Experience of loss and feelings in response to intellectual disability diagnosis”, “Recurrent grief” and “Coping strategies”. Conclusions: Recurring feelings of loss experienced by parents in relation to their child's diagnosis persist over time. Specialized emotional interventions are needed to help parents to reduce the intensity of their feelings of grief

Post-Traumatic Growth in Professionals Caring for People with Intellectual Disabilities during COVID-19: A Psychological Intervention

The authors thank the professionals and the families of the VALE association for their participation in this research.Background: Health professionals present a greater vulnerability to the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, especially those who work with vulnerable groups such as those who suffer from intellectual disability (ID). The objective of the present research was to develop and verify the effectiveness of a psychological intervention for professionals in the field of ID to improve their mental health during this health crisis. Methods: A total of 32 professionals participated. The variables measured were: post-traumatic growth, mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, life satisfaction, optimism, and cognitive and affective empathy. Results: The results revealed statistically significant differences in the post-traumatic growth variable. In the rest of the variables (mental health, burnout, coping strategies, resilience, vital satisfaction, optimism, and empathy), no significant differences between groups were found. Conclusions: An increase in the levels of post-traumatic growth was observed in the intervention group after a brief online psychological intervention. However, given the small sample size, these results should be taken with caution. Institutions should foster and promote interventions aimed at reducing the high emotional impact produced by COVID-19 in professionals that care for people diagnosed with ID

Functions and current situation of the intervention of psychologist in palliative care

Los psicólogos tienen un papel crucial en los procesos de fin de vida. Dentro de éstos, los cuidados paliativos son una de las áreas con más desarrollo en los últimos años, proponiendo un cuidado holístico e integral. Sin embargo, las funciones y roles de los psicólogos no están del todo claros. Por ello, se ha realizado una revisión teórica, buscando los estudios que ponen de relevancia su papel, funciones, así como la formación específica que deberían tener los psicólogos que trabajen en esta área. La mayoría subrayan la triple intervención con el paciente, la familia y el equipo sanitario. Funciones de evaluación e intervención psicológica, así como de prevención del burnout y del duelo aparecen como destacadas. La formación no está reglada aunque se está intentando buscar un currículum común.Psychologists have a crucial role in end-of-life processes. Within them, palliative care is one of the most developed areas and it is based on an holistic approach. However, the role of psychologists in this area is not clear. In order to clarify their function, a theoretical review has been carried out. The objective was to identify and integrate into a narrative the roles and functions of psychologist working in palliative care, as well as topics related to specific formation. Most of the articles reviewed outlined an intervention based on three axis: the patient, the family and the health care team. Functions such as psychological assessment, prevention of burnout and intervention on bereaved people appears as central. Specialized training and formation is not regulated, although recent proposals are trying to elaborate a common curriculum

Diseño de las prácticas de Ecofisiología Vegetal y Biotecnología Vegetal como método de iniciación a la investigación

Con este proyecto pretendimos que alumnos de 3er y 4º cursos de Biología, vivieran el desarrollo de un proyecto de investigación desde el trabajo de laboratorio hasta la presentación de los resultados en un foro científico, el X Congreso Hispano-Luso de Fisiología Vegetal.El trabajo tenía una doble vertiente:a) Docente. Promover el trabajo cooperativo entre alumnos a la vez que se entrenaban en el desarrollo de un trabajo científico a través de un supuesto real.b) Investigadora. En Ecofisiología Vegetal (EV) estudiar el efecto protector del BTH (metil éster del ácido benzo(1,2,3) tiodiazol-7-carbotioico) y su influencia sobre la expresión de Ha-PR-5, una proteína relacionada con patogénesis cuya expresión se induce en girasol en respuesta a la infección por este parásito obligado causante del mildiu. En Biotecnología Vegetal (BV) seleccionar el medio más adecuado para el cultivo de distintos explantos de olivo.Además del trabajo de laboratorio se programaron reuniones para la elaboración, análisis estadístico e interpretación de los resultados, la redacción del resumen que se envió al congreso y por último el diseño de los dos pósters que en él se presentaron. Para mantener el contacto con los alumnos, se utilizó la plataforma de enseñanza virtual de la Universidad de Jaén, un entorno restringido que permitió acceder a los guiones de la práctica y estar al tanto de los resultados

Content analysis of the effects of palliative care learning on the perception by nursing students of dying and dignified death

Background: Providing care for dying people and the death of patients are stressing situations faced by nursing students during their clinical practice. Learning about palliative care improves the management of emotions and the ability to cope when caring for patients in end-of-life processes. However, there is little knowledge on the effect of this learning on the students' perceptions of their own death. Objectives: To determine the effect of a palliative care course on the thoughts of nursing students about their own death. Design: A qualitative, descriptive, and comparative study was conducted based on content analysis, administering an open-ended questionnaire on dying and death at the start and end of a palliative care course. Participants: The study included 85 volunteers studying Palliative Care in the second year of their Nursing Degree at the University of Granada (Spain). Results: Students described their perceptions in more detail after the course, with more numerous code citations, and their post-course responses evidenced a reduction in anxiety about their own death and an increased recognition of the need to respect the decisions of patients for a dignified death. Conclusions: Palliative care learning modifies the perception by nursing students of their own death and their understanding of a dignified death, which may enhance the care they deliver to patients at the end of life

The concept of death in children aged from 9 to 11 years: Evidences through inductive and deductive analysis of drawings

The objective of the research was to analyze children’s conceptualization of death through drawings, using a mixed approach, which combines deductive and inductive qualitative analysis. The sample consisted of 99 children aged 9–11 years, who were asked to elaborate a drawing about their idea of death and to explain it to the researchers. Drawings were coded basing on Tamm and Granqvist’s model (deductive analysis) and codes and categories were created and modified (inductive analysis). Three main categories were identified in the analysis and four sub-categories were modified and/or created: causes of death, good death, anxiety-fear and symbolization

Socioeconomic inequalities in the place of death in urban small areas of three Mediterranean cities

Background: Dying at home is the most frequent preference of patients with advanced chronic conditions, their caregivers, and the general population. However, most deaths continue to occur in hospitals. The objective of this study was to analyse the socioeconomic inequalities in the place of death in urban areas of Mediterranean cities during the period 2010–2015, and to assess if such inequalities are related to palliative or non-palliative conditions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of the population aged 15 years or over. The response variable was the place of death (home, hospital, residential care). The explanatory variables were: sex, age, marital status, country of birth, basic cause of death coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, and the deprivation level for each census tract based on a deprivation index calculated using 5 socioeconomic indicators. Multinomial logistic regression models were adjusted in order to analyse the association between the place of death and the explanatory variables. Results: We analysed a total of 60,748 deaths, 58.5% occurred in hospitals, 32.4% at home, and 9.1% in residential care. Death in hospital was 80% more frequent than at home while death in a nursing home was more than 70% lower than at home. All the variables considered were significantly associated with the place of death, except country of birth, which was not significantly associated with death in residential care. In hospital, the deprivation level of the census tract presented a significant association (p < 0.05) so that the probability of death in hospital vs. home increased as the deprivation level increased. The deprivation level was also significantly associated with death in residential care, but there was no clear trend, showing a more complex association pattern. No significant interaction for deprivation level with cause of death (palliative, not palliative) was detected. Conclusions: The probability of dying in hospital, as compared to dying at home, increases as the socioeconomic deprivation of the urban area of residence rises, both for palliative and non-palliative causes. Further qualitative research is required to explore the needs and preferences of low-income families who have a terminally-ill family member and, in particular, their attitudes towards home-based and hospital-based death.This research was partially funded by the research project “Cambios socioeconómicos y evolución de las desigualdades en mortalidad en áreas pequeñas de grandes ciudades en la Comunitat Valenciana” (PI16/00670), funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund)

CONSECUENCIAS DEL MALTRATO GRAVE INTRAFAMILIAR EN LA INFANCIA: CONCEPTUALIZACIÓN Y DIAGNÓSTICO DE LAS REACCIONES POSTRAUMÁTICAS COMPLEJAS

Psychic trauma is a transversality in human history. Even though, its late diagnosed has been occurring, especially referring to its incorporation in psychopathological taxonomies as Postraumatic Stress Disorder (PSD). Since then, studies on PSD have been increased in quantity, firstly considering specific diagnostic issues, and secondly, tackling treatment proposals, generally with an adult population emphasis. Reports have shown that PSD clinical assessment cannot be approached and analyzed in the same way in children and adolescents as it has been in adults. In this paper, general findings are presented about the use of a Supporting List for clinicians, designed to assess DESNOS. Preliminary results of a study on abuse and maltreatment situation are shown.El trauma psíquico es una transversalidad en la historia de la humanidad, pero de diagnóstico tardío, especialmente en lo que refiere a su incorporación a los sistemas de clasificación en psicopatología como Trastorno por Estrés Postraumático (TEPT). Desde ese momento hasta nuestros días han ido en aumento los estudios sobre TEPT, avanzando primero en las formas de evaluación específica y posteriormente en las propuestas de intervención, con énfasis en población adulta. Otros trabajos han evidenciado que, la semiológica del TEPT en niños y adolescentes, no puede ser analizada y  bordada de igual manera que en población adulta. En este artículo se presentan los resultados generales de estudios sobre el TEPT en la infancia y adolescencia y los trabajos sobre un Listado de apoyo a los Clínicos para la evaluación del TEPT y del TEPTC o DESNOS, con algunos de los resultados preliminares de los estudios realizados con población de menores en situación de abuso y maltrato