Family Connections: Results of the first application of the Program in Brazil

• Published in: Psico usf 2024, Vol.29
• Main Authors: Barban, Marilia, Weydmann, Gibson, Guimarães, Beatriz Passos, Macchione, Ana Carolina Seneviva, Leonardi, Jan Luiz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: borderline personality disorder; Family Connections; family relationships; PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY
• ISSN: 1413-8271; 2175-3563; 2175-3563
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-8271202429e270831

Abstract The Family Connections Program is an alternative for improving family relationships, depressive symptoms and overwhelmed feelings in family members of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Twenty family members of individuals diagnosed with BPD participated in the study. The effect of the program was evaluated on the family members and, indirectly, on the respective relatives with BPD. Quality of life, psychopathological symptoms, emotional dysregulation, burden, depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, quality of family relationship and family resilience were applied pre and post-intervention and three months after the ending of the program. As a significant result, there was a reduction in objective burden (p = 0.006) in family members who participated in the program and improvement in family resilience according to diagnosed relatives (p = 0.041). It was concluded that although the program was effective for the study participants in some aspects, it is necessary a cultural adaptation of the protocol. Resumo O Programa Family Connections é uma alternativa para a melhora das relações familiares, dos sintomas depressivos e da sensação de sobrecarga em familiares de indivíduos com Transtorno de Personalidade Borderline (TPB). Participaram do estudo 20 familiares de indivíduos com TPB. O efeito do programa foi avaliado sobre os familiares e, indiretamente, sobre os respectivos parentes com TPB. Qualidade de vida, sintomas psicopatológicos, desregulação emocional, sobrecarga, sintomas depressivos, de ansiedade e de estresse, qualidade da relação familiar e resiliência familiar foram aplicados pré e pós-intervenção e três meses após o término do programa. Como resultado significativo, notou-se redução da sobrecarga objetiva (p = 0,006) nos familiares que participaram do programa e melhora na resiliência familiar segundo os parentes diagnosticados (p = 0,041). Concluiu-se que, apesar de o programa ter sido efetivo para os participantes do estudo em alguns aspectos, faz-se necessária uma adaptação cultural do protocolo. Resumen El Programa Family Connections es una alternativa para mejorar relaciones familiares, los síntomas depresivos y la sensación de sobrecarga en familiares de individuos con trastorno límite de la personalidad (TLP). Participaron en el estudio 21 familiares de personas diagnosticadas con TLP. Se evaluó el efecto del programa en los familiares y, indirectamente, en los respectivos familiares con TLP. La calidad de v