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Coping strategies in caregivers of disorders of consciousness patients

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Abstract

Objective

The management of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) has raised several important ethical, social, and medical issues. It is also known that families and caregivers are subjected to physical and emotional load due to their assistance activity. The aim of this observational study was to compare distress and coping strategies used among caregivers of two kinds of DOC: vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS).

Methods

We have enrolled 80 caregivers (mean age 47.87 ± 11–28 years) that were tested with self-administered measures of distress and coping to individuate which coping strategies were adopted by caregivers of DOC patients and to analyze how these have influenced the degree of distress.

Results

Data showed that the reaction to stress was different between two groups of caregivers (VS and MCS); moreover, it may vary according to the coping strategies used.

Conclusion

Results showed the importance to develop effective coping strategies aimed to reduce psychological distress and improving caregiver’s well-being.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino-Pulejo”, S.S. 113, Via Palermo, Cda. Casazza, 98124, Messina, Italy

    Francesco Corallo, Lilla Bonanno, Viviana Lo Buono, Simona De Salvo, Carmela Rifici, Alessia Bramanti & Silvia Marino

  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Morphological and Functional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Silvia Marino

Authors
  1. Francesco Corallo
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  2. Lilla Bonanno
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  3. Viviana Lo Buono
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  4. Simona De Salvo
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  5. Carmela Rifici
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  6. Alessia Bramanti
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  7. Silvia Marino
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Corallo.

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Human subjects approval

The study received approval from the Local Ethics Committee of IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino- Pulejo,” Messina, Italy.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

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Corallo, F., Bonanno, L., Lo Buono, V. et al. Coping strategies in caregivers of disorders of consciousness patients. Neurol Sci 39, 1375–1381 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3431-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3431-1

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