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A Fiorillo

Publications and source records attributed to A Fiorillo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[The condition of families of patients with schizophrenia in Italy: burden, social network and professional support].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe: a) the interventions received by patients with schizophrenia attending Italian mental health services (MHS); b) the relatives' burden and social network and the professional support received by the families. DESIGN: The study has been carried out in 30 MHS, randomly selected and stratified by geographic areas and population density. 25 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia and 25 relatives were recruited in each MHS. Family burden was evaluated in relation to: a) geographic area; b) interventions received by the patients; c) social and professional support received by the families. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: a) patients: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Disability Assessment Interview (AD); b) key-relatives: Family Problems Questionnaire (QPF) and Social Network Questionnaire (QRS); c) interventions received by the patients and their families: Scheda di Rilevazione degli Interventi--Pattern of Care Schedule (SRI). RESULTS: Data on 709 patients and their key-relatives were collected. In the two months preceding the data collection, 35% of patients attended rehabilitative programmes; 80% of the families were in regular contact with the MHS and 8% received family psychoeducational interventions. Family burden was higher in Southern than in Central and Northern Italy. This difference disappeared when rehabilitative interventions and family support were provided. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that the situation of the families of patients with schizophrenia is more burdensome in Southern Italy and is greatly influenced by the type of interventions provided by the MHS.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Family burden in schizophrenia: effects of socio-environmental and clinical variables and family intervention].

OBJECTIVE: Description of burden, attitudes and received professional support in a sample of relatives of patients with schizophrenia recruited in 8 Italian Mental Health Services (MHS), stratified by geographic areas and population density. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on key-relatives of clinically stable patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia. Evaluation of: a) relationships of family burden with patient's clinical characteristics, family's socio-demographic variables, relative's attitudes toward the patient, professional and social support received by the family; b) differences in the levels of burden, attitudes and support received by the family with respect to geographical area and population density. SETTING: 8 Italian MHS stratified by geographic areas (Northern, Central, Southern Italy) and population density (urban vs. rural areas). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient's clinical status and social functioning: BPRS and ADC. Family burden, attitudes and support received by the family: FPQ. RESULTS: Data on 144 patients and their key-relatives were collected. Higher levels of burden were found among relatives referring to Southern MHS. The burden was found positively correlated with the levels of patients' BPRS positive and manic/hostility symptoms and disability, and with the number of daily hours spent by the relative in contact with the patient, and negatively correlated with the levels of professional support received by the family. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight the need to provide rehabilitative programmes for patients with schizophrenia as well as informative and psychoeducational interventions for their families.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Causes and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia: the opinions of patient's relatives].

OBJECTIVE: Description of the opinions on schizophrenia and its psychosocial consequences in a sample of relatives of patients with schizophrenia, recruited in 30 Italian Mental Health Centres (MHC), stratified by geographic areas and population density. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study on key-relatives of clinically stable patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia. Evaluation of relatives' opinions on schizophrenia and its psychosocial consequences, in relation to: a) patient's clinical and family's socio-demographic variables; b) geographic areas and population density. SETTING: 30 Italian MHC randomised and stratified by geographic areas (Northern, Central, Southern Italy) and population density (> 100,000 inhabitants; between 100,000 and 25,000 inhabitants; < 25,000 inhabitants). Main outcome measures--Patient's clinical status and social functioning: Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Disability Assessment interview (AD). Interventions provided to patient and his/her family: Scheda di Rilevazione degli Interventi--Pattern of Care Schedule (SRI). Relatives' opinions on schizophrenia and its psychosocial consequences: Questionnaire on the Opinions of the Family (QOF). RESULTS: Data on 709 patients and their key-relatives were collected. Relatives' pessimistic opinions on social competence of patients with schizophrenia were found to be associated with: high levels of patient's disability, hostility and negative symptoms, relatives' knowledge of patient's diagnosis of schizophrenia, residence in a medium or low population density area, low levels of relative's education. Relatives' pessimistic opinions on social restrictions imposed by schizophrenia were found to be associated with high levels of disability and high number of hospital admissions in the patient and older age in the relative. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study emphasise the need to: a) provide families with educational interventions covering not only clinical aspects of schizophrenia, but also those concerning disability and psychosocial consequences of the disorder; b) plan educational campaigns on mental illnesses which take into account the socio-cultural characteristics of the target populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of the sympathetic nervous system in cardiac remodeling in hypertension.

The role of the sympathetic nervous system in the settings of cardiac hypertrophy is postulated on the basis of experimental and clinical evidence. Only recently, the intimate mechanisms underlying hypertrophic responses of cardiac cell have been explored. Recent evidence spots the role of adrenergic receptors in the activation of several intracellular pathways of signaling that lead to nuclear responses of myocardiocyte. The molecular structures involved in these pathways may represent novel targets of future therapeutic interventions for cardiac hypertrophy and vascular remodeling in hypertension.

Animals↗