Role of the family in recovery and major depression.

OBJECTIVE: Major depression is significantly influenced by the family environment of the depressed patient. In order to explore how family functioning relates to this illness, the authors examined changes in family functioning over a 1-year course of major depression. METHOD: Subjective (Family Assessment Device) and objective (McMaster Clinical Rating Scale) assessments of family functioning were collected at hospitalization and 6 and 12 months after discharge for 45 inpatients diagnosed with major depression and their family members. Patterns of family functioning were examined by subjective and objective perspectives, initial levels of functioning, and reports of patients and other family members. RESULTS: Approximately 50% of families with a depressed member perceived their own family functioning as unhealthy; clinicians rated 70% of the families as unhealthy. While family functioning improved significantly from hospitalization through 12 months after discharge, the improvement was not uniform across all areas of functioning. Further, patients with good family functioning at hospitalization generally maintained their healthy functioning and were more likely to recover by 12 months than patients with poor family functioning. Although steady improvement in family functioning characterized the subjective ratings, objective assessments of family functioning suggested initial improvement followed by a decline from month 6 to month 12. CONCLUSIONS: Results show a clear association between family functioning and recovery from major depression. Different aspects of family life respond differently to the depressive illness; no one family dimension was uniquely related to outcome.

Depressed patients with dysfunctional families: description and course of illness.

Sixty-eight depressed patients were subdivided according to their family's level of family functioning into functional and dysfunctional groups. Patients from dysfunctional families did not differ from those from functional families on measures of severity of depression, chronicity of depression, depression subtypes, other nonaffective psychiatric diagnoses, history of depression, or neuroendocrine functioning. Patients from dysfunctional families did have significantly higher levels of neuroticism. A 12-month follow-up of these patients indicated that depressed patients with dysfunctional families had a significantly poorer course of illness, as manifested by higher levels of depression, lower levels of overall adjustment, and a lower proportion of recovered patients. Thus, impaired family functioning appears to be an important prognostic factor in major depression.

Factors influencing the decision to rehabilitate: an initial comparison of rehabilitation candidates.

This study classified consecutive admissions to a U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Patients on acute medical and surgical wards (n = 3170) were divided into clinical subgroups based on diagnostic, prognostic and functional criteria. The groups were: (1) independent; (2) terminal; (3) medical; (4) dementia; and (5) rehabilitation candidate. Medical record data from hospital admission, discharge and 9 month follow-up were collected. The groups had unique patterns of survival, residence and use of health care services during follow-up. Subsequently, rehabilitation participants were compared with a group similar in age, major diagnostic category and functional ability, who did not receive rehabilitation. Twenty-one percent of persons meeting study criteria for rehabilitation received rehabilitation services. At follow-up, participants in rehabilitation had lower mortality, spent less time in skilled care and were less frequently hospitalized. Although exploratory in nature, this study supports previously observed benefits of rehabilitation. In combination with clinical assessment, the process of identifying patient subgroups may be useful in planning interventions more uniformly and in developing measures to reduce selection bias in rehabilitation admission decisions.

Identifying factors associated with health care use: a hospital-based risk screening index.

The purpose of the current study was to identify variables near hospital admission that could effectively discriminate patients at risk for nursing home placement, long hospital stay, or readmission. Risk factors reported in the literature were used to predict hospital outcome for 532 admissions. Factors that discriminated type of outcome included: two or more chronic medical conditions, living alone or being admitted from a nursing home, dependent ambulation, poor mental status, psychiatric comorbidity, prior admission, age over 75, and being unmarried. Using these criteria, an index was developed to determine risk for placement, readmission, or lengthy stay. Use of cumulative risk scores can result in accurate prediction of outcome and may be useful in targeting patients for intervention. Performance characteristics of the risk index are discussed.

Family functioning and suicidal behavior in psychiatric inpatients with major depression.

Family functioning was compared between suicide-attempting and nonsuicidal depressed inpatients in order to further understand psychosocial determinants of suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior was strongly associated with a discrepancy between the patient's perception of his/her family and the perception held by other family members. Suicide-attempting depressed inpatients perceived their family functioning to be worse than did their families. Suicidal patients also viewed their families more negatively than did depressed nonsuicidal inpatients, who actually viewed their family functioning more positively than did their family members. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Family functioning, social adjustment, and recurrence of suicidality.

We examined suicidal and nonsuicidal patients with major depression during and subsequent to their hospitalization. Factors associated with suicidality at the index episode included psychosocial variables as well as measures of family functioning. Previous suicidality, inter-episodic adjustment, changes in family constellation, and perception of family functioning were instrumental in separating nonsuicidal patients at follow-up from patients exhibiting recurrent suicidal behavior. These results indicate that when assessing patients with major depression for suicidality, particular attention should be paid both to the social environment and to family functioning as perceived by the patient.

Stroke: a family dilemma.

Research studying the clinical effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation has focused on managing acute stages and on evaluating short-term treatment programmes. However, many studies suggest that stroke affects long-term quality of life and the well-being of the family. This article reviews the stroke literature relative to aging, disability, and rehabilitation. The social effects of stroke in terms of clinical problems which make rehabilitation a family dilemma are discussed. Issues identified include the need for family assessment, education, advocacy, and counselling to foster treatment compliance and social support.

Effects of prospective payment financing on rehabilitation outcome.

A suspected benefit of paying hospitals per diagnostic related groups (DRGs), i.e. the prospective payment system (PPS), is that lengths of stay (LOS) and costs may be reduced. A potential adverse effect is that providers may discharge patients to reduce costs regardless of clinical consequence. The Veterans Administration (VA) is one of the first agencies to adopt PPS for rehabilitation. This study analyzed the effects of PPS on LOS, readmission rate, nursing home placement (NHP), and referral for Home Health Care (HHC) on a 22 bed rehabilitation unit. One hundred and eighty-seven patients discharged in 1987, prior to the program, were compared (using t-tests) with 215 discharges in 1988, after PPS was established. There were no significant differences in demographics, self-care ability, or in readmissions. Referrals for HHC decreased significantly. LOS decreased from 29.3 days (SD = 16.4) in 1987 to 26.4 days (SD = 14.1) in 1988 (t = 5.3, p less than 0.01). However, 24 more patients were discharged to nursing homes in 1988 (N = 54, 25%) than in 1987 (N = 30, 16%), which represents an increase of 64% (p less than 0.05). Findings suggest that PPS may defer home care in favor of placement. Clinicians need to assess whether reducing inpatient LOS justifies increased use of nursing homes. Further research on the effects of PPS is needed to determine: (a) impact on clinical aspects of rehabilitation; and (b) if other funding mechanisms are more appropriate.

Poststroke family function: an evaluation of the family's role in rehabilitation.

Stroke affects long-term quality of life and well-being for not only the patients themselves but also their families. However, the focus of most rehabilitation programs has been on managing the acute stage of stroke and evaluating the effectiveness of short-term treatments. Families usually share in treatment, especially in the long term, and they are ultimately responsible for the patient's welfare. This article reviews the literature as it relates to the clinical problems that make rehabilitation a family issue.

Relationship quality among HIV patients and their caregivers.

Despite the increasing attention to caregivers of HIV patients, no previous study has systematically investigated the effects of the relationship quality between an HIV patient and their caregiver. The present study assessed 176 dyads consisting of an HIV-infected patient and their self-identified 'caregiver'. Relationship quality was measured by the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Dependent measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, SF-36 Physical Functioning Scale, Caregiver Strain Index and 4-day HIV treatment adherence. A substantial proportion of HIV patient-caregiver dyads reported difficulties in their relationships (17-66% depending upon FAD scale). The level of relationship difficulties was not strongly related to the type of patient-caregiver relationship. However, the quality of the HIV patient-caregiver relationship was significantly associated (p<0.05) with caregiver depression and burden as well as HIV patient depression, physical functioning and HIV medication adherence, even when the potential effects of length of HIV infection and social support were controlled. These results suggest that relationship quality is impaired in many patient-caregiver dyads and is uniquely associated with levels of depression, caregiver burden and treatment adherence.

Nonlinear desipramine pharmacokinetics: a case study.

A case of nonlinear desipramine pharmacokinetics is described. During routine clinical monitoring serum desipramine concentrations appeared to change disproportionately with dose. Following a series of controlled dosage decreases, from 400 to 50 mg/day, the patient's steady state serum concentrations fit a nonlinear pharmacokinetic model. This curvilinear serum concentration-dose relationship suggests saturation of hepatic metabolism and signals the need for caution when predicting or titrating doses against serum drug concentrations. The implications of this new finding are discussed.

Factors predicting satisfactory home care after stroke.

This study prospectively investigated factors predicting optimal poststroke home care. One hundred and thirty-five first occurrence stroke patients and their primary support persons were evaluated during the initial hospitalization after stroke and again one year poststroke. Discriminant function analysis was used to identify two groups from the baseline data: home care situations which were rated optimal and those which were not. Group membership was predicted and validated with 72.6% accuracy. Patients at risk for less than optimal home care had caregivers who were (1) more likely to be depressed, (2) less likely to be married to the patient, (3) below average in knowledge about stroke care, and (4) reporting more family dysfunction. Our findings suggest that caregiver-related problems can have a collective effect on rehabilitation outcome and that treatment should reduce caregiver depression, minimize family dysfunction, and increase the family's knowledge about stroke care.

Multicyclic antidepressant serum drug assays: a utilization review.

Multicyclic antidepressant (MCA) kinetics are complex and influenced by many factors, making clinical interpretation of serum concentration data difficult. To assess the effectiveness of MCA serum assay utilization in a private, university-affiliated psychiatric hospital, actual use over a 1-year period was reviewed retrospectively against criteria derived from the contemporary literature. Overall, compliance with the criteria was poor. Documentation of reasons for ordering MCA assays and subsequent therapy decisions were also poor. As a result, guidelines for the appropriate use of this clinical tool have been accepted by the institution's P & T Committee and will be reinforced through a continuing medical education program.

Providing care to persons with physical disability. Effect on family caregivers.

Studies on caregiving often assume that outcomes will be problematic and assess negative factors, such as burden or stress. Results may be biased by detailing only the problems encountered. The current study assessed positive, neutral and negative aspects of caregiving and evaluated the impact of caregiving using criteria based on an accepted model of family functioning. Of 942 consecutive hospital admissions, 217 subjects required assistance in personal care and returned home with a primary caregiver. Caregivers reported moderately more anxious, depressive and somatic symptoms than expected from standardized tests, but these findings were not clinically or statistically significant. Family functioning was related to the duration of the caregiving experience. Family relations seemed to be a source of strength for caregivers, regardless of disability type. Further research is needed to determine if family functioning can be used to buffer against unfavorable aspects of caregiving or to enhance positive aspects of the situation.

Structuring a family assessment interview.

The Problem Centred Systems Therapy of the Family and the McMaster Model of Family Functioning on which it is based have been used by family physicians and a variety of health professionals. This paper outlines aspects of the models that are useful in structuring a family assessment, plus some of the benefits gained through using such a family oriented approach.

Ultrastructure and cytochemical localization of laccase in two strains of Leptosphaerulina briosiana (Pollaci) Graham and Luttrell.

Substrate specificity tests were used to identify the presence of laccase in two strains of Leptosphaerulina briosiana (Poll.) Graham and Luttrell, an ascomycete which causes leaf spot in alfalfa. Cytochemical localization of monophenol monooxygenase (laccase) as well as the ultrastructures of the two strains were investigated. Laccase was observed in the outer layers of the cell walls of both strains. The ultrastructures of vegetative hyphae of both strains were typical of those found in most ascomycetes.

The family as a social unit.

Family medicine, in common with most other medical specialties, is passing through a period of lively debate concerning its course and development. This paper discusses that portion of the debate attempting to define the function of the family physician in overseeing the comprehensive and continuing health care of patients and their families. One consequence of such a definition is the need to understand thoroughly the family in its functional role as a social unit. This knowledge of the family unit will affect some aspects of the practice of family medicine. Some of our approaches to training practitioners in this challenging field are outlined.

Characteristics of hospital patients receiving medical rehabilitation: an exploratory outcome comparison.

This study classified consecutive hospital admissions to acute medical and surgical wards (n = 3,170) into clinical subgroups based on diagnostic, prognostic, and functional criteria. The groups were (1) independent, (2) terminal, (3) medical, (4) dementia, and (5) rehabilitation candidate. Medical record data from hospital admission, discharge, and nine-month follow-up were collected. The groups had unique patterns of survival, residence, and use of health care services during follow-up. Rehabilitation participants were compared with a group similar in age, major diagnostic category, and functional ability, who did not receive rehabilitation. Only 21% of persons meeting the study criteria for rehabilitation actually received rehabilitation services. At follow-up, participants in rehabilitation had lower mortality, spent less time in skilled nursing care, and were less frequently hospitalized. Although exploratory in nature, this study supports previously observed benefits of rehabilitation. In combination with clinical assessment, the process of identifying patient subgroups may be useful in planning interventions more uniformly and in developing measures to reduce selection bias in rehabilitation admission decisions.

Timing of social work intervention and medical patient's length of hospital stay.

Findings report that hospital inpatients who receive social work intervention present difficult problems and have longer-than-average lengths of stay and that the earlier in the hospitalization that intervention occurs, the shorter the stay will be. A total of 243 patients referred for social services at a 440-bed teaching hospital were evaluated. Paired t-tests indicated a significant difference in the mean length of stay based on normative data. Timing of the intervention accounted for a significant amount of variance (13 percent) in length of hospital stay. The major clinical implications of the study are that social work intervention has the potential to decrease length of hospitalization, and that this methodology may be used reliably to evaluate changes in discharge planning protocol.