Factors predicting parents' adaptation when supporting their young adult during a first-episode psychosis.

AIM: The objective is to identify the factors that predict how well parents will adapt when supporting their adult child experiencing a FEP. METHODS: The study was conducted in Quebec city with 58 parents and stepparents who received services from a specialized clinic for treating psychotic illnesses in the early stages. Participants filled in four measuring instruments during a standardized telephone interview. Based on the model being proposed, bivariate analyses and linear regression models were carried out to identify factors that predict how parents will adapt. RESULTS: The analyses allowed us to determine that the factors revealing the severity of the illness and the vulnerability of the young person predict the negative aspects of the parents' experience (R2 = 0.39, P ≤ 0.000), whereas the personal factors related to the parents themselves essentially predict the positive aspects (R2 = 0.51, P ≤ 0.001). The empowerment can be predicted by the combined effect of the positive aspects of the parents' experience and their coping strategies, more specifically those related to family intervention (R2 = 0.60, P ≤ 0.001), whereas the parents' social functioning is linked to their active participation in a family association (R2 = 0.14, P ≤ 0.006). CONCLUSION: This study contributes to how we think of parents' adaptation as it suggests a model that takes the positive aspects into account, associated with the role of support, along with family intervention strategies offered by social workers. Adaptation that is conceptualized using two dependent variables, empowerment and social functioning, allows to identify intervention targets that will be beacons of hope for both the parents and the young people with psychosis, while encouraging early intervention and partnership practices between services and family members.

[Hearing voices: new paths for clinical practice and research]. / Entendre des voix: nouvelles voies ouvrant sur la pratique et la recherche.

This theoretical article reviews the scientific literature regarding the phenomenon of auditory hallucinations of people who are with or without a psychiatric diagnosis. Based on the conceptual model of the Disability Creation Process (Fougeyrollas et al., 1998), the authors describe the factors and mechanisms involved in this phenomenon in a systemic perspective. Finally, the authors examine future directions in intervention and research to favor the social participation of people who hear voices.

[Caregivers: their perspective on mental health services offered to relatives.]. / Le point de vue des aidants familiaux sur les services en santé mentale offerts à leurs proches.

The current study has been conducted with 40 caregivers who are part of family support groups of people suffering of mental disorders. These caregivers have been interviewed individually in order to document their opinion on mental health services offered to their relatives. Analysis of their comments indicate both the expression of satisfaction and lack of it regarding organisation of services by most participants. However, the issue of service organisation, and more specifically in relation with access, entail the greatest number of comments of dissatisfaction.

[Quality and conditions of the collaboration with the families viewed by the personnel working with psychiatric and traumatic brain injury clients]. / Qualité et conditions de collaboration avec les familles perçues par le personnel de réadaptation en milieu psychiatrique et de déficience physique.

This paper describes the point of view of professionals working with traumatic brain injury (TBI) clients or people with schizophrenic disorders towards their collaboration with clients' families. Four hundred and thirty professionals from 3 different regions in the province of Quebec took part in the study. They were recruited from psychiatric and general hospitals and physical rehabilitation centres. The results of the study point up that conditions for collaboration with families are better for respondents working with TBI clients than for respondents in the psychiatric sector. Furthermore, the results showed that respondents working with TBI clients are significantly more satisfied with their working conditions and the services they deliver and perceive a higher degree of collaboration with families than mental health workers. Another finding of the study is that personnel intervening in an interdisciplinary team reported a higher degree of collaboration with families than respondents working in a multidisciplinary team setting or individually. In the same vein, respondents who received training regarding intervention with families during their practice or during their academic training reported a higher degree of collaboration with their clients' families.