Psychologisch geleitete Gruppentreffen für Angehörige von ALS-Patient*innen

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS,) associated with progressive physical limitations, is a challenge to the patients themselves and also to their family caregivers, who have to deal with psychosocial, socio-medical and organizational issues. Caregivers are often closely involved and heavily burdened themselves, which is why specific support is recommended. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and acceptance of psychologically guided supportive group meetings for family caregivers in a specialist ALS outpatient clinic.

METHODS: Over a period of two years, data were collected from a total of 26 caregivers of ALS patients in order to evaluate the relevance, usefulness and criticisms of open-topic meetings that took place every three months.

RESULTS: Topics discussed in the meetings included mainly psychosocial issues such as self-care, dealing with emotions or with conflicts with the patients and third parties, as well as practical and organizational matters. The meetings were predominantly rated as helpful, well understandable and personally relevant and the exchange in a "community of destiny" was perceived as emotionally relieving.

DISCUSSION: The ALS caregiver group meetings in the described format were easy to carry out and well accepted. Supportive interventions, such as the one reported here, might be a valuable component of ALS care, to relieve the highly burdened caregivers of ALS-patients by providing them with social, emotional and practical support. However, the quantitative verification of the intervention's effectiveness is challenging - both methodologically and due to the caregivers' complex life situation. Psychosocial support services for ALS caregivers are feasible with little effort and should be an integral part of the standard ALS care based on a multi-dimensional, palliative care concept.

Translated title of the contribution
Psychologically guided group meetings for family caregivers of ALS patients

Details

Original languageGerman
Pages (from-to)81-89
Number of pages9
JournalFortschritte der Neurologie, Psychiatrie : FDN
Volume92
Issue number3
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 6 Nov 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85176133724
Mendeley d8a2dd1a-33fb-3dc7-949c-7474b2d5b813

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Caregiver burden, Multiprofessional care, Psychosocial support