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Dropout is a multifactorial phenomenon with deep clinical consequences: the recognition of possible risk factors may support the choice of specific therapeutic strategies to improve the treatment of ED and its outcomes.

IntroductionDrop-out from treatment for Eating Disorders is increasing (Campbell; 2007), and it is a risk factor for relapse and more chronic and severe course of the illness (Fassino et al.; 2009). Drop-out can be caused by interaction of concurrent, individual, familiar ad environmental factors (Sly; 2009).Aim of the studyTo examine possible risk factors of drop-out from inpatient treatment for eating disorders.Materials and methodsThe sample included 41 patients who voluntarily left the treatment before completion (’droppers’) and 88 patients who completed it (’completers’), in the period between 1st January 2006 and 31st December 2009 at Villa Maria Luigia Hospital (Monticelli Terme, PR, Italy). Patients were administered 2 self-report questionnaires and 3 psychometric tests: Eating Disorders Questionnaire, Predisposing, bringing on and maintaining risk factors for eating disorders, EDI-II, BUT, SCL-90.ResultsDroppers appear to be more aggressive (p = 0.022), get worse scholastic results (p = 0.016) and have less friendships and less social interaction (p = 0.021). Parental break-up (p = 0.015), moving house (p = 0.006), father's death (p = 0.005), abortition (p = 0.040), father's alcohol abuse (p = 0.011) and a mother who suffers of eating disorder (p = 0.008) are more frequent in droppers than completers. Catholic religion seems to be a protective factor from drop-out (p = 0.005).ConclusionDrop-out is a multifactor phenomenon; identification of risk factors can improve treatment strategies and outcome.

Introduction: The Social Skill Training is structured as a cognitive-behavioral therapy for rehabilitation plans whereby the patient can develop and recover social skills. Aim: To verify the effects of a literary workshop for increase assertiveness in patients with eating disorders. Methods: Thirty-two patients consequently admitted to the Ward for Eating Disorders at the Private Clinic "Villa Maria Luigia" in the North of Italy were recruited in the study, and all of them agreed to take part in it. Of the 32 patients, 8 were randomly assigned to treatment and 24 to care as usual, being the difference between treatment and care as usual only represented by the literary workshop. The Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and Verbal Fluency Test (phonemic and semantic) was administered to all patients in the first and last week of hospitalization. The literary workshop consists in 16 weekly 45-minute group sessions. Issues of expressiveness through the use of writing are addressed during the sessions. Results: A significant improvement of semantic skills (t=-5.60; p< 0.01 vs. t=1.43; p=0.17), phonetic skills (t=-3.66; p< 0.01 vs. t=1.35; p=0.19) and assertiveness (t=4.47; p< 0.01 vs. t=0.94; p=0.93) was registered in the literary workshop group. Conclusions: Effectiveness of the literary workshop in a rehabilitation program for patients suffering from eating disorders is suggested: improved communication and language skills might have a positive and significant impact on patients' levels of assertiveness.

Objectives: To test the presence of significant correlations between psychopathological symptoms in patients with dementia and the stress perceived by the primary caregiver. Methods: Primary caregivers of patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of dementia admitted to the neuropsycho-geriatric-rehabilitation ward of the private hospital "Villa Maria Luigia", Parma-Italy, between May and November 2008 were asked to take part in the study. The NPI scale (UCLA Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Commings J.L. et al., 1994) and a socio-demographic data collection schedule were administered to the primary caregiver willing to be involved in the study. Results: Only 30 of the 40 eligible subjects agreed to take part to the study (75%). 35 significant correlations (according to Spearman's Correlation Index) were found. Those most highly significant (p< 0.001) were between stress perception and the following NPI symptom categories: delirium, hallucination, agitation, euphoria, apathy, disinhibition, aberrant physical activity and sleep disorders. Conclusions: The psychopathological symptoms found to contribute mostly to distress of caregivers were those most showy and disruptive of behaviour; other symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, irritability and eating disorders are better tolerated as considered normal consequences of ageism. Interventions addressed to caregivers should provide them with detailed and structured coping instruments. Clear, therefore, the need for all health professionals, to structure an intervention aimed at caregivers characterized by two different phases: 1. To provide more tools to recognize those disorders which don't emotionally involve them; 2. To give detailed, structured information useful to cope with these disorders in everyday life.