The Effectiveness of Family Interventions in the Treatment of Physical Illness

Abstract

Although a large body of research demonstrates that the family has a powerful influence on physical health, the evidence for the effectiveness of family interventions in physical illness is less conclusive. Family therapy and other family interventions appear to be most effective in chronic childhood illnesses such as asthma and diabetes. Family interventions have also been shown to be effective in the management of some cardiovascular and neurologic disorders and for the treatment of obesity. Family therapy appears to be more effective than individual therapy for some groups of patients with anorexia nervosa. This research supports the increasingly important role of medical family therapy in the new health cure system. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Evaluating Parents and Adult Caregivers as “Agents of Change” for Treating Obese Children: Evidence for Parent Behavior Change Strategies and Research Gaps

“…Articles were searched in Medline and PsycINFO, as well as in the references of review articles that addressed family-based treatment of pediatric obesity. [17][18][19][20]32,[91][92][93][94][95] Inclusion criteria were studies that provided a family-based treatment for pediatric obesity, assessed changes in BMI or related anthropometric measures as the primary outcome (rather than behavioral measures), and manipulated the degree or nature of parental involvement in treatment via random assignment to conditions. We did not impose limits on minimum treatment duration, child age, or publication year, given the heterogeneity of study designs, samples enrolled, and dates of investigations.…”

Adesão a um programa de atividade física em adultos portadores de diabetes

“…É interessante salientar que a variável "envolvimento familiar" mostrou-se importante para a adesão dos alunos ao programa de atividade física, mesmo quando acontecia espontaneamente, independentemente do planejamento da pesquisa. Estes resultados são consistentes com os dados de diversas pesquisas que mostram que a família tem uma forte influência sobre o estilo de vida e os comportamentos de saúde dos pacientes (29,30).…”

Relations entre le soutien aux besoins d'autonomie et de compétence par la famille, la motivation autodéterminée spécifique à l'activité physique et à l'alimentation saine et la santé psychologique de patients coronariens du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean /

“…Malgré les multiples facettes positives du soutien familial liées à la santé des patients coronariens, il existe également des côtés néfastes reliés au soutien familial, plus précisément lorsqu'il y a surprotection auprès des patients. L'importance du soutien familial en regard de la santé des patients coronariens ayant été largement démontrée au sein des écrits, diverses études (Block, 1984;Bohachick & Anton, 1990;Burman & Margolin, 1992 ;Campbell, 2003;Campbell & Patterson, 1995;Hilscher et al, 2005; Knafl & Gilliss, 2002) Toutefois, aucune étude n'a examiné la relation entre le soutien familial et la santé En somme, la TAD adopte le concept de l'eudémonisme ou de la réalisation de soi pour définir la santé psychologique mais, de plus, elle définit précisément ce qu'il faut entendre par la réalisation de soi et par quels processus elle est atteinte. En effet, elle soutient que les humains ont des besoins psychologiques fondamentaux et que leur satisfaction est essentielle à leur croissance, à leur intégrité et à leur bien-être.…”