Resilience and quality of life in young adults with a 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a patient's perspective

Resilience in the face of neurodivergence: A scoping review of resilience and factors promoting positive outcomes

Neurodivergent individuals, including a range of conditions impacting neurological function, are at an increased likelihood of poor life outcomes, such as in functional adaptation, mental health, and well-being. Yet, many live meaningful and fulfilling lives. Resilience may provide some explanation for the heterogeneity in outcomes observed in neurodivergent populations. We conducted a scoping review embedded in a neurodiversity-affirmative approach to provide an understanding of resilience in neurodivergent populations. A total of 176 articles were included in this review and were synthesized using a two-phased process. First, findings were synthesized narratively to examine how resilience has been conceptualized and explored in neurodivergent populations. Second, to identify the bio-psycho-social factors important for resilience in neurodivergent individuals, we converted concepts identified in articles to the nomenclature of the World Health Organizations' International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) using a standardized linking process. We find considerable variability in how resilience is conceptualized and measured in neurodivergent populations. We identified 83 unique ICF categories representing resilience factors, of which only 20 appeared in more than 5% of the articles. Identified ICF categories highlight the importance of support systems such as families and friends, community participation and acceptance, and individual capabilities for resilience.

Hardiness as a Resilience Factor for Adaptation in Families of Children With 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Mixed Methods Study of Parents' Perspectives

22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a rare multisystem genetic disorder with over 200 associated characteristics, occurring in various combinations and severity. Extensive biomedical research has been undertaken on 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, however, there is a dearth of research on families' experiences of managing a family member with this condition. The complex and at times serious phenotypical presentation of the syndrome can make the management of the condition difficult for families. The aim of this mixed method explanatory sequential study was to investigate family hardiness as a resilience factor for adaptation in families of children with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome from parents' perspectives. We found that adaptation scores increased by 0.57 points (95% CI: 0.19-0.94) for every one-point increase in family hardiness score. Qualitative results indicated that acceptance of the child's diagnosis and support positively influenced hardiness whereas fears about the future and their experiences of loss negatively influenced hardiness.

Bridging the Communication Gap Between People With Cognitive Impairments and Their Caregivers Using mHealth Apps: User-Centered Design and Evaluation Study With People With 22q11 Deletion Syndrome

BACKGROUND

In families with children with cognitive impairments, both parents and children experience tension and have questions because of a lack of communication and adequate information. Therefore, there is a great need to develop tools that can help bridge the communication gap between patients and caregivers by stimulating conversations and providing psychoeducational tools. mHealth apps show great potential in this context.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this research is to discover the specific ways young people with cognitive impairments and their families interact with mHealth apps in the context of bridging the communication gap. This newly discovered information leads to potentially more impactful mHealth interventions in the future. Therefore, this paper documents the design and development of a mHealth app for a specific group of people with cognitive impairments-people with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11 DS)-and their caregivers, as well as key learnings from the evaluation of this app.

METHODS

An iterative, user-centered design approach is used to design and develop the app. Design and evaluation happens in 2 phases. During the design phase, feedback is gathered from 2 medical experts and 3 human computer interaction (HCI) experts using a low-fidelity paper prototype. During the evaluation phase, feedback is gathered from 8 families with a child with 22q11 DS using a fully working proof of concept. This phase consists of a semistructured interview, a 2-4-week trial period, and a concluding semistructured interview.

RESULTS

The evaluation results of the fully working proof of concept led to design recommendations related to four different topics: (1) overcoming usage barriers, (2) stimulating conversation through a mHealth app, (3) providing information, and (4) bringing continual added value. Results are presented according to six different categories obtained in a thematic analysis: (1) feedback about the app "as is," (2) difficulties, (3) comparison between physical and digital tool, (4) extensions, (5) intention, and (6) other.

CONCLUSIONS

In this research, the need for apps that help bridge the communication gap between a person with cognitive impairment and their caregiver is confirmed. All participating families express their gratitude and mention the added value for other families. Therefore, it is highly encouraged for clinics and institutions to take action and develop an app to be used in practice. Furthermore, considerations when developing for people with 22q11 DS, or more broadly, people with cognitive impairments, are proposed. First, one should keep design principles in mind to overcome usage barriers. Next, recognition is a key concept when stimulating conversations through mobile apps. Third, information should be provided by a trusted source, and more than just clinical information can be considered valuable. Finally, having the possibility of using a digital tool that can be personalized brings continual added value.

Updated clinical practice recommendations for managing adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome

This review aimed to update the clinical practice guidelines for managing adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). The 22q11.2 Society recruited expert clinicians worldwide to revise the original clinical practice guidelines for adults in a stepwise process according to best practices: (1) a systematic literature search (1992-2021), (2) study selection and synthesis by clinical experts from 8 countries, covering 24 subspecialties, and (3) formulation of consensus recommendations based on the literature and further shaped by patient advocate survey results. Of 2441 22q11.2DS-relevant publications initially identified, 2344 received full-text review, with 2318 meeting inclusion criteria (clinical care relevance to 22q11.2DS) including 894 with potential relevance to adults. The evidence base remains limited. Thus multidisciplinary recommendations represent statements of current best practice for this evolving field, informed by the available literature. These recommendations provide guidance for the recognition, evaluation, surveillance, and management of the many emerging and chronic 22q11.2DS-associated multisystem morbidities relevant to adults. The recommendations also address key genetic counseling and psychosocial considerations for the increasing numbers of adults with this complex condition.