Family functioning assessed by self-reported and observer-reported ratings of depressed patients and their partners

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ)

A family's experience of mental illness can change the family's functioning. In clinical contexts, valid and reliable instruments that assess family functioning, therapeutic changes, and the effects of family nursing interventions are needed. This study focuses on the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the Iceland-Expressive Family Functioning Questionnaire (ICE-EFFQ) to European Portuguese and examines the psychometric properties of this instrument. A non-random sample of 121 Portuguese depressed patients and their relatives completed the questionnaire. Principal components analysis extracted 4 factors, explaining 55.58% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed acceptable adjustment quality indices. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was adequate for the global scale α = .86 and for the 4 subscales: communication α = .79, expression of emotions α = .68, problem-solving α = .71, and cooperation α = .61. The Portuguese version of ICE-EFFQ is a sensitive, valid, and reliable instrument for use with Portuguese families with adult members with depression and can be valuable in assessing these families' expressive functioning, before and after intervention.

Differences in associations between family functioning and anxious and depressive symptoms in Chinese women and their partners in early pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Family functioning is associated with anxiety and depression. Perinatal depression and anxiety are common and influence the well-being of women, partners and their offspring. However, little is known about differences in associations between family functioning and mood symptoms in women and their partners in early pregnancy.

AIMS

Investigating differences in associations between family functioning and anxious and depressive symptoms in women and their partners in early pregnancy.

METHOD

In total, 171 woman-partner pairs were enrolled. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item scale (GAD-7) and Family Assessment Device (FAD) were performed. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were applied to investigate the associations.

RESULTS

In pregnant women, all the subscale scores on the FAD were correlated with total scores on the EPDS and GAD-7 (all P < 0.05), whereas only the Roles subscale showed a predicting effect in regression models (P < 0.01). In partners, all the subscale scores on the FAD were related to total scores on the PHQ-9 (all P < 0.05), whereas only the Problem Solving subscale showed a predicting effect (P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that family functioning in the domain of roles is associated with anxious and depressive symptoms in pregnant women and functioning in the domain of problem solving is associated with depressive symptoms in partners. Clinicians should pay special attention to roles and problem solving when assessing mood symptoms in pregnant women and their partners. This study also provides a basis for family health education in early pregnancy.

Family Functioning in Families Affected by Parental Mental Illness: Parent, Child, and Clinician Ratings

Family functioning is often impaired in families with a parent with mental illness and is linked to child mental health. This study aims to gain a better understanding of family functioning in affected families by comparing ratings among family members and by analyzing associations with clinician-rated family functioning. The cross-sectional sample comprised 210 families with ratings of 207 patients, 139 partners, and 100 children. Parents with a mental illness as well as their partners and children completed the German version of the Family Assessment Measure (FAM). Clinician ratings were obtained by the Global Assessment of Relational Functioning Scale (GARF). We conducted several mixed models to compare ratings of family functioning while accounting for family cluster. Family dysfunction was consistently elevated compared to a normative sample. On several domains, parents with a mental illness perceived family functioning to be worse compared to their partners and children. Partners and children did not differ in their perceptions of family functioning. Ratings of family members were moderately associated with clinician ratings. We discuss the importance of multi-informant assessment of family functioning and the implementation of family-based interventions for families with a parent with mental illness.

The Mediator Effects of Depressive Symptoms on the Relationship between Family Functioning and Quality of Life in Caregivers of Patients with Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of patients with heart failure (HF) report depressive symptoms and poor quality of life (QOL) related to caregiving and poor family functioning, placing them at risk for poor health.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of depressive symptoms on the relationship between family functioning and quality of life in the HF caregiver.

METHODS

A sample of 92 HF caregivers were enrolled from an ambulatory clinic at a large academic medical center. A mediation analysis was used to analyze data obtained from the Family Assessment Device (FAD), the Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Short Form-12 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-12v2).

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were found to be a significant mediator in the relationship between family functioning and caregiver quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that interventions targeting caregiver depression and family functioning could be effective in enhancing HF caregivers' physical and mental QOL.