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Bereaved parents may experience diverse psychological symptoms. Possible interventions are not yet well established. In this study, the psychological symptoms of 323 bereaved parents (mean age = 39.97, SD = 7.21, 52.0% female), referred to a 4-week family-oriented rehabilitation (FOR) program, were assessed. The baseline assessments indicated that 160 (49.5%) parents showed symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD). Complicated grief was indicated in 272 (84.2%), depression in 191 (59.1%), and posttraumatic stress disorder in 242 (74.9%) parents. Mothers were at higher risk of complicated grief (p ≤.001), depression (p =.029), and posttraumatic stress disorder (p =.004), compared to fathers. Significant remissions of symptoms between admission and discharge from the program are presented as symptoms of complicated grief, depression, and posttraumatic stress. The effect sizes ranged between d = 0.68 and 1.22. In addition, significantly fewer parents fulfilled PGD criteria on discharge from the FOR program (p ≤.001). The special FOR program appears promising with regard to improving the bereaved parents' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose is to investigate and compare professional quality of life (ProQoL) among health care providers (HCPs) in cystic fibrosis (CF) ambulances and inpatient clinic for child and adolescent psychiatry. The ProQoL R-IV Inventory was administered to 96 HCPs to investigate: compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress (STS). HCPs in CF centers and inpatient psychiatry did not differ in their ProQoL. However, the occupational groups differed regarding STS (F(3,92)=3.726, p=.01). Physicians reported more STS than other groups. Longer work experience was associated with more STS (r=-0.21, p=.04). Regular screening should be put in place to identify HCPs at risk of decreased ProQoL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective Multiple psycho-social risk factors are common in children and adolescents in youth welfare, especially in residential care. In this survey study we assessed the prevalence of behavioral, emotional symptoms and mental disorders in a German residential care population. Methods 20 residential care institutions including 689 children and adolescents (age 4 – 18 years; mean 14.4; SD = 2.9) participated. A two-step design was performed. First, the children and adolescents and their residential caregivers answered a standard symptom checklist (CBCL/YSR). For those participants scoring more than one standard deviation above the mean of their German population reference group, a standardized clinical examination was performed to specify an ICD-10 diagnosis. Results The study population reached high average scores in almost all scales and subscales of the CBCL and YSR (mean CBCL total score T = 64.3, SD = 9.7, Median = 66.0). The prevalence of mental disorders according to the diagnostic criteria of ICD-10 was 59.9%, with a predominance of externalizing and disruptive disorders. High rates of co-morbidity were observed. Conclusion Children and adolescents in youth welfare and residential care are a neglected high risk population. Providing adequate psychiatric diagnosis and multimodal treatment for this group is necessary.

Abstract Background Health- and illness-related cognitions of pediatric patients with asthma or somatization and of their caregivers are considered relevant for patient education and for cognitive-behavioral interventions. This study investigates the relationship between diagnosis and illness perception by child and parent in two different chronic conditions such as somatization disorder and asthma. Methods 25 patients with somatoform disorders and 25 patients with asthma bronchiale completed the Giessen Complaint List and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Primary caregivers independently answered parallel proxy-report instruments. Analyses of variance were performed to determine the impact of diagnosis and perspective. Correlations were calculated to determine the concordance between patient and caregiver reports. Results No statistically significant differences in illness locus of control beliefs were found between asthma and somatoform disorder children or parents. Parents reported more internal and fatalistic locus of control beliefs compared with their children. Correlations between patient and caregiver reports of symptoms and health locus of control beliefs were low to moderate. Conclusion Clinicians should take into account a sense of insufficient symptom control in both diagnostic groups and different viewpoints of patients and their parents.

Abstract Background Disease-specific, multimodal inpatient rehabilitation programmes are designed to improve the physical, emotional, and social functioning of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study investigates the effects of a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation program on health-related quality of life (QL). Methods 84 German patients with CF (16–62 years of age, FEV1 mean 52.9% of the predicted), participating in an inpatient rehabilitation programme, completed the Questions on Life Satisfaction-Modules (FLZM) at the beginning and one month after the end of intervention. The FLZM allows the multi-dimensional evaluation of subjectively perceived satisfaction with general and health-specific life domains. In addition, medical parameters (FEV1, Body Mass Index) and socio-demographic data were registered. Results Compared to the baseline scores, after rehabilitation, participants were significantly more satisfied with general, health-related, and CF-related aspects of their lives. Specifically, improvement was noted in the following items: breathing difficulties/cough, sleep, integration of therapy into daily routine, leisure activities, general health perception, physical condition and being free from anxiety. Conclusion Comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programmes are a promising strategy to improve the quality of life of adolescent and adult CF-patients.