Family resilience and chemical dependency: perception of mental health professionals.

Sonia Regina Zerbetto,Bianca Oliveira Ruiz,Sueli Aparecida Frari Galera

doi:10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0476

Sonia Regina Zerbetto, Bianca Oliveira Ruiz + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2016-0476

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Abstract

To learn the perception of health professionals from the Psychosocial Attention Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs regarding the resilience attributes that are critical to family members of psychoactive substance dependents. A qualitative descriptive study conducted from February to May 2016, using a focus group technique for data collection. In total, 15 professionals participated in the study: 13 health professionals and two administrative professionals. The statements were recorded and transcribed, and these data were analyzed using the technique of thematic content analysis. Health professionals recognize the family resilience attributes needed for efficient and assertive communication, as well as organizational patterns and facilitating family strengths, factors that contribute to improved family relationship and family functionality. This study contributed to a perspective of clinical intervention with family members that is not limited to the negative aspects of family relationship and life, such as fragility and family dysfunction.

Highlights

In cases of consumption of psychoactive substances, the families of dependents have their functionality impacted by sudden or persistent situations of crisis and stress.National and international studies about families that experience substance-related problems usually focus on the negative and deficient aspects of the family life, such as fragility, family dysfunction, and characteristics of codependency[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
The family is recognized as a risk factor and scenario in view of drug complexity, which requires a targeted approach from health professionals to compensate for family limitations and deficits
The concept of family resilience is a reference for the work developed by mental health professionals—more precisely in the services of psychosocial care network

Summary

Introduction

In cases of consumption of psychoactive substances, the families of dependents have their functionality impacted by sudden or persistent situations of crisis and stress.National and international studies about families that experience substance-related problems usually focus on the negative and deficient aspects of the family life, such as fragility, family dysfunction, and characteristics of codependency[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. In cases of consumption of psychoactive substances, the families of dependents have their functionality impacted by sudden or persistent situations of crisis and stress. Few studies have attempted to identify the positive potential and strength of families in the process to cope with, recover from, and overcome adverse situations[8], that is, circumstances that involve family resilience. It is necessary to care for families and emphasize and strengthen the positive aspects of their lives and functioning, even in adverse contexts, as well as to identify and value the way these families address these situations and solve their problems in the context of psychoactive substance dependence. The concept of family resilience is a reference for the work developed by mental health professionals—more precisely in the services of psychosocial care network

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