Family Connections: Results of the first application of the Program in Brazil

Abstract

Abstract The Family Connections Program is an alternative for improving family relationships, depressive symptoms and overwhelmed feelings in family members of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Twenty family members of individuals diagnosed with BPD participated in the study. The effect of the program was evaluated on the family members and, indirectly, on the respective relatives with BPD. Quality of life, psychopathological symptoms, emotional dysregulation, burden, depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms, quality of family relationship and family resilience were applied pre and post-intervention and three months after the ending of the program. As a significant result, there was a reduction in objective burden (p = 0.006) in family members who participated in the program and improvement in family resilience according to diagnosed relatives (p = 0.041). It was concluded that although the program was effective for the study participants in some aspects, it is necessary a cultural adaptation of the protocol.