The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders
Background. Relatives of patients with addictive disorders often face significant difficulties in their daily lives. Although the burnout concept is currently considered a significant and promising theoretical framework for studying family members who care for chronically ill patients, its applicati...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Psychology in Russia: State of Art |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=9865 |
| _version_ | 1797895336094597120 |
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| author | Alexandra M. Shishkova Victor V. Bocharov |
| author_facet | Alexandra M. Shishkova Victor V. Bocharov |
| author_sort | Alexandra M. Shishkova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background. Relatives of patients with addictive disorders often face significant difficulties in their daily lives. Although the burnout concept is currently considered a significant and promising theoretical framework for studying family members who care for chronically ill patients, its application has encountered considerable difficulties in the area of addiction treatment.
Objective. This article explores the methodology for studying the psychological issues arising in families affected by addictive disorders. We analyzed the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the different study models developed in this field, and identified the difficulties hindering the acceptance of the burnout concept as a theoretical construct for investigation.
Results. There are several main obstacles to the burnout concept’s application to studying the psychology of addictive patients’ families. These obstacles are: 1) a stigmatizing attitude toward the relatives, labelling them as dysfunctional/codependent, or merely passive recipients adjusting to stressful and challenging circumstances; 2) a sole focus on the destructive elements of the “informal caregiver — addicted patient” relationship dynamics; 3) underestimation of relatives’ willingness, experience, and knowledge in the care of their addicted family member and failure to recognize their right to participate in treatment decision-making; and 4) lack of specialized tools for assessing burnout and its opposite pole — the engagement of addicts’ relatives during the patients’ care.
Conclusion. Application of the burnout concept as a theoretical framework allows us to reformulate many psychopathological phenomena described in the family members of addicts, and expands the perspective of psychotherapy by providing the opportunity to conduct interventions to improve relatives’ functioning as caregivers. This, in turn, will contribute to the effectiveness of treatment outcomes for both addicts and their families. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:23:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e11c1f45e8c43958f6778ac284be274 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2074-6857 2307-2202 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:23:53Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology in Russia: State of Art |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e11c1f45e8c43958f6778ac284be2742023-02-24T09:14:36ZengM.V. Lomonosov Moscow State UniversityPsychology in Russia: State of Art2074-68572307-22022022-09-0115311113210.11621/pir.2022.0307The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive DisordersAlexandra M. Shishkova0Victor V. Bocharov1V.M. Bekhterev National Research Medical Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint-Petersburg, RussiaV.M. Bekhterev National Research Medical Center for Psychiatry and Neurology, Saint-Petersburg, Russia; St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, RussiaBackground. Relatives of patients with addictive disorders often face significant difficulties in their daily lives. Although the burnout concept is currently considered a significant and promising theoretical framework for studying family members who care for chronically ill patients, its application has encountered considerable difficulties in the area of addiction treatment. Objective. This article explores the methodology for studying the psychological issues arising in families affected by addictive disorders. We analyzed the social, economic, and cultural conditions of the different study models developed in this field, and identified the difficulties hindering the acceptance of the burnout concept as a theoretical construct for investigation. Results. There are several main obstacles to the burnout concept’s application to studying the psychology of addictive patients’ families. These obstacles are: 1) a stigmatizing attitude toward the relatives, labelling them as dysfunctional/codependent, or merely passive recipients adjusting to stressful and challenging circumstances; 2) a sole focus on the destructive elements of the “informal caregiver — addicted patient” relationship dynamics; 3) underestimation of relatives’ willingness, experience, and knowledge in the care of their addicted family member and failure to recognize their right to participate in treatment decision-making; and 4) lack of specialized tools for assessing burnout and its opposite pole — the engagement of addicts’ relatives during the patients’ care. Conclusion. Application of the burnout concept as a theoretical framework allows us to reformulate many psychopathological phenomena described in the family members of addicts, and expands the perspective of psychotherapy by providing the opportunity to conduct interventions to improve relatives’ functioning as caregivers. This, in turn, will contribute to the effectiveness of treatment outcomes for both addicts and their families.http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=9865addictive disorderscodependencyinformal caregiversstressburdenburnoutengagementmethodology |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra M. Shishkova Victor V. Bocharov The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders Psychology in Russia: State of Art addictive disorders codependency informal caregivers stress burden burnout engagement methodology |
| title | The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders |
| title_full | The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders |
| title_fullStr | The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders |
| title_short | The Burnout Concept as a Theoretical Framework for Investigating the Caregiving Impact of Relatives of Patients with Addictive Disorders |
| title_sort | burnout concept as a theoretical framework for investigating the caregiving impact of relatives of patients with addictive disorders |
| topic | addictive disorders codependency informal caregivers stress burden burnout engagement methodology |
| url | http://psychologyinrussia.com/volumes/index.php?article=9865 |
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