FAMILY systems theory

FAMILY systems theory
PSYCHOLOGY
The purpose of this article is to analyze the growing interest in the
influence of the family, particularly the patient’s partner, on chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS). Social support is a vital element in many
medical conditions. There is growing interest in the influence of the
family, particularly the patient’s partner, on chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS), but more work is needed in this line. Helping family members to
optimize the support they provide may be the key to improving the
efficacy of therapeutic interventions in CFS, and have a positive impact
on the patient’s symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
Copyright of American Journal of Family Therapy is the property of
Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites
or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written
permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for
individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given
about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original
published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies
to all Abstracts.)
0192-6187
10.1080/01926187.2011.642651
84487528
Professional Development Collection
Family and Partner Facing a Chronic Disease: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The purpose of this article is to analyze the growing interest in the influence of the family, particularly the
patient’s partner, on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Social support is a vital element in many medical
conditions. There is growing interest in the influence of the family, particularly the patient’s partner, on chronic
fatigue syndrome (CFS), but more work is needed in this line. Helping family members to optimize the support6/2/2021 Excelsior College Library’s OneSearch
https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.vlib.excelsior.edu/eds/delivery?sid=2adaf113-231a-4895-8dfd-efa60368e2b2%40pdc-v-sessmgr01&vid=1&ReturnUrl=ht… 2/14
they provide may be the key to improving the efficacy of therapeutic interventions in CFS, and have a positive
impact on the patient’s symptoms.
The purpose of this article is to analyze the growing interest in the influence of the family, particularly the
patient’s partner, on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a clinical condition
characterized by disabling chronic fatigue of at least 6 months’ duration and a series of symptoms, among
which musculoskeletal pain, neurocognitive disturbances, sleep alterations, and intolerance to physical
exercise are prominent (Fukuda et al., [25]; Short et al., [58]). The prolonged fatigue, experienced as a
persistent feeling of exhaustion or difficulty to carry out continuous physical or intellectual activity, is a common
symptom encountered in primary and specialized care settings, and a source of concern for both the patient
and attending physician (Alijotas et al., [ 1]). The current prevalence of CFS in adults ranges from 0.23% to
0.42%. The condition predominates in adults 20 to 40 years of age (29–35 years according to Prins, Van der
Meer, & Bleijenberg, [50]) and is more common in women, who account for 75% of cases (Jason et al., [37];
Prins, Van der Meer, & Bleijenberg, [50]).
Patients with CFS can present a series of associated comorbidities that worsen the prognosis and quality of
life, such as dry eye syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, neurovegetative dysfunction, and particularly,
fibromyalgia, which has considerable repercussions on the family system and the patient’s perception of health
(Ubago et al., [61]).
FAMILY FACING A CHRONIC DISEASE
Social support has proven to be important in a number of chronic medical conditions (Stroud, Turner, Jensen,
& Cardenas, [59]). Several studies have shown that patients recover more quickly from a disease or injury,
report better psychological adaptation to their illness, and are implicated in healthier behavior (Cohen, [17];
Heijmans, De Ridder, & Bensing, [36]) with social support; this is seen, for example, in cancer patients (Berg
et al., [ 7]). The results of controlled, longitudinal, epidemiologic studies even suggest that poor interpersonal
relations are a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality, with statistical effects comparable to those of other
well-established risk factors for health, such as smoking, elevated blood pressure, obesity, and a lack of
physical activity (Berkman, [ 8]). Thus, insufficient social support has an important influence on overall physical
and mental health (Choi & Marks, [15]).