Reducción del malestar psicológico y de la sobrecarga en familiares cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer mediante la aplicación de un programa de entrenamiento en Mindfulness (conciencia plena) / Reducing psychological discomfort and overload in Alzheimer's family caregivers through a mindfulness meditation program

Introducción. En este estudio se analizan los efectos que un programa basado en la conciencia plena (mindfulness) puede tener sobre los niveles de malestar psicológico y de sobrecarga en familiares cuidadores principales de enfermos con demencia tipo Alzheimer. Material y métodos. Para ello, se realizó un diseño cuasiexperimental de comparación de grupos con medición pretest-postest-seguimiento, con un grupo experimental y un grupo control. Como instrumentos de evaluación se utilizaron el Cuestionario SCL-90-R y la Escala de Sobrecarga del cuidador. Resultados. Los análisis estadísticos realizados muestran una reducción significativa en los 3 índices generales y en las diversas dimensiones del malestar psicológico, así como en la variable sobrecarga del cuidador en el grupo experimental en comparación con el grupo control una vez finalizada la intervención. Sin embargo, las mejoras obtenidas en el grupo experimental se vieron reducidas en la evaluación de seguimiento realizada 4 meses después de finalizada la intervención, ya que se obtuvieron puntuaciones significativamente más altas en todas las dimensiones en comparación con las puntuaciones medias postest. Conclusiones. Estos resultados son acordes con otras investigaciones donde se ha comprobado que las intervenciones realizadas con cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer suelen ser efectivas a corto plazo, pero que sus efectos se diluyen con el paso del tiempo, por lo que se hace necesario el establecimiento de medidas y de políticas de atención a estos cuidadores que permitan mantener los efectos beneficiosos de las intervenciones destinadas a reducir sus niveles de malestar psicológico y de sobrecarga(AU)

Introduction. This study analyzes the effects that a mindfulness development meditation program has on psychological discomfort and overload in main family caregivers of Alzheimer dementia patients. Material and methods. A quasi-experimental (group comparison) design with pretest/post-test/follow-up measurements was employed in an experimental and a control group. The evaluation instruments used were the SCL-90-R Questionnaire and the Caregiver Overload Scale. Results. The statistical analyses done show a significant reduction in the three general indices and in the various dimensions of psychological discomfort, as well as in the caregiver overload variable in the experimental group compared to the control group at the end of the intervention. However, the improvements found in the experimental group were lower in the follow-up evaluation done four months after intervention, with significantly higher scores than in post-test in all the dimensions. Conclusions. These results are in agreement with other studies in which it was found that intervention for Alzheimer caregivers is effective in the short term, but the effect becomes diluted over time, so measurements and policies for these caregivers have to enable the beneficial effects of intervention reducing psychological discomfort and overload to be maintained(AU)

[Reducing psychological discomfort and overload in Alzheimer's family caregivers through a mindfulness meditation program]. / Reducción del malestar psicológico y de la sobrecarga en familiares cuidadores de enfermos de Alzheimer mediante la aplicación de un programa de entrenamiento en Mindfulness (conciencia plena).

INTRODUCTION: This study analyzes the effects that a mindfulness development meditation program has on psychological discomfort and overload in main family caregivers of Alzheimer dementia patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental (group comparison) design with pretest/post-test/follow-up measurements was employed in an experimental and a control group. The evaluation instruments used were the SCL-90-R Questionnaire and the Caregiver Overload Scale. RESULTS: The statistical analyses done show a significant reduction in the three general indices and in the various dimensions of psychological discomfort, as well as in the caregiver overload variable in the experimental group compared to the control group at the end of the intervention. However, the improvements found in the experimental group were lower in the follow-up evaluation done four months after intervention, with significantly higher scores than in post-test in all the dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: These results are in agreement with other studies in which it was found that intervention for Alzheimer caregivers is effective in the short term, but the effect becomes diluted over time, so measurements and policies for these caregivers have to enable the beneficial effects of intervention reducing psychological discomfort and overload to be maintained.

Murine typhus in child, Yucatan, Mexico.

A case of murine typhus in Yucatan was diagnosed in a child with nonspecific signs and symptoms. The finding of Rickettsia typhi increases the number of Rickettsia species identified in Yucatan and shows that studies are needed to determine the prevalence and incidence of rickettsioses in Mexico.