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Psychosocial Aspects in Chronic Conditions: Implications for Clinical Practice and...
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Psychosocial Aspects in Chronic Conditions: Implications for Clinical Practice and Healthcare Delivery

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Chronic Care".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 2825

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rossella Messina

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40123 Bologna, Italy
Interests: clinical health psychology; psychosocial aspects in chronic conditions; diabetes; depression; dementia; patient education; adherence; self-efficacy; patient engagement; patient empowerment
Dr. Liliana Indelicato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
Interests: health-related quality of life; health outcomes; health technology assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic diseases or long-term conditions, such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and stroke, may have an impact on people’s psychological health and quality of life. Conversely, psychological aspects may play a role in medication adherence and self-management. As the relationship between psychological aspects and their influences on chronic conditions appears to be bidirectional, we as a scientific community need to consider how research on health services and clinical practices (including psychological support, educational interventions, and psychotherapy) can support people with chronic conditions and their carers.

We invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on the psychological aspects of chronic conditions and their implications for interventions, health professionals, and health systems in general. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews.

Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: chronic conditions and their impacts on the psychological well-being of patients and their caregivers; the development and implementation of interventions to support people with chronic conditions; the relationship between psychological aspects and chronic conditions and how chronic conditions can affect people’s emotions and relationships from childhood to adulthood; health professionals’ management of the psychological aspects of chronic conditions; and the engagement of people with chronic conditions in health services.

Submissions may include quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research studies or reviews and meta-analyses that meet the established review standards, and the data may be obtained from primary or secondary sources. All types of study designs, populations, conditions, and health care settings, including acute care, long-term care, community and home care, mental health care, and primary care, will be considered. Case reports on the psychotherapeutic treatment of people with chronic conditions are also welcome.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Rossella Messina
Dr. Liliana Indelicato
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • psychological aspects
  • interventions
  • chronic conditions
  • psychotherapy
  • psychological support
  • engagement, empowerment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1153 KiB  
Article
Clinical Health Psychology Perspectives in Diabetes Care: A Retrospective Cohort Study Examining the Role of Depression in Adherence to Visits and Examinations in Type 2 Diabetes Management
by Rossella Messina, Jacopo Lenzi, Simona Rosa, Maria Pia Fantini and Paolo Di Bartolo
Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1942; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191942 - 27 Sep 2024
Viewed by 570
Abstract
Background: Depression in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) impacts glycemic control and complications. This study examines the influence of depression on compliance with recommended annual diabetes assessments in patients within the Local Healthcare Authority of Romagna. From a clinical health psychology perspective, understanding [...] Read more.
Background: Depression in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) impacts glycemic control and complications. This study examines the influence of depression on compliance with recommended annual diabetes assessments in patients within the Local Healthcare Authority of Romagna. From a clinical health psychology perspective, understanding how depression influences patients’ engagement in managing their conditions is crucial. This insight can help improve healthcare services by ensuring they address mental health needs and thereby enhance treatment effectiveness and overall patient outcomes. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included residents of Romagna with incident T2DM from 2015 to 2017, followed from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2022. Depression was identified via hospital discharge records or antidepressant prescriptions. Adherence to diabetes care guidelines was measured using the Guideline Composite Indicator (GCI). Results: The study included 13,285 patients, with a mean age of 61.1 years. Prevalence of post-diabetes depression increased from 3.0% in 2018 to 8.9% in 2022. Initial analyses showed higher GCI rates among patients with depression. However, propensity-score adjustment revealed that by 2021–2022, patients with pre-diabetes depression had 5% lower compliance rates (p-value ≤ 0.05). Older adults with depression had reduced adherence, while younger adults with post-diabetes depression had higher adherence rates. Conclusions: Depression significantly affects adherence to diabetes care guidelines in T2DM patients, particularly among older adults. Integrated care models addressing both diabetes and depression are crucial for improving health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Aspects in Chronic Conditions: Implications for Clinical Practice and Healthcare Delivery)
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11 pages, 1460 KiB  
Article
Perceived Relational Empathy and Resilience in People with Spinal Cord Injury at the End of Acute Care: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Monika Zackova, Paola Rucci, Rossana Di Staso, Silvia Ceretti, Giuseppe Bonavina and Eric Delmestro
Healthcare 2024, 12(16), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161559 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1100
Abstract
In patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and experience of care measures (PREMs) are extremely relevant for the prognosis. However, there is a paucity of research on these topics. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationships between these [...] Read more.
In patients with spinal cord injury (SCI), patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) and experience of care measures (PREMs) are extremely relevant for the prognosis. However, there is a paucity of research on these topics. We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationships between these patient outcomes and other demographic and clinical variables in adult SCI patients discharged from the intensive care unit of an Italian tertiary rehabilitation hospital. We administered the Consultation and Relational Empathy (CARE) for perceived relational empathy, the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III self-report (SCIM-SR) for functional autonomy, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, and the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) for resilience. Study participants consisted of 148 adults with SCI; 82.4% were male, with a mean age of 49.9 years (SD = 16.6). The lesion was traumatic in 82.4% and complete in 74.3% of cases. The median length of hospital stays was 35 days (interquartile range—IQR = 23–60). Perceived relational empathy was positively associated with resilience (r = 0.229, p = 0.005) and negatively associated with the length of the stay and lesion completeness. Resilience had a weak negative association with pain (r = −0.173, p = 0.035) and was unrelated to other variables. Clinicians should consider the routine assessment of PREMs and PROMs in order to personalize post-discharge therapeutic plans and identify appropriate measures to ensure continuity of care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Aspects in Chronic Conditions: Implications for Clinical Practice and Healthcare Delivery)
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Review

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20 pages, 889 KiB  
Review
The Impact of Caregiver Affiliate Stigma on the Psychosocial Well-Being of Caregivers of Individuals with Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Scoping Review
by Nelly Becerra Carrillo, Massimo Guasconi and Serena Barello
Healthcare 2024, 12(19), 1957; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191957 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 764
Abstract
Background. Caregiver affiliate stigma concerning neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) profoundly affects caregivers’ well-being, though its full impact remains to be fully elucidated. Objectives. This scoping review aims to consolidate the current knowledge on caregiver affiliate stigma related to NDDs, explore its connection to caregiver [...] Read more.
Background. Caregiver affiliate stigma concerning neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) profoundly affects caregivers’ well-being, though its full impact remains to be fully elucidated. Objectives. This scoping review aims to consolidate the current knowledge on caregiver affiliate stigma related to NDDs, explore its connection to caregiver psychosocial well-being, and pinpoint the gaps in the existing research. Methods. Adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search of five databases was conducted for peer-reviewed, English language studies focusing on caregiver-affiliated stigma in relation to NDDs. Results. The initial search yielded 9033 articles, with 19 meeting the inclusion criteria after rigorous screening. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory was employed to analyze various stigma conceptualizations, including public, courtesy, affiliate, and family stigma. Analysis revealed a correlation between elevated levels of affiliate stigma and increased caregiver burden, deteriorated mental health outcomes, and diminished quality of life. The internalization of stigma was found to vary across demographic groups, influenced by factors such as education level and social support. The review also highlighted the mediating role of coping strategies and the protective function of social support against stigma internalization. Conclusions, These findings underscore the necessity for targeted, culturally sensitive interventions that address caregiver affiliate stigma across multiple ecological levels. This review contributes to a more nuanced understanding of caregiver affiliate stigma in relation to NDDs, laying the groundwork for future research and intervention development aimed at enhancing caregiver well-being in diverse cultural contexts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychosocial Aspects in Chronic Conditions: Implications for Clinical Practice and Healthcare Delivery)
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