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“Family Connections”, a DBT-Based Program for Relatives of People with Borderline Personality Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus Group Study

Author

Listed:
  • Isabel Fernández-Felipe

    (Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain)

  • Amanda Díaz-García

    (Department of Psychology and Sociology, Universidad de Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain)

  • José Heliodoro Marco

    (Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Azucena García-Palacios

    (Department of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain
    CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Verónica Guillén Botella

    (Departamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológico, Facultad de Psicología, Universitat de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
    CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the family environment due to the difficulties that have been generated by job losses, deaths, increase rates of family and domestic violence, poor mental health outcomes, and estrangement in personal relationships. “Family Connections” (FC) is an internationally renowned DBT-based program that supports the families and caregivers of people with borderline personality disorder. The study took place at a Specialized Health Centre in Spain. A focus group with seven participants was organized for people who had previously attended an FC group. The participants were asked about their experiences during the confinement periods that was caused by COVID-19 as well as their experiences and opinions on relatives, skills practiced, their need to and the advantages of attending the group, and satisfaction with the FC group. The qualitative research web program Dedoose was used for the thematic analysis of the data. The results showed that the participants experienced various experiences during confinement; validation and radical acceptance were determined to be the most useful skills; the importance of professionals and the content as well as the sincerity of attendees and having a safe space were determined to be the greatest benefits of the programs; and the participants all indicated great satisfaction of the program. This study allowed us to explore the experiences of family members of people with BPD with their loved ones during the confinement period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the use of the FC program skills in the family environment during confinement, and we analyzed the acceptability and satisfaction with the FC program.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabel Fernández-Felipe & Amanda Díaz-García & José Heliodoro Marco & Azucena García-Palacios & Verónica Guillén Botella, 2021. "“Family Connections”, a DBT-Based Program for Relatives of People with Borderline Personality Disorder during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus Group Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2021:i:1:p:79-:d:708686
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Noh, Samuel & Turner, R.Jay, 1987. "Living with psychiatric patients: Implications for the mental health of family members," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 263-272, January.
    2. Denise Meuldijk & Alexandra McCarthy & Marianne E Bourke & Brin F S Grenyer, 2017. "The value of psychological treatment for borderline personality disorder: Systematic review and cost offset analysis of economic evaluations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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