[Burden in caregivers of psychiatric patients attending psychodynamic multifamily groups: preliminary results of an empirical study].

Aim: The main aim of this study is to investigate the burden in relatives of psychiatric patients attending long-term psychodynamic multifamily groups (18 months) of some Mental Health Departments of Lazio Region. A further aim is to verify if the decrease of the burden and the group participation are associated with a reduction of psychiatric symptoms in patients.

Methods: The sample consisted of 13 patients (10 men and 3 women) with severe personality disorder with at least one psychotic episode and 42 caregivers (15 men and 27 women).