There cystic fibrosis It is a genetic disease that affects 1 newborn out of 2,500 – 2,700 by undermining the functionality of many organs and heavily influencing the expectation and quality of life of those who are affected.
The genetic cause is a mutation that inhibits the production of a protein, involving an anomaly of the transport of salts and determining the production of “dehydrated” secretions, therefore dense and not very sliding that tend to accumulate in the organs forming cysts and inflammation over time.
To be affected by the effects of the disease are mainly the respiratory system, the airways, the pancreas, the liver, the intestine and the reproductive system.
To date there are no care, but only therapies addressed to slow down the evolution of the diseaseto correct pancreatic insufficiency and to maintain good nutritional state.
Based on what we know today, in most people with cystic fibrosis The duration of life depends on the evolution of lung disease.
This evolution depends on a set of factors, which are only partially genetic, given that non -genetic factors such as the care practiced and the level of adherence to them, the environment in which the person with cystic fibrosis lives and it lifestyle that adopts.
Given the great variety of the combinations of these factors, each patient is different from the other, however for all patients prolonged treatments and the need to manage the disease on several fronts become important sources of stress.
Also for family members and caregivers the psychological impact of treatments, long hospitalizations such as daily management especially during patients, is not a negligible aspect. In addition, the guidelines for the control of lung infections, to which these patients are more easily subject to, recommend isolation from other people with cystic fibrosis actually preventing mutual support and facilitating the feeling of exclusion.
A psychological support and a psychotherapeutic intervention For those symptoms that can intervene even in adulthood they can positively affect non -genetic factors that influence the course of the disease. In a recent scientific review on the topic, the various studies analyzed highlighted the importance of an intervention commensurate with the age and needs of the patient who helps to manage the various aspects.
One of the most important is adhesion and motivation to treatmentthat with cognitive and behavioral interventions It can be promoted by overcoming motivational blocks and encouraging functional behaviors. The chronic course of the disease can have important effects on the patient’s emotional world, such as the moment of discovery of diagnosis in more adult age, with awareness and inevitable feelings of sadness or anger.
The objective of the therapeutic support can also be ambivalence towards the numerous and frequent treatments that are important for health, but tiring and expensive in terms of time.
We can often find emotions of anger or sadness that derive from the difficulty in carrying out a planning compared to their goals and passions, which can be seen as future purposes perhaps not reachable or for which you can only see the ultimate bankruptcy and not the gratification itself of having a value to be pursued.
The experiences of exclusion are frequent, the feeling of isolation and the tendency not to mention one’s condition, preventing yourself from sharing emotions and suffering.
A psychotherapeutic support In this sense it can help to overcome one’s beliefs both with respect to the reactions of others to this particular condition, and to the change of perspective of the patient towards his own future.
There are naturally frequent depressive or anxious symptoms, which can strongly affect the aforementioned adherence to the treatmentin fact undermining patient health and quality of life in general. A motivational approach can help in the first blocks of adherence to treatment, analyzing beliefs and directing towards greater functionality, both personal and relationship.
Cognitive-behavioral interventions aimed at the symptoms and interventions of the so-called Third generation of cognitive behavioral therapylike the ACT and Mindfulness techniques, can encourage the overcoming of problematic moments and promote an open and accepting attitude towards the disease and its repercussions.
