Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34177727›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychology2021

Family Functioning and Multiple Sclerosis: Study Protocol of a Multicentric Italian Project.

Marialaura Di Tella, Virginia Perutelli, Giuseppina Miele, Luigi Lavorgna, Simona Bonavita, Stefania Federica De Mercanti, Lidia Mislin Streito, Marinella Clerico, Lorys Castelli

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Observational
  2. Intimate partner violence among women with multiple sclerosis.PCN reports : psychiatry and clinical neurosciences · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Marialaura Di TellaDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Virginia PerutelliDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy.
Giuseppina MieleDepartment of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Luigi LavorgnaDepartment of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Simona BonavitaDepartment of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Stefania Federica De MercantiDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy.
Lidia Mislin StreitoDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy.
Marinella ClericoDepartment of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Turin, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Luigi Gonzaga, Turin, Italy.
Lorys CastelliDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
University of Turin · ITUniversity of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" · ITOspedale San Luigi Gonzaga · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease, which not only affects physical functioning, but is also associated with cognitive impairments and great psychological distress. The combination of those symptoms may have negative consequences on the family functioning of patients with MS, with detrimental effects on both marital relationships and parental bonding. Furthermore, the presence of individual characteristics and of an adequate social support may also contribute to the quality and endurance of family relationships. Particularly, high levels of alexithymia, a personality trait that affects the recognition of a person's own emotions, have been associated with reduced interpersonal communication skills and enhanced anxiety/depressive symptoms. Therefore, the main aim of the present study is to provide an in-depth evaluation of family functioning and related factors in patients with MS and their families. In order to reach this goal, the perceived quality of family functioning, dyadic relationships, and parental bonding will be first investigated. Secondly, the possible associations between the quality of family relationships and the presence of alexithymia, psychological distress, and perceived social support will be examined. Patients with MS and their families who will consent to take part in the study will be asked to provide sociodemographic and clinical information, and to complete a series of questionnaires, presented and uploaded on an online dedicated platform. The final sample will be made up of 300 families, consecutively recruited from the Italian medical centers involved in the project. The results of the present study will shed light on the family functioning of patients with MS, through a comprehensive assessment of the main factors that are associated with family dynamics. A holistic evaluation of those aspects can help clinicians and researchers understand family dynamics in MS population better.

Indexed as

alexithymiadyadic relationshipsfamily functioningmultiple sclerosisparental bondingperceived social supportpsychological distress

Identifiers

PMID34177727
PMCPMC8219871
OpenAlexW3172005936

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.