BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that symptom severity often implies an increased family burden. Few other illness-related variables have, however, been investigated in this context. This study investigates how family burden is affected by symptom, function, and cognition, as well as how the patient perceives his/her illness and quality of life. METHOD: A total of 99 relatives, to as many patients diagnosed with psychosis and with their illness at a stable level, participated in this study. The relatives estimated their perceived burden, the patients rated the distress caused by their illness as well as the quality of their lives, and the care staff rated the patients' symptom and function as well as tested their cognitive abilities. RESULTS: Increased family burden can be tied to the patients' increased symptom severity, to their impaired functioning as well as to the patients' higher self ratings regarding distress. The family burden is also connected to the patient's reduced working memory and reduced executive functioning, but this connection is not totally clear and should be further investigated. Of the variables that the patients were rated on, it was the overall functional ability measured with GAF that had the single most impact on perceived family burden. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling of illness-related variables, such as symptoms, impaired functioning, impaired working memory and executive functioning, as well as the patients' own experiences of distress, is important in order to lessen the burden for the relatives. All aspects of family burden are, however, not explained by these factors, which is why further research within this realm is required.
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that symptom severity often implies an increased family burden. Few other illness-related variables have, however, been investigated in this context. This study investigates how family burden is affected by symptom, function, and cognition, as well as how the patient perceives his/her illness and quality of life. METHOD: A total of 99 relatives, to as many patients diagnosed with psychosis and with their illness at a stable level, participated in this study. The relatives estimated their perceived burden, the patients rated the distress caused by their illness as well as the quality of their lives, and the care staff rated the patients' symptom and function as well as tested their cognitive abilities. RESULTS: Increased family burden can be tied to the patients' increased symptom severity, to their impaired functioning as well as to the patients' higher self ratings regarding distress. The family burden is also connected to the patient's reduced working memory and reduced executive functioning, but this connection is not totally clear and should be further investigated. Of the variables that the patients were rated on, it was the overall functional ability measured with GAF that had the single most impact on perceived family burden. CONCLUSIONS: Controlling of illness-related variables, such as symptoms, impaired functioning, impaired working memory and executive functioning, as well as the patients' own experiences of distress, is important in order to lessen the burden for the relatives. All aspects of family burden are, however, not explained by these factors, which is why further research within this realm is required.
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Authors: Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar; Mar Rus-Calafell; Thomas K J Craig; Matias Irarrazaval; Alfonso Urzúa; Laurent Boyer; David R Williams Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2017-01 Impact factor: 5.285
Authors: Katerina Koutra; Sofia Triliva; Theano Roumeliotaki; Maria Basta; Christos Lionis; Alexandros N Vgontzas Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2015-08-19
Authors: Ellenor Mittendorfer-Rutz; Syed Rahman; Antti Tanskanen; Maila Majak; Juha Mehtälä; Fabian Hoti; Erik Jedenius; Dana Enkusson; Amy Leval; Jan Sermon; Heidi Taipale; Jari Tiihonen Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2019-06-18 Impact factor: 9.306