Sue Outram1, Gillian Harris2, Brian Kelly3, Carma L Bylund4, Martin Cohen5, Yulia Landa6, Tomer Levin7, Harsimrat Sandhu5, Marina Vamos3, Carmel Loughland8. 1. Discipline of Health Behaviour Sciences, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia sue.outram@newcastle.edu.au. 2. Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. 3. Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia Hunter New England Mental Health, Waratah, NSW, Australia. 4. Department of Medical Education, Hamad Medical Corporation, Dohar, Qatar. 5. Hunter New England Mental Health, Waratah, NSW, Australia. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. 7. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. 8. Priority Research Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia Hunter New England Mental Health, Waratah, NSW, Australia Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI), Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite widespread acceptance of the principle that patients should be informed about their diagnosis, many clinicians are reluctant to provide a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This study examines family caregivers' experiences of the communication of a schizophrenia diagnosis and related information. METHODS: A generic qualitative methodological approach was used. In all, 13 family caregivers were recruited in regional New South Wales, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore their experiences and perceptions of discussing the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of schizophrenia with mental health professionals. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, codes generated and thematic analysis undertaken. RESULTS: Family caregivers described long and difficult pathways to being given a diagnosis, haphazard means of finding out the diagnosis, high unmet needs for information, exclusion from the medical care process and problematic communication and general interactions with mental health clinicians. Caregivers were unanimous about the importance of receiving a timely diagnosis, for them and their relative with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: Family caregivers are an integral part of the mental health-care system, and they should be included early in discussions of diagnosis and treatment of a person with schizophrenia. Their perspectives on communicating a diagnosis of schizophrenia provide important information for communication skills training of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
BACKGROUND: Despite widespread acceptance of the principle that patients should be informed about their diagnosis, many clinicians are reluctant to provide a diagnosis of schizophrenia. This study examines family caregivers' experiences of the communication of a schizophrenia diagnosis and related information. METHODS: A generic qualitative methodological approach was used. In all, 13 family caregivers were recruited in regional New South Wales, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore their experiences and perceptions of discussing the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of schizophrenia with mental health professionals. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, codes generated and thematic analysis undertaken. RESULTS: Family caregivers described long and difficult pathways to being given a diagnosis, haphazard means of finding out the diagnosis, high unmet needs for information, exclusion from the medical care process and problematic communication and general interactions with mental health clinicians. Caregivers were unanimous about the importance of receiving a timely diagnosis, for them and their relative with schizophrenia. CONCLUSION: Family caregivers are an integral part of the mental health-care system, and they should be included early in discussions of diagnosis and treatment of a person with schizophrenia. Their perspectives on communicating a diagnosis of schizophrenia provide important information for communication skills training of psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
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: 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