Ernst von Kardorff1, Ali Soltaninejad2, Mohammad Kamali3, Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki4. 1. a Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences , Faculty of Arts and Humanities IV, Humboldt University of Berlin , Berlin , Germany. 2. b Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences , Faculty of Arts and Humanities IV, Humboldt University of Berlin , Berlin , Germany. 3. c Department of Rehabilitation Administration , Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran. 4. d Faculty of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences , Kerman , Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Caregivers of people with mental illnesses often experience a wide range of burdens. Although many studies have confirmed burdens among family caregivers of mentally ill relatives in general, specific knowledge regarding the concrete everyday hassle and existential sorrows from the caregiverś subjective reasoning perspective is lacking. Furthermore, there is little evidence on the possible different effects of affective disorders and schizophrenia on the quality of burden; this is also true with regard to the role of cultural traditions and lay beliefs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the specific burdens experienced by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted by semi-structured interviews with 45 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Eleven encumbering themes resulted from the interviews including incertitude, unawareness, emotional burden, stigma and blame, financial burden, physical burden, restriction in routine, disruption in routine, dissatisfaction with family, relatives, and acquaintances, troubles with patients' adherence to medication, and problems with health services and governmental support. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for a person with mental illness affects caregivers emotionally, financially, physically, and it elicits some restrictions in their routine (daily hassles). Finally, it causes conflicts in family relationships. Despite some differences regarding perceived burden among caregivers of schizophrenia and affective disorders, a common pattern of burden could be identified. Thus, authorities should provide adequate financial, educational, and psychosocial supports for caregivers of mental illnesses.
BACKGROUND: Caregivers of people with mental illnesses often experience a wide range of burdens. Although many studies have confirmed burdens among family caregivers of mentally ill relatives in general, specific knowledge regarding the concrete everyday hassle and existential sorrows from the caregiverś subjective reasoning perspective is lacking. Furthermore, there is little evidence on the possible different effects of affective disorders and schizophrenia on the quality of burden; this is also true with regard to the role of cultural traditions and lay beliefs. AIMS: The aim of this study was to explore the specific burdens experienced by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted by semi-structured interviews with 45 caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and affective disorders. Data were analysed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Eleven encumbering themes resulted from the interviews including incertitude, unawareness, emotional burden, stigma and blame, financial burden, physical burden, restriction in routine, disruption in routine, dissatisfaction with family, relatives, and acquaintances, troubles with patients' adherence to medication, and problems with health services and governmental support. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for a person with mental illness affects caregivers emotionally, financially, physically, and it elicits some restrictions in their routine (daily hassles). Finally, it causes conflicts in family relationships. Despite some differences regarding perceived burden among caregivers of schizophrenia and affective disorders, a common pattern of burden could be identified. Thus, authorities should provide adequate financial, educational, and psychosocial supports for caregivers of mental illnesses.
Entities:
Keywords:
Affective disorders; Iran; burden; content analysis; family caregivers; schizophrenia.
Authors: Francisco J García-Peñalvo; Manuel Franco Martín; Alicia García-Holgado; José Miguel Toribio Guzmán; Jesús Largo Antón; Ma Cruz Sánchez-Gómez Journal: J Med Syst Date: 2016-05-31 Impact factor: 4.460
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