Juliana Onwumere1, Sophia Howes1, David Shiers2,3, Fiona Gaughran4. 1. 1 Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. 2. 2 Psychosis Research Unit, Prestwich Hospital Manchester, Manchester, UK. 3. 3 The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. 4. 4 Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychosis, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Reduced life expectancies are recorded in adults with psychotic disorders. Informal carers play key roles in improving illness outcomes for patients, including significantly reducing rates of relapse and hospitalisation. There is, however, a dearth of literature detailing carers' perspectives on physical health problems in the relatives they care for and implications for those in the caregiving role. The study sought to explore carers' subjective experiences of supporting a relative with psychosis and physical health problems. METHODS: Carers of adults with psychosis were interviewed individually, or as part of a group, about physical health problems in the relatives they care for. RESULTS: Five key themes were identified from the interviews that reflected (1) ubiquity of physical health problems in psychosis, (2) gaps in service provision for those living with mental and physical health problems, (3) carers' role in responding to service gaps, (4) difficult conversations and (5) impact on carer health. CONCLUSION: Service initiatives that are designed to improve patient physical health in psychosis should not overlook the role that informal carers might have in supporting this process. The implications that patient physical health problems present for carer well-being and the quality of the caregiving relationship in psychosis deserve further investigation.
BACKGROUND: Reduced life expectancies are recorded in adults with psychotic disorders. Informal carers play key roles in improving illness outcomes for patients, including significantly reducing rates of relapse and hospitalisation. There is, however, a dearth of literature detailing carers' perspectives on physical health problems in the relatives they care for and implications for those in the caregiving role. The study sought to explore carers' subjective experiences of supporting a relative with psychosis and physical health problems. METHODS: Carers of adults with psychosis were interviewed individually, or as part of a group, about physical health problems in the relatives they care for. RESULTS: Five key themes were identified from the interviews that reflected (1) ubiquity of physical health problems in psychosis, (2) gaps in service provision for those living with mental and physical health problems, (3) carers' role in responding to service gaps, (4) difficult conversations and (5) impact on carer health. CONCLUSION: Service initiatives that are designed to improve patient physical health in psychosis should not overlook the role that informal carers might have in supporting this process. The implications that patient physical health problems present for carer well-being and the quality of the caregiving relationship in psychosis deserve further investigation.
Entities:
Keywords:
Psychosis; carers; physical health; severe mental illness
Authors: Juliana Onwumere; Brendon Stubbs; Mary Stirling; David Shiers; Fiona Gaughran; Andrew S C Rice; Amanda C de C Williams; Whitney Scott Journal: Pain Date: 2022-03-16 Impact factor: 7.926