[Familial stresses as a sequel of psychiatric diseases in a relative. Results of an interview with relatives].

The results of interviews with relatives of 179 patients committed to psychiatric treatment are reported. The relatives were interviewed in 1980, one year after discharge of the patient--who had been hospitalized for psychiatric problems for the first time--usually in the family setting. Our main interest was to investigate the concern of the relatives induced by the illness of a family member, and to take stock of the nature and extent of family stress at a relatively early stage of a psychiatric illness. We also wished to know what support the relatives had received, and from what sources, and from what other sources they would have wished such support. The results confirm what other investigators have suggested, i.e that community-centred care apparently leads to an increase in family stress, and that outpatient services and facilities have, to date, played a very minor role in overcoming the problems in the families of psychiatric patients.