Families' experiences with schizophrenia

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Families of people with schizophrenia often experience difficult challenges when itcomes to dealing with this illness. Contemporary researchers suggest that families oftentake on the task of caring for their ill relatives with limited resources and support. Mentalhealth professionals often fail to include the families in the treatment of their relatives.Although psychoeducation has been shown to be an important process that helps not onlythe families but relatives as well, mental health professionals commonly do not involvefamilies in such activities. This study explored the experiences of families of people withschizophrenia and their subsequent contact with mental health professionals, as well astheir understanding of schizophrenia as a mental disorder. To this end, a small sample of10 families (four Xhosa speaking families as well as six Coloured families) was drawn inthe Western Cape area on a convenience basis. In each case a family caregiver wasinterviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were content analyzed.The findings of the study indicate that families find it difficult to deal with their illrelatives. Families often experience stigma-related incidents because of their relatives.They feel isolated and alone. Families often yearn to receive more information about theillness of their relatives. Also, the contact between mental health professionals andfamilies was reported to be minimal at best. Family members reported that mental healthprofessionals do not include them in the treatment process. Recommendations for furtherresearch and practice are made.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University