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The Burden of Care

The Impact of Functional Psychiatric Illness on the Patient's Family

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

G. Fadden ,
P. Bebbington  and
L. Kuipers
G. Fadden*
Affiliation:
St Columba's Hospital, Sligo, Eire
P. Bebbington
Affiliation:
MRC Social Psychiatry Unit
L. Kuipers
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

This paper reviews the literature on the effect of severe mental illness on other members of the patient's family. The burdens of caring for a patient at home are considerable. They often affect the caring relative's social and leisure activities, and financial problems arise frequently. Relatives have difficulties in understanding and coming to terms with illness-related behaviour. ‘Negative’ symptoms are often a particular problem. Despite their burden, relatives do not complain much, although they receive little support, advice or information from the professionals engaged in treating the patient; much is now known about the difficulties relatives face, but we still need to know how they can best be helped. Failure to do this will have bad effects on both relatives and patients.

Type
Review Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 150 , Issue 3 , March 1987 , pp. 285 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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