Non-psychopathology Related Outcomes Among Siblings of Individuals with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review

Distress, burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with mental illness: a mixed studies systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Family members of people with mental illness (MI) may experience a host of psychological adversities such as increased stress, burden, and reduced wellbeing. However, relatively little is known about siblings. This study aimed to characterise the experience of distress (viz. depressive and anxiety symptoms), burden, and wellbeing in siblings of people with MI.

METHODS

Studies reporting on quantitative measures of depression, anxiety, burden, or wellbeing in siblings; and/or qualitative findings on siblings' experience were eligible. The literature search was conducted up until 20th October 2022.

RESULTS

Sixty-two studies comprising data from 3744 siblings were included. The pooled mean percentage of depressive symptoms fell in the mild range at 15.71 (k = 28, N = 2187, 95% CI 12.99-18.43) and anxiety symptoms fell in the minimal range at 22.45 (k = 16, N = 1122, 95% CI 17.09-27.80). Moderator analyses indicate that siblings of people with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder experience greater depressive symptoms than siblings of people with other types of MI (β = -16.38, p < 0.001). Qualitative findings suggest that individuals may be particularly vulnerable during their siblings' illness onset and times of relapse. Limited communication, confusion about MI, and the need to compensate may contribute to siblings' distress and/or burden. Siblings' experience of wellbeing and caregiving were closely related.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the complex psychological experience of siblings and the need for greater research and clinical support for this important yet often overlooked cohort.

Protocol for a scoping review of the role of siblings in supporting middle-aged and older people with early-acquired severe mental illness

INTRODUCTION

For older individuals who developed severe mental illness (SMI) during late adolescence or early adulthood (referred to as early-acquired SMI), the combination of ageing and SMI presents persistent health and psychosocial challenges. This group, with a higher likelihood of being unmarried or experiencing marriage dissolution, often lacks social and economic resources to address the difficulties they face in later life. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in understanding the role of siblings in supporting the ageing process of individuals with early-acquired SMI. However, to date, no reviews have investigated the role of siblings in assisting their middle-aged and older brothers or sisters with SMI as they age within community settings. Our scoping review aims to explore and synthesise the existing literature on sibling support for individuals with early-acquired SMI, with the goal of informing further advancements in research, practice and policy.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley will inform this scoping review. Four groups of search keywords, derived from four related concepts (sibling, SMI, support and ageing), will be employed. Additionally, a group of keywords related to unrelated life stages and diseases will be used to exclude irrelevant articles. A search will be carried out across major online databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO, Ovid MEDLINE, ProQuest and Google Scholar to identify the articles between 2000 and 2023. English-language studies meeting specific eligibility criteria will be identified following a review of titles and abstracts and will then undergo a full-text review. The data from the selected articles will be extracted using a customised data-charting framework and content analysis will be conducted.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

There are no requirements for ethical approval. The findings of this review will be shared through professional connections, academic conferences and scholarly journals.

Psychological distress in siblings of people with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to characterise the prevalence and/or severity of psychological distress (namely, depression and anxiety symptoms) in siblings of people with mental illness (MI) and to examine correlates of distress in siblings of people with MI.

METHOD

Studies comparing distress in individuals with and without a sibling with MI were eligible. Studies reporting on correlates of distress in siblings were also eligible. A search of MEDLINE Complete, PsycINFO and Embase was conducted up until 17 March 2022.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies comprising 2304 siblings and 2263 comparison individuals were included. Meta-analyses indicated individuals with a sibling with MI experience significantly greater depressive symptoms (Hedges's g = 0.53, 95% CI = [0.32, 0.73], siblings n = 1962, comparison individuals n = 2248) and anxiety symptoms (Hedges's g = 0.40, 95% CI = [0.19, 0.61], siblings n = 653, comparison individuals n = 533) than those without. The sibling relationship, siblings' locus of control, interpersonal functioning and their appraisal of the impacts of MI were identified as important and potentially modifiable correlates.

CONCLUSION

Individuals with a sibling with MI experience greater depressive and anxiety symptoms than those without and would likely benefit from support. Future studies are required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying distress in siblings.

A family study on first episode of psychosis patients: Exploring neuropsychological performance as an endophenotype

INTRODUCTION

Family studies provide a suitable approach to analyzing candidate endophenotypes of schizophrenia, including cognitive features.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize different neurocognitive functions in a group of patients with first episode of psychosis (FEP), their first-degree relatives (parents and siblings), and healthy controls (HC), in order to identify potential endophenotypes for schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD).

METHODS

Participants were assessed in the context of a national project in Spain called PAFIP-FAMILIAS. They completed the same neuropsychological battery, which included tests of verbal memory, visual memory, processing speed, working memory, executive functions, motor dexterity, attention, and theory of mind. Group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA, followed by tests of multiple comparisons when appropriate.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-three FEP patients were included, as well as 244 of their first-degree relatives (146 parents and 98 siblings) and 202 HC. In general, relatives showed an intermediate performance between the HC and the FEP patients in all neurocognitive domains. However, the domains of executive functions and attention stood out, as relatives (especially parents) showed similar performance to FEP patients. This was replicated when selecting patients subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and their relatives.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that executive and attention dysfunctions might have a family aggregation and could be relevant cognitive endophenotypes for psychotic disorders. The study shows the potential of exploring intra-family neuropsychological performance supporting neurobiological and genetic research in SSD.