Parents' Experiences of Caring for Their Only Child With Mental Illness in China: A Qualitative Study

The current study explored Chinese parents' experiences of caring for their only child with mental illness. Face-to-face interviews with semi-structured questions were conducted to learn about the care experiences of parents whose only child had mental illness. Purposeful sampling was used to recruit parents (n = 14) and thematic analysis was used. Five themes were identified: (1) Having Responsibility to Care for Children, (2) Feeling Guilt and Self-Blame, (3) Experiencing Loneliness and Helplessness, (4) Drained by Caregiving, and (5) Worrying About the Future. Parents who cared for their only child with mental illness experienced considerable emotional and physical challenges. Professionals and health care providers should recognize and understand the experiences of these parents to identity their needs and provide adequate support. Targeted support services and appropriate professional information should be developed and provided for parents to relieve them of negative caregiving experiences and improve their psychological and physical well-being. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 59(1), 29-37.].

Caring for caregivers: Understanding and meeting their needs in coping with first episode psychosis

AIM

The first episode of psychosis is a challenging time for both patients and those who care for them. Although literature on treatment is plentiful, literature on how to best support caregivers is more scarce. This review was undertaken to better understand the caregiver experience, determine which interventions most effectively alleviate their burden and examine which other factors may affect outcomes.

METHODS

Articles were retrieved from PubMed and OVID using the following search terms: first episode psychosis (FEP), schizophrenia, caregiver, intervention and burden in various combinations. Only peer-reviewed articles germane to FEP caregiver experience and interventions written in English were included.

RESULTS

Caregivers can experience grief, guilt and anxiety during this time. While concerned for their loved one, their own lives take a back seat and their mental and physical health are adversely affected. Some are better prepared to cope and are typically warm, decisive, confident and optimistic. Their families are organized and flexible. Others are less prepared and are more likely to have poor self-esteem, use avoidant coping strategies and be overly critical. Their families are controlling and have difficulty with communication and balance. These caregivers stand to benefit most from interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Effective interventions incorporate psychoeducation, problem solving strategies, peer support and clinician guidance. A higher level of interaction with facilitators and peers is associated with better results. Benefits include decreases in caregiver burden, depressive and anxious symptoms and feelings of shame and isolation. Although the literature has yet to isolate the key factors of a successful intervention, this review provides practical suggestions for clinicians and further illustrates the need for more research.