scholarly journals The impact of community care: Burden and quality of life of the informal caregivers of patients with severe mental disorder

Author(s):  
María Eugenia Estrada‐Fernández ◽  
Marta Gil‐Lacruz ◽  
Ana I. Gil‐Lacruz ◽  
Antonio Viñas‐López
2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S571-S571
Author(s):  
T.M. Gondek ◽  
K. Kotowicz ◽  
A. Kiejna

Stigma and discrimination of persons diagnosed with mental disorder is a common issue. In many European countries, research studies on the prevalence and implications of this problem are conducted in order to better understand how to overcome it. In Poland, there is a scarcity of such studies, what results in neglecting this issue by the policy makers. The objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of stigma and discrimination affecting the patients hospitalized in psychiatric day units and in-patient wards between 2016–2017 as well as to analyze the relationship between the stigma and the quality of life and social disability in persons with a mental disorder diagnosis of F20–F48 according to ICD-10, aged 18–65, in a day ward and an in-patient ward settings. The pilot study presents the data gathered from a preliminary sample of 20 patients of both genders diagnosed with the aforementioned mental disorders, equaling 10 per cent of the targeted total study sample. The quality of life is assessed with WHOQOL-Bref, WHO-5 questionnaire and Rosenberg self-esteem scale, while social disability is measured with the second version of the Groningen Social Disabilities Schedule. The assessment of the impact of stigma on the social disability of persons with mental disorders and their quality of life can be useful in the context of developing evidence-based interventions for these persons, while it could also provide the scientific data to support public information campaigns aiming at tackling the stigma against persons with mental disorders in Poland.Disclosure of InterestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S603-S603
Author(s):  
J. Cabral ◽  
C. Barreto Carvalho ◽  
P. Castilho Freitas ◽  
C. Pato

IntroductionIntervention with informal caregivers (IC) of psychiatric patients is internationally recognized as relevant and a priority. However, the existing responses in this area are still insufficient, especially regarding caregivers of individuals with mood disorders (MD). Mindfulness and compassion focused therapy have proven to be an effective approach in stress reduction and in improving emotional and social well-being of caregivers of patients with other conditions. However, no studies testing these new approaches in IC of patients with MD have been carried out. The objective of this work is to present a research project that aims to develop, implement and empirically test the effectiveness of an innovative group program to help informal caregivers of individuals with mood disorders to cope with the negative impact of the disease and reduce caregiver burdens.MethodsThe design of this experimental study to test the program's efficacy is a non-randomised controlled trial (nrct) with 12 months follow-up, with a mixed assessment methodology (quantitative and qualitative analysis). A sample of 60 informal caregivers of individuals with chronic MD will be constituted (n = 30 Control group; n= 30 Experimental group).ResultsWe expect the program to promote significant changes in participants in terms of several emotional variables (eg: burden, stress, resilience, compassion and quality of life).ConclusionsFurther efforts to continue studying the impact of interventions in caregivers should be carried out, as a way to improve the quality of life of caregivers and their ability to provide informal care to MD patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Life ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Cindy E. Frias ◽  
Esther Cabrera ◽  
Adelaida Zabalegui

The constantly changing process of caring for a person with dementia affects the informal caregivers’ role due to its psychosocial impact. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the impact of the Person with Dementia informal caregiver’s role caregiver to a person with dementia on the self-perceived quality of life (QoL) of the caregiver. In total, 160 informal caregivers were recruited between January and December 2019. Informal caregivers’ quality of life was assessed using the European Quality of Life 5-Dimension scale, burden with the Zarit Burden Scale, emotional wellbeing using the General Health Questionnaire, and caregiver reactions using Caregiver Reaction Aspects. Patients’ cognitive impairment was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination, their quality of life using Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease, and neuropsychiatric symptoms using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Outcomes were studied using the Pearson correlation coefficient and ANOVA test. Most informal caregivers’ outcomes were significantly associated with their quality of life. Male informal caregivers have a slightly better quality of life than female caregivers (p < 0.001). Caregiver burden (p < 0.001), psychological wellbeing (p < 0.001) and negative aspects of caregiving on health (p < 0.001) correlated moderately with informal caregivers’ quality of life. Factors associated with dementia, including the course of the illness and its severity with the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms can negatively affect the informal caregiver’s role and produce a low self-perception of quality of life; thus, social and professional support for informal caregivers is essential.


10.17816/cp83 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adela Magdalena Ciobanu ◽  
Larisa Maria Catrinescu ◽  
Daniel Mihăiță Ivașcu ◽  
Carmen Petrina Niculae ◽  
Andreea Silvana Szalontay

INTRODUCTION: The anti-psychiatric movements that emerged in the early 1960s led to the appearance of stigma in psychiatry. The misunderstanding of the concept of mental disorder, the negative way in which associated hospitalization was perceived, the inclination to treat patients through psychological therapies, and the criticism of pharmacological treatment led to the discrediting of psychiatry. AIM: The current paper aims to review the available literature regarding the impact of stigma on the quality of life of people diagnosed with mental disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A narrative review of relevant literature published between 1999 and 2021 was conducted. The authors analysed studies found on PubMed and the Web of Science electronic databases. The search terms combined two overlapping areas with keywords such as "stigma" and "mental disorders". A descriptive analysis was employed to synthesize the obtained data. RESULTS: Stigma continues to be an important challenge to the management of health conditions in people with mental disorders. A lack of comprehension may give the impression that all psychiatric patients are aggressive and are unable to function adequately. Such stigmatizing beliefs and habits have proven to be very difficult to change. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the stigmatization and repulsive attitudes in society, patients are reluctant to be linked to any form of mental disorder or to be seen as having any contact with mental health professionals. This undermines the beneficial effects of treatment, resulting in a poor quality of life and diminished socio-occupational functioning.


Author(s):  

Background: Caregiver burden has negative effects on mental and physical health along with quality of life. Meanwhile, social and physical distancing protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic have created additional impacts on informal caregiving in a rapidly changing environment. Early research over the past year suggests that the pandemic has caused increased caregiver burden as well as caregiving intensity among these individuals. Purpose: Our primary purpose in this informational literature review is to describe the impacts of the pandemic on informal caregiver burden and the sudden shift in roles and responsibilities as a result of pandemic-related changes in caregiving. This review will describe emerging effects on various aspects of health among informal caregivers and explore the growing need to support unpaid caregiving during this time. Methods: A streamlined search was conducted to fit the scope of this review, with key terms determined to identify relevant publications. Common research databases and up-to-date mainstream resources were utilized. Notably, we focused on research published or released since March 2020, primarily rapidly reviewed studies, to align with the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US. Results: Early research suggests that the pandemic has worsened caregiver burden and increased caregiving intensity and hours of care among unpaid, informal family caregivers. Reported health impacts include higher stress, pain, and depression, along with decreased social connectedness and quality of life. Notably, however, COVID-related research generally does not focus on the positive aspects of caregiving, such as its role as a source of purpose in life, creating an opportunity to explore ways to boost certain valuable personal resources among caregivers. Conclusions: Informal family caregivers face their own negative health outcomes and distress as a result of greater caregiver burden, intensity, and the changing landscape of caregiving during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Immediate policy and support recommendations should be considered to alleviate informal caregiver burden and provide ongoing resources over the longer term. In addition, future work should explore the potential of boosting positive resources such as resilience and purpose to ease caregiver burden.


1998 ◽  
Vol 173 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth E. Taylor ◽  
Morven Leese ◽  
Clarkson Paul ◽  
Frank Holloway ◽  
Graham Thornicroft

BackgroundWe report the impact on the quality of life (QOL) of people with psychosis of an intensive compared with a standard model of community care.MethodPeople with psychosis, in two sectors in south London, were interviewed with a variety of measures at baseline, and at two-year follow-up (n=138). After baseline, services within one sector were reorganised, and a more intensive model of community care was introduced. QOL was measured using the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile.ResultsThe two overall QOL measures, global QOL and the average of the domain-specific scores, were remarkably stable over time. There was weak evidence for an improvement in living situation domain in the intensive sector; this may be accounted for by a large drop in in-patient admissions. In both sectors objective QOL was poor, and there was little change in any of the objective indicators except in-patient admissions, and a suggestion of increased social activity in the intensive sector.ConclusionsWe failed to find an effect of intensive community care on QOL in people with psychosis. This may indicate an insensitivity to change in QOL measures, or that the intervention failed to produce the kind of changes in mental health and functioning which would be reflected in improved QOL.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
Aurelija Blaževičienė ◽  
Alina Vaškelytė ◽  
Aušra Kunčienė

Patients with chronic health care conditions who require long-tern care are nursed at home, therefore, there is a shift in responsibility for their care from paid formal caregivers to unpaid family members. Aim of this study was to assess the role of informal caregiver’s in-home care from the community nurse’s perspective. Thirty-one nurses, providing home care services to patients with special needs requiring constant care, participated in five semi-structured focus-group discussions. The data analysis was based on descriptive phenomenology. Three distinct phases in the development of informal caregiver–nurse relationship was uncovered: (1) the first phase is associated with the organization of home care in the family context, (2) the management of possibilities and challenges faced by informal caregivers in-home care phase; (3) the impact of home care on informal caregivers‘ quality of life and health phase. This study result shows that in organizing home care for the elderly are lack of cross-sectoral cooperation and teamwork between informal caregivers and community nurses. Therefore, informal caregivers must accept a new role in life as a provider of care, advocating, and supporter roles. Furthermore, as a result of daily fatigue, the informal caregivers‘ quality of life is deteriorating and their social exclusion is increasing.


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