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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2/2013

01-02-2013 | Original Paper

Impact of psychosis on Portuguese caregivers: a cross-cultural exploration of burden, distress, positive aspects and clinical-functional correlates

Authors: Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira, Miguel Xavier, Bob van Wijngaarden, Ana L. Papoila, Aart H. Schene, José Miguel Caldas-de-Almeida

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 2/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

Further cross-cultural comparisons are needed on caregiving consequences of chronic psychotic disorders. The EPSILON study (European Psychiatric Services: Inputs Linked to Outcome Domains and Needs) involved five European countries, but not Portugal. We aimed to analyse the impact of severe mental illness in a Portuguese sample and to provide support to comparisons with some of the EPSILON results, focusing on the north-European Dutch centre.

Methods

We studied 108 caregiver-patient dyads by a consecutive sampling of people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in psychiatric outpatient services. Relatives’ assessments included the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire, European version (IEQ), the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12); the loss, stigma and positive aspects’ subscales of the Experience of Caregiving Inventory, and the Social Network and Family Coping Questionnaires. Patients were assessed regarding symptoms, disability and global functioning.

Results

Caregiving rewards and negative consequences co-existed. On the IEQ, 49.1 % reported negative consequences and rank order of domain scores was worrying > urging > tension > supervision. More than one-third of caregivers were psychologically distressed according to GHQ screenings. Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire scores were correlated with caregivers’ distress, stigma, loss, patient’s involvement and other ways of coping, and patients’ variables. Some of these failed to be included in a regression model.

Conclusions

Many of these Portuguese caregivers were at risk regarding burden and psychological distress. In comparison with other European samples, caregiving arrangements and assessments were typical of Mediterranean countries, as Italy or Spain. All IEQ scores were significantly higher than those in the Netherlands. On account of small numbers, caution is needed in the interpretation of associations.
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Metadata
Title
Impact of psychosis on Portuguese caregivers: a cross-cultural exploration of burden, distress, positive aspects and clinical-functional correlates
Authors
Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira
Miguel Xavier
Bob van Wijngaarden
Ana L. Papoila
Aart H. Schene
José Miguel Caldas-de-Almeida
Publication date
01-02-2013
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 2/2013
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0516-7

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