Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that has a significant impact not only on
patients suffering from the disorder but also on their families.
1
The end of traditional
institutional care within psychiatric hospitals has led to an emphasis on the importance
of emotions and affections within the family and the recognition of the high level of
burden on relatives. The social and emotional implications for families and patients
with schizophrenia are harmful, resulting in impairment of social and occupational
functioning.
2
From the onset of the disorder, caregivers spend a lot of time worrying about their relatives’ well-being and future care,
3
neglecting their own care. The
uncertainty about diagnosis, prognosis, and adequate treatment can trigger high levels
of anxiety and stress within the family and all this contributes to caregivers burden.
4
In addition, families must adjust very quickly to this new role of “informal care”,
5
for
which they often feel unprepared.6