• Int J Soc Psychiatry · Jun 2015

    Efficacy of a support group intervention on psychopathological characteristics among caregivers of psychotic patients.

    • Manolis Mentis, Lambros Messinis, Evagelia Kotrotsiou, Nikiforos V Angelopoulos, Christos Marneras, Panagiotis Papathanasopoulos, and Euthymios Dardiotis.
    • Department of Social Work, University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece Department of Neurology, University of Thessaly Medical School, Larissa, Greece.
    • Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2015 Jun 1; 61 (4): 373-8.

    BackgroundFamilies of individuals with psychotic disorders are playing a major role in the care of their relatives, but report poorer physical competence, elevated symptoms of psychological distress and more psychopathological characteristics.AimTo compare psychopathological characteristics demonstrated by caregivers of psychotic patients in Greece who participated in support groups organized by non-governmental mental health organizations (NGOMH) compared to caregivers who did not.MethodsParticipants were caregivers of a psychotic patient assigned to either the intervention group (n = 165) or the non-intervention group (n = 345) according to specific criteria. Participants were assessed for psychopathological characteristics through clinical interviews and with the Symptom Checklist 90-Revised (SCL-90-R).ResultsParticipants who did not take part in the support groups had higher levels of psychopathological characteristics on the dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity (t = -2.065, p = .003), depression (t = 1.043, p = .007), anxiety (t = 1.001, p = .010), hostility (t = -4.345, p < .001), phobic anxiety (t = -2.845, p < .001) and paranoid ideation (t = -1.091, p < .001). Psychotic relatives of participating caregivers show higher compliance rates in taking their medications, and female caregivers tend to be more involved in the support groups.ConclusionParticipation in support groups and sharing of emotional expression, thoughts and ideas help the caregivers deal with their physical and psychological demands related to the caregiver load. As such, intervention strategies offered to caregivers in the support groups appear to positively contribute to the family with a psychotic patient and improve the quality of life of both patients and their main caregivers.© The Author(s) 2014.

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