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Abstract

Objective:

A systematic literature review was conducted to assess the impact of patients’ psychiatric hospitalizations on caregivers.

Methods:

A systematic search of the Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE (PubMed) was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published in English before August 31, 2013. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies were included if they focused on the outcomes of caregivers of either adult or youth patients and presented data collected directly from caregivers of patients who had been psychiatrically hospitalized.

Results:

Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. The review found that caregivers are heterogeneous in their reaction to patients’ psychiatric hospitalization; however, many report distress. Many caregivers have reported experiencing stigma, disruptions in daily life, worse general medical health, economic strain, and changes in relationships after hospitalization. Negative reactions to the hospitalization may decrease over time, but distress can remain elevated compared with the general population. Nonetheless, many caregivers have also reported experiencing positive changes as a result of the hospitalization. The reaction of caregivers may be influenced by the severity of the patient’s psychiatric problems as well as the caregiver’s demographic characteristics and style of coping.

Conclusions:

Caregivers experience a range of reactions to psychiatric hospitalizations. Providing caregivers with psychoeducation about their possible reaction to hospitalization and teaching them coping techniques may improve clinical outcomes for patients. Future research is needed to understand the heterogeneity in caregivers’ reactions to patients’ psychiatric hospitalization.

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Go to Psychiatric Services
Go to Psychiatric Services

Cover: By the Pond, by Mary Cassatt, circa 1898. Color print with dry point and aquatint, fourth and final state (classmark: MEZAP+). Print collection, Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, New York Public Library. Photo credit: The New York Public Library/Art Resource, New York City.

Psychiatric Services
Pages: 527 - 535
PubMed: 25686810

History

Received: 27 March 2014
Revision received: 12 September 2014
Accepted: 27 October 2014
Published online: 17 February 2015
Published in print: May 01, 2015

Authors

Details

Bridget E. Weller, Ph.D.
Dr. Weller and Dr. Goldston are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: [email protected]). Ms. Faulkner and Dr. Daniel are with the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Doyle is with Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Madelaine Faulkner, M.P.H.
Dr. Weller and Dr. Goldston are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: [email protected]). Ms. Faulkner and Dr. Daniel are with the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Doyle is with Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Otima Doyle, Ph.D.
Dr. Weller and Dr. Goldston are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: [email protected]). Ms. Faulkner and Dr. Daniel are with the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Doyle is with Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Stephanie S. Daniel, Ph.D.
Dr. Weller and Dr. Goldston are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: [email protected]). Ms. Faulkner and Dr. Daniel are with the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Doyle is with Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.
David B. Goldston, Ph.D.
Dr. Weller and Dr. Goldston are with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina (e-mail: [email protected]). Ms. Faulkner and Dr. Daniel are with the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Doyle is with Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Funding Information

National Institute of Mental Health10.13039/100000025: R01-MH081947
The research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under award number R01MH081947. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIH.The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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