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Services for Schizophrenic Patients and Their Families: What They Say They Need

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

Amanda M. Reid
Affiliation:
Harrogate District Hospital
C. Mandy Lang
Affiliation:
High Royds Hospital, West Yorkshire
Tara O'Neill
Affiliation:
High Royds Hospital, West Yorkshire

Extract

The effects of education and stress reduction groups for the relatives of schizophrenic patients and their perception of services available to them is presented. 76% of relatives refused invitation to groups because they were overburdened. Those attending the groups said that they found them beneficial but measurable improvements were slight. Relatives' perception of the shortfalls of the services and the difficulties faced differed from that of patients. As the majority of patients turn to their relatives for help and support, rather than approaching hospital services directly, relatives were better able to identify service shortfalls. Patients' perceived needs included employment and increased income, which are not amenable to direct hospital intervention. Relatives were able to express needs that could be addressed by services. Both patients and relatives were able to identify the main difficulties faced, though there was a difference in emphasis.

Type
Clinical Section
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1993

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