Burden experiences of caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder: Implications for intervention

• Main Author: Madathikunnel, Aleyamma Mathew
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Caregivers; Bipolar Disorder; Manic-depressive illness; Mental health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/179; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_doctoral/article/1178/viewcontent/CDTG004385_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explored the lived burden experience of caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder: types of burden, process involved in the burden experience, appraisal, resources, coping strategies, and adaptation to the burden experience. The study employed Consensual Qualitative Research method. The participants of the study were 10 primary and 10 secondary caregivers of patients in the initial (N=5) and chronic (N=5) stages. They were selected from three major psychiatric hospitals in Kerala, South India, through purposive sampling method. Data from in-depth interview were analyzed and the domains and categories were identified. Results indicated that both primary and secondary caregivers experience intense burden. The types of burden include subjective burden such as worry, anxiety, frustration, and stigma; and objective burden related to patient behavior, financial, societal, and familial concerns. The process consists of four stages viz: before diagnosis, getting diagnosis, recognizing the permanence of the illness, and acceptance, leading to changes in cognitive, affective and caregiving styles. The caregivers appraised burden as a tormenting, life -long suffering. The perceived resources were personal, familial, and social. The Caregivers used both problem- focused and emotion -focused coping strategies. The burden experiences may lead to either maladaptation or bonadaptation. The caregivers need for psycho-education and a support group to share their burden with is revealed in the study. Based on the findings and the participants suggestions, a program was developed to enhance bonadaptation among caregivers.