"I am secretary, therapist, maid, nurse": a qualitative exploration of lived experiences of caring for a family member with a BPD diagnosis.

IF 2.9 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

Journal of Mental Health Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI:10.1080/09638237.2025.2460124

Romany Murray, Victoria Clarke, Charlotte Flothmann

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Informal caring is an increasingly common phenomenon. Experiences of mental health caring are not well-researched, and few studies focus on experiences of family carers supporting individuals with a Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) diagnosis.

Aims: This research explores lived experiences of people in caring roles for family members diagnosed with BPD.

Methods: Seventy-two participants who identified as carers to a loved one diagnosed with BPD completed an online qualitative survey. Six of these participants took part in follow-up interviews, and three completed a follow-up survey. Survey responses and interviews were compiled and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Two main themes were developed. "Labour of Love" involved experiences of burden and strain, and "Self as Secondary" incorporated feeling unheard and obliged to censor one's own behaviours.

Conclusions: Overall, this research broadens awareness of how a mental health diagnosis and a diagnosis of BPD specifically can have a broader, systemic impact on not only the individuals diagnosed, but their families and those providing support to them, and suggests that provision of support by healthcare providers to carers is necessary.

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“我是秘书、治疗师、女佣、护士”：一项关于照顾被诊断为BPD的家庭成员的生活经历的定性探索。

背景：非正式关怀是一种越来越普遍的现象。心理健康护理的经验还没有得到很好的研究，很少有研究关注家庭照顾者支持边缘型人格障碍（BPD）患者的经验。目的：本研究探讨人们在照顾被诊断为BPD的家庭成员中的生活经历。方法：72名被诊断患有BPD的亲人的照顾者完成了一项在线定性调查。其中6人参加了随访访谈，3人完成了随访调查。使用反身性专题分析对调查答复和访谈进行汇编和分析。结果：发展了两个主要主题。《爱的劳动》包含了负担和紧张的经历，《自我是次要的》包含了被忽视的感觉，以及有义务审查自己的行为。结论：总的来说，这项研究拓宽了人们对心理健康诊断和BPD诊断的认识，不仅对被诊断的个体，而且对他们的家庭和那些为他们提供支持的人产生了更广泛、更系统的影响，并表明卫生保健提供者向护理人员提供支持是必要的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Mental Health PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

6.40

自引率

3.00%

发文量

117

期刊介绍： The Journal of Mental Health is an international forum for the latest research in the mental health field. Reaching over 65 countries, the journal reports on the best in evidence-based practice around the world and provides a channel of communication between the many disciplines involved in mental health research and practice. The journal encourages multi-disciplinary research and welcomes contributions that have involved the users of mental health services. The international editorial team are committed to seeking out excellent work from a range of sources and theoretical perspectives. The journal not only reflects current good practice but also aims to influence policy by reporting on innovations that challenge traditional ways of working.