Psychosocial Needs of the Families with a Person with First Episode Psychosis

Abstract

Background: The people who experience psychotic symptoms first time can be frightening for them and their close family members. It is crucial to provide family support and care to persons with first episode psychosis. Aim: To assess the needs of family members presenting to a tertiary care centre. Methods: Cross-sectional outpatient based study design was adapted to collect data from the family members of persons with first episode psychosis presented to a tertiary care centre. Total 60 family members were randomly selected for the study and assessed for the burden, attitude, ways of coping and quality of life. Results: Study results indicate the high burden; it has noted that high negative expressed emotions among family members. Negative coping styles were also found and the family members and having a poor quality of life. Conclusion: First episode of psychosis can traumatizing to the patients and their family members. Family members can experience the burden of caregiving including financial burden, can have faulty ways of coping and negative expressed emotions towards their own wards having psychosis which can lead to poor treatment outcome. Findings indicated that need to provide psychosocial intervention for family members of persons with first episode psychosis. Keyword : Family, psychosocial intervention, needs, first episode psychosis, expressed emotions, burden