Experiences of family members of people with mental disorders

Luana Idalino Da Silva,Álissan Karine Lima Martins,Francisca Bezerra De Oliveira,Kariny Kelly De Oliveira Maia,Ângela Maria Alves E Souza

doi:10.15253/2175-6783.2014000200017

Abstract

The study aims at knowing the experiences of family members of people with mental disorders in small-sized counties in the countryside of the state of Paraiba, Brazil. This is an exploratory research with qualitative approach made with 14 family members of people with mental disorders. The data collection took place in February and March 2013 through the technique of oral history of life guided by a semi-structured interview. For data analysis, we used the thematic content analysis. The results showed a significant suffering and difficulties of family members in the care of people with mental disorders, once they feel alone, most often without a family, political or professional support. The overload of these family members was evidenced by the occurrence of chronic diseases, the use of medications, and marital separation. The improvement of the existing health services and the formulation of county policies can promote a better quality of life to these subjects.

Highlights

Along the centuries, madness was subordinated to institutionalization
Soon the function of care to people with mental disorders was attributed to the mental institutions
The patients going through mental suffering were victims of violence and exclusion, so, in the XX century, several questionings to the mental institutions model emerged, whose summit involved movements in favor of the reformulation of the psychiatric assistance

Summary

Introduction

Soon the function of care to people with mental disorders was attributed to the mental institutions. Considering the family as guilty regarding the mental disorders, the psychiatric management put the patient away from the familiar nucleus, strengthening the psychiatric institutions and the culture of social isolation of the mentally ill[1]. The patients going through mental suffering were victims of violence and exclusion, so, in the XX century, several questionings to the mental institutions model emerged, whose summit involved movements in favor of the reformulation of the psychiatric assistance. In the decade of 1970 the movement for Psychiatric Reform began in order to promote the humanization in the psychiatric assistance and the active rehabilitation of the patient going through mental suffering[1,2]. The movement of the Psychiatric Reform made the creation of the Law project No 3.657/89 of Paulo Delgado feasible, which proposed the progression extinction of mental institutions, the elaboration of substitute services, besides the regulation of the compulsory psychiatric hospitalization, which was consolidated with the approval of Law No 10.216, of April 06, 2001(2)

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Conclusion