Family caregivers' needs of young patients with first episode psychosis: A qualitative study.

Abstract

The caregivers of patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) experience significant distress. It is important to understand their needs to plan adequate interventions for them. The aim of this study was to explore the needs of caregivers of young patients with FEP in India, using a qualitative approach. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase I, a script for conducting focus group discussions (FGDs) with caregivers was developed, based on literature search and expert opinion generated from FGD with mental health professionals. In phase II, five FGDs were conducted with 30 caregivers of young patients with FEP having minimal of 6 participants in each FGD. Data was analyzed using principles of grounded theory. Seven broad themes and subthemes of the needs of caregivers emerged from the FGDs. The final themes, which highlighted the needs of caregivers of young patients with FEP, were (in order of ranking) as follows: information regarding treatment, information regarding illness, services provided by the government, optimum quality of care from treatment facility, management of psychosocial issues related to patient's illness, availability and accessibility of treatment, and identification and recognition of mental health and physical problems in family members. Qualitative method was useful to identify the needs of the caregivers of young patients with FEP in multiple domains.