Family Caregiving in Bipolar Disorder: Caregiver Consequences, Caregiver Coping Styles, and Caregiver Distress

P.J.J. Goossens, B. Van Wijngaarden, E.A.M. Knoppert- Van Der Klein and T. Van Achterberg
Additional contact information
P.J.J. Goossens: Adhesie Mental Health Care Midden-Overijssel, Deventer, The Netherlands, pjj.gossens@hccnet.nl
B. Van Wijngaarden: Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands
E.A.M. Knoppert- Van Der Klein: Rivierduinen Centre for Mental Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
T. Van Achterberg: Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2008, vol. 54, issue 4, 303-316

Abstract: Aims: This study investigated the consequences caregivers of outpatients with bipolar disorder are confronted with, the distress they experience and their coping styles. Methods: Caregivers ( n = 115) were asked to complete the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ) to measure caregivers' consequences, the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) to measure caregivers' coping styles, and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to measure caregiver distress. Scale (sub)scores were calculated and relationships between the results were explored. Results: Caregiver consequences were found to be limited, although approximately 30% reported distress. Male caregivers used a more avoiding coping style and undertook activities to provide diversion. Female caregivers used a less active approach and sought less social support. Correlations were found between the IEQ overall score and its subscales `tension' and `worrying' and the UCL subscales `palliative reaction pattern' and `passive reaction pattern'. Distress appears to occur more often in caregivers who report more consequences, tend to use a more avoiding coping style, and have a more passive reaction pattern. Conclusions: Clinicians should assess symptoms of caregiver distress. When caregiver distress is noticed, efforts should be undertaken to support the caregiver and teach them skills to cope effectively with the consequences they experience in order to stay well.

Keywords: bipolar disorder; burden; caregivers; coping styles; distress; outpatients (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0020764008090284 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:54:y:2008:i:4:p:303-316

DOI: 10.1177/0020764008090284

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().