Family perspectives on severe mental disorders and relapse prevention: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background. The relapse of severe mental disorders is still quite high due to the lack of family knowledge in treating schizophrenic patients. The family treats and prevents the relapse of severe mental disorder by taking the sufferer to spiritual treatment, a shaman, being shackled (pasung) because of the assumption that the cause is evil from ghosts, magic, curses, and unbelief. Objective. The purpose of this study is to explore the experience of families preventing the relapse of severe mental disorders. Materials and Methods. This study is qualitative research with a phenomenological approach. The sampling was conducted by purposive sampling with 9 participants. Data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews with audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, validated, and analyzed based on Colaizzi’s method of data analysis. Results. Four themes were generated, including: i) the perception of severe mental illness; ii) the causes of relapse; iii) family prevention for severe mental disorders relapse; iv) relapse becomes helplessness and a burden on the family. Conclusions. Lack of family knowledge of severe mental disorders, prevention of relapse, and lack of social support causes helplessness and a burden on the family. Increased knowledge, coping skills, and support for families with Schizophrenia are very important to help relapse prevention and the burden that arises.

Family support in preventing relapse in individuals with mental disorders in a Malawei public health center, Indonesia

“…Stigma means that the family faces psychological, social, and intrapersonal consequences. This decreases the quality of family life and family functionality, and there are opportunities that have a negative impact on family resilience [6], [8].…”

Community Care for Persons With Schizophrenia in Indonesia

“…For participants and other people faced with similar situations, building and nurturing ties within the community can be a crucial source of support. Similarly, a study by (Sawab et al, 2023) revealed that caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia may experience feelings of helplessness and burden due to a lack of understanding about the care and treatment of severe mental disorders within their families, as well as the absence of social support from their communities. Another study in Surabaya, Indonesia, depicted that providing psychoeducation to the patient's family about schizophrenia and the importance of medication adherence is crucial for the patient's long-term well-being.…”