The effects of Guillain–Barré syndrome on the close relatives of patients during the first year

The long‐term functional status in patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome

“…However, there are conflicting results of impact on emotional and social areas [6,7,13]. In this study, significant negative impact on social and emotional functioning was not found, indicating that social‐ and emotional distress is more relevant in earlier stages after acute GBS, or that adaption of expectations at the level of functioning (‘coping’) may exist [14]. Additionally, mental health was unaltered in line with previous findings [9].…”

Psychiatric Sequelae of Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Towards a Multidisciplinary Team Approach

“…At one and three months after GBS onset, relatives stress levels positively correlated with GBS severity, suggesting close relatives of the most severely disabled patients are more likely to develop psychosocial symptoms. Although psychiatric symptoms may improve over a 12-month period, relatives with residual symptoms (anxiety and depression) at one month were found to have worse psychiatric morbidity at six months [37].…”

“…Table 2 includes 24 studies, including a total of 6,984 patients, that collectively reported that GBS causes psychiatric symptoms, including stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep abnormalities, visual hallucinations, paranoid delusions, disorientation, terror, and psychosis [11,[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. Two studies concluded that close relatives of GBS patients also experience problems of daily living and social dysfunction and have psychological needs requiring consideration and support [23,37]. As a result, GBS patients and relatives of GBS patients may benefit from psychosocial education to promote awareness of their psychiatric needs.…”

“…GBS affects not only the patient, but also close relatives (e.g., spouse) during the first few months of the illness. Bernsen et al reported that relatives may find it difficult to manage feelings of uncertainty during the acute phase of GBS, and that 10% of relatives experienced financial problems as a result of extra travelling cost, childcare, or loss of income [37]. Seventytwo percent of close relatives experienced social dysfunction, psychological distress, and problems performing activities of daily living.…”