Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (1)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Goossens, P.J.J.
Right arrow Articles by Van Achterberg, T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Goossens, P.J.J.
Right arrow Articles by Van Achterberg, T.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

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

P.J.J. Goossens

Adhesie Mental Health Care Midden-Overijssel, Deventer, The Netherlands, pjj.gossens{at}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

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.

Key Words: bipolar disorder • burden • caregivers • coping styles • distress • outpatients

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, Vol. 54, No. 4, 303-316 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0020764008090284
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?