CHRONIC SORROW - THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF PARENTS OF CHRONICALLY MENTALLY-ILL INDIVIDUALS

This study investigated the incidence of chronic sorrow in parents of chronically mentally ill children. A convenience sample of 10 parents (four couples and two mothers) of adult children diagnosed with either schizophrenia or bipolar disorders were interviewed using the Burke/N CRCS Chronic Sorrow questionnaire (Caregiver Version), Findings showed that 8 out of 10 parents experienced chronic sorrow, These grief rela ted feelings were most often triggered by the unending caregiving resp onsibilities parents described. Those who evidenced chronic sorrow ind icated that healthcare professionals could assist them by providing in formation about their child's illness and by involving them in the tre atment process. Copyright (C) 1995 by W.B. Saunders Company