BURDEN ON THE FAMILIES OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA - RESULTS OF THE BIOMED-I STUDY

The burden, the coping strategies and the social network of a sample o f 236 relatives of patients with schizophrenia, living in five Europea n countries, were explored by well-validated assessment instruments. I n all centres, relatives experienced higher levels of burden when they had poor coping resources and reduced social support. Relatives ill M editerranean centres, who reported lower levels of social support, wer e more resigned; and more often used spiritual help as a coping strate gy. These data indicate that family burden and coping strategies call be influenced by cultural factors, and suggest that family interventio ns should have also a social focus, aiming to increase the family soci al network and to reduce stigma.