Family burden and coping strategies in schizophrenia: 1-year follow-up data from the BIOMED I study

Background: To date, only few data are available on how family burden in sc hizophrenia changes over time. In addition, no study has explored how such factors as coping styles and social support influence burden over time. Thi s paper presents the 1-year follow-up data from the BIOMED I study on famil y burden and coping strategies in schizophrenia. Methods: A sample of 159 r elatives of patients with schizophrenia living in five European countries w as followed up prospectively for 1 year with regard to burden and coping st rategies, using validated questionnaires. Results: In the sample as a whole , the burden was stable. A reduction of family burden over time was found a mong relatives who adopted less emotion-focused coping strategies and recei ved more practical support from their social network. In addition, family b urden decreased in relation to the improvement of patient's social function ing. Conclusions: When relatives of patients with schizophrenia are able to improve their coping strategies, it is possible for burden to be reduced e ven after several years. This points to the necessity to provide families o f chronic psychotic patients with psychoeducational interventions emphasisi ng the adoption of an effective coping style.