Experience of caregiving: relatives of people experiencing a first episodeof psychosis

Background There has been relatively little research on caregivers of peopl e experiencing their first episode of psychosis. Aims To investigate dimensions of caregiving and morbidity in caregivers of people with first-episode psychosis. Method Caregivers of 40 people with first-episode psychosis were interviewe d at home about their experience of caregiving, coping strategies and distr ess. Results Caregivers used emotional and practical strategies to cope with par ticipants' negative symptoms and difficult behaviours and experienced more worry about these problems. They increased supervision when the participant s displayed difficult behaviours. Twelve per cent of caregivers were suffer ing from psychiatric morbidity as defined by the General Health Questionnai re. Those living with the participant had more frequent visits to their gen eral practitioner.. Conclusions At first-episode psychosis, caregivers are already having to co pe with a wide range of problems and are developing coping strategies. Care givers worried most about difficult behaviours and negative symptoms in par ticipants.