Kenniscentrum Bipolaire Stoornissen

Betrokken instelling

Adhesie GGZ, Trimbos instituut, Rivierduinen, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

Betrokken personen

• Drs. P.J.J. Goossens
• Dr. B. van Wijngaarden
• Dr. E.A.M. Knoppert- van der Klein
• Prof. Dr. T. van Achterberg

Startdatum en looptijd

2005, afgerond.

Achtergrond van het onderzoek

Little is known about the consequences of family care for patients with a bipolar disorder, the degree of distress experienced by family caregivers or the coping styles used by family members to deal with the consequences of caring for a patient with a bipolar disorder.

Doelstelling van het project

In this study, the consequences of caring for an outpatient with a bipolar disorder are examined along with the distress experienced and coping styles of family caregivers.

Hoe wordt het onderzoek uitgevoerd?

115 family caregivers were asked to complete the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ) to assess caregiver consequences, the Utrecht Coping List (UCL) to determine coping style and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to measure distress. The associations between the various scale and subscale scores were then explored.

Zijn er al (voorlopige) resultaten?

Results: Caregiver consequences were minimal although some 30% of the caregivers reported distress. Male caregivers adopted a more avoidant coping style and undertook more activities to attain distraction. Female caregivers employed a less active coping style and sought less social support. Significant correlations of the IEQ overall score with the subscales of “tension” and “worrying” and also the UCL subscales of “palliative reaction pattern” and “passive reaction pattern” were found. Greater distress appeared to occur for those caregivers who report greater consequences and for those who employ a more avoidant and/or passive coping style.

Conclusion: Clinicians should assess symptoms of caregivers distress. When distress is detected, efforts should be undertaken to provide greater support and teach the caregiver to cope more effectively with the consequences of caring for an outpatient with a bipolar disorder.

Goossens, P. J. J., van Wijngaarden B. Knoppert-van der Klein, E. A. M., van Achterberg, Th. Family caregiving in bipolar disorder: caregiver consequences, coping styles and distress. Submitted.