Brief needs-based psychoeducation for sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia: A qualitative assessment from southern India

• Published in: Annales médico psychologiques 2024-09, Vol.182 (7), p.602-610
• Main Authors: Amaresha, Anekal C., Virupaksha, Hasiruvalli Gangappa, Venkatasubramanian, Ganesan, Muralidhar, Daliboina, Subbakrishna, Doddaballapura K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aidant; Caregiver; Fratrie; Inde; India; Psychoeducation; Psychoéducation; Schizophrenia; Schizophrénie; Siblings
• ISSN: 0003-4487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amp.2023.11.010

There is a gap in the literature that qualitatively explores the effects of psychoeducation on siblings who serve as caregivers for persons with schizophrenia. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the qualitative effects of brief need-based psychoeducation on sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia from southern India. Ten sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia were recruited for the study, with five in each group receiving either brief need-based psychoeducation or standard care. The participants were interviewed and their responses were recorded. Qualitative data analysis was performed using a combination of thematic and summative content analysis. The study found that both the intervention and standard care groups of sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia reported similar themes. However, the frequency and prominence of the themes were greater among those in the intervention group, as shown by the summative content analysis. The thematic analysis revealed four major themes: 1) personal experiences with the treatment process, including reduced stigma, active caregiving involvement, bonding, reduced criticality, and coping; 2) improved understanding and management of illness; 3) service satisfaction, and 4) indirect effects on symptomatic and functional recovery. Brief need-based psychoeducation was found to be more beneficial for sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia, as evidenced by the greater prominence of themes in the intervention group. This study adds to the limited literature on psychoeducation for sibling family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. Further studies utilizing rigorous qualitative methods are needed to explore the full scope of the intervention's effects. Il existe une lacune dans la littérature qui explore qualitativement les effets de la psychoéducation sur les frères et sœurs qui assurent l’accompagnement de personnes atteintes de schizophrénie. Par conséquent, cette étude vise à examiner les effets qualitatifs de la psychoéducation brève basée sur les besoins chez les frères et sœurs aidants des personnes de leur famille du sud de l’Inde atteintes de schizophrénie. Dix frères et sœurs aidants de personnes de leur famille atteintes de schizophrénie ont été recrutés pour l’étude, avec cinq dans chaque groupe recevant soit une psychoéducation brève basée sur les besoins, soit des soins standards. Les participants ont été interviewés et leurs réponses ont