title: Caring for families of psychiatric patients.
abstract: This article reviews the accomplishments over the last 5 years of psychiatric nurses with families of chronically ill adults. The use of psychoeducational family support groups inside and outside the hospital setting is discussed. Preventative measures that include the children of chronically ill parents in the treatment plan are proposed. Preventative measures include similar-aged children's groups, family therapy, liberal visitations on psychiatric units, and access to professional counseling. Nursing understands the impact of mental illness on the family. We must continue to devise interventions that include the total family in preventative, rehabilitative, and palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University School of Nursing, Indiana University, South Bend, Indiana.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basolo-Kunzer
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D012008:Recurrence