title: The experience of caring for former long-stay psychiatric patients.
abstract: This study investigated the experiences and the mental health status of the informal carers (usually relatives) of 38 former long-stay psychiatric patients. According to the GHQ-12, 45 per cent of carers were classified as minor psychiatric 'cases'. Women were significantly more likely than men to experience poor mental health. Most carers reported personal and social restrictions, but cases were significantly more likely than non-cases to report personal, physical and financial burden.
authors.affiliation: Health and Health Care Research Unit, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGilloway
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mays
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology