title: Mental illness, physical abuse and burden of care on relatives: a study of acute psychiatric admission patients.
abstract: As mental health care policies increasingly emphasize treatment and care in community settings, there has been concern over the burden that families of mentally ill people might suffer as a result. We conducted a study of the prevalence of abuse faced by relatives of patients admitted during a 6-month period to the acute psychiatric unit of a busy general hospital, who had previously been living with a relative. Patients and their relatives were assessed using semi-structured interview schedules. The experience of burden and the specific experiences of abuse since the onset of their relative's illness were recorded. In total, 32 (32%) of the 101 relatives had been struck on at least one or two occasions. Verbal abuse, threats and temper outbursts were reported by over 50% of the relatives. Principal correlates of abuse were diagnosis, concurrent drug misuse and a poor pre-morbid relationship between carer and patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Vaddadi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soosai
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Gilleard
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adlard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors