Need for support and participation in treatment differences among subgroups of relatives to compulsorily and voluntarily admitted mentally ill individuals.
The need for support and participation in treatment of relatives to voluntarily and compulsorily admitted patients was addressed in a study of the quality of mental health services in two Swedish county councils. The aims of the study were to investigate differences in the above aspects between subgroups of relatives, the differences between two years of investigation, 1986 and 1991, and the differences between relatives of voluntarily and compulsorily admitted patients. The relatives investigated consisted of 79 spouses, 118 parents and 31 grown-up children. The results showed that there were only minor differences between the subgroups concerning their participation in care. Grown-up children experienced significantly less need of support and received less help for this need. In 1991, relatives participated more in the care situation, were more interested in support with regard to their own life situation, and also showed more positive attitudes towards the psychiatric services than in 1986. The relatives of the voluntarily admitted patients felt more involved in the patient's treatment, whereas the relatives of those compulsorily admitted felt less involved and perceived obstacles to admission.
Ostman
M
M
Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, University Hospital, University of Lund, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
Hansson
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003256:Community Participation; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D013548:Sweden