[The situation of siblings of mentally ill people].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current research regarding the situation of mentally ill persons.


METHODS
The relevant literature was identified by means of a computerized MEDLINE search on the years 1996 - 2004 with the key words "sibling" and "mentally ill"/"chronically ill"/"psychiatric disorder" (631 articles). Also the related articles in the MEDLINE search were viewed. Finally 170 articles of journals and books were included in the review.


RESULTS
The situation of siblings of psychiatric ill has manifold aspects, which can be classified into the following categories: Burdens due to the relationship to the ill sibling, burdens because of the relations to the shared parents and other family members, and burdens in the daily life of the siblings due to the illness of his/her sibling. On the other side there are rewards and positive developments in their life because of the illness of the sibling. Personal variables like sex, family size and age at onset of the illness are an influence on the experience of the sibling.


CONCLUSIONS
The revealed burdens of the affected siblings require necessary answers by political representatives, professionals in and outside a clinic, and the involved families.
Schmid
R
R
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität am Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. Rita.Schmid@medbo.de
Spiessl
H
H
Cording
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*