title: Comparable family burden in families of clinical high-risk and recent-onset psychosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Family burden is prevalent in psychotic disorders, but little is known about burden experienced by families of patients in early illness. In this exploratory study, we examined the extent of burden reported by families of patients during a putative prodromal period and in the after-math of psychosis onset.
  
  
  METHODS
  Family burden was assessed in 23 family members of patients with emerging or early psychosis. The Family Experiences Interview Schedule was used to assess both objective and subjective burden. Objective burden is comprised of increased resource demands and disruption of routine. Subjective burden includes worry, anger/displeasure and resentment at objective burden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Family burden was comparable for the clinical high-risk and recent-onset psychosis patients. Worry was as high as previously reported for more chronic patients. By contrast, there was a relative absence of displeasure/anger. Family members endorsed assisting patients in activities of daily living, although not 'minding' doing so, and reported little need to supervise or control patients' behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early in emerging psychotic illness, families report helping patients and worrying about them, but their lives are not yet disrupted and they do not have much anger or resentment.This may be an ideal time then for intervention with families, as worry may motivate help-seeking by families.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McGlashan
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gerson
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malaspina
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corcoran