title: Alone together: A grounded theory study of experienced burden, coping, and support needs of spouses of persons with a bipolar disorder.
abstract: Bipolar disorder is a chronic and severe mental disorder. Little is known about the experiences of the spouses of such patients. A grounded theory study was undertaken to examine the burden for spouses living with a partner with a bipolar disorder and to explore how they cope and what support they need. Fifteen spouses and ex-spouses were interviewed; they experienced heavy burden and found themselves to be 'alone together.' Their coping process is found to involve appraisal of the situation and attempts to achieve a balance between self-effacement and self-fulfilment. While support can clearly reduce experienced burden, the spouses surprisingly receive virtually no professional support. A theory is developed that constitutes a starting point for the development of adequate support for spouses.
authors.affiliation: Dimence, Center for Mental Health Care, Rijssensestraat 127, 7441 AB Nijverdal, the Netherlands. nvdvoort@home.nl
authors.forename: Trijntje Y G
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: van der Voort
authors.forename: Peter J J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Jaap J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van der Bijl
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004644:Emotions; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009426:Netherlands; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*