title: A lonely life journey bordered with struggle: being a sibling of an individual with psychosis.
abstract: Research suggests that siblings of individuals with severe mental illness are affected by the situation and that health care services seem to be inadequate in meeting their needs for support. The aim of this study is to explore how siblings of individuals with a psychotic illness, and who have participated in a support group, experience their situation. Thirteen individuals participated in focus group interviews, which were analyzed by inductive content analysis. The findings were interpreted into an overall single theme: A lonely life journey bordered with struggle. This theme consists of three categories: facing existential thoughts, facing ambiguity in approach and engagement, and facing disparate attitudes and expectations.
authors.affiliation: Dalarna University, School of Health and Social Studies, Falun, Sweden. mew@du.se
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ewertzon
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cronqvist
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lützén
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andershed
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D035781:Siblings / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support