title: The paradox of being both needed and rejected: the existential meaning of being closely related to a person with bipolar disorder.
abstract: The aim of this study was to elucidate the existential meaning of being closely related to a person with bipolar disorder. A qualitative, descriptive, and explorative design with a phenomenological meaning-oriented analysis was used. The findings reveal a paradoxical, existential exposure of close relatives to a person with bipolar disorder, being both needed and rejected whilst being overshadowed by the specific changeable nature of bipolar disorder. Psychiatric health care services are recommended to consider changes in attitudes and structures that may facilitate close relatives' participation in the care and treatment of persons with bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Borås, Borås, Sweden. marie.rusner@hb.se
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rusner
authors.forename: Gunilla
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: David Arthur
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brunt
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005086:Existentialism; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D013548:Sweden