title: Family members' experience of seeking help for first-episode psychosis on behalf of a loved one: a meta-synthesis of qualitative research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Family members often play a vital role in seeking help for loved ones experiencing first-episode psychosis. Understanding this experience is crucial in facilitating the help-seeking process. Qualitative research offers valuable insight into the lived experience of family members who seek help on behalf of a loved one experiencing first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current research presents a systematic review of qualitative studies exploring the family member experience of seeking help for first-episode psychosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A meta-synthesis of 13 qualitative studies has revealed four themes relating to family members' experience of seeking help for first-episode psychosis. These include a sense of not knowing, the reaching of crisis point, the impact upon the family member and the mediating role of interactions with others. A further synthesis of translation captures the interaction of these themes within this experience.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings provide a novel insight into this experience, suggesting implications for clinical practice. These include a focus upon the facilitation of early positive interactions with family members and for first-episode psychosis to be presented to families in a normalizing manner. The need for future research that examines the experience of those who do not seek help from health services is discussed.
authors: Department of Pain Management, Royal Preston Hospital, Preston, UK.
authors: Victoria A
authors: VA
authors: Cairns
authors: Graeme S
authors: GS
authors: Reid
authors: Craig
authors: C
authors: Murray
mesh_terms: D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: family member; help seeking; meta-synthesis; psychosis