title: Family Care giving in Bipolar disorder: Experiences of Stigma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stigma is a serious impediment to the well-being of those who experience it. Many family- caregivers are challenged by the stereotypes and prejudice that result from misconceptions about bipolar disorder.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the stigma experienced by family caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative and phenomenological study. In this study, we selected the family caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder in a psychiatric hospital (Iran) using purposive sampling in 2011. By reaching data saturation, the number of participant was 12. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed by the "Collaizi" method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stigma was a pervasive concern to almost all participants. Family caregivers of patients with Bipolar disorders reported feelings and experiences of stigma and were most affected by them. Analysis of the interviews revealed 3 themes: Negative judgment, Shame, Stigmatization and Social Isolation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For a person with bipolar disorder, this illness is associated with the following problems: worse recovery, difficulty accessing health services, receiving poor treatment and support, and difficulty gaining community acceptance. Rejection of people with mental illness might also affect their family caregivers at various levels.
authors: Research Center for Behavioral Disorders and Substance Abuse, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamedan, Iran.
authors: Farshid
authors: F
authors: Shamsaei
authors: Department of Nursing, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Sima
authors: S
authors: Mohamad Khan Kermanshahi
authors: Department of Nursing, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
authors: Zohreh
authors: Z
authors: Vanaki
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland / Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Martin Grosse
authors: MG
authors: Holtforth
keywords: Bipolar disorder; Family caregiver; Phenomenology; Stigma
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