Although the burdens of relatives of schizophrenia patients have been the subject of numerous studies, there are hardly any publications on the living situation of the patients' spouses. The findings of this qualitative interview study of 52 spouses of schizophrenia patients are, therefore, especially noteworthy. Spouses not only face illness-specific burdens but also burdens resulting from their partnership and family roles. From a biographical point of view, schizophrenia is often evaluated by the spouse as a decisive point in life that seriously affects the couple's relationship, the family, and the spouse's own life. The chronic burdens of everyday living can profoundly reduce the quality of life and the subject's satisfaction with the partnership. Though partnerships with schizophrenia patients are at risk of breakdown and separation in many respects, they are often maintained for years. Despite the illness-related burdens, many spouses take positive stock of living together. Stable partnerships seem to be achievable when the partner's impairment is perceived as moderate or moderately severe, and when the frequency at which psychotic episodes occur is assessed as still being tolerable. Spouses who suffer from mental illness or impairment themselves often experience the partnership as an appropriate and satisfactory way of life. In these cases, the mutual understanding rooted in the subject's own experiences with the illness is important.

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Psychiatric patients' partners are at a high risk of developing a depressive disorder. It appears necessary to develop special interventions for spouses reducing stress and the risk of getting depressed.

Better treatment, professional support and participation in self-help and advocacy groups may help to improve the quality of life of spouses of mentally ill people.

Results are discussed in terms of the consequences of spouses' illness models for designing psychoeducational workshops for the families of depressive patients. The results document the great need for negotiated partnership between families and professionals. Furthermore, the need for educating the public about the disorder and its psychosocial costs for the patients' families is highlighted.