Grief, parenting, and schizophrenia

Can parental responses to adult children with schizophrenia be conceptualized in terms of loss and grief? A case study analysis

“…It has been suggested that part of the burden for parents of (adult) children with schizophrenia involves dealing with feelings of loss and grief (Atkinson, 1994;Chafetz & Barnes, 1989;Davis & Schultz, 1998;MacGregor, 1994;McElroy, 1987;Miller, 1996;Parker, 1993;Ryan, 1993;Solomon & Draine, 1996). This suggestion arises from the belief that, with the onset of schizophrenic symptoms, parents experience a perceived loss of the pre-morbid version of their child, a loss of their child's potential (Davis & Schultz, 1998;Ryan, 1993) and therefore the loss of hopes and aspirations for their child's future (Miller, 1996;Parker, 1993).…”

“…This suggestion arises from the belief that, with the onset of schizophrenic symptoms, parents experience a perceived loss of the pre-morbid version of their child, a loss of their child's potential (Davis & Schultz, 1998;Ryan, 1993) and therefore the loss of hopes and aspirations for their child's future (Miller, 1996;Parker, 1993). Conceptualising these experiences as a loss -termed by Miller (1996) a 'psychic loss' -may not be straightforward, however, due to the insidious and cyclical nature of the illness and periodic reappearances of the child's 'former self'.…”

“…These tasks were transformed into 'accommodations to the loss via relationships outside that with the mentally ill relative' and 'accommodations to the loss via the relationship with the mentally ill relative' (p. 633). Although researchers have empirically explored loss and grief among parents of people with schizophrenia (Atkinson, 1994;Davis & Schultz, 1998;Miller et al, 1990;Solomon & Draine, 1996), not only has little attention been paid to the actual conceptualisation of loss but also no qualitative work has been undertaken specifically in the area of 'psychic loss'.…”

Families and Serious Mental Illness: Working with Loss and Ambivalence

“…This change has been experienced as loss, as has been observed in other studies of families' responses to mental illness (Davis and Schultz 1997;MacGregor 1994;Wasow 1995). This short extract from an interview with Mrs Karajac illustrates the prominence of the experience of loss.…”

“…It would be hard to deny that relatives experience the illness of their relative as a loss (Davis and Schultz 1997;MacGregor 1994;Wasow 1995). The model of grief that is being assumed here is one that supposes that cognitive reconstruction is necessary as people build new systems of meaning and that dialogue can be an important means of facilitating this reconstruction.…”