Impact of Patients’ Psychiatric Hospitalization on Caregivers: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this article was to systematically review literature on the impact of patients’ psychiatric hospitalizations on caregivers. Implications for practice and research are presented. Methods A systematic search of Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo, and Medline (PubMed) was conducted for peer-reviewed articles published before August 31, 2013. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method studies were included if they focused on caregiver outcomes and contained data collected directly from caregivers of patients who had been psychiatrically hospitalized. Results Twenty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Caregivers are heterogeneous in their reaction to the psychiatric hospitalization; however, many report distress. Caregivers also often report that they experience stigma, disruptions in daily life, worse physical health, economic strain, and changes in relationships following hospitalization. Negative reactions to the hospitalization may decrease over time, but can remain elevated when compared to the general population. Nonetheless, many caregivers also experience positive changes as a result of the hospitalization. The reaction of caregivers may be influenced by the severity of the patient’s psychiatric problems as well as the caregiver’s demographics and style of coping. Conclusions Caregivers experience a range of reactions to the psychiatric hospitalizations and providing caregivers with psychoeducation on their possible reaction as well as techniques to assist them may improve clinical outcomes for patients. Future research is needed to understand the heterogeneity in caregiver’s reactions to the patient’s psychiatric hospitalization.

Predictors of Hospitalization of Individuals With First-Episode Psychosis: Data From a 2-Year Follow-Up of the RAISE-ETP

“…Caregivers frequently experience distress and negative outcomes (e.g. stigma, changes in relationships) associated with their family members' hospitalization (3,4) in mixture with the positive changes that hospitalizations can foster (4). From a services perspective, hospitalization costs are a major component of early intervention services (EIS) first-episode care cost.…”

Factors Associated With Primary Family Caregivers’ Perceptions on Quality of Family‐Centered Care in Mental Health Practice

“…Mental illnesses are a worldwide concern, with clinical features and healthcare costs that are vulnerable to being discredited by society (Whiteford et al, ). Family members who are caregivers frequently encounter accumulative demands and experience a continuum of reactions to caring for patients in psychiatric hospitalizations (Weller, Faulkner, Doyle, Daniel, & Goldston, ). Mental health nurses (MHNs), as the largest group of healthcare providers, are key in the delivery of direct and substantial care for individuals with mental illnesses and their families (Skärsäter et al, ).…”

Coping in the Aftermath of Youth's Suicidal Behaviors: A Comparison of Black Mothers and White Mothers

“…Patients' psychiatric hospitalizations have been shown to impact caregivers, both positively and negatively (Weller et al, 2015). This issue is particularly important for caregivers of youth Family Relations 70 (February 2021): 77-89 with suicidal behaviors considering that suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth 10 to 19 years of age, and 7.4% of high school youth (grades 9-12) reported at least one suicide attempt in 2017 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019).…”

“…Caregivers' reactions to youth's suicidal behaviors may be influenced by race (Weller et al, 2015). First, rates in which Black youth and White youth engage in suicidal behaviors differ; 9.8% of Black youth (grades 9-12), compared with 6.1% of White youth reported suicide attempts in 2017 (CDC, 2019).…”