Trapped like a butterfly in a spider's web: Experiences of female spousal caregivers in the care of husbands with severe mental illness

Abstract

It is necessary to pay close attention to the spousal caregivers' own mental health problems while they care for their mentally ill husbands. Mental health professionals should adopt a new approach to the prioritisation and planning of policies that support both family caregivers and patients.

An Exploration of Family Caregiver Experiences of Burden and Coping While Caring for People with Mental Disorders in Saudi Arabia—A Qualitative Study

“…The results of this study stressed the different types of emotional burdens, entailing emotional detachment, emotional distancing, mutual hostility, pity instead of love, emotional exhaustion, despair and hopelessness, feelings of incompetence and exhaustion, loss of identity, interest and motivation, being trapped in the various roles, and being a scapegoat [ 13 ]. Social burden, which can be demonstrated as adverse effects on lifestyle, restriction in routine, harnessing social relationships and support, dysfunctional family process, and conflict between family members, can lead to dissatisfaction and fear of social isolation [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Furthermore, economic burden results from caregivers having to deal with role shifts, such as being the primary caregiver and breadwinner [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], in addition to financial strains for example, costs of psychotropic medications and limited coverage of free treatment as stipulated by governmental policies [ 10 ].…”

“…Physical burden can be caused by the significant side effects of certain psychotropic drugs (e.g., antipsychotics) [ 9 , 10 ] that restrict or impact the patient’s ability to mobilize and provide self-care, requiring additional physical support from the caregiver. This can lead to an over-dependency on caregivers by people with mental disorders leading to exhaustion and burnout [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Psychological burden is usually expressed as grief and depression [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], for example, in a study focusing on female spousal caregivers, it was found that female spouses caring for husbands with severe mental illness typically experience emotional detachment and psychological distress.…”

“…This can lead to an over-dependency on caregivers by people with mental disorders leading to exhaustion and burnout [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Psychological burden is usually expressed as grief and depression [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], for example, in a study focusing on female spousal caregivers, it was found that female spouses caring for husbands with severe mental illness typically experience emotional detachment and psychological distress. The results of this study stressed the different types of emotional burdens, entailing emotional detachment, emotional distancing, mutual hostility, pity instead of love, emotional exhaustion, despair and hopelessness, feelings of incompetence and exhaustion, loss of identity, interest and motivation, being trapped in the various roles, and being a scapegoat [ 13 ].…”

“…Psychological burden is usually expressed as grief and depression [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], for example, in a study focusing on female spousal caregivers, it was found that female spouses caring for husbands with severe mental illness typically experience emotional detachment and psychological distress. The results of this study stressed the different types of emotional burdens, entailing emotional detachment, emotional distancing, mutual hostility, pity instead of love, emotional exhaustion, despair and hopelessness, feelings of incompetence and exhaustion, loss of identity, interest and motivation, being trapped in the various roles, and being a scapegoat [ 13 ]. Social burden, which can be demonstrated as adverse effects on lifestyle, restriction in routine, harnessing social relationships and support, dysfunctional family process, and conflict between family members, can lead to dissatisfaction and fear of social isolation [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”

“…Social burden, which can be demonstrated as adverse effects on lifestyle, restriction in routine, harnessing social relationships and support, dysfunctional family process, and conflict between family members, can lead to dissatisfaction and fear of social isolation [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Furthermore, economic burden results from caregivers having to deal with role shifts, such as being the primary caregiver and breadwinner [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], in addition to financial strains for example, costs of psychotropic medications and limited coverage of free treatment as stipulated by governmental policies [ 10 ]. Family caregivers of people with mental disorders use a variety of coping strategies to manage the stress and burden of caregiving.…”