Breaking the Barriers: A Qualitative Study of Caregivers’ Experience of First Episode Psychosis in a Town in South India

Abstract

The onset of psychosis creates profound psychological changes, almost always disturbing, sometimes frightening to the patient as well as to the family members. Relatives play a crucial role in pathways to care of patients with psychosis. In India, with a large population, disproportionate health care system, rampant superstition and high level of stigma towards mental illness, the qualitative paradigms in the research of the experiences of caregivers of persons with first episode of psychosis is extremely important and needs systematic evaluation. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the understanding and attribution of symptoms and help seeking processes in care givers of first episode of Psychosis in a town in South India through a qualitative approach. Materials and Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with sixty one caregivers of people with first episode Psychosis in relation to understanding and attribution of symptoms and help-seeking processes. Statistics: Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted. Results: Sixty one caregivers were interviewed for the study after excluding eleven caregivers for different reasons. Multiple reasons for delayed help-seeking were found. Myths and misconceptions were a rule rather than exception. Apart from being unaware of symptoms and treatment methods, caregivers described practical difficulties like transportation issues, financial constraints, and difficulty in convincing patient to take treatment. Contact with a psychiatric patient who had got well with treatment and media were effective in early help seeking. Conclusion: There is a dire need for more and more community awareness programs to ward off stigma related to mental illness. Targeted interventions addressing the real reasons for stigma is the need of the hour. Utilizing recovered patients in these programs might be beneficial.