Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T05:50:06.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Psycho-education of families in relation to their siblings' psychiatric illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Ijaz Hussain
Affiliation:
University Hospital Galway and National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Mary Delaney Warner
Affiliation:
Intellectual Disability, Brothers of Charity Services, Renmore, Galway, Ireland
Brian Hallahan*
Affiliation:
University Hospital Galway and Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Unit, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
*
*Correspondence E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to determine the extent of knowledge that family members of intellectually disabled individuals had in relation to their siblings' psychiatric illness. All siblings lived in residential intellectually disabled housing.

Method:

We evaluated on three occasions (before providing information about their sibling's psychiatric illness and treatment, and one and six months after providing this information) the families' understanding of their siblings' psychiatric illness.

Results:

Initially families had a poor knowledge of their siblings' psychiatric illness and treatment, but this improved markedly after information was provided by a medical practitioner. This was a short-term effect, as at six months, families understanding had disimproved although not to pre-consultation levels.

Conclusions:

The provision of information to family members pertaining to their siblings' psychiatric diagnosis and treatment should be incorporated into the routine treatment of intellectually disabled individuals with a psychiatric illness.

Type
Brief report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Barron, S, Mulvany, F. Annual Report of the National Intellectual Disability Database Committee. Dublin: Health Research Board, 2007.Google Scholar
2.Whitaker, S, Read, S. The Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders among People with Intellectual Disabilities: An Analysis of the Literature. J Appl Res Intellec Disabil 2006; 19(4): 330345.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3.Deb, S, Thomas, M, Bright, C. Mental disorder in adults with intellectual disability. Prevalence of functional psychiatric illness among a community-based population aged between 16 and 64 years. J Intellect Disabil Res 2001; 45: 495505.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Borthwick-Duffy, SA. Epidemiology and prevalence of psychopathology in people with mental retardation. J Cons Clin Psy 1994; 62: 1727.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Sturmey, P. Diagnostic-based pharmacological treatment of behavior disorders in persons with developmental disabilities: A review and a decision-making typology. Res Dev Disabil 1996; 16: 235252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Cooper, SA, Smiley, E, Morrison, Jet al.Mental ill-health in adults with intellectual disabilities: prevalence and associated factors. Br J Psychiatry 2007; 190: 2735.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Robertson, J, Emerson, E, Gregory, Net al.Receipt of psychotropic medication by people with intellectual disability in residential settings. J Intellect Disabil Res 2000; 44: 666676.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Clarke, DJ, Pickles, KJ. Lithium treatment for people with learning disability: patients' and carers' knowledge of hazards and attitudes to treatment. J Intellect Disabil Res 1994; 38: 187194.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Matson, JL, Bamburg, JW, Mayville, EAet al.Psychopharmacology and mental retardation: a 10 year review (1990-1999). Res Dev Disabil 2000; 21: 263269.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Borthwick-Duffy, SA, Eyman, SK. Who are Dually Diagnosed. Am J Men Ret 1990; 94: 586–95.Google ScholarPubMed
11.Robertson, E, Emerson, N, Gregory, Cet al.Social networks of people with mental retardation in residential settings, Men Ret 2001; 39: 201214.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Bailey, DB, Skinner, D, Rodriguez, P, Gut, D, Correa, V. Awareness, Use, and Satisfaction with Services for Latino Parents of Young Children with Disabilities. Except Child 1999; 65: 367381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Miklowitz, DJ, Simoneau, TL, George, ELet al.Family-focused treatment of bipolar disorder: 1-year effects of a psychoeducational program in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. Biol Psychiatry 2000; 48: 582592CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Li, Z, Arthur, D. Family education for people with schizophrenia in Beijing, China: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 2005; 187: 339345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Arscott, K, Kroese, BS, Dagnan, D. A Study of the Knowledge that People with Intellectual Disabilities have of their Prescribed Medication. J Appl Res Intellec Disabil 2000; 13:9099.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Wechsler, D. Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised (WAIS-R). New York: The Psychological Corporation, 1981.Google Scholar
17.Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. 46th ed. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain; 2003.Google Scholar
18.Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows, Release. 13.0.1. 2005. Chicago: SPSS Inc.Google Scholar
19.Pilling, SP, Bebbington, E, Kuipers, P, Garety, J, Geddes, G, Mogran, C. Psychological treatments in schizophrenia: I. Meta-analysis of family intervention and cognitivebehaviour therapy. Psychol Med 2002; 32: 763782.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.McFarlane, WR, Dixon, L, Lukens, E, Lucksted, A. Family psychoeducation and schizophrenia: a review of the literature. J Marital Fam Ther 2003; 29: 223245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Russell, PS, John, JK, Lakshmanan, JL. Family intervention for intellectually disabled children: Randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 1999; 174: 254258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Schultz, CL, Schultz, NC, Bruce, EJ, Smyrnios, KX, Carey, LB, Carey, CL. Psychoeducational support for Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability, an outcome study. Int J Disabil Dev Educ 1993; 40: 205216.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Department of Health UK. Seeking consent: working with people with learning disabilities 2001. www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4007861Google Scholar