Characteristics associated with family money management for persons with psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Background: Persons with psychiatric disorders (PD) commonly have their money officially or unofficially managed by others, with money managers most commonly being family members.

Aims: (i) Identify characteristics of persons with PD, adult family members, and interactions with each other significantly associated with family money management (FMM). (ii) Identify significant differences in aforementioned characteristics between official versus unofficial FMM.

Methods: Five hundred and seventy-three adults residing in USA with an adult relative with PD completed a survey.

Results: Among persons with PD, FMM was positively associated with lower income, diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective or bipolar disorder, psychiatric hospitalization, and arrest history. FMM was negatively associated with family members having a mental health diagnosis. FMM was positively associated with interaction characteristics of co-residence, financial assistance, caregiving, and use of limit-setting practices. Compared to official FMM, when unofficial FMM was present, persons with PD were less likely to have been psychiatrically hospitalized or to have regularly attended mental health treatment. When unofficial FMM was present, adult family members were less likely to be a parent of the person with PD.

Conclusions: Practitioners should assess the level of burden experienced by family money managers and assess and address with family money managers the use of limit-setting practices.

Keywords:

• Money management
• mental illness
• representative payee
• family