Health of Carers of Young People with Early Psychosis: A Biopsychosocial Approach

ABSTRACT

Despite widespread recognition of the usefulness of a biopsychosocial approach in social work, there are limited studies exploring how social workers can use this approach to support the health and wellbeing of carers of young people with first episode psychosis (FEP). Validated questionnaires and anthropometric measures were used to assess the physical health and wellbeing of 42 carers of young people with FEP. Carers had moderate levels of negative caregiving consequences, quality of life, and health status. More than half (52.4%) of carers were experiencing social isolation. Many carers were overweight (78.6%), had a high risk for type 2 diabetes (39.0%), and had hypertension (33.3%). Practical implications of a biopsychosocial approach to social work that supports both clients and their carers are discussed.

IMPLICATIONS

• Social workers can better utilise the biopsychosocial approach in working with young people with first episode psychosis and their carers.

• Holistic care using a biopsychosocial approach should support individuals and their families in both physical and mental health.

• Social workers can further support the health and wellbeing of carers by collaborating with medical and other allied health colleagues within multidisciplinary teams, and by referring carers with physical health problems to general practitioners.

尽管普遍认识到生理社会心理的方法对于社会工作的用处，但社会工作者如何利用它来维护首发精神病青年患者的看护者的安康，这方面的研究却很有限。本文作者采用经验证的问卷和人体测量方法评估了四十二位看护者的健康和幸福状况。他们的负面看护结果、生活质量、健康状况呈中等水平。52.4%的看护者经历了社会隔绝，78.6%体重超标，39.0%存在II型糖尿病的高风险，33.3%患高血压。作者讨论了，对于既帮助病人又顾及看护者的社会工作进行生理心理社会研究的实践意义。

KEYWORDS:

• First Episode Psychosis
• Carers
• Biopsychosocial
• Physical Health
• Family
• Youth

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the generous support of Celia Loneragan, Dr Megan Kalucy, and Andrew Watkins of Bondi Early Psychosis Program, Sydney.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Abner Weng Cheong Poon http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2863-5916

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the School of Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia under [grant number SPG 2015 – 13 July 2015]).