An unexpected visitor and a sword play: a randomized controlled trial of collective narrative therapy groups for primary carers of people with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background

Most family carer support programs focus on supporting carers with caregiving-related knowledge and skills to help their family members who suffer from schizophrenia in their recovery process while carers’ inner resources and preferred identities are less emphasized in the existing studies.

Aims

The present study uses collective narrative therapy groups (CNTG) to promote the inner strengths and agency of family carers and help them to explore their preferred identities while caring for family members with schizophrenia.

Method

To ensure an evidence-based intervention, 89 Chinese family carers of people with schizophrenia took part in this three-wave longitudinal program evaluation study using a randomized controlled trial design.

Results

Compared with the control group, family carers in CNTG reported better family relationships, a lesser caregiving burden, and more perceived inner resources. Repeated one-way ANOVA revealed that CNTG improved family relationships, the caregiving burden, the level of hope and inner resources in the posttest, and a statistically significantly better mental health condition in the follow-up.

Conclusion

This study shows that collective narrative psychotherapy is effective in supporting family carers of people with schizophrenia in Hong Kong. Based on the research findings, we discuss the strengths of the program and its implications for practitioners.

Keywords:

• Narrative therapy groups
• inner resource
• culture
• experiential learning
• stigma

Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank all of the carer participants in the study for their valuable contribution.

Ethical approval

This study obtained ethical approval from both the Human Research Ethics Committee of Hong Kong Shue Yan University and the Research Ethics Committee, Kowloon West Cluster, Hong Kong Hospital Authority (KWC-REC Reference: KW/EX-15-215 (94-11)).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study received funding from the Research Grants Council of University Grant Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China [UGC/FDS15/M01/15]. However, the findings and opinions do not necessarily reflect the positions of the funding agency.