Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in caregivers of people with psychosis and associations with caregiving experiences

ABSTRACT

Objective: Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) have been identified in caregivers of people with psychosis, but their clinical correlates are less well known. This study aimed to assess PTSS in a sample of caregivers of people with psychosis and to examine the relationship between PTSS and caregiving experiences. Method: A total of 32 caregivers of people with psychosis completed self-report questionnaires and structured interviews assessing PTSS and caregiving processes, including expressed emotion, burden, and coping. Results: In all, 44% of the sample reported PTSS, which were associated with caregiver reports of burden and less adaptive (avoidant) coping. No links were observed with expressed emotion in this sample. Conclusion: Almost half of caregivers of people with psychosis reported PTSS related to their caring role, which may have implications for their caregiving experiences and coping efforts. The findings highlight the importance of assessing need in caregivers and optimizing opportunities to offer needs-led therapeutic interventions to caregivers.

KEYWORDS:

• Caregivers
• coping behavior
• expressed emotion
• posttraumatic stress disorders
• psychosis

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the caregivers who participated in the study and the participating teams within the two National Health Service trusts. We are also grateful to Anna Lake, Catherine Seabourne, Catherine Collins, and Sandra Hopley for their support during the recruitment phase of the study.

Notes

¹. One participant did not complete the FMSS and was excluded from the analysis.