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Care Burden Level and Mental Health Condition of the Families of Individuals With Mental Disorders

This study was conducted to assess burden of care levels and the mental health of the family members providing care to persons with mental disorders. The data were collected using the Information Form, Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ) (N=243). Of the caregivers included in this study, 67.49% were found to be at risk, and 47.3% of the caregivers were found to be at a high risk of developing mental disorders like depression and anxiety. A positive and statistically significant relation was identified between the BAS scores and GHQ scores of the caregivers (r=0.498; p=0.001).

Internalized Stigma and Perceived Family Support in Acute Psychiatric In-Patient Units

AIM This descriptive study aims to identify the relationship between internalized stigma and perceived family support in patients hospitalized in an acute psychiatric unit. METHOD The sample is composed of 224 patients treated in an acute inpatient psychiatric ward in İstanbul, Turkey. The data were collected using information obtained from the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and Social Support from Family Scale. RESULTS The mean age of the patients was 37±11.56years, and the mean duration of treatment was 6.27±5.81years. Most patients had been hospitalized three or more times. Of the total number of patients, 66.1% had been taken to the hospital by family members. We noted a statistically significant negative correlation between the total scores obtained from the perceived Social Support from Family Scale and the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale. CONCLUSION The patients were observed to stigmatize themselves more when the perceived social support from their family had decreased.

Eating Behaviors and Related Factors in Psychiatric Patients

&NA; The aim of this study was to determine the risk of eating disorders and associated risk factors in individuals with psychiatric disorders. Patients who were hospitalized in a psychiatry clinic of the university hospital between the dates of February 2014 and July 2014 constitute sample for the study. The study sample consisted of a total of 216 patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire form and the Eating Attitude Test. The mean age of the patients was 37 ± 0.5, and 56.9% of the patients were female. Problems in eating behavior were observed in 11.6% of the patients, and a statistically significant relationship was found between the risk of eating disorders and diagnosis, gender, exercise and self‐perception of weight. The risk of eating disorders was more frequently observed in patients diagnosed with depression, in female patients with a self‐perceived weight problem and do not exercise.

Life Experiences of Mothers of Children with an Intellectual Disability: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Mothers of intellectually disabled children face several psychological problems. Qualitative studies use a process that can reveal truthful perceptions and help mothers express their emotions about their unique and personal experiences. Method: This study used a qualitative research method design with a hermeneutic approach to examine the life experiences of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in light of their caregiving experiences. Results: A phenomenological, hermeneutical analysis with an inductive approach was used. The categories of interest were determined to be “impact,” “care management,” “stigma,” “uncertainty,” “relations,” and “search for meaning.” Conclusions: Not all mothers perceive having an intellectually disabled child negatively. Some mothers may not experience any problems providing care to their children. Almost all mothers, however, have concerns for the future and experience significant changes in their family and social relationships.

Psychiatric Patients' Perspective: Nursing Uniforms

This paper studied and determined the importance of the design and color of selected uniforms of psychiatric nurses and evaluate their effects and implications for patients. In this descriptive study, a questionnaire developed by the researchers and a nursing uniforms catalog were used during the data collection stage of the research. There were 40.9% of the participants who told that the design and color of a nursing uniform is important and 31.5% of the participants selected white uniform color from the catalog for psychiatric nurses and 33.9% of the patients expressed that they find white nursing uniforms comforting.