The clinical characteristics of carers accessing family interventions in a psychosis service
Poster B120, Friday, October 21, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Juliana Onwumere1,2, Suzanne Jolley1,2, Miriam Fornells-Ambrojo1,2,3, Louise Johns1,4, Majella Byrne1,2, Philippa Garety1,2; 1King's College London, 2South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, 3University College London, 4Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Background: The evidence confirming the efficacy of family interventions in psychosis and its application in routine services, is well established. Their role in optimizing patient outcomes, which include reductions in relapse and hospitalization rates, and positively impacting carer reports of burden have contributed to their inclusion in treatment and good practice guidelines across the globe. Despite this picture, there is limited literature on the demographic and clinical descriptions of carers that agree to engage in evidence based family work. It is this type of data, however, that proves invaluable in supporting targeted interventions. Aims: The current study aimed to explore the characteristics of informal carers accessing a service initiative designed to increase access to family interventions within FEP and continuing care services within a large mental health NHS Trust in London. Methods: Carers completed self-report measures evaluating their mood and wellbeing, social networks, and impact of caregiving. Results: The sample comprised 49 carers of which more than half were FEP carers (n=28, 57%). Carers were mostly female (69%), aged in their early 50s and the parents of the male relatives with psychosis (65%). Co residency between carers and individual with psychosis was common (69%). Reports of burden and stress were high in carer participants. Conclusions: Developing a better understanding of the individual profile of carers, who seek to engage with family interventions, is an important step in the longer term efforts to offer targeted family interventions to FEP carers. A discussion of the outcomes and clinical implications is presented.
Topic Area: Psychosocial Interventions