published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

The purpose of this study was to describe family members' influence on medication adherence rates for schizophrenic clients following an educational program presented simultaneously to both client and family member. Three chronic schizophrenic clients participated in this study, two were females, and the other was male. The two family members who provided data were husbands of the two female clients. The obtained scores and responses of two questionnaires was indicative of improved medication adherence for clients and family members. The level of adherence was similarly perceived by the clients and their family members as obtained scores and responses were similar across both time periods. However, family members' attendance at the program presentation did not influence the level of reported medicated adherence behaviors of their wives as compared to the client who attended the program alone because the greatest increase in obtained scores was reported by the client who attended the program alone.

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (MA. (Psychology)) -- University of the North, 2002. / The aim of the study was to assess as to whether psycho education can lead to compliance,and to strengthen the families to be long-term caregivers in Mankweng hospital (psychiatric clinic) of the Limpopo Province. It is included two phases(l) baseline and (2) follow-up. The baseline included of 82 (50 males and 32 females) participants with schizo phrenia. Their (patients) ages ranged from 17 years to 62 years with the mean age of 37.5 (SD=l 0.2). So, forty-one (41) patients were the experimental group who interviewed and also received intervention , and the remaining forty-one(41) were only interviewed at the baseline. After nine moths , follow-up was done, and it included fifty-seven (36 males and 21 females) participants who were followed up at their homes. Thirty-one (31) were the experimental group and twenty-six (26) were the control group. Their ages ranged from 20 years to 62 years with the mean age 39.3 (SD= l2.6). At follow-up , the questionnaire was going along with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for both groups. The results showed that most of the patients were compliant to their medications however ,with no significant differences because of the small sample that represented the population . For instance , not all patients were available at the follow-up session and there were other factors that could harm the effectiveness of research. The research concludes that psycho-education in South Africa can promise to improve health for the individuals only if the psychiatrists continue to educate patients to be effective on their treatment; and it can provide a concrete approach to the development of social and coping skills of the patients and their families.

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The study sought to explore and describe the lived experiences of caregivers involved in support groups whilst caring for a family member diagnosed schizophrenia in Johannesburg South, Gauteng province. A qualitative study was conducted among primary caregivers of family members diagnosed with schizophrenia and involved in support groups. Members were selected using purposive sampling and ten participants were interviewed (eight parents and two siblings of diagnosed family members). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Common themes regarding the experience of caring for a family member diagnosed with schizophrenia were clearly delineated. Findings of the study revealed that the participants experienced psychosocial, emotional, and economic challenges in caring for their relatives diagnosed with schizophrenia. The findings point to problems such as psychological distress, extensive worry, subjective burden and significance of support in caring for ill family members. Findings also highlight challenges such as financial constraints and cultural factors which negatively impact the quality of caregiving for the participants’ ill relatives. The study further revealed the coping mechanisms that caregivers adopt to cope with the difficulties of caring for their schizophrenic family members. Religion and support groups were some of mechanisms a majority of participants found to be helpful for them in coping. The present study found that family members involved in the group program demonstrated improved family communication, greater confidence in their ability to help their loved ones, reduced burden and improved subjective quality of life.

M.Cur. / Schizophrenia is a devastating mental illness and probably the most distressing and disabling mental disorder. It is not the condition of the ill person alone but also of the family which is placed in a crucial and pivotal role and which must take care of the ill relative with schizophrenia. This is so because of the disillusional thinking, altered thought process and distractions of internal stimuli that may interfere with the planning, commitment and rationale for actions, making it difficult for everyone involved. The effects of the illness may be confusing and shocking to families. Parents suffer from great disruptions to their lives and children can struggle with the implications of having a parent suffering from schizophrenia. Siblings of the ill person suffering from chronic schizophrenia are not spared, they even suffer because issues of their own survivorship. The family becomes case managers and primary carers. Family caregivers are vulnerable to emotional manipulation by their mentally ill relative. They are rarely trained/helped to manage difficult circumstances. The family members are called upon for provision of psychological and social therapies, occupational and recreational therapy and attendant care for which they are not trained. The family is also seriously affected and distressed because of the effect schizophrenia has on their relative and the burden of caring. Coping with schizophrenia can especially be difficult for relatives who remember their relative before he or she became ill, giving rise to chronic grieving and sorrow and because of the cyclic nature of schizophrenia giving no definite end point or lengthy respite to complete mourning. The reminders of the "might have been" can be distressing. There is an obvious need for research on the family's experience. It is essential to understand their emotional tones and specific needs in relation to living with a member suffering from chronic schizophrenia as well as to formulate guidelines. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe family member's experiences and to formulate guidelines of care for families living with a member with chronic schizophrenia. The research design was based on qualitative research because of its explorative descriptive and contextual nature. Data were collected by means of indepth phenomenological interviews and naïve sketches. Field notes were written for reflecting upon methods used and the personal notes for the researcher's personal inflections. Literature was used to compare and complement the results. Guba's model on trustworthiness ensured the trustworthiness of the research.