ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Research on the situation of caregivers of patients with bipolar affective disorders has been mostly neglected in German-speaking countries. METHODS: In the sense of a bottom-up approach, a content analysis of problem-oriented interviews with 32 caregivers of patients with bipolar disorder was carried out. Additionally, the relevant literature identified by means of a computerized MEDLINE research on the years 1997 - 2007 with the key words "caregiver"/"relative", "burden" and "bipolar disorder", was analysed to describe the situation of the caregivers comprehensively. Related articles in the MEDLINE search were also viewed. RESULTS: The burden of relatives of bipolar patients are manifold and partially specific. On the top of the list caregivers mentioned emotional burdens like: "lack of understanding, helplessness and hopelessness" (90,6 %) and "own concernment" (81,2 %). Specific burdens of these caregivers are "repulsing and uncooperative behaviour of the patient" (78,1 %) and "burdens due to the alternation between manic and depressive symptoms" (71,9 %). The manic and depressive symptomatic complex were assessed as burden with equal frequency (75,0 %). CONCLUSIONS: An effective support should consider the necessity of helping the caregivers in handling the symptoms of the illness and imparting coping strategies for emotional relief of caregivers.
