Translation and validation of the Schizophrenia Caregiver Questionnaire - Japanese version (J-SCQ).

The Schizophrenia Caregiver Questionnaire (SCQ) was developed to evaluate the state of family members caring for schizophrenics. Our study aimed to construct a Japanese version of the SCQ (J-SCQ) based on its English version and verify its reliability and validity. We conducted forward and backwards translations and cognitive debriefing to draw up the J-SCQ. A total of 1229 survey sheets were mailed, together with the Japanese versions of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form version 2 (SF-12v2) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-26) questionnaires. A total of 305 survey sheets (valid response rate: 68.2%) were analyzed. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of various supra-domains and subdomains of the J-SCQ were over 0.71, establishing its internal consistency. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the various domains of the SF-12v2 and WHOQOL-26 was used to establish concurrent validity. The results show that the J-SCQ may be a useful Japanese questionnaire that can compare Japanese caregivers to those across different countries and measure the effects of support and intervention provided to caregivers.

Experiences of community-dwelling persons recovering from severe mental illness.

This qualitative study explored experiences of recovery from severe mental illness based on semi-structured interviews with sixteen persons diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders using psychiatric rehabilitation facilities. The participants' transcripts revealed two major themes: (1) ongoing efforts to live better and (2) inconsistent self-acceptance as a person living with a mental illness. The participants were aware of their responsibility to live with integrity. They all had hopes and goals, were able to respond to social cues, and considered what they could do independently. They wanted to be recognized as people who adapted successfully in society while inconsistently perceiving themselves as either sick or healthy. It is necessary to examine approaches that support the identities of persons who have been treated for schizophrenia and allow them to live comfortable within their communities.

Female families' experiences of caring for persons with schizophrenia.

The caring experiences of female families of persons with schizophrenia were described through exploring the families' descriptions of their experiences. Focus group interviews were conducted with 11 family caregivers. According to content analysis, the experiences revealed five major themes: early family experiences, family perceptions of illness and relatives with schizophrenia, family burden and suffering, family attitudes toward relatives with schizophrenia, and family thoughts about society and mental health resources. Also, the families had strength to overcome considerable adversity. It is needed for professionals to listen to family caregivers' narratives carefully and improve the support by focusing on accepting their experiences and histories with persons with schizophrenia.

Sense of coherence and quality of life in family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia living in the community.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the sense of coherence (SOC) and quality of life (QOL) of caregivers of persons with schizoprenia. Thirty-four families were investigated using the SOC-13, the 26-item World Health Organization Quality of Life, and an interview guide. Family caregivers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s with higher SOC scores showed higher QOL scores; older groups showed higher mean SOC and QOL scores; and a significant difference in the scores for the environment domain was observed among the 3 groups. SOC was considered to be influenced by the family caregivers' age, educational level, duration of ilness, and whether they live with the patients.