[Unjustly neglected: siblings of people with a schizophrenic psychosis].

OBJECTIVE

Siblings of individuals suffering from schizophrenia are an underrepresented group in research focussing on the needs of carers and relatives of psychiatric patients. The present study aims to investigate differences between siblings and parents as well as spouses, as regards help seeking, utilisation of an open group for relatives, their subjective burden and quality of life.

METHODS

147 relatives of in-patients and patients attending a day hospital where assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the Family Problem Questionnaire (FPQ), the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOLBREF) and a questionnaire inquiring about the relatives' utilisation of various sources of information and help throughout the course of the illness.

RESULTS

Siblings reported less contact to the patients compared to the two other groups. However, their subjective burden was comparable to that of spouses, who were the group with the highest amount of contact. Siblings' quality of life showed by far less impairment than that of spouses and parents. They reported significantly less utilisation of any source of information and help and were far less likely to be invited to the group for relatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Siblings of patients with schizophrenia are a particularly neglected group regarding support aimed at relatives. They are heavily distressed, yet there is little offer of professional support for them. It seems indicated to draw increased attention to this specific group of relatives.