Relatives of the first episode psychosis patients: the relationship between appraisal of illness situation, social support, and psychological distress over time

Family is very close to a patient and its role is especially important in the process of clinical, emotional, and social recovery from psychosis. Scientists and practitioners are interested in relatives coping with experiences of a family member psychosis, because it is closely related to the help opportunities for the patient. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between appraisal of illness situation, social support, and psychological distress in first episode psychosis families over time. The study of dissertation is quantitative and is based on a cognitive model of coping with stress. The core of this model is based on an idea that cognitive appraisal of illness situation is a mediating variable between an objective situation and relatives’ reactions to the situation. The dissertation discloses relatives’ reactions and their changes to the first episode psychosis of a family member over time. The prognostic value of relatives’ appraisal of illness situation to their later psychological distress is analyzed; the most significant aspects of illness situation to relatives’ psychological distress are distinguished in different stages of patient recovery. The importance of received social support to relatives’ psychological distress in different moments in time was also revealed