Effects of the family support and psychoeducation program based on the Calgary Family Intervention Model on the coping, psychological distress and psychological resilience levels of the family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients

Aims: This study was aimed at investigating the effects of family support and psychoeducation program based on Calgary Family Intervention Model on coping, psychological distress and psychological resilience levels of families of chronic psychiatric patients. Methods: The sample of this quasi-experimental study consisted of the caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients who were admitted to the adult psychiatry inpatient and outpatient unit of a university hospital and the caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients registered with the Schizophrenia Solidarity Association. Nonparametric analysis was used in the analysis of the data. Results: It was found that there was a significant decrease between the mean distress scores the caregivers participating in the Calgary Family Intervention-Based Family Support and Psychoeducation Program obtained from the measurements before, right after, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the coping scores and psychological resilience scores the caregivers obtained from the measurements before, right after, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention (p > 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the family support and psychoeducation program based on the Calgary Family Intervention Model applied to family members giving care to individuals with chronic mental illnesses had positive effects on the general health status of the caregivers.