Differences by Retrospective Illness Course on Burden, Expressed Emotion, Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in Relatives of Mexican Outpatients with Psychosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Patients’ illness might also affect their relatives’ psychological state. The present crosssectional study aimed at assessing the levels of burden, expressed emotion, psychological distress and quality of life in a sample of relatives of Mexican outpatients with psychosis and the possible effect of illness course assessed retrospectively. Sample included 65 participants: 73.8% female; mean age of 48.7 years. Relatives self-responded the following scales: the Caregiver Burden Interview, the Family Questionnaire, the WHOQOL-BREF and the GHQ28. Mean scores were compared by groups according to the retrospective illness course of patients (diagnosis, residual symptoms, relapses) with one tailed Mann-Whitney tests. Levels of burden, expressed emotion, psychological distress, and poor quality of life were low, significantly related and particularly influenced by patient residual symptoms. It is important to involve relatives not only as care providers but also as individuals whose psychological well-being is at risk, particularly when their ill relative present residual symptoms.