The effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction program on mental status and care burden of psychotic patients' families

This research was conducted to determine the effect of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program, which is applied to families who care for individuals with psychotic illness, on mental health parameters and care burden. The study is in a single-center, prospective (pretest-posttest-1st month and 3rd month follow-up), two-armed (1:1), randomized controlled experimental design. The sample of the study consisted of 50 family members (study group=25, control group=25) who gave care to individuals with psychotic illness registered in two community mental health centers. The experimental registration of the study was made prospectively from ClinicalTrils.gov and the number NCT05245305 was taken. MBSR Program was applied to the study group. Personal Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Scale, Beck Hopelessness Scale, Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale were used as data collection tools. Frequency, percentage values, mean, standard deviation, Pearson-χ2 test, t-test for independent samples, Repeated Measures and Mann-Whitney U test were used in the analysis of the data. The state-trait anxiety, hopelessness and care burden levels of the families in the study group after MBSR decreased significantly in the post-test, 1st and 3rd month follow-up tests compared to the control group; self-compassion levels were found to increase significantly (p<0.05). As a result of the intervention, the decrease in the levels of state-trait anxiety, hopelessness, care burden, and the increase in the self-compassion levels of the caregiving families showed that the intervention was effective. In line with the findings of the study, it is recommended that the MBSR be applied at regular intervals in order to support and strengthen the families who care for individuals with psychotic illness.