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 caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients

Objective: 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: This study having a pre-test and post-test control group design was conducted as a quasi-experimental study. The data was collected using the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale, General Health Questionnaire and Connor Davidson Psychological Resilience Scale. Data were collected before, immediately after, and 3 and 6 months after the support and psychoeducation program applied to caregiving family members. Nonparametric analysis was used in the analysis of the data. The difference between the mean scores for the coping, psychological distress, and resilience over time of the intervention group and those of the control group was tested with Friedman analysis. Wilcoxon Rank analysis was used for further analysis of the difference. To determine the difference between the intervention and control groups, the Mann Whitney U test was used for the intergroup comparison. Results: A significant decrease was determined between the pre-intervention mean distress score of the participants who gave care to individuals with chronic mental illnesses and participated in the Family Support and Psychoeducation Program based on the Calgary Family Intervention Model and the mean scores they obtained immediately after, and 3 and 6 months after the intervention (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was found between the pre-intervention coping scores and psychological resilience scores of the caregivers and the mean scores they obtained immediately 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. Key Words: Chronic Mental Illness, Caregiver, Support, Psychoeducation, Calgary Family Intervention Model, Psychiatric Nursing.