Lived Experiences of a Family with a Patient with Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is the most debilitating psychiatric disorder in which the families of patients with schizophrenia play an important role in the care and recovery process. The aim of this study was to explain the lived experiences of families with schizophrenia.

This qualitative research was conducted using purposive sampling with 16 family members with patients with schizophrenia in 2020 in Gorgan (Iran). Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data until saturation was reached. Data analysis was performed using Van Menen's phenomenological approach. Ethical considerations were observed in human research.

From the data analysis, four main themes were extracted, including "drowning in the vortex of disease, trying to control life, wandering in the duality of care, to grin and bear with the disease."

The findings indicate that families are suffering, confused and neglected in society. So that despite the burden of patient care, they still try to overcome the problems. It is necessary to address the challenges of the family with a patient with schizophrenia in a deep and fundamental way so that more services can be provided to them with better planning and more equitable distribution of resources.