Concerns reported by family members of individuals with first-episode psychosis

Aim: Our aim was to examine the concerns reported by family members and other caregivers of individuals with first-episode psychosis (FEP).

Methods: Family members who attended group psychoeducation selected their top two concerns from a list of nine concerns: stigma, medication, substance abuse, social behaviour, stressful situations, self-esteem and identity, sexuality and intimacy, early warning signs, and resources and support.

Results: Parents, particularly mothers, were a significant majority of those who attended psychoeducation sessions. In order of frequency of endorsement, the concerns endorsed were self-esteem and identity, social behaviour, substance abuse, medications, stressful situations, early warning signs, resources and support, stigma, and sexuality and intimacy.

Conclusion: Families were most concerned about the self-esteem and identity of their young relatives with FEP. Our findings suggest that early intervention programmes should specifically address issues of self-esteem and identity. Further research on the concerns shared by families of individuals with FEP is needed.