Strategies for coping with the burdens of living with a depressed person affect a family’s psychosocial environment.
Aim:
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how relatives make personal sense of living with a depressed family member.
Methods:
Thirteen cohabitant relatives were interviewed either individually or in a focus group. The transcribed interviews were interpreted thematically.
Results:
Relatives went through a psychosocial transformation process driven by the twin challenges of their attitudes towards the depressed family member and of stigma.
Conclusions:
More could be done to resolve families’ need for information and for emotional and practical support promoting recovery.
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