Barak Dina, Solomon Zahava
Adler Research Center, School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2005;42(4):234-41.
The study assesses the impact of schizophrenia on non-schizophrenic siblings with regard to objective and subjective burden, feelings and degree of closeness with sibling, social interaction, coping and sense of meaning in life.
100 subjects, 52 siblings of schizophrenic patients and 48 comparable controls participated in the study and filled out self report questionnaires.
Findings show that siblings of patients with schizophrenia report more intense negative feelings, elevated levels of objective and subjective burden, less closeness and more shame than the subjects in the control group.
The 48 controls did not have a sibling with any sickness, so that the findings are not necessarily specific to schizophrenia, and may be relevant to siblings of those who suffer from various chronic diseases. Further study separating these issues is recommended.
In light of the findings that show that some siblings of patients with schizophrenia become "secondary victims,' we recommend that siblings of the mentally ill receive more professional attention. Information about the illness can help in reducing the sense of anxiety and guilt, and somewhat alleviate the sense of shame and stigma.
本研究评估了精神分裂症对非精神分裂症患者的兄弟姐妹在客观和主观负担、与兄弟姐妹的情感及亲密程度、社交互动、应对方式和生活意义感等方面的影响。
100名受试者，其中52名精神分裂症患者的兄弟姐妹和48名可比对照组参与了研究，并填写了自我报告问卷。
研究结果表明，与对照组相比，精神分裂症患者的兄弟姐妹报告有更强烈的负面情绪、更高的客观和主观负担水平、更低的亲密程度以及更多的羞耻感。
48名对照组人员没有患任何疾病的兄弟姐妹，因此这些发现不一定特定于精神分裂症，可能与患有各种慢性疾病者的兄弟姐妹有关。建议进一步开展研究以区分这些问题。
鉴于研究结果表明一些精神分裂症患者的兄弟姐妹成为了“次生受害者”，我们建议精神疾病患者的兄弟姐妹应得到更多专业关注。有关该疾病的信息有助于减轻焦虑和内疚感，并在一定程度上缓解羞耻感和污名化。
