Abstract

Background: Stigmatization of patients with mental illness has been investigated in numerous studies. Little research has explored how caregivers of schizophrenia patients perceive and experience stigmatization.
Aim: This study designed to explore the subjective experience of stigma from the perspectives of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, during the process of caring schizophrenic patients.
Methods: A qualitative study with in-depth interviews was used. Narrative data was obtained by 15 care givers of schizophrenia patients. A thematic analysis method was used to analyze data.
Results: Four themes, including 10 sub-themes linked to the stigma experience of care givers. The four themes were: (a)symptom disturbance is the fundament to the root of calamity;(b)negative perception is a shackle strapped to you for all life; (c) illness in a family leads to a lifelong labor; (d)not knowing the path of the future.
Conclusions/Implications to clinical practices: The findings from this study could help psychiatric nurses to recognize the stigma experience caregivers had faced during the process of caring schizophrenia patients. The findings also call for the development of anti-stigma programs, which are needed to help reduce discrimination towards individuals with schizophrenia in Taiwan.