Family involvement in Chinese immigrants with bipolar disorder in New Zealand
Wang, G.Y.; Henning, M.
New Zealand medical journal 126(1368): 45-52
2012
ISSN/ISBN: 1175-8716 PMID: 23385834 Document Number: 663416
To explore the dynamic between Chinese people with bipolar disorder (BD) and family functioning. Nine New Zealand Chinese with BD were interviewed. Data analysis was guided by content and thematic approaches. Four themes summarised from the interviews included: (1) family members are the primary resource; (2) many facets of recovery from BD is integrally linked with caregiving; (3) quality of family relationships is associated with acceptance of the illness; and (4) perception of caregiver burden motivates self-care. The findings support the need for mechanism that can minimise the risk of adverse family functioning associated with BD and the need of professional involvement when working with these families.