Fortune, Dónal Gerard (2002) The impact of schizophrenia on patients and key relatives: a social cognitive approach. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

PDF WRAP_THESIS_Fortune_2002.pdf - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader Download (9Mb)

Abstract

The impact of severe mental illness on the individual and their family can be substantial. In addition to living with the vagaries of a condition that can be of unpredictable duration and severity, individuals and their families may also have to live with public perceptions that can be devaluing, discriminatory or indeed hostile. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the impact of severe mental illness on the individual and their key relatives using a social cognitive perspective. Chapter 1 provides a review of the mechanisms and consequences of stigma and discrimination in severe mental illness, and explores ideas for intervention that are predicated upon empirical research findings. Chapter 2 examines the pattern of desynchrony between lay representations of severe mental illness held by individuals, their carers, and a sample of the general public. It also highlights the association between aspects of perceived stigma and divergent patient-parent representations of schizophrenia. Chapter 3 adopts a self-regulation theory approach to distress in the relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and concludes that aspects of the self-regulation approach, (perceptions of psychosis, coping, and primary appraisals) have some utility as a framework to understand distress in the carers of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Finally, chapter 4 reflects on the research process and discusses the development and course of the research. It also provides some further reflections by participants on the experience of severe mental illness.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Schizophrenics -- Family relationships, Mental illness -- Public opinion, Families -- Mental health, Schizophrenics -- Home care, Social cognitive theory
Date:	May 2002
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	School of Health and Social Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Garvey, Kay ; Smith, Jo, Dr.
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	175 leaves : ill., charts
Language:	eng
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3049

Request changes to a record

Actions (login required)

View Item