Caring for a loved one with schizophrenia

narratives about the future

Abstract

The onset of schizophrenia usually occurs during the adolescence. From there, the family becomes the caregiver and tries to adjust to the new situation. This study aims to discuss the expectations that the relatives living with a person with schizophrenia, for over ten years, have in regard to the future care giving. The life history was the method of choice for collecting and analyzing the interviews (fourteen families). The answers demonstrated hopes in science, in medications to promote either a cure or improvement of symptoms, and in the ability to find care resources within the family. The results demonstrate that the family approach should consider the reflections on the future.