The aim was to investigate relatives of inpatients with severe depression - their perceptions of encountering psychiatric specialist health services and their degree of burden. Sixty-eight relatives recruited via hospital wards and community specialist health centers responded to a questionnaire, with questions from the Quality from the Patients Perspective modified to relatives and the Burden Assessment Scale. Relatives recruited via community specialist health centers perceived less received information and support than those recruited via hospital wards. Higher burden was reported among relatives receiving less information and support than they needed from the psychiatric specialist health services. Healthcare professionals are recommended to give relatives the information and support according to their needs.

In Europe, there are an increasing number of persons suffering from depression, which also affectsmany relatives. The burden and health when being the relative of an inpatient suffering fromsevere depression has been less examined. The aim of the study was to describe burden, healthand sense of coherence among relatives of inpatients with severe depression. Furthermore, theaim was to investigate relatives’ burden in relation to their health and sense of coherence. Across-sectional design was performed, with a questionnaire consisting of background questionsand three instruments; Burden Assessment Scale, General Health Questionnaire and Sense of Coherencescale. The participants consisted of 68 relatives recruited from a sample of inpatients diagnosedwith depression in the psychiatric specialist health services in one hospital trust in Norway.The Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway South East, gaveapproval to the study. The relatives reported burden to a various degree, with some reporting asignificantly greater burden, poorer health and a weaker sense of coherence than others. With regardto subjective burden eight out of ten relatives reported “Worry about future”, and almost sixout of ten were “Upset by change in patient”. Regarding objective burden, more than half the relativesreported having “Less time for friends” and “Reduced leisure time”. In conclusion the relativeswith a high level of burden reported more mental distress, poorer health and weaker senseof coherence than those with lower level of burden. Further research should focus on identificationof factors predicting burden and health of relatives of inpatients with severe depression.

Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate and describe everyday life among relatives of inpatients with severe depression and their encounter with the psychiatric specialist health services (PSHS).

Methods: A descriptive design with a qualitative and quantitative approach was used. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire responded to by 68 relatives and analysed with descriptive statistics (I, III). Individual interviews with 24 relatives were carried out and analysed with phenomenography (II, IV).

Main findings: The everyday life of relatives to persons suffering from severe depression was affected. They reported burden and influence on their own health to a various degree (I). The relatives experienced that they were, “Living on the other person’s terms”. Relatives described ambivalent relationships, as they had to adjust their daily life in attempting to manage the situation (II). When the relatives encountered the PSHS, it may have been a long time of worries and struggles for help. They wanted to be a resource and a participant, and to be confident with the health care (IV). The need for support from the PSHS was greater than what they received. Relatives who reported receiving less information had higher burden scores than the others (III).

Conclusions: Everyday life of relatives of persons suffering from severe depression is demanding. To be acknowledged as a resource in the treatment and care for the person suffering from depression is important. The mental health nurses being present at the wards 24 hours a day, are in a unique position to support the relatives.

Depression is one of ten global diseases entailing the greatest loss of life quality and years of life, which also gives consequences for the relatives. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate and describe everyday life among relatives of inpatients with severe depression and their encounter with the psychiatric specialist health service (PSHS). The relatives experienced objective and subjective burden, and their own health was affected. Everyday life needed to be adjusted in line with the severity of the next-of-kin’s depression. When the relatives encountered the PSHS a long time of worries and struggles had passed from the onset of the depression until the next-of–kin was hospitalized. To be acknowledged as a resource, invited to collaborate and to share their knowledge was of great importance to the relatives. Addtionally, to receive information concerning the treatment and care was crucial. The mental health nurses are in a unique position to support the relatives.

The aim of this study was to describe experiences of encountering the psychiatric specialist health services as a relative of an inpatient with severe depression. A qualitative and descriptive design using a phenomenographic approach was chosen. Twentyfour adult relatives, representing different ages, sex, level of education and relationship, were individually interviewed. Approvalwas given by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway (South East). Three descriptive categoriesemerged: Being in need of help, Being a resource and a participant and Being confident with the health care, with twoconceptions each constituting the relatives’ experiences of the psychiatric specialist health services. When relatives perceive that their next of kin is more severely depressed than the health professionals indicate, they describe it as a battle to obtain help. Relatives have knowledge of – and experience with the depressed person, and wish to share this with the staff. The relatives describe uncertainty as to whether the patient received high-quality care due to varying competence levels among mental health personnel. In conclusion, relatives’ experiences and knowledge about the depressed person were not acknowledged as a matter of course. Thus, psychiatric specialist health services must take relatives’ knowledge into account and initiate collaboration and support.

The aim of this study was to describe experiences of everyday life as a relative of a person diagnosed with depression. A qualitative and descriptive design with a phenomenographic approach was chosen, and individual interviews with 24 relatives were carried out. Approval was given by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway (South East) ref 2010/126. The findings show the main category ‘Living on the other person’s terms’, which may be expressed in terms of consideration for the next of kin, thus presenting a challenge and a need to be balanced against taking care of oneself. In addition, three descriptive categories emerged: ‘Ambivalent relationship’, ‘Adjusting daily life’ and ‘Managing the situation’. In conclusion, the relatives of persons with depression may be in danger of developing their own health problems and in need for attention from health personnel.