Cuidado à pessoa com transtorno mental na compreensão do familiar

Abstract

This article aims to understand how the family takes care of mental disorder patients. This is a qualitative research, exploratory and descriptive, held in a Psychosocial Care Unit (from portuguese Unidade de Atenção Psicossocial) of a teaching hospital in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The data production occurred in the period from May to July 2017, through semi-structured interviews with 20 relatives of patients, which were after underwent Thematic Analysis. Noteworthy are the meanings in relation to the care provided, as follows: care as a form of affection, love, compassion; care as a way to watch, to be aware of something, or even so referring to the care, as administering medication, taking care of personal hygiene and nutrition. It became evident that these family members are getting ill, which took place from the symptoms of the disease and the lack social support to the caregivers. Also, the question of religion and spirituality, as support d e v i c e s for caregivers, emerged. Therefore, the present study reveals the particularities of the care provided to the family member with mental disorders, bringing a singular sight according to the reality of each interviewed.