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Bu sayfa, 26. Dünya Psikiyatri Kongresi'nde sunulan çalışmanın yapay zekâ desteğiyle hazırlanmış Türkçe özetidir. Çalışmanın sahibi sunan yazarlardır; atıf için orijinal kaynağa başvurun.

EV1241

Exploring the reality of schizophrenia: voices behind the diagnosis

DISCOVERING THE REALITY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

In a survey of 78 participants from Austria and Israel, people with lived experience of schizophrenia and family caregivers reported strikingly similar challenges, including stigma, difficulties accessing services, and high caregiver burden, despite differences in their healthcare systems.

The aim is to understand the experiences of people living with schizophrenia and family caregivers, identify shared challenges, and develop recommendations for more person-centered, family-inclusive mental health care using the Reality of Schizophrenia survey developed by EUFAMI. The survey used separate questionnaires for people with lived experience and family caregivers; five European countries were targeted, but logistical constraints limited participation to Austria and Israel. Questions covered diagnosis, treatment, service accessibility, daily life, the caregiving experience, and priorities for improving care. A total of 78 participants took part, comprising 17 people with lived experience and 61 family caregivers; participants included 9 caregivers/family members from Austria and 17 people with lived experience and 52 family members from Israel. In the Austrian sample, 54% of caregivers were aged 65 or older, 100% were women, and 67% lived in rural areas; their relationships to the patient were distributed as follows: 44% parents, 33% children, 11% siblings, and 11% spouses. Participants found the diagnostic process emotionally challenging and reported unequal access to mental health support; the main barriers were limited service provision, financial constraints, difficulties communicating with professionals, stigma, and insufficient information. Respondents emphasized the substantial impact of schizophrenia on employment, education, relationships, social participation, and daily functioning. Caregivers reported high levels of emotional stress, financial burden, and disruption to family, social, and working life, while many described building resilience through education, peer support, and involvement in family organizations. In conclusion, effective schizophrenia care needs to go beyond symptom management to address stigma, family involvement, coordinated community support, and social inclusion. To achieve this, the recommendations include reducing stigma, recognizing caregivers as partners in care, and improving timely access to community-based services.

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