Predictors of Carer Burden for Carers of individuals with BPD traits
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Stigma, Emotion Appraisal and the Family Environment as Predictors of Carer Burden for Carers of Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder Traits
IRAS ID
195190
Contact name
Jenna Kirtley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
What is the purpose of the study? Parents who are caring for adult children with mental health problems face a range of challenges and therefore it is important for them to receive the right support from services. The aim of this study is to investigate whether 3 factors: perceived stigma, perceived threat of strong emotions and expressed emotion within the family environment, predict carer strain. By gaining awareness of what predicts carer burden we can tailor future interventions to better support carers in their caring role. The study will compare parents of individuals with borderline personality disorder traits to parents of individuals with other mental health problems. The comparison should highlight whether the same interventions can be applied to all carers or whether the focus of interventions will be dependent on their son/daughter’s symptoms.
Assumptions: Previous research highlights that parents are often blamed for personality disorder psychopathology by mental health professionals and communities. Much of the research on other mental health problems, such as schizophrenia, is more balanced, suggesting a strong genetic link to the disorder. Therefore, it is expected that high levels of perceived stigma will be linked with greater carer burden for parents of individuals with borderline personality disorder traits in comparison to parents of individuals with other mental health problems.
Participants care for individuals who have difficulties managing intense emotions so they are likely to develop fears around these emotions, especially as they witness negative consequences, such as aggression and self-harm. Therefore, it is expected that carers will negatively appraise emotions, impacting on carer burden. However, this is the first study to examine perceived threat from emotions within this population.
There has been only one study to date that has investigated the impact of family environment (hostility, criticism and emotional over-involvement) on carer burden for carers of individuals with personality disorder. It was found that high expressed emotion was associated with greater burden. It is predicted that high expressed emotion will be linked to greater burden for all carers within this study.
Method: Participants will be asked to complete 5 questionnaires in one sitting, with no follow up tasks. The data will be analysed to highlight whether stigma, perceived threat of emotions and expressed emotion predicts carer burden and whether there is a difference between parents of individuals with borderline personality disorder traits and parents with other mental health problems.
Summary of procedure: Recruitment will be through the personality disorder hub and service user involvement scheme at NHS sites within the 5 boroughs partnership NHS trust. If participants are interested they will be asked to complete the measures face to face.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0957
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion