A Comparative Study of Family Functioning as Perceived between Psychiatric Patients and Relatives
Parawee Keawjamrus BSW1, Somporn Charatcharoenwitaya MA1, Malai Chalermchainukul BSW1, Wirin Chaiyajan MNS2, Supatchara Namvises BNS2, Yotika Jitkong BNS2, Aree Singlamphong BS1, Lakkana Thongchot BS1, Naratip Sanguanpanich BSc1, Panatchaporn Chantapong MD1, Woraphat Ratta-apha MD1, Nattha Saisavoey MD1
Affiliation : 1 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Psychiatric Nurse, Division of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To study perception of family functions between psychiatric patients and their relatives.
Materials and Methods : The 113 participants were selected based on the criteria. The patients were admitted to the hospital
between December 2015 and November 2016, and the relatives of the patients were included as well. The demographic
information was collected from medical records and additional interview of the patients’ regarding family functions, social
network, and social support. The patients and their relatives conducted the Chulalongkorn Family Inventory [CFI] and the
Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Study [DIGS] Thai version. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and t-test.
Results : The mean of the patients’ perceived family functioning score was 2.94 with standard deviation of 0.68, while the
relatives’ perceived family functioning score had the mean of 3.13 with standard deviation of 0.59. In other area of perceptions,
the scores were quite similar particularly as both patients group and relatives group scores were in a good range of 69% and
73.5%, respectively.
Conclusion : The overall perceived family functions of the patients and their relatives were not statistically different except
in the domain of affective response. Perceived family functions between psychiatric patients and their own family members
demonstrated high level of agreement.
Keywords : Family functioning, Perception, Family
