Toward an Effective Family Support System in Japan From Research on Family Caregivers and Schizophrenia Patients in East Asian Countries

摘要

Japan has the highest admission rate of patients with schizophrenia in the world, thus emphasizing the need for building relationships between psychiatric hospitals and resources for community living. Confucian ideas and the tradition of providing care to family members are central to cultures and these socio-cultural beliefs regarding family care in East Asian countries may seriously influence the experiences of family caregivers. This article reviews and draws conclusions from three Japanese and Korean studies that found that patients with schizophrenia are likely to isolate themselves from society, thus avoiding contact with nonfamily members and that these behaviors are correlated to a greater caregiver role and an increased caregiver burden. Japanese families of patients with schizophrenia are likely to perceive a stigma from others and are also likely to think that schizophrenia should be hidden from others in the community. Japanese families tend to adopt resignation as a strategy for coping with the strong stigma attached to schizophrenia. Additionally, Japanese families are more resistant to allowing others to care for family members with schizophrenia. Hence, there is a close tie between schizophrenia patients and their families. These findings suggest that Japanese mental health strategies should favor providing effective support