Table 3 Caregivers’ rating of perceived helpfulness/harmfulness for people and interventions
Method of help | Schizophrenia (N = 200) | Depression (N = 202) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Helpfulness | Harmfulness | Helpfulness | Harmfulness | |
n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
People who could help | ||||
GP or family doctor | 125 (62.5) | 5 (2.5) | 140 (69.3) | 6 (3.0) |
Pharmacist | 81 (40.5) | 25 (12.5) | 81 (40.1) | 29 (14.4) |
Counselor | 148 (74.0) | 7 (3.5) | 144 (71.3) | 5 (2.5) |
Social worker | 92 (46.0) | 18 (9.0) | 92 (45.5) | 12 (5.9) |
Telephone counseling service | 92 (46.0) | 14 (7.0) | 100 (49.5) | 15 (7.4) |
Psychiatrist | 194 (97.0)* | 2 (1.0) | 184 (91.1) | 1 (0.5) |
Mental health nurse | 178 (89.0)** | 1 (0.5) | 157 (77.7) | 2 (1.0) |
Psychologist | 192 (96.0) | 8 (4.0) | 188 (93.1) | 0 (0) |
Close family members | 185 (92.5) | 2 (1.0) | 177 (87.6) | 1 (0.5) |
Close friends | 175 (87.5) | 3 (1.5) | 167 (82.7) | 3 (1.5) |
Traditional healer/Chinese medicine doctor | 105 (52.5) | 15 (7.5) | 103 (51.0) | 12 (5.9) |
Dealing with problem on his/her own | 23 (11.5)* | 138 (69.0) | 42 (20.8) | 127 (62.9) |
Religious leader | 14 (7.0) | 122 (61.0) | 15 (7.4) | 110 (54.5) |
Interventions | ||||
Becoming more physically active | 189 (94.5) | 4 (2.0) | 194 (96.0) | 1 (0.5) |
Reading about the problem | 128 (64.0) | 6 (3.0) | 144 (71.3) | 8 (4.0) |
Getting out and learning more | 186 (93.0) | 1 (0.5) | 182 (90.1) | 2 (1.0) |
Being kept at home | 36 (18.0)** | 87 (43.5) | 61 (30.2) | 62 (30.7) |
Attending courses on relaxation | 153 (76.5) | 9 (4.5) | 164 (81.2) | 7 (3.5) |
Massage and having a rest | 139 (69.5)** | 5 (2.5) | 167 (82.7) | 1 (0.5) |
Cutting out alcohol | 166 (83.0) | 10 (5.0) | 161 (79.7) | 6 (3.0) |
Having occasional drink | 23 (11.5)** | 112 (56.0) | 45 (22.3) | 108 (53.5) |
Practicing Chi Kung/Tai Chi therapy | 85 (42.5) | 18 (9.0) | 102 (50.5) | 32 (15.8) |
Receiving acupuncture | 70 (35.0) | 23 (11.5) | 83 (41.1) | 22 (10.9) |
Receiving psychotherapy | 188 (94.0) | 1 (0.5) | 189 (93.6) | 0 (0) |
Participating in hypnosis | 112 (56.0) | 20 (10.0) | 132 (65.3) | 16 (7.9) |
Receiving aromatherapy | 53 (26.5) | 41 (20.5) | 68 (33.7) | 22 (10.9) |
Being admitted to a psychiatric ward in a general hospital | 162 (81.0)** | 8 (4.0) | 138 (68.3) | 26 (12.9) |
Being admitted to a psychiatric hospital | 140 (70.0)** | 28 (12.0) | 104 (51.5) | 61 (30.2) |
Receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) | 51 (25.5) | 95 (47.5) | 43 (21.3) | 96 (47.5) |
Going on a special diet | 91 (45.5) | 19 (9.5) | 100 (49.5) | 15 (7.4) |