Overload of family caregivers of persons with mental disorder: an integrative review

The objective of this article is to identify scientific evidence in the literature on the overload of families with persons showing mental disorders. The integrative review method was chosen and search was conducted in the following scientific databases: Literatura Latino- Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System On-Line (Medline) and Bases de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF). We identified 23 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Analyses and interpretations were carried out in articles focusing themes that address the process of caring and its impact on families, and the importance of a family approach when there is a family member with mental disorder. Therefore, this paper discusses the need for mental health services to assist families, the role of the care and the support for treating the family member with a mental disorder.

Mental health services; Mental disorders; Caregivers