To systematically collect and evaluate existing evidence syntheses on interventions, programs, and approaches for the involvement of next of kin (NOK) in mental health care.
Approach:
Research Questions: 1) What types of interventions of NOK involvement in mental health care have been studied, and what are their key characteristics? 2) For which types of mental disorder and kinship relationships have these interventions been evaluated, and which outcomes have …
Methodology: The review followed the PRIOR reporting guideline and included a PRISMA checklist. It was registered at PROSPERO and involved a collaborative-participatory approach with diverse perspectives.
Key Findings:
NOK participation is crucial for the wellbeing of both NOK and persons in treatment (PIT).
Economic, physical, and psychosocial burdens are significant for NOK.
NOK interventions are not sufficiently implemented in routine clinical practices.
Most NOK feel undervalued by mental health professionals, with over 40% dissatisfied with their participation.
Interpretation:
The certainty of evidence regarding the effectiveness of NOK involvement is low due to study heterogeneity, risk of bias, and limited quality of meta-analyses.
Limitations:
Limited and non-generalizable conclusions due to low certainty of evidence.
Heterogeneity across studies and variable quality of meta-analyses.
Conclusion:
The review aims to create a comprehensive foundation for improved implementation of NOK involvement in mental health care services.
by Peggy Prien, Sebastian Bayer, Susanne Kappesser, Nora Dietrich, Sven Speerforck, Johanna Kummetat, Sarah Schernau, Silvia Bahl, Franziska Vosseberg, Kolja Heumann, Sebastian von Peter
