End of life care for older people with serious mental illness...
Research type
Research Study
Full title
End of life care for older people with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder along with long term physical conditions: a phenomenological enquiry in to the experiences of bereaved family carers, mental health and social care providers in South Wales-UK.
IRAS ID
181738
Contact name
Alexander Mathew
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Befordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Increasing need for provision of quality palliative and end of life care for both malignant and nonmalignant diseases is well recognised due to the ageing population and increase in complex disease conditions (WHO 2014). I t is estimated that worldwide, over 20 million adults are estimated to require palliative care at the end of life every year, while the majority (69%) are older adults over 60 years old (WHO 2014). However, disparities in quality palliative and end of services for patients with non-malignant conditions including both physical as well as serious mental illness is well documented (Ellison 2008,DOH 2011, NICE 2011).
Approximately, 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem, out of
which 7 million people live in England and Wales (WHO 2015). Particularly, serious
and enduring mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder
affect 1 to 3 people in every 100 population in the UK (Mind 2013). Mortality among
mental health service users aged 19 and over in England is 3.6 times the rate of the
general population (Health and Social Care Information Centre 2013).Royal College of Psychiatrists (2013) stated that life expectancy of those with severe mental illness is on average 20 years less for men and 15 years less for women, when compared with the population. Yet, it is argued that terminally ill individuals with serious and enduring mental illness are currently under-served by palliative care (Terpstra & Terpstra 2012). Paucity of literature is apparent in exploring the roles and experiences of health and social care providers and family carers engaged in this field.This study aims to explore the experience of health and social care providers and bereaved family carers,involved in the provision of end of life care for older people with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder along with long term physical conditions.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
15/WA/0413
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion