Healthcare Interventions to Support Informal Caregivers of People With Severe Mental Illnesses: A Scoping Review.

This was a scoping review, not a review of effectiveness, and the authors did not assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Only 13 articles describing 11 interventions were found, so the evidence base is small for the diagnoses included. The review excluded psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, autism spectrum disorder, substance use disorders, children, dementia, pregnancy-related problems and postpartum problems, so it does not cover all severe mental illness. Outcomes and questionnaires varied widely, and most measurements were taken only once, so comparisons between interventions are difficult. Some studies reported no significant effects, including no change in caregiver burden, depression or anxiety, or no improvement from adding a social forum. Only English-language articles were included, and the authors note that an extended search of grey literature could add to the review. Most interventions were not integrated into daily care, so it is unclear how easily they fit into routine nursing or mental health service work.

The authors report no conflicts of interest and state that they have nothing to report.

Do not read this as proof that any one caregiver intervention works best. The review did not assess study quality, the interventions were very different, and several outcomes were not significant, including caregiver burden, depression or anxiety in some studies.