An exploratory study of families of the substance abusing mentally ill: Burden, stigma and social support

Bovine growth hormone (bGH) pre-mRNA contains five exons and four introns. The last intron (intron D) is alternatively retained in a small fraction of the cytosolic bGH mRNA in bovine pituitary. The splicing of bGH intron D is positively influenced by a 115 nucleotide FspI-PvuII (FP) fragment in the downstream exon 5. The FP sequence enhances bGH intron D splicing and functions as an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE). To study the molecular mechanism by which the bGH ESE activates bGH intron D splicing, an in vitro system has been developed. The bGH intron D is accurately spliced in vitro. Furthermore, splicing of bGH intron D in vitro also requires stimulation by the bGH ESE, faithfully reflecting the exon influence on splicing as observed in vivo. The bGH ESE promotes early splicing complex formation. The bGH ESE appears to affect splicing through interaction with trans-acting factor(s) since it competes with bGH intron D splicing in trans. This study of family caregivers of persons who have both mental illness and substance abuse (SAMI) explores the social and emotional consequences or burden that these families bear coping with their ill family member. The purpose is to show whether family caregivers of SAMI have different characteristics than family caregivers of the non-substance abusing mentally ill (NSAMI). Thirty family caregivers of the SAMI were compared to thirty family caregivers of the NSAMI in a matched sample utilizing a non-experimental cross-sectional survey. The survey questionnaire was developed from previous research on families of the mentally ill with additional questions on substance abuse, and included both empirical and qualitative measures. Instruments that measure burden, stigma, depression, anxiety, health, substance abuse and social support were used to compare and contrast the two groups of families. The individual measures were analyzed through one-tailed t-tests and multiple analysis of variance. Most family caregivers in the study were female, married and they were middle class or lower middle class. Respondents were predominately parents of consumers, with a mean age of about 60 years. Most caregivers had regular contact with the ill members and 90% of the respondents were participants in support groups for families of persons with mental illness. The findings did not support the research hypotheses that there would be significant differences between the two groups of caregivers in the variables of burden, stigma, physical health and social support. There were mixed results obtained on the variables of anxiety and substance use with caregivers of SAMI showing significantly more anxiety and substance use on t-tests but not when the MANOVA was performed. Depression was the one variable where a significant difference was observed with families of SAMI showing greater depression than families of NSAMI. Results of the qualitative measures indicated much similarity between the caregivers in their experiences of living with mental illness