A schizophrenia diagnosis in the family frequently leaves to a severe and persistent psychological suffering. Considering this issue, the purpose of the study was to investigate the psychodynamic functioning in caring mothers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia for at least five years. The instrument used was entitled Family Album, based on family pictures and the free associations about them. Three mothers were investigated by this proceeding and data were collected and treated by qualitative methodological approach. Results showed rare pictures of post-diagnosis moments, few pictures showing the father and a significant worry in emphasize healthy childhood of schizophrenic son. Data indicated guilty, emotional burden of care and difficulty to accept the new condition of their son. Concluding, even thus a lot of years living with the son’s condition, many difficulties remain, although in different ways for each mother. Therefore, psychological attention to this population is required.
Schizophrenia; family; projective techniques
