Severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder, schizo-
phrenia and depression, is associated with a substantial
loss of quality of life [1], increased rates of mortality and
morbidity, high levels of service use and huge economic
costs [2]. However, it is not only the patients themselves
who suffer. With the deinstitutionalization of care which
has taken place in recent decades, a growing number of
patients are cared for at home by relatives. These care-
givers spend a significant amount of time and energy in
caring for their loved ones, despite the large emotional
burden and the impact on their personal goals [3–12].
Given these consequences, it is not surprising that care-
givers have a significantly increased risk of becoming
overloaded [7, 12–14], which can severely impair their
quality of life, potentially leading to withdrawal from
caregiving.