It is considered that, when there is the first episode of schizophrenia, family life is disrupted and their life trajectory can be modified. In view of this, the aim of this study was to know the trajectory of families in the first five years of living with mental illness, identifying the adjustment process. The research was based in Symbolic Interactionism. The individual interviews were realized with 23 relatives of 21 patients with schizophrenia. The analysis aimed at determining a timeline, which allowed us to describe the process of family adjustment through three times: Perceiving the Change, Diagnosis and Begin of Treatment and Following in Front. All phases presented in this project are important and can be more studied.
Family; Psychiatric Nursing; Schizophrenia