Table 2

Additional themes identified in interviews

Themes
Examples

Motivation for being a carer
• Marriage vows
• Memories of past life together
Changing roles and relationships
• Demise of reciprocal loving relationship
• Loss of independence
Coping mechanisms
• Living environment
• Slow course of HD
Employment & financial changes
• Loss of employment
• Lower income
Experiences of social/ health care services
• HD management
• Respite care
Scottish Huntington's Association
• Practical advise
• Emotional support
Living with HD
• Impact of the disease
• Personal development of carers

Lowit and van Teijlingen BMC Family Practice 2005 6:38   doi:10.1186/1471-2296-6-38