Caregiver Burden Among People Caring for Patients With Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND of patients suffering from mental illness report burden in different areas including effects on family functioning, problems, financial problems and health. aim of the study is to determine the sociodemographic profile and caregiver burden among caregivers of persons with and to study the effect of patients’ psychopathology on caregiver burden scale. AND METHODS present study was conducted in the Psychiatry Department, Government Medical College, Amritsar. A sample size of 34 taken who were primary caregivers (preferably parents or spouse) of schizophrenia patients diagnosed using ICD10. included caregiver’s demographic variables and caregiver’s burden using the Zarit burden interview and PANSS scale patients. Analysis- Data was analysed using SPSS software version 21. mean age of the caregiver was 42 SD (12.16) years. The majority of the caregivers were parents, married and employed. mean average score of the responses to Zarit burden interview was (SD=59.52 ± 20.92). Majority of the caregivers severe burden (52.9%), 9 (26.4%) caregivers had reported moderate burden and 6 (17.6%) had reported mild . The mean duration of illness was 6.89 (SD=5.03) years. The level of burden experienced was significantly associated total PANSS score, negative symptoms, positive symptoms, general psychopathology score and duration of schizophrenia (p=0.00). is need for psychological assistance and social support for the vulnerable caregivers to help them reduce the burden and employ positive coping strategies.