Caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders experience a heavy stress burden that can manifest as psychiatric symptoms mimicking posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and can negatively impact interpersonal relationships and work performance. The present study investigated the prevalence of PTSD symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and stress burden in caregivers of patients with severe mental illness. A total of 70 caregivers of severely mentally ill patients and 70 control subjects who were caregivers of patients with a chronic debilitating medical illness (cardiovascular disease) were recruited from university hospital outpatient facilities. Severe mental illness was defined based on a Global Assessment of Functioning score <50 and duration of illness >2 years. Both groups were evaluated with the Zarit Burden interview, a QoL questionnaire, and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS). The results showed that 37.14% (n = 26) of caregivers of patients with severe mental illness showed PTS symptoms compared to 0% of caregivers of patients with physical illness, and 15.17% (n = 11) met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Caregivers of patients with severe mental illness had higher stress burden and lower QoL scores than the control group (p < 0.05). These results indicate that caregivers of patients with severe mental illness have a high stress burden that may lead to PTSD, highlighting the importance of providing psychological support to this group.

IntroductionCare givers of patients with severe mental disorders have been shown to be under heavy stress burden that reflect itself through various heterogenous psychiatric symptoms that may mimic PTSD with associated negative impact on interpersonal relations and work performanceObjectivesto assess the prevalence of PTSD symptoms among care givers of patients with severe mental illnessMethods70 patients care givers of sevely mentally ill patients compred to control 70 care giver of patients with chronic debilitating medical illness were recruited from outpatient of the university hospital outpatient facilities, random selection. Severe mental illness was defined by Global assessment of function GAF score above 50 and duration exceeding 2 years. Both groups were subject to Zarit burden interview to assess stress burden and post traumatic stress diagnostic scale PDS to assess PTSD symptomatsResults43% of care givers of severly mentally patients showed moderate to severe burden on the Zarit scale compared to only 10% among care givers of medically ill patients, this difference was statistically significant (p<0,001). Among care givers of severly mental patients showed moderate to severe score on post traumatic stress diagnostic scale compared to 0% among those taking care of medically ill patients. this difference was statistically significant (p<0,001)ConclusionsStress burden among care givers of patients with severe mental illness is high and may manifest symptoms of post traumatic disorder. This highlight the importance of particular psychological support and assessment among care givers of patients with sever mental illnessDisclosureNo significant relationships.

IntroductionCouple therapy continues to gain in stature as a vital component of mental health services. The linkage of relationship distress to disruption of individual emotional and physical well-being emphasizes the importance of improving and extending empirically based strategies for treating couple distressObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy “DBT” in outpatients couples with emotional dysregulationMethodsTwenty couples presented with marital distress and at least one of them suffers from emotional dysregulation assigned at their convenience or according to immediate availability of treatment slot to a couple DBT group. Arabic version of DERS was used for assessment of emotional dysregulation before and after intervention. Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used for assessment of marital adjustmentResults Both male and female partners showed significant improvement in marital adjustment and emotional regulation. Female partner showed significant higher change amplitude in both scales. Female partners showed significant improvement in all DERS subscales except for (GOALS) subscale (significant decrease), while male partners showed significant improvement in (IMPULSE), (AWARNESS), (STRATEGIES) and (CLARITY) subscalesConclusionsDialectical behavioral therapy for couples is an effective approach to couples with emotional dysregulation in one or both partnersDisclosureNo significant relationships.