Perception of burden by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

Abstract

Background:There is a dearth of studies assessing the burden of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and illness-related variables such as age, sex, duration of illness, domicile, martial status, education, employment and previous hospitalization.Aim:The study was conducted to measure the perception of burden by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and its correlation with nine factors on the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) related to spouse, physical and mental health, external support, caregiver's routines, support to patient, responsibility-taking, other relatives, patient's behaviour and caregiver's strategy.Methods:Using BAS, we assessed the burden in a sample of caregivers of 34 patients with schizophrenia taken from the OPD of the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra.Results:A low positive correlation was found between urban domicile and support of the patient; of domicile Agra and effect on other relations; and domicile Agra and effect on the caregiver's routine. There was a low positive correlation between age less than 30 years and the physical and mental health of the caregiver, and with taking responsibility. The t test for population correlation was significant up to 5% probability level (p<0.05) for correlation between urban domicile and support of the patient; between domicile Agra and effect on other relations; between domicile Agra and the effect on the caregiver's routine; between age less than 30 years and the physical and mental health of the caregiver; and between age less than 30 years and taking responsibility.Conclusion:Further studies in this field are required including one with a non-linear correlation analytic design.

Mental health status and perceived burden in caregiving spouses of persons with psychotic illness (A study from India)

“…An earlier study from India also notes that the sex of the patient did not have a significant correlation with any of the dimensions of caregiver burden (Srivastava, 2005). This is also reported by Sreeja et al ( 2008) who found no significant difference in total burden score between male and female caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.…”

“…However Srivastava ( 2005) found that duration of illness of ≤6 months was found to have no correlation with any of the sub-dimensions of caregiver burden.…”

“…Discriminant function analysis by Thara and Srinivasan ( 2000) in a study from India shows that female patients and those of a younger age for both patient and caregiver were related to higher stigma and that many care givers reported feelings of depression and sorrow. A low positive correlation for caregivers' age <30 years and their physical and mental health has also been reported (Srivastava, 2005).…”

Schizophrenia: Indian Research: II—Treatment Issues

“…Subjective aspects of burden have been examined far less often, though certain studies have found pattern of high objective and low subjective burden reflecting the caregivers' tolerance and acceptance of the patients' problems (Chakrabarti et al 1995;Kiran 2004;Nehra et al 2005;Roychaudhuri et al 1995). In terms of correlation between high burden and age of the patients, the findings have been inconsistent with some studies reporting high burden to be associated with older age of the patient (Rammohan et al 2002), whereas others report high burden when the patient is young (Srivastava 2005). Higher burden is associated with patient being male (Roychaudhuri et al 1995), less educated (Rammohan et al 2002) and unemployed (Roychaudhuri et al 1995).…”

“…Most of the studies have been conducted among patients and caregivers attending hospitals. Majority of the studies have included patients with chronic illnesses (Rammohan et al 2002;Agarwal and Chandhok 2007;Ali and Bhatti 1988;Chadda et al 2007;Chakrabarti and Gill 2002;Chakrabarti and Kulhara 1999;Chakrabarti et al 1995;Chandrasekaran et al 2002;Creado et al 2006;Gautam and Nijhawan 1984;Giel et al 1983;Gururaj et al 2008;Jayakumar et al 2002;Kalra et al 2009;Kataria et al 2002;Kiran 2004;Kumar and Mohanty 2007;Kumari et al 2009;Moily et al 1997;Nehra et al 2005Nehra et al , 2006Nirmala et al 2011;Pai and Kapur 1982;Raj et al 1991;Ranga Rao 1988;Rao et al 1988;Roychaudhuri et al 1995;Saldanha et al 2002;Sekaran et al 2001;Sreeja et al 2009;Srivastava 2005;Thomas 2004;Vohra et al 2000). In general, studies have reported high levels of burden perceived by the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia (Agarwal and Chandhok 2007;Ali and Bhatti 1988;Chadda et al 2007;Chakrabarti and Gill 2002;Chakrabarti and Kulhara 1999;Chakrabarti et al 1995;<...>…”