The Social Functionality of Schizophrenic Patients and the Burden Experienced by Their Caregivers

Abstract

This descriptive study was carried out to determine the social functionality levels of the schizophrenic patients, the burden experienced by their caregivers. The universe comprised of 130 caregivers selected from the hospitals and Schizophrenic Patients and Relatives Solidarity Society in Ankara. For data collection 'Patient and Caregiver Identification Form", 'Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale" and 'Schizophrenic Patients Functional Recovery Scale" were used. For the normality assumption in data evaluation, the Shapiro-Wilks test, for the significance difference between two means, and one way variance analysis, and for correlation Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test were used. The study results revealed that caregivers' burden level was medium relatives (55.80±15.90), and the patients' social functionality was also medium (49.96±16.34), and there was a negative medium level correlation between the social functionality average points of the patients and the average burden points of the caregiver patient relatives. It was determined that there was statistically important difference between points according to age, education and employment status of the patients, job of working patients, regular drug use and medical visits, caregiver age, civil status, relation with the patient, employment and income level, number of family members, time spent with the patient, knowledge about disease, society membership and regular attendance to family education sessions. Education and employment of patients, regular drug use and medical visits, substance addicttion and substance type caused statistically important difference between social functionalty levels of patients. Thus, psychiatric nurses one suggested to plan necessary psychosocial skill training to improve social functionality levels of patients.

The relationship between functional recovery and quality of life in patients affected by schizophrenia and treated at a community mental health center in Turkey

“…This study highlights that functional recovery levels of our patients were below the average point of the scale used for measuring it. This result is in line with many other studies . The literature emphasizes that many factors contribute to decreasing the functionality of patients with schizophrenia: early onset, risk for chronic course, negative effects of treatments, poor treatment adherence, exposure to stigmatization, and social and economic difficulties .…”

“…In this study, the low occupational functionality is similar to the results of other studies carried out in Turkey . International studies show that unemployment is a serious problem among patients with schizophrenia with low levels of occupational functioning .…”

“…These conditions require complex and long‐term therapeutic and rehabilitative programmes . Some studies concerning schizophrenia patients are similar to our research results . In addition, Haro et al found that functional remission of patients with schizophrenia was 22.4% between 12 and 36 months and that of Lambert et al was 45.4% after 3 years of follow‐up.…”

“…Studies suggest that family life affects the social functioning of patients with schizophrenia positively; active family support is an important source of treatment for the disease and reduces the harmful effects of schizophrenia . High social functioning and good capacity in daily living activities of our patients can be explained by good family relations and support, as other studies conducted in Turkey and other countries have highlighted.…”

“…In studies conducted in Turkey, functional recovery levels of patients with schizophrenia have been found to be low or moderate . Even in the recovery period after treatment, patients cannot return to their premorbid functional levels .…”