Positive and negative symptom behaviors and caregiver burden in the relatives of persons with schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
The relationships of perceived severity and responsibility attribution for positive and negative symptom behaviors to caregiver burden were investigated. Two types of burden were studied: objective burden (i.e., negative consequences such as physical problems, financial difficulties, and household tension), and subjective burden (i.e., emotional distress about disturbing behaviors).


METHODS
Self-report measures were completed by 70 primary caregivers of persons with schizophrenia.


RESULTS
Subjective burden was related to both the severity of positive and negative symptom behaviors, whereas objective burden was related only to the severity of negative symptom behaviors. Responsibility attribution for negative symptom behaviors was related only to objective burden. Caregivers who perceived patients as being less responsible for their negative symptom behaviors reported higher levels of objective burden. The relationship between responsibility attribution for negative symptom behaviors and objective burden remained significant, even after controlling for the severity of negative symptom behaviors. Caregivers' perceptions of patients' responsibility for positive symptom behaviors were not related to objective burden.


CONCLUSIONS
As expected, perceived severity of negative symptom behaviors was related to objective caregiver burden, whereas severity of positive symptom behaviors was not. These findings suggest that negative symptoms may have a greater impact on role functioning that positive symptoms, leading to greater burden. However, contrary to expectations, less responsibility attribution for negative symptom behaviors was related to higher levels of objective caregiver burden. Caregivers who perceive patients as incapable of altering their negative symptom behaviors and meeting certain role obligations may assume extra responsibilities, leading to higher levels of objective burden. The results indicate that there may be disadvantages for caregivers associated with assuming that patients have no control over their negative symptom behaviors.
Provencher
H L
HL
Centre de recherche, Université Laval-Robert Giffard, School of Nursing, Laval University, Québec, Canada. hélène.provencher@esi.ulaval.ca
Mueser
K T
KT
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012938:Social Perception