title: The mental health of informal caregivers in Ontario: an epidemiological survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes the mental health status, disability, physical health, and mental health service utilization of informal care-givers under the age of 65 in the province of Ontario.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study analyzed data collected in the 1991 province-wide, population-based mental health supplement to the Ontario Health Survey. Diagnoses from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition, revised, were generated on the basis of a structured diagnostic interview. Caregivers and noncaregivers are compared here on past-year prevalence of psychiatric disorder, physical illness, disability, and utilization of mental health services. The possible confounding effects of age, sex, employment status, and economic disadvantage are explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Informal caregivers (n = 1219) constituted 15.0% of the sample. Caregivers had higher rates of affective (6.3% vs 4.2%) and anxiety (17.5% vs 10.9%) disorders than noncaregivers and used health services for mental health problems at nearly twice the rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Documentation of the prevalence of caregiving and the increased prevalence of psychiatric disorders, disability, and service utilization among caregivers is of critical importance as governments continue to move toward community-based care. To accomplish this goal, the needs of caregivers must be acknowledged and met by the establishment of appropriate and readily accessible support services.
authors.affiliation: Health Systems Research Unit, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cochrane
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Goering
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires