title: The psychological well-being and associated factors of caregivers of outpatients with schizophrenia in Taiwan.
abstract: The purpose of this study attempted to understand the psychological well-being of caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia and factors affecting the caregivers' psychological well-being. More specifically, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity were used to represent the psychological well-being. Personal interviews using questionnaires were administrated to 57 caregivers. Data regarding knowledge of schizophrenia, perceived causes of schizophrenia, quality of life and psychiatric morbidity was collected. Psychiatrists assessed the symptoms severity of the schizophrenic patients. Compared with the controls, the psychological well-being of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia was poorer. There was a significant association between the positive symptoms score and the psychological well-being of caregivers. Life quality and psychiatric morbidity were affected by caregivers' knowledge of schizophrenia and beliefs about the cause of schizophrenia. Health care providers should consider the patients and their caregivers as a whole and provide psychoeducaiton to reduce the negative psychological impact of caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po See
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yen Kuang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yi Dar
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tzung Lieh
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Chwen Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004409:Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan