Caregiver burden and coping: a prospective study of relationship between burden and coping in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder.
BACKGROUND
Caregivers of patients of schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (BAD) experience considerable burden while caring their patients. They develop different coping strategies to deal with this burden. Longitudinal studies are required to assess the relationship between caregiver burden and coping.


OBJECTIVE
The present study was conducted to assess relationship between burden and coping in caregivers of clinically stable patients with schizophrenia and BAD.


METHODS
One hundred patients each of schizophrenia and BAD attending a psychiatric outpatient setting and their caregivers were followed up for a period of 6 months. Burden and coping strategies were assessed in the caregivers at baseline, and after 3 and 6 months using the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) and Ways of Coping Checklist - Hindi Adaptation (WCC - HA).


RESULTS
Burden remained stable over 6 months and was comparable in the two groups of caregivers. Caregivers from both the groups were found to use problem focused coping strategies more often than seek social support and avoidance strategies. Scores on avoidance type of coping showed a positive correlation with the total burden scores and a number of burden factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Caregivers of patients of schizophrenia and BAD face similar levels of burden and use similar types of coping methods to deal with it. Relationship between caregiver burden and coping is quite complex.
Chadda
Rakesh K
RK
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, 110029, India. drrakeshchadda@hotmail.com
Singh
Tej B
TB
Ganguly
Kalyan K
KK
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D018596:Hinduism; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1998 Sep;33(9):405-12
9766166
Indian J Psychiatry. 1995 Apr;37(2):81-5
21743720
Br J Psychiatry. 1987 Mar;150:285-92
3311267
Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2003 Jun;17(3):126-34
12840805
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2000 Mar;35(3):109-15
10855508
Indian J Psychiatry. 1995 Jul;37(3):105-12
21743729
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2002 Apr;190(4):241-7
11960085
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1985 Jan;48(1):150-70
2980281
J Affect Disord. 2004 Dec;83(2-3):221-5
15555717
Psychol Med. 2005 Mar;35(3):341-51
15841870
J Affect Disord. 2006 Aug;94(1-3):157-63
16737741
Bipolar Disord. 2005 Oct;7(5):431-40
16176436
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1998 Oct;98(4):304-9
9821452
Eur Psychiatry. 2004 Nov;19(7):395-401
15504645
Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Jan;144:70-7
6692078
Bipolar Disord. 2002 Feb;4(1):50-60
12047495
Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Feb;174:154-8
10211170
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2001 Oct;36(10):493-9
11768847
Br J Psychiatry. 1999 Jul;175:56-62
10621769
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006 Nov;114(5):363-74
17022797
Schizophr Bull. 1998;24(4):609-18
9853792
J Psychopharmacol. 2003 Dec;17 (4 Suppl):7-10
14964625
World Psychiatry. 2005 Feb;4(1):45-9
16633505
Psychiatr Serv. 2004 Sep;55(9):1029-35
15345763
J Nerv Ment Dis. 2002 Feb;190(2):108-14
11889365
Psychiatr Serv. 2006 Dec;57(12):1784-91
17158495
Psychiatr Serv. 2006 Aug;57(8):1117-25
16870962
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983 Feb;67(2):80-8
6846041
Psychother Psychosom. 2004 Sep-Oct;73(5):312-9
15292629
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2005 Apr;40(4):329-36
15834785
Psychother Psychosom Med Psychol. 2003 Jul;53(7):295-301
12847663
Indian J Psychiatry. 1998 Jan;40(1):21-9
21494438