Gender aspects of parents' needs of schizophrenia patients.
BACKGROUND
Most studies about the problems and needs of schizophrenia carers included only one care-giving relative, usually the patients' mothers.


METHODS
101 mothers and fathers of the same patients suffering from schizophrenia were included into this study. Their needs were assessed by means of the "Carers' Needs Assessment for Schizophrenia".


RESULTS
Mothers reported significantly more often problems than fathers concerning stress due to earlier life events and burn-out. Mothers needed interventions such as individual psychoeducation or family counselling more than twice as often as fathers. Overall, mothers reported higher numbers of problems and needs for intervention than fathers. The number of mothers' problems was predicted by not living with a partner and by a shorter duration of the patients' illness. The number of mothers' needs was predicted by more psychiatric symptoms, not living with a partner and a shorter duration of the patients' illness. Among fathers we could not identify any predictors, neither for the number of problems nor for the number of needs.


CONCLUSIONS
Fathers and mothers often report problems and frequently need professional support. Overall, mothers exhibited more problems and needs for interventions than fathers. The differences between mothers and fathers indicate the importance of considering the carer's gender in clinical work.
Wancata
Johannes
J
Dept of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. johannes.wancata@meduniwien.ac.at
Freidl
Marion
M
Krautgartner
Monika
M
Friedrich
Fabian
F
Matschnig
Teresa
T
Unger
Anne
A
Gössler
Ralf
R
Frühwald
Stefan
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult