Perception of burden by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
There is a dearth of studies assessing the burden of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and illness-related variables such as age, sex, duration of illness, domicile, martial status, education, employment and previous hospitalization.


OBJECTIVE
The study was conducted to measure the perception of burden by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and its correlation with nine factors on the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) related to spouse, physical and mental health, external support, caregiver's routines, support to patient, responsibility-taking, other relatives, patient's behaviour and caregiver's strategy.


METHODS
Using BAS, we assessed the burden in a sample of caregivers of 34 patients with schizophrenia taken from the OPD of the Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, Agra.


RESULTS
A low positive correlation was found between urban domicile and support of the patient; of domicile Agra and effect on other relations; and domicile Agra and effect on the caregiver's routine. There was a low positive correlation between age less than 30 years and the physical and mental health of the caregiver, and with taking responsibility. The t test for population correlation was significant up to 5% probability level (p<0.05) for correlation between urban domicile and support of the patient; between domicile Agra and effect on other relations; between domicile Agra and the effect on the caregiver's routine; between age less than 30 years and the physical and mental health of the caregiver; and between age less than 30 years and taking responsibility.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies in this field are required including one with a non-linear correlation analytic design.
Srivastava
Sunil
S
Senior Psychiatrist, Institute of Mental Health and Hospital.
Schizophr Bull. 1993;19(3):619-25
8235462
Am J Community Psychol. 1984 Oct;12(5):589-607
6496414
Br J Psychiatry. 1964 Jan;110:10-21
14103363
Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1994;244(1):45-8
7918701
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1993 Feb;28(1):11-6
8465236
Schizophr Bull. 1993;19(1):1-7; discussion 9-14
8451606
Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1990 Dec;41(12):1321-5
2276725
Indian J Psychiatry. 1995 Jul;37(3):124-8
21743732
Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1994 Aug;45(8):808-13
7982698
Br J Psychiatry. 1992 May;160:601-20
1591571
Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1994 Sep;29(5):228-40
7992146
Indian J Psychiatry. 1988 Oct;30(4):349-53
21927336
Psychol Med. 1985 May;15(2):383-93
4023142
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1980 Apr;37(4):409-12
7362426
J Health Soc Behav. 1995 Jun;36(2):138-50
9113139
Schizophr Res. 1996 Nov 15;22(2):151-7
8958599
Int J Soc Psychiatry. 1991 Winter;37(4):242-50
1783502
Am J Psychiatry. 1977 May;134(5):502-7
848575
Ment Hyg. 1946 Apr;30:235-49
21027270
Schizophr Bull. 1998;24(4):609-18
9853792
Indian J Psychiatry. 1998 Jan;40(1):21-9
21494438
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1976 Aug;44(4):665-75
939850
Schizophr Bull. 1989;15(1):131-9
2717886
Lancet. 1963 Mar 9;1(7280):544-7
13949711
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1979 Sep;36(10):1073-9
475542