title: Caregiver burden in families of patients with depression attending Obafemi Awolowo University teaching hospitals complex Ile-Ife Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess caregiver burden among relatives of patients on treatment for depressive disorder attending the psychiatry outpatient clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional design was used. Hundred caregivers of patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of depression, on outpatient treatment for at least six months were recruited from the psychiatric outpatient clinic. Caregivers completed a semi-structured socio-demographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Interview and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) 12. Descriptive statistics were used to describe socio-demographic variables; association between dependent and independent variables were assessed using Pearson's correlation, chi squared and t test as appropriate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ZBI score was 41.32 (S.D. = 9.82), 45% of respondents reported moderate to severe burden, spouses constituted 57% of caregivers. Age at onset of depression (t = 2.46, P = .02) number of hospitalization,(χ(2) = 9.82, P = 0.001), and current active symptoms (χ(2) = 36.1, P = .001) were all significantly associated with burden score. Severity of symptoms (r = 0.48, P < .01) and age at onset of illness (r = -0.26, P < .01) both correlated significantly with burden scores, while GHQ score among caregivers also correlated significantly with burden scores (r = 0.52, P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caregivers of depressed patients experience moderate to severe burden. Caring for the depressed need to change from a patient focused approach to a combined patient and caregiver approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ring Road State Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kamildeen Oladimeji
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Olawale
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University/Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Electronic address: kmosaku@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Kolawole Samuel
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Mosaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University/Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: 'Femi Olusegun
authors.initials: 'O
authors.lastname: Fatoye
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University/Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Boladale Moyosore
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mapayi
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olakunle Ayokunmi
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Oginni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000451:nursing*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria
keywords: Burden; Caregiver; Depression; Families; Zarit