A comparative study of caregivers' perceptions of health-care needs and burden of patients with bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND
Although many studies in schizophrenia have evaluated health-care needs, there is a lack of data on the needs of patients with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), with only occasional studies evaluating them, and no study has evaluated the relationship of health-care needs of patients with caregiver's burden.


OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship of caregiver's burden and needs of patients as perceived by caregivers of patients with BPAD and schizophrenia.


METHODS
Caregivers of patients with BPAD and schizophrenia were assessed using the Camberwell Assessment of Needs - Research version (CAN-R) and Supplementary Needs Assessment Scale (SNAS), the Family Burden Interview schedule (FBI) and the Involvement Evaluation Questionnaire (IEQ).


RESULTS
Mean total needs of patients on CAN-R were 7.54 (SD 3.59) and 7.58 (SD 4.24) for BPAD and schizophrenia respectively. Mean total needs for SNAS were 7.24 (SD 3.67) and 7.68 (SD 5.02) for BPAD and schizophrenia groups, respectively. Total objective and subjective burden as assessed on FBI was significantly more for the schizophrenia group. Caregivers of patients with BPAD perceived significantly less disruption of routine family activities and lower impact on the mental health of others. On IEQ, the mean score on the domain of supervision was significantly higher for the BPAD group. In the schizophrenia group, positive correlations were seen between the total number of unmet and total (met and unmet) needs and certain aspects of burden, but no such correlations emerged in the BPAD group.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no correlation between number of needs and burden in the BPAD group; however, in the schizophrenia group the number of needs correlated with the perceived burden. Accordingly, orienting services to address needs of patients with schizophrenia can lead to reduction in burden among caregivers.
a Sandeep Grover, Department of Psychiatry , Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
Sandeep
S
Grover
b Subho Chakrabarti, Department of Psychiatry , Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
Subho
S
Chakrabarti
c Deepak Ghormode, Department of Psychiatry , Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
Deepak
D
Ghormode
d Alakananda Dutt, Department of Psychiatry , Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
Alakananda
A
Dutt
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000592:standards; D010465:Perception; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards
Bipolar disorder; Burden; Need; Schizophrenia