The association of the level of caregiver burden with the sociodemographic variables and the characteristics of the disorder in schizophrenic patients

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the level of caregiver burden and its relationship with the sociodemographic and clinical data of the schizophrenic patients

Methods: 50 patients who met the DSM-IV criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia and their caregivers were enrolled into the study. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANNS) was applied to the patients, while the Hamilton Depresssion Rating Scale, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Caregiver Burden Scale were applied to the caregivers.

Results: There were significant differences related to some variables. Caregiver burden was associated with patient age (p=0.007, r=0.376), number of previous episodes (r=0.392, p=0.005) and number of previous hospitalizations (r=0.281, p=0.048). The level of education of the caregivers was also found to be related to the caregiver burden (z=-2.373, p=0.018). However, PANSS scores were not associated with the caregiver burden. The caregiver burden was associated with the caregivers' anxiety and depression levels, (r=0.434, p=0.002) and (r=0.442, p=0.001), respectively. The daily duration of caregiving was correlated with the caregiver depression and anxiety, (r=0.327, p=0.02) and (r=0.461, p=0.001), respectively, while it was not significantly associated with the level of caregiver burden.

Conclusion: The number of previous episodes, hospitalizations and the age of the patient influence the caregiver burden. However, as the education level of caregivers increases, the burden level is likely to decrease. Though, the duration of time spent with the patient does not seem to affect the caregiver burden, it probably causes some psychological distress in caregivers. Therefore, caregivers should be monitored regularly for psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. Some particular psychiatric interventions, as psychoeducational programs, may be helpful in reducing caregiver burden.