Caregiver burden in family members of patients with mental illness

C. J. Maikandaan; Umesh G; Vivian Kapil V; Zubaida Sultana.S

Volume : V, Issue : VI, June - 2016

Caregiver burden in family members of patients with mental illness

C. J. Maikandaan, Umesh G, Vivian Kapil V, Zubaida Sultana. S

Abstract :

 Aims: To quantify caregiver burden and its associated factors among primary caregivers of persons with mental illness. Methods: After getting Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) clearance and informed consent, a cross sectional study (N=100) was done with the caregivers of mentally ill patients who attended psychiatric Outpatient department in a tertiary care hospital from January 2014 to September 2015.Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) was administered to assess caregiver burden in five domains. The higher scores indicate higher degree of burden. Chi square test was done to find association between independent variables and outcome (caregiver burden). Results: High caregiver burden on caregivers belonging to middle and lower socio economic status (x2= =11.318; p=0.03). Caregivers wellbeing is affected significantly if the illness duration is more than 1 year (x2= 7.174; p=0.007). Psychotic illnesses have a higher impact on the wellbeing of caregivers than the Neurotic illnesses (x2= 13.500; p=.000).