Psychological Problems of Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Sejal Macwan; Dr. Ninad Jhala

Volume : IX, Issue : VIII, August - 2020

Psychological Problems of Family Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Sejal Macwan, Dr. Ninad Jhala

Abstract :

Approximately 24 million people worldwide experiencing schizophrenia (The World Health Report, 2001). Several people with mental disorder have to rely on support of family and friends to help them in their day–to–day happenings. In that era, caregivers are at risk for physical and mental health dilemma.1 Cå for a person with any mental illness often creates physical, emotional dilemma among the family caregivers more than they think. That is why it is also essential to rationalize that issue too. Family care givers of patients with any mental illness have different perspectives and coping strategies about the situation that may lead to feeling of sadness, loneliness, helplessness, hopeless at a variance among the care givers. OBJECTIVES: • To study levels of psychological problems faced by the family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. • To study association between demographic variables and levels of psychological problems of family caregivers with schizophrenia. METHOD: A descriptive study was carried out to examine the psychological problems faced by family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. 200 family caregivers were selected by applying stratified systematic sampling method from the government hospitals of mental health of Gujarat state with a criterion of minimum facility of 100 beds. A self–structured interview schedule was designed for study purpose by referring the Burden Assessment Tool of Thara et.al (1998) and Zarit Burden Interview. RESULT: Majority of the respondents (51%) feel anxious, depressed and frustrated due to caregiving responsibility. Majority of the respondents (52.5%) believed that care giving responsibility is mentally tiring for the family caregivers. Majority of the respondents (40.5%) agree with the statement that their contacts with family & friends have lessened due to the illness of care receiver.