890 – The correlation of depression and anxiety with burden in the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients' caregivers

Abstract

Aim In the current study, it was aimed to investigate the correlation between the caregivers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (BD) patients in terms of burden, depression, anxiety and hopelessness. Method Between March and July 2011, 75 schizophrenia and 50 euthymic BD patients' primary caregivers at the outpatient clinic in Bakirkoy Research and Training Hospital for Psychiatry, Neurology and Neurosurgery participated in this study. Informed consent was obtained from all patients and their caregivers. Sociodemographic data form, PANSS, Beck Depression Scale, Young Mania Scale were applied to the patients. Sociodemographic data form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety Scale and Beck Hopelessness Scale were given to the primary caregivers. Results The burden level is found to be severe in the schizophrenia and BD patients’ caregivers. Seventy-two percent of schizophrenia patients’ caregivers and 62% of the bipolar disorder patients’ caregivers had depressive symptoms. The anxiety levels of the caregivers of the bipolar disorder patients were found to be significantly higher than that of the schizophrenia patients’ caregivers (p Conclusion High level of burden in both groups’ caregivers was found. Therefore, this situation can be making it difficult to cope with these diseases.