A questionnaire to assess the burden of the family in chronic schizophrenia: Comparison with families of mood disorders patients

Abstract

We developed a IS item questionnaire to assess the burden of family in schizophrenia. Ratings for each item of the questionnaire varied from I (best) to 7 (worst). Items comprised questions which evaluated the impact of the disorder in the family, such as the family's comprehension of the disorder, its name, the economic impact, how the relationships among members changed after the outbreak, fears of being affected by the same disease, how much the outbreak could be predicted, among others. The questionnaire was applied to 28 families of chronic schizophrenic patients (age 54.6±13.0, illness duration> 15 years) as well as to 25 families of patients with mood disorders (age 51.7±12.5, illness duration> 15 years). As results, families of patients with schizophrenia showed significant worst results in the items 'global modification' (r= 14.9 d!=7 p=O.04), 'personal impact' (X d.f=2p= 0.03) and 'positive impact' (r=7.6 d.f. =2 p=O.04), while 'naming the disease' had the worst results in families of patients with mood disorders (r=27.8 d.f =5 p=O.OOO4). However, in terms of the other items, families of patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders showed no significant differences. These results support the evidence that schizophrenia, but also mood disorders, represent a major impact for families of patients suffering from these forms of mental disorders.