Abstract
Introduction: Alcohol dependence is a growing problem in India. A substance dependent person in the family affects almost all aspects of family life. There is a surprising scarcity of studies on impact of alcohol dependence on caregivers. The study assessed the sociodemographic profile of primary caregivers of patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria by consultant psychiatrists and the severity of caregiver burden in them. The study further examined the association between various variables of sociodemographic factors, alcohol usage, and caregiver burden. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out at a de-addiction center attached to a tertiary hospital in Mumbai. Primary caregivers of 80 patients were recruited for this study. Information was collected using structured questionnaire and caregiver burden scale. Sociodemographic profile and variables of alcohol usage were associated and correlated with caregiver burden using contingency tables and linear regression analysis. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of moderate-to-severe caregiver burden was obtained as 78.75% among the primary caregivers. There was a positive correlation between caregiver burden and the quantity of alcohol consumed, monthly alcohol expenditure, and years of marriage. The association between caregiver burden and various sociodemographic variables were not found to be statistically significant. Conclusions and Implications: There is the prevalence of moderate-to-severe caregiver burden among primary caregivers of patients of alcohol use disorder. Addressing the quantity of alcohol and expenditure incurred on alcohol consumption with focus on caregiver psychoeducation will have significant implications in the rehabilitation of patients with alcohol use disorder.
Published Version
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