CARE GIVER BURDEN IN PATIENTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDER IN A RURAL AREA OF SOUTHERN KARNATAKA

Abstract

Background: It can be a difcult task to provide care to the patients living with psychiatric health issues, especially with chronic diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder where the patient loses touch with reality. Hence, our study aims to assess the perception of burden that caregivers endure while giving care to the patients of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and to compare the difference in burden between these two conditions. The study also evaluated the factors affecting the caregivers' burden. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional interviewbased study conducted at the psychiatry department of a tertiary care hospital in Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka among caregivers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Each caregiver was given the Zarit-Burden Interview scale in a language they understand and asked to rate each statement from 0 to 4 where ratings were based on likert scale and the nal scores were interpreted. Data of the burden score were expressed as mean and standard deviation and compared using unpaired t-test. Pearson's correlation coefcient was used for correlation between burden score and variables such as age, years of education, and duration of illness. The analysis was done using SPSS 21.0 version. Results: A total of 100 caregivers reported the interview scale completely, of which 50 caregivers belonged to schizophrenia group and 50 were related to bipolar disorder. Average of burden score was 64.89 ± 15.7 and 59.11 ± 17.8 (maximum score: 88) in schizophrenia and bipolar group, respectively, and difference between the group was statistically signicant. In both the groups, it was found that, with increase in the age of patients, caregiver's burden signicantly increased. Conclusion: Caregivers of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients feel a considerable burden of care with more burden felt by the caregivers of schizophrenia. The more vulnerable to burden are females, elderly, low-income groups, and patients in whom longer duration of care is required. The caregivers should receive an adequate support for maintaining their own mental health via adequate psycho education, counselling and psychiatric intervention if necessary.