Caregiver Burden and Expressed Emotion in Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Families often bears substantial amount of burden of any chronic psychiatric illness including schizophrenia. Only few Indian studies have studied expressed emotion and caregiver burden among patient with schizophrenia in India. Therefore, we aim to explore the burden and expressed emotion in caregivers of schizophrenia patents. Consecutive patient who meet the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study from July 2012 to April 2013 from outpatient department of psychiatry at Institute of Mental Health and Hospital Agra. Information regarding socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender, domicile) was recorded on a semi structured questionnaire. Caregiver burden and expressed emotion were measured using Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS) and Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale (FEICS) respectively. Mean age of patient and caregivers of schizophrenia was 36.15 (SD = 9.58) and 39.12 (SD = 12.47) respectively. Majority of the schizophrenic patients and their respective caregivers were male (82 and 57.5 % respectively). Mean BAS, FEICSEOI and FEISCPC score were 79.7 (SD = 5.9), 2.7 (SD = 0.7) and 3.7 (SD = 0.5) respectively. There was no significant correlation between BAS domains and FEICSEOI and FEISCPC. Urban residence of the patient was positively correlated with perceived criticism. Unemployment was positive correlated with FEICSOI and negatively correlated with FEISCPC. Age of the caregiver was positively correlated with spouse related burden and negatively correlated with caregivers routine and external support. Marital status was positively correlated with physical and mental health burden and other relations and negatively correlated with external support. Occupation (unemployment) was positively correlated with BAS domains of support of patient, taking responsibility and other relations. The results of the study revealed considerable burden of care in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Thus, emphasize the need for psychosocial support to the caregivers to effectively cope and manage the ill family member.