Perception of burden by caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in relation to symptom profile

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia begins early in life causing significant long-lasting impairments. The caregivers face physical, psychological, and economic difficulties in taking care of them. The current study was undertaken to study the influence of symptomatology, duration of illness, and treatment compliance of patients with schizophrenia on caregivers' burden. Methods: This study was hospital based, clinical, instrument rated, and cross sectional. Eighty-five patients and their caregivers who satisfied the selection criteria were interviewed. Information regarding sociodemographic details, patients' illness, present psychopathology, and relatives' burden were collected. Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms and Scale for Assessment of Positive Symptoms for (patients) and Burden Assessment Schedule for caregivers was used in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was used. Results: The present study found that positive symptoms caused greater burden when compared to negative symptoms. Burden increased with increasing severity of negative symptoms. Although no significant influence of duration of illness and compliance to treatment was seen on caregivers' perception of burden, differential effect of the burden was observed for the above variables. Conclusions: Adequate treatment of symptoms benefits both patients and their caregivers. There is need for proper education of the patient and the caregivers about the need for continued treatment. The current study corroborates the importance of adequate treatment of positive symptoms as well as negative symptoms and the need to address caregiving by the family members for the well-being of both.