Prevalence of caregiver burden syndrome in formal caregivers of institutionalised patients with psychiatric illness

Abstract

IntroductionCaregiver burden syndrome has been highlighted as a neglected problem, in which a dependent person’s caregiver must change their lifestyle while facing a range of stressors which they cannot always overcome. This leads to a state of physical and mental exhaustion, hindering the caregiver’s performance at their work environment. ObjectiveTo define the caregiver burden syndrome prevalence among formal caregivers of mentally-ill dependent patients at Clínica del Oriente in the period 2016 II (July–December) and 2017 I (January–June). Materials and methodsA descriptive cross-sectional observational study was carried out in a population of formal caregivers of with mental illness institutionalised at either of the two facilities of Clínica del Oriente, La Ceja and El Carmen de Viboral. We used a survey with sociodemographic, clinical and work-related variables, and the Zarit Burden Interview. Results53 caregivers were analysed; 11 had the syndrome (20.8%), 17% had mild burden and 3.8% severe burden. ConclusionThe prevalence of caregiver burden syndrome in formal caregivers was lower than found in studies on informal caregivers.