Abstract
BackgroundDespite robust evidence of the huge burden of caregiving amongst caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, there is a paucity of data in Africa on the interventions to address this enormous burden of caregiving.AimThis study aimed to determine the effect of structured psychoeducation intervention on the burden of caregiving in comparison with ‘care as usual’ in a Nigerian Psychiatric Hospital.SettingThis study was done at the out-patient and in-patient units of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria.MethodsCaregivers of inpatients who fulfilled the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) criteria for diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited for the study. The caregivers were then allocated into two groups (Group A received structured psychoeducation intervention in addition to ‘care as usual’ whilst group B received only ‘care as usual’). After the baseline assessment, the caregivers were followed up every 4 weeks for a period of 12 weeks. At each interval of follow-up, caregivers were assessed for caregivers’ burden using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Repeated measures analysis of variance (mixed type) was used to determine the effects of the interventions on caregivers’ burden in the two arms of the study across the intervals of follow-up.ResultsThe attrition rate at week 12 was 10.7%; leaving 130 for the assessment of outcome variable at the end of follow-up. Structured psychoeducation intervention was significantly better than ‘care as usual’ in ameliorating caregivers’ burden [F (1, 123) = 21.75, p < 0.001, Partial Eta Squared = 0.39].ConclusionThese findings seem to suggest that caregivers who received structured psychoeducation intervention experienced a greater reduction in caregiver burden than those who received ‘care as usual’. Whilst the study addressed short-term effect, the findings of this study are in accord with other studies that have supported the impression that psychoeducational family-based intervention is useful with regard to caregiver burden.
Highlights
Schizophrenia is a disorder with varied pathophysiology and heterogeneous treatment outcome across cultures.[1]
Dillehey and colleagues defined the term ‘burden of care’ as a psychological state that ensues from the combination of physical, emotional, work and social pressure, such as economic restrictions that arise from taking care of a patient.[3]
The primary aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a structured psychoeducational intervention for caregivers of patients with schizophrenia, with ‘care as usual’ on caregivers’ burden
Summary
Schizophrenia is a disorder with varied pathophysiology and heterogeneous treatment outcome across cultures.[1]. The disorder has a significantly high cost to the patient in terms of personal suffering, on caregivers as a result of the shift of the burden of care from hospital to families and on the society in terms of direct, indirect and hidden cost from hospitalisation, lost productivity and stigma.[2]. This is even more important in low- and middleincome countries (LMICs) where there are no national social welfare programmes or insurance schemes for patients with severe mental disorders; families and relatives of most patients with schizophrenia bear the major burden of mental illness.[2].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: The South African journal of psychiatry : SAJP : the journal of the Society of Psychiatrists of South Africa
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
