A Study on Assessment of Family Burden, Quality of Life and Mental Health in Caregivers of Patients with Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT

Background: Caregivers of patient with schizophrenia face a lot of burden which hampers their quality of life as well as mental health. This study was conducted to evaluate perceived burden of care, quality of life, and mental health in caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to explore the correlation between above parameters and total duration of illness of the patient with schizophrenia.  Methods: The study was conducted at a tertiary care center. Participants were 99 caregivers of the patient with schizophrenia that were screened to ascertain whether they met the selection criteria. Perceived burden was scored by Family burden scale which is a semi structured interview schedule. Quality of life scale (WHO QoL-BREF Hindi version), was used to assess Quality of life. Modified Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to examine mental health of caregivers. Results: In the present study, total duration of schizophrenia showed statistically significant negative correlation with quality of life of caregiver. In the study, though the correlation between perceived family burden and total duration of schizophrenia was positive but it was not statistically significant. The burden also had statistically significant negative correlation with socioeconomic status and quality of life of the caregiver. The caregivers with high likelihood of mental illness scored significantly higher burden than other two groups. Conclusions: Caregivers of persons with schizophrenia do perceive burden, on account of which and along with lower socioeconomic status they experience poor quality of life and compromised mental health.