Investigating Relationship Between Burden of Caregivers of Patients With Schizophrenia and Mental Health Conditions

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the emotional, social, physical, and economic burden and mental health of caregivers of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Methods: The study was performed between February 2009 and July 2010 at Ege University the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Unit of Psychosis and Schizophrenia Solidarity Association of Izmir. The sample comprised 104 caregivers who met the inclusion criteria of the study. The data were collected using the data form regarding descriptive characteristics, general health questionnaire, and family burden form. The number and percentage distributions were used for the patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the burden sub-dimensions and mental health of the caregivers. Results: The results revealed that 86.5% of the caregivers had a high risk of mental health problems. A relationship was found between the mental health of the caregivers and their emotional, social, physical, and economic burdens. Mental health problems increased with the emotional, physical, and economic burdens of the caregivers. Conclusion: The study highlighted the importance of developing social and professional support programs to improve the mental health of caregivers and help them cope with their burdens; developing action plans for implementation; and assessing the effect of these programs on the burden of caregivers. The results are also important in that a psychiatry nurse can foresee and recognize possible burdens and mental health disorders among caregivers, and ensure the inclusion of caregivers in the scope of developed or to be developed psychiatric support protocols.