Burden upon family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: determining factors

Abstract

The development of community treatment for chronic and severe psychiatric illness following the closure of the psychiatric hospitals has resulted in a burden being placed upon the family caregivers of patients. The burden on 67 caregivers of schizophrenic patients, the relationship between the dimensions of the family burden and the characteristics of the patient, the caregiver, related symptoms and disability dimensions were explored. The burden of caring for patients with schizophrenia at home are considerable. This burden is related to the symptoms of the disease and to the degree of disability deriving from the latter. The studies of the effects of mental illness on the family have major implications in the fields of both psychiatric management and social policy.