Introduction: Reports on the quality of life (QOL) of family caregivers of schizophrenia patients are uncommon. Relations of different degree of kinship to caregivers' QOL are unexplored, but may be relevant. The purpose of this study was to assess the subjective QOL of caregivers of stable outpatients with diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with controls, and to assess factors associated with QOL in this population. Methods: Responses of 138 schizophrenia outpatient' family caregivers to the Quality of Life, Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (QLESQ− SF) were compared with those of a sex-and age-matched control group. Patients were assessed with the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and data were collected for kinship relationship and hospitalization. Results: Group of caregivers had significantly lower QOL compared with controls (t=11.347; df=271; p=0.0001). Caregivers' QOL correlated significantly with their age and differed according to the degree of kinship and marriage status. ANCOVA, with age as covariate, performed to asses the differences in QOL according to kinship, showed that parents and own children had significantly lower QOL than patients' siblings who were also caregivers. Conclusion: QOL of the schizophrenia patients' caregivers is lower in comparisons to controls. It depends on the degree of kinship and caregivers' age. Parents and own children have lower QOL than siblings. Psycho-educational intervention programmes should target specific needs of the family as a whole, depending also on their age and kinship relationship.

Goal:To assess perception of stigma in patients suffering from combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.Methods:Sixty one veterans from 1991-1995 war in Croatia (mean age 43,8 years SD 6,3) with diagnosis of PTSD according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases hospitalized consecutively on acute psychiatric department during 6 months were assessed. Stigma was measured with Internalized Stigma Mental Illness inventory that has five subscales: Alienation; Stereotype Endorsement; Perceived Discrimination; Social Withdrawal and Stigma Resistance, and with Devaluation-Discrimination Scale both rated on four possibilities Likert scale: (1-strongly disagree to 4-strongly agree). Mississippi Scale for Combat-related PTSD was used to determine the severity of PTSD symptoms. It consists of 35 statements that are rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 - “absolutely incorrect” to 5 - “absolutely correct”). A 100mm long visual analogue scales anchored with “not at all” and “very strongly” were used for assessing religiosity, social support and family problems caused with patient's illness.Results:Discrimination-devaluation scale was correlated with social support (r=0,373 p=0,003) indicating less discrimination with higher social support and with intensity of PTSD (r=-0,320 p=0,017). ISMI was correlated with intensity of family problems (r=0,299; p=0,019) and M-PTSD (r=0,588; p=0,001). Regression analyses indicated social support as significant predictor of less discrimination (R=0,570; p=0,021), and intensity of symptoms as predictor of high perceived stigma (R=0,653;p=0,001). Unsolved veteran invalidity status was associated with higher number of hospitalizations (t=2,097; df=59; p=0,042).Conclusion:Stigma perception in PTSD depends on social support and intensity of the symptoms.

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of religious coping among persons with schizophrenia, their first-degree relatives and control subjects and to gain a preliminary understanding of the relationship between religious coping, symptom severity, QOL, level of functioning, internalized stigma and depression. We also examine associations between psychopathology and religiosity in the group of patients.MethodsA total of 120 outpatinets with diagnosis of schizophrenia, 120 their first-degree relatives who also were key caregivers, and 120 control subjects completed a survey consisting of the Religious Coping Index, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form, Beck Depression Inventory, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness scale, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and Global Assessment of Functioning scale.ResultsThe results showed that patients and their relatives were more religious than controls but patients went to church less. Positive religious coping was not associated with illness outcomes, but negative religious coping was associated with worse quality of life, more depression, worse functioning and more internalized stigma. Higher religiosity was associated with higher values of altogether PANSS and positive and general subscales.ConclusionsOur results suggest that religious activities and beliefs are particularly important for the persons with schizophrenia and their caring relatives. Negative religious coping is associated with worse illness outcomes.