A Qualitative Study On the Needs of Caregivers of Inpatients With Schizophrenia in India

Abstract

This study has identified additional needs of caregivers from those found in other studies.

Mental health status and perceived burden in caregiving spouses of persons with psychotic illness (A study from India)

“…Higher levels of caregiver stress and anxiety has also been reported by other Indian studies (e.g., Dalui, Guha, De, Chakraborty, & Chakraborty, 2014). This is also in consonance with the western literature on this issue (e.g., Idstad et al, 2010), which shows an association between mental illness in one person and spousal symptoms of anxiety and depression.…”

“…This is, however, contrary to what is known in the general literature that women tend to suffer more frequently than men from anxiety and depression (e.g. Idstad et al, 2010). The issue of social support available (not addressed by this investigation) seems to be important in the perception of burden and Hsiao (2010) reports that female family caregivers perceive less social support and experienced higher degrees of caregiver burden when compared to male family caregivers.…”

“…Magliano et al, 2005). Another study (Idstad, Ask, & Tambs, 2010) shows that spouses of persons who are suffering from mental disorder report significantly higher levels of symptoms of anxiety and depression and significantly lower subjective well-being than do spouses of persons not suffering from mental disorders. Family stress is related significantly to decreased well-being, increased levels of depressive symptoms, and elevated sense of burden and that living with the care recipient is significantly associated with caregiver burden (Chen & Lukens, 2011).…”

Caregiving and Help Seeking in First Episode Psychosis: A Qualitative Study

“…Carers experienced high levels of distress and difficulty. Our finding support a qualitative study conducted in India which identified 'managing illness behavior' was one of the high priority need among carers of schizophrenia [14] and, higher caregiver burden was related to psychopathology [26].…”

“…As families are actively involved in care giving for patients, they are very much affected by the illness [14]. More than 75 % of the carers of persons with first episode psychosis (FEP) were at high risk of developing psychiatric illnesses.…”