Primary caregivers of schizophrenia outpatients: Burden and predictor variables

Abstract

This article explores family burden in relation to relatives' coping strategies and social networks, as well as in relation to the patients' severity of positive and negative symptoms. Data on the severity of symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia [PANSS]), social functioning (Social Functioning Scale [SFS]), caregivers burden (Interview on Objective and Subjective Family Burden or Entrevista de Carga Familiar Objetiva y Subjetiva [ECFOS]), coping skills (Family Coping Questionnaire [FCQ]), and social support (Social Network Questionnaire [SNQ]) were gathered from a randomized sample of 101 Chilean outpatients and their primary caregivers, mostly mothers. Low levels of burden were typically found, with the exception of moderate levels on general concerns for the ill relative. A hierarchical regression analysis with four blocks showed that clinical characteristics, such as higher frequency of relapses, more positive symptoms and lower independence-performance, together with lower self-control attributed to the patient, decrease in social interests, and less affective support, predict burden. The results support the relevance of psychoeducational interventions where families' needs are addressed.

A sobrecarga de cuidadores de pacientes com esquizofrenia

“…O discurso dos cuidadores foi analisado quanto à caracterização da sobrecarga segundo os critérios utilizados por Barroso et al 8 e Grandón et al 24 , que diferenciam a sobrecarga em duas dimensões: objetiva e subjetiva. A análise das entrevistas permitiu a identifi cação da categoria redução da sobrecarga.…”

Correlations among Coping Skills and Life Satisfaction in Ethnic Older Caregivers

“…Social support has been shown to reduce the impact of burden on caregivers of patients with psychosis (Grandon, al., 2008;Quayhagen, et al, 1988). In fact, as much as 5% of such burden is attributed to lack of social/affective support (Grandon, al., 2008).…”

“…In fact, as much as 5% of such burden is attributed to lack of social/affective support (Grandon, al., 2008).…”

“…It has also been found that emotion-focused methods of coping are less effective in alleviating perceived burden than problem-focused methods (Kristensson Ekwall & Rahm Hallberg, 2006;McClendon, et al, 2004) and may actually increase the levels of stress suffered (Grandon, et al, 2008). Paradoxically, emotion-focused coping strategies are the most commonly used among caregivers with lower levels of burden (Chakrabarti, et al, 2002).…”

“…Moreover, the experience of caregiver burden may be influenced by factors, such as demographics and culture (Choo, et al, 2003), relationship with the care recipient (George, et al, 1986;Hinrichsen, et al, 1992;Neal, et al, 1997;Schulz et al, 1995) and coping strategies employed (Grandon, et al, 2008;Kristensson Ekwall, et al, 2006, McClendon, et al, 2004Quayhagen, et al, 1988). Caregivers who use more emotion-focused coping strategies have been known to fare worse than those who employ problem-focused coping methods (Baker & Robertson, 2008;McClendon, et al, 2004;Quayhagen, et al, 1988;Rose, Strauss, Neundorfer, Smyth, & Stuckey, 1997;Saad, et al, 1995).…”