The Study of Burden of Family Caregivers of Patients Living with Psychiatric Disorders in Remote Area of Nepal

Abstract

Background Family caregivers of psychiatric disorders likely to face burden. There is a paucity of data regarding the caregiver burden in psychiatric disorders in context of Nepal.
 Objective To study the caregiver burden in families with psychiatric illness and to find association between socio-demographic variables and caregiver burden in families with psychiatric illness.
 Method This is an analytical cross-sectional study. The participants (n=96) were caregiver of patients visiting outpatient department of two government of Nepal primary health care centers namely, Panchkhal Primary Health Care Center (PHC) Kavre District and Barhabise Health Care Center Sindhupalchowk district. The sample size has been determined by using statistical formula. Family burden assessment schedule (FBIS) was used for the study.
 Result The majority of the caregivers were females 56.3%. Most of the caregivers were aged below 45 years 54.2%. The large number of participants were single or separated 74%. The mean score of family burden assessment schedule was 27 ± 9.8 (range 0 to 48) with positive rate of 59.4%.Among the objective burden domains disruption of family leisure 61.5% was the most frequently reported burden. The subjective burden was reported in 95%. There were significant differential demographic associations with different domains of caregivers’ burden.
 Conclusion Caregivers of Psychiatric patients experience different kind of burden of care. Our findings highlight the support to the family members to reduce their burden.

Coping Strategies and Burden Dimensions of Family Caregivers for People Diagnosed with Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

“…The current study revealed that there is a significant association between the caregivers’ burden level and their socioeconomic status. This result is consistent with the literature as the burden level tends to be high in individuals of lower education and socioeconomic status [ 31 , 32 ]. In this study, it appears that caregivers who live in urban zones in the same geographic area are more able to cope with their role of caring for their relative with OCD.…”

“…In this study, the severity of OCD has a negative impact on caregivers’ general physical health [ 31 , 33 ] and mental health [ 34 ]. Oza et al [ 35 ] concluded that the burden of care has a strong positive correlation with distress and psychiatric morbidity in the caregiver of family members with OCD.…”

Relation Between the Burden of Caregiving, Submissive Behaviors, and Depressive Symptoms Among Caregivers of Psychiatric Patients

“…Community-based care for psychiatric illnesses causes a burden on the caregivers. So, an advanced incidence of psychiatric complaints among caregivers was detected (Kunwar et al, 2020).…”