The stress of caring for people with obsessive compulsive disorders

This paper presents a survey of stress of key carers of 46 consecutive cases of chronic obsessive-compulsive disorders who were receiving combined drug and cognitive-behavioral therapy in an out-patient clinic. A reliable semi-structured interview was used to estimate the overall stresses in various aspects of life. The effects of the disorder were most commonly expressed by carers in their marital relationship and in home management. Twenty-eight percent were severely burdened by their carer role, and 35% were extremely distressed at the prospect of ongoing care provision. Caregivers require support, and may be considered to be consumers of mental health services themselves.