Family burden during exacerbation of schizophrenia: quantification and determinants of additional costs

Family members of people with schizophrenia are heavily burdened. Thus, we aimed at quantifying the amount of additional efforts during the two weeks before hospitalisation of acute exacerbating psychosis compared to the time before.

By means of the semi-structured 'Interview for Measuring the Burden on the Family' we interviewed relatives of people with schizophrenia. To quantify additional burden we asked how much time a person who would take over the additional burden has to afford. Subscales of different sources of burden and total scales were correlated.

An additional 8.9 hours per day would have to be spent in favour of the patient, which results in additional costs of Euro 3,115-Euro 4,984 (ca. pounds 2,100-3,400) for two weeks. The main sources of additional burden are quantity, quality and nature of contacts to the affected. This includes the frequency of contact to the affected, the whereabouts and symptoms of the affected, as well as the social contacts of the relatives.

Our results clarify the quantitative aspect of care provided by relatives of people with schizophrenia. Apart from the practical and emotional help to relatives the development of a diversified network of community psychiatry services, e.g. day and night hospitals, as well as crisis accommodations should be established.