Objective burden among primary caregivers of persons with chronic schizophrenia

A better understanding of the burden on the family has become increasingly important because many families assume a major role in the care of their relatives who have schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to provide descriptive information about the negative consequences on the family (e.g. physical problems, restrictions in social life, tense relationships in the family) reported by the primary caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. Two types of objective burden were studied: general and attributable objective burden. The former refers to the general consequences on the family while the latter corresponds to those consequences specifically attributed to the presence of mental illness. Seventy primary caregivers completed a self-report instrument. The general negative consequences identified most frequently were tense relationships in the household, and the physical and emotional problems of the primary caregiver. The most common negative consequences directly related to the ill relative were the primary caregiver's emotional problems, the disturbance in the primary caregiver's performance of work, and the disruption in the lives of other adults in the household. The clinical implications and future directions of research are discussed.