Burden among Caregivers of Person with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: A Comparative Study

This is a cross-sectional comparative study with the aim to compare two patient groups of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and their respective caregivers with the objectives to quantify and compare the burden in caregivers of person with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder and to study the relationship between them. In this study, 40 patients schizophrenia, 40 patients of schizoaffective disorder, along with their 80 respective caregivers were taken on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects were assessed using Socio-demographic and clinical sheet &BAS. Appropriate statistics such as mean, standard deviation, chi-square test, unpaired t test, Pearson’s correlation were applied to analyze the data. The results of the study revealed considerable burden of care in families of the patients and a significantly greater burden of care in caregivers of patients with schizoaffective especially in the following domains: spouse related, caregivers’ routine, physical and mental health, taking responsibility, patient’s behaviour and caregiver’s strategy. Some of the demographic variables like age and education etc. were also found to have significant correlation with burden of care.