BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia and other disorders experience high levels of burden. Most studies of family burden in schizophrenia have taken place in developed countries. The current study examined family burden and its correlates in a medium income country in South America. METHOD: Forty-one relatives of patients with schizophrenia who were attending a public mental health outpatient service in the province of Arica, Chile, were assessed on Spanish versions of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. RESULTS: All caregivers show a very high degree of burden, especially mothers, older, with low educational level, without an employment and who are taking care of younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: As developing country, Chile has a few national social welfare and community rehabilitation programs for relatives of psychiatric patients, especially in this part of the country. This significantly influences the high level of burden experienced by these caregivers. These results suggest a close monitoring of carer's mental health and the provision of a family intervention and psycho-social support.
BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of persons with schizophrenia and other disorders experience high levels of burden. Most studies of family burden in schizophrenia have taken place in developed countries. The current study examined family burden and its correlates in a medium income country in South America. METHOD: Forty-one relatives of patients with schizophrenia who were attending a public mental health outpatient service in the province of Arica, Chile, were assessed on Spanish versions of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. RESULTS: All caregivers show a very high degree of burden, especially mothers, older, with low educational level, without an employment and who are taking care of younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: As developing country, Chile has a few national social welfare and community rehabilitation programs for relatives of psychiatricpatients, especially in this part of the country. This significantly influences the high level of burden experienced by these caregivers. These results suggest a close monitoring of carer's mental health and the provision of a family intervention and psycho-social support.
Authors: Jiska E D Wolthaus; Peter M A J Dingemans; Aart H Schene; Donald H Linszen; Durk Wiersma; Robbert J Van Den Bosch; Wiepke Cahn; Ron Hijman Journal: J Nerv Ment Dis Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 2.254
Authors: L Magliano; G Fadden; M Madianos; J M de Almeida; T Held; M Guarneri; C Marasco; P Tosini; M Maj Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 1998-09 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Seyed Kazem Malakouti; Marzieh Nojomi; Lili Panaghi; Narjes Chimeh; Yasaman Mottaghipour; Mohammad Taghi Joghatai; Ahmad Ali Noorbala; Jafar Bolhari Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2009-12
Authors: Alejandra Caqueo-Urízar; Mar Rus-Calafell; Thomas K J Craig; Matias Irarrazaval; Alfonso Urzúa; Laurent Boyer; David R Williams Journal: Curr Psychiatry Rep Date: 2017-01 Impact factor: 5.285