FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEPRESSION AMONG PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Rameshwar S. Manhas, Rukhsana Akhter, Angli Manhas*, Rishabh Sharma, Jagdish R. Thappa and Gaurav S. Manhas

ABSTRACT

Background: Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder which puts considerable burden and causes severe mental distress among the caregivers of schizophrenic patients. During the process of caregiving, caregivers offen suffers physical, psychological, emotional, social and financial changes. Aims: The objective of the study was to find correlation of factors associated with depression among primary caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on caregivers of schizophrenia patients who were receiving services at outpatient department (OPD) of Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital Jammu from 10th august 2018 to 10th october 2018. The caregivers of the patients were assessed by HAM-D Scale. Results: Being female, unemployed and parent by relation are the factors which has significant positive correlation while factors like age, male gender, educational status and relation other than parents had no significant correlation with depression among caregivers of schizophrenic patients. Conclusion: Caregivers who are females, unemployed and parent by relation have significant positive and perfect correlation with depression among caregivers of schizophrenic patients which suggest that special attention should be paid to the mental health of the caregivers of a schizophrenic patient in addition to recovery of the patient.

Keywords: Caregiver, Depression, Schizophrenia.