European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

It can be a difficult task to provide care to the patients living with mental health issues, especially with chronic diseases such as schizophrenia where the patient loses touch with reality.
Aim:
The aim of the research was to assess the level of perceived family burden, among the primary caregivers of chronic schizophrenia patients and socio-demographic correlates of caregiver's burden in schizophrenia. The study also evaluated the factors affecting the caregiver's burden.
Materials and Methods:
A descriptive research design was used for the study. The study population consisted of 100 primary caregivers of chronic schizophrenia patients who were attending the outpatient department of Government Erode Medical College Perundurai, Erode. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples. In order to collect the data, the tool comprised of socio-demographic variables, Burden Assessment Schedule of SCARF (BASS,1995) to assess the level of perceived family burden.
Results:
Mean age of patients was 29.7 SD (8.6) years. Of the 368 caregivers, 81.5% were parents, mean age was 58.1 years (SD 19.6). The result revealed that among the primary caregivers 48% are having mild burden, 36% of them are having moderate burden and 16% of them having severe burden. The association between the level of perceived family burden and demographic variables shows that age (c2=8.97), duration of illness (c2=7.69), and relationship with the patients (c2=7.44) are significantly associated with their level of burden. More aged, less income, duration of illness and wife group are having more burden than others.
Conclusion:
Caregivers of schizophrenia patients experience enormous burden and are potential “high risk group” for mental disorders. The caregivers should receive an adequate support for maintaining their own mental health. they should be provided support for maintaining their mental health. Particularly, vulnerable are females, elderly, low-income groups, and longer duration of care. They should be provided with adequate support.

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric illness which ahas enormous impact on the persons suffering from the illness as well as the persons taking care of them. Cognitive deficits are common in the persons suffering from Schizophrenia, which further lead to impairment in the daily living of the individual. Caregiving of persons with Schizophrenia places a significant burden on the caretakers and this study tries to study the association between the caregiver burden and the cognitive deficits in persons suffering from Schizophrenia.
Aims:
1)      To measure the cognitive deficits in persons suffering from Schizophrenia.
2)      To find the caregiver burden in the caregivers of persons suffering from Schizophrenia.
3)      To find the relationship between the caregiver burden with cognition of persons suffering from Schizophrenia.
Materials and Methods: This is an cross-sectional study and the study sample consisted of 60 persons suffering from Schizophrenia and their respective caregivers attending the Government Hospital for Mental Care, Visakhapatnam. Persons suffering from Schizophrenia’ cognitive status was assessed using the Cognitive Assessment Interview (CAI). Caregivers’ sociodemographic data was taken and the caregivers’ burden was assessed using the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS). Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SPSS software version 23.
Results: The mean Global Cognitive assessment score was 2.73 with a S.D. of 0.74. The mean score of caregiver burden according to the BAS was 76.9 with a S.D. of 6.7. There was a statistically significant correlation between the global cognitive score and the caregiver burden (r=0.783, p<0.01).
Conclusions: This study concludes that there is cognitive impairment seen in persons suffering from Schizophrenia. Caregivers of persons suffering from Schizophrenia have significant burden. There is a significant correlation between the cognitive impairment and the caregiver burden.

Background: Schizophrenia is characterized by disordered thoughts, emotions, perceptions, language, sense of self and behavior. Primary caregivers of individuals with Schizophrenia encounter comprehensive care giving challenges that causes physical as well as mental stress and can deteriorate the family functioning. However, if primary caregivers are resilient enough with strong and positive mindset, they can overcome burden associated with patient care and preserve own health and health of family as well.
Aim: To assess the relationship between depression, anxiety, stress and resilience perceived by primary caregivers of persons with Schizophrenia 
Materials and Methods: Primary caregivers of person diagnosed with Schizophrenia disease reporting to OPD and IPD of Department of Psychiatry of Medical College as per DSM-5 diagnostic criteria will be assessed for depression, anxiety, stress and resilience after taking informed consent for the study by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then psychological scales will be applied on these primary caregivers. The Depression Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21) and Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) scales will be applied and accordingly the points will be given.
Conclusion: We expect to find significant relationship between depression, anxiety, stress and resilience perceived by caregivers of persons with Schizophrenia.