Burden and Depression among the Elderly Care Givers of Patients with Schizophrenia

ABSTRACT The family is an important support system in India, in the care of the mentally ill. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder, characterized by fundamental disturbances in thinking, perception and emotions, and it is the most burdensome illness worldwide. It is challenging task especially for elderly caregivers. This study was done to assess the level of burden and depression among elderly care givers of patients with schizophrenia and its relationship with severity of illness and socio-demographic variables. The study was conducted in Out Patient Department of the Department of Psychiatry, in a tertiary care center in South India. The study sample included 105 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and their elderly caregivers selected by using non-probability, convenient sampling as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Zarit Burden Interview and Geriatric Depression scale were used for the study. Results showed that 72% of them had moderate to severe burden and 46% of them had moderate to severe Depression. There was strong positive co-relation between burden and depression (r=0.534, p