A study on the marital relationships and social works needs of caregivers of schizophrenic patients

This study aims to reveal the views of the caregivers of schizophrenic patients about how their marriage is affected by the caregiving process. The findings were evaluated based on the practice areas of the profession of social work regarding psychiatric diseases, with schizophrenia being in the first place, and the roles and duties of social workers in the treatment of schizophrenia. The data of this study were collected through the administration of the survey forms, either face-to-face or on the phone, to 97 people who are members to the societies founded by schizophrenic patients and their relatives determined by snowball sampling. The data collected were analyzed via "SPSS Statistics 22.0" program. According to the research findings, the participants, either married or divorced, taking care of patients with schizophrenia described their feelings while giving care as captivity and servitude. They stated that after the care-giving process began, their marital relationships were negatively affected; their nonconformity with their spouses increased; their marital bondage weakened; they were more uneasy in their relationships with their spouses; they communicated less with their spouses; their spouses did not support them during this process in material or spiritual terms; they could not make common decisions and implement them with their spouses; their unity and solidarity with their spouses decreased; and they were less satisfied with their marital relationships compared to previous periods. The obtained findings were discussed within the scope of social work. Keywords:Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients, Marital Relationship, Psychiatric Social Works