Analysis of the effects of burdens of the caregivers of schizophrenia patients to their mental health conditions

Purpose: The study was carried out in order to analyse the relations of the emotional, social, physical and economic burdens of the caregivers of schizophrenia diagnosed individuals. Method: The research was carried out between February 2009 - July 2010 in Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Unit of Psychosis; Izmir Schizophrenia Solidarity Association in which patients with schizophrenia are treated and monitored. The sample of the study consisted of 104 caregivers who are relevant for the inclusion criteria of the study. For the collection of data, schizophrenia patients and caregivers identifying properties questionnaires, 'General Health Questionnaire' (GHQ = General Health Question) and 'Family Burden Form' were used. The number and percentage distributions were used for the schizophrenic patients and their caregivers. Correlation analysis was used in order to research the relations between the burden sub-dimensions of the caregivers and their mental health conditions. Findings: According to research results, it was found that 86.5% of the caregivers have high risk of mental health problems. It was found that there is a middle level relation between the mental health of the caregivers and their emotional burden (0.538), social burden (0.586),physical burden (0.524), economic burden (0.529). It was determined that as the emotional, physical and economic burdens of the caregivers increase, their mental health problems increase, too. Result: In the research it was found that the caregivers of the schizophrenia patients carry high risk for experiencing mental health problems, and their burdens affect their mental health conditions and as the burden of the caregivers increase, their mental health problems increase, too. Based on these results, it is seen that the caregivers of schizophrenia patients are risky group for experiencing mental health problems and it is important for them tobe monitored for mental health problems. It is recommended to perform studies in which the mental health problems and burdens of the caregivers are monitored longitudinally within different time points (hospital admission, relapse, and recovery periods) and to evaluate effects of developed programs to the burdens and mental health conditions of the caregivers. Key words: Caregiver, Schizophrenia Disease, Burden, Mental Health