当前位置： SCI文献检索 > SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY期刊下所有文献 > Caregiver burden and psychotic patients' perception of social support in a Nigerian setting.

Caregiver burden and psychotic patients' perception of social support in a Nigerian setting.

Abstract：

BACKGROUND:In Nigeria, there are no national social welfare and community rehabilitation programmes for the mentally ill. Families have to bear the major burden of care. The present study aimed to assess the severity of indices of burden among relatives of 75 schizophrenics and 20 major affective disorder cases, to identify the factors associated with burden, to assess the relationship between caregiver burden and patients' perception of social support, and to compare these with equivalent data for cancer patients' relatives. METHOD:Caregivers were assessed, using a burden questionnaire and Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Patients were assessed for perception of social support from the extended family. RESULTS:Clinical severity and burden indices were similar for the psychiatric illness groups. However, relatives of patients with psychotic symptoms, unco-operative behaviour, marital instability and unemployment had significantly higher GHQ scores; while patients from such families perceived a wider social support network. Financial burden was greater than effect on family routines. Disruption of family routines, GHQ scores and (inversely) size of family network patient expected support from, predicted global rating of burden. Although clinical severity and disruption of family routines for cancer patients were higher; relatives of psychiatric patients had higher GHQ scores, more family disharmony and greater social stigma. CONCLUSIONS:Disturbed behaviour is a greater determinant of severity of burden than psychiatric diagnosis; hence adequacy of treatment is a first step in reducing caregiver burden. The tolerance shown by this group of relatives implies that they have strong potentials for playing useful roles in community care. Research and policy should consider measures to strengthen extended family network ties in developing countries.

journal_name

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

journal_title

Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology

authors

Ohaeri JU

doi

10.1007/s001270050294

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2001-02-01 00:00:00

pages

86-93

issue

eissn

0933-7954

issn

1433-9285

journal_volume

pub_type

杂志文章

在线工具

Caregiver burden and psychotic patients' perception of social support in a Nigerian setting.