Abstract

Caregiver burden is a complex concept that is influenced by many different factors. This study aimed to evaluate caregiving burden in caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to examine the effect of gender and other socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on caregiving burden. This study included 100 (50 female, 50 male) patients, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and their caregivers. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were administered to the caregivers. Insight Rating Scale (IRS), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Functional Recovery Scale in Schizophrenia (FRSS), Global Assessment Scale (GAS) were administered to the patients. The caregivers of male patients had significantly higher HAM-A, HAM-D, ZCBS total and all subscale, and SCL-90-R total and all subscale scores. The male patients had significantly higher PANSS general psychopathology subscale and CDSS and lower IRS scores. Multiple regression analysis revealed that male patient gender, living in urban areas and HAM-D scores of the caregivers were predictive of ZCBS total scores. This study found that schizophrenia has a significant burden. In addition, male patient and depression level of the caregivers were determined as the predictors of the caregiven burden.

Key words: Schizophrenia, caregiver, burden, gender