1Psychiatric Social Worker, Department of Psychiatry, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam, India
2Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, India
3Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, India
*Correspondence: arifafi@gmail.com
Online published on 30 July, 2015.
The caregivers of persons with epilepsy and schizophrenia undergo severe emotional, physical, financial burden due to the nature, chronicity, disability, and stigma attached to the illness.
To assess the burden and social support among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia and epilepsy.
The study was conducted at the Out Patient Department of LokopriyaGopinathBordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur. It was a comparative study. Purposive sampling technique was used for selection of the sample. The sample for the current study comprised of caregivers of 30 persons with schizophrenia and 30 persons suffering from epilepsy. A semi-structured socio demographic data sheet, the Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS), the Social Support Questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire were administered to the caregivers.
There was no significant difference reported by the caregivers in the two groups with the entire domains of BAS and perceived social support. Physical and mental health, and caregivers’ strategy domains of BAS had significant negative correlation at 0.05 levels with perceived social support. External support, support of patient, taking responsibility, and other relation domains of BAS had significant negative correlation at the 0.01 level with perceived social support.
Chronic Disease, Mental Health, Stress, Stigma, Coping, Quality of Life
