Family burden and coping strategies among the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

A study was done to assess the adjustmental problems among first year B. Sc. Nursing students in KMCH, College of Nursing, Coimbatore and to find out the Schizophrenia is defined as a severe mental condition in which there is disorganization of the personality, disorientation in social functioning, and loss of contact with, or distortion of reality. The study has attempted to identify predictors of family burden and their coping level of care givers with schizophrenia and also the strategies by which caregiver can be helped. The descriptive design based on the quantitative approach was adopted. The study was conducted at ATHMA hospital at Trichy. The population consisted of care givers of psychotic patients. The sample consisted of 50 caregivers of schizophrenic patients. The study was conducted over a period of six weeks using non probability purposive sampling technique. Caregivers of schizophrenic patients experience burden on the physical, emotional, financial aspects and the extent of the burden is closely linked to the amount of symptomatic behaviour of the patient. Coping positively will not only make the caregivers to feel better and also they will be able to take better care of schizophrenic patients.