Clinical correlates of the caregiving experience for Chinese caregivers of patients with schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between clinical characteristics and the caregiving experience of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and one patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers were recruited from a psychiatric clinic. The involvement evaluation questionnaire (IEQ) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ) were administered to the caregivers. The patients were assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview, the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and the global assessment of functioning scale (GAF). Correlation analysis and regression analysis was performed to identify the best predictors of caregiver stress. RESULTS: The most important clinical predictor of caregiver stress as assessed using IEQ was the GAF, followed by PANSS-Pos and Neg scores and admission. Positive symptoms contributed more to overall caregiver stress than negative symptoms. DISCUSSION: Both symptom severity and patient function were important factors in the caregiver experience. Treatment should aim not only to reduce symptoms but also maximize function. Service planning should include psychosocial intervention involving caregivers.     

The relationship between family functioning and caregiving appraisal of dementia family caregivers: caregiving self-efficacy as a mediator

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore caregiving self-efficacy as a mediator for the association between family functioning and caregiving appraisal of dementia family caregivers in Taiwan.

Method: This study adopted a cross-sectional correlational design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 115 dyads of dementia patients and family caregivers from the outpatient neurological clinics of two hospitals in northern Taiwan. Data were gathered through interviews with a structured questionnaire, which included demographic characteristics for caregivers and patients, family functioning, caregiving self-efficacy, as well as positive and negative aspects of caregiving appraisal.

Results: Family functioning, patients' activities of daily living score, Neuropsychiatric Inventory caregiver distress, and three domains of self-efficacy were significantly associated with caregiver burden. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that self-efficacy for obtaining respite (SE-OR) significantly explained 20.5% of the variance in caregiver esteem. Caregiver perceived worsened health status, family functioning, and SE-OR significantly explained 59% of the variance in caregiver burden. The mediation test only supported the partially mediating role of SE-OR on the relationship between family functioning and caregiver burden, while the mediating effect of self-efficacy for responding to disruptive behaviours and controlling upsetting thoughts were insignificant.

Conclusion: Our findings provided preliminary evidence for health professionals recommending that future studies should assess the family dynamic and health problems of caregivers, and develop appropriate family-centred interventions that focus on strengthening interfamily support and respite services to alleviate caregiver burden.     

精神分裂症患者家庭照顾者病耻感的研究进展

本文目的是对精神分裂症患者家庭照顾者病耻感相关研究进行综述,以期降低该群体病耻感水平,为精神卫生工作者制定相关干预措施提供参考。通过回顾国内外关于精神分裂症患者家庭照顾者病耻感方面的文献,从相关概念、评定工具、影响因素及干预措施4个方面对有关研究进展进行阐述,并总结其局限性和未来可能的研究方向。     

Changes in caregiver burden among informal caregivers of stroke patients in Mongolia

Background: Modern therapeutics and health care improvements prolong stroke patients’ survival; however, the degree of disability remains high. Stroke survivors often require caregivers, particularly in the first year after the onset of the stroke. Longitudinal assessment of and factors associated with caregiver burden (CGB) among caregivers of stroke patients has been scarcely discussed. This study aimed to define the changes in CGB in the first year of caregiving among the caregivers of stroke patients and to identify associated factors.

Methods: A prospective, multi-centered observational study was conducted in nine public hospitals in Mongolia. We used the Montgomery CGB Scale for assessing CGB, and repeated the assessment after 1 year. Stroke patient characteristics were included in the analyses. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to analyze changes in CGB.

Results: A paired t-test analysis revealed that demand burden increased (from 12.61 to 11.50, p = 0.034), whereas stress burden decreased (from 10.69 to 11.60, p = 0.016). Although objective burden decreased, the difference was not significant. Factors associated with these changes in CGB were the caregiver’s marital status, the caregiver’s relationship with the patient, financial difficulties, and the patient’s sex and dependency.

Discussion: The information on factors predicting changes in CGB in the first year of caregiving provided in this study suggests that social or financial support can assist in reducing CGB among the caregivers of post-stroke patients.     

The impact of professional and social network support on the burden of families of patients with schizophrenia in Italy

OBJECTIVE: (a) To explore burden related to caregiving and support received from professionals and social network in relatives of patients with schizophrenia in Northern, Central and Southern Italy; and (b) to test whether a higher level of family burden is associated with a lower level of professional and social network support. METHOD: Seven hundred and nine patients with schizophrenia and their key-relatives were consecutively recruited in 30 Italian mental health departments. Data were collected on: (a) patients' clinical status and levels of disability; (b) relatives' burden, social and professional support; (c) interventions received by patients and their families. RESULTS: Family burden was found lower in Northern Italy. However, after controlling for psychosocial interventions, differences in family burden among the three geographical areas disappeared. Family burden was associated with patients' levels of disability and manic/hostility symptoms, and with professional and social network support received by the family. CONCLUSION: Professional and social network support represent crucial resources to reduce family burden in schizophrenia.     

重性精神病患者家庭负担与家属幸福感的相关分析

目的 探讨重性精神病患者家庭负担与家属的幸福感之间的关系.方法 采用自编的一般家庭状况调查问卷、家庭负担会谈量表和幸福感指数量表对265例重性精神病患者的一级亲属进行评定.结果 相关分析发现,病程、住院次数、年均治病费用与幸福感指数呈负相关（P＜0.01）,而患病前后家庭经济状况、年人均收入、治疗费用报销比例与幸福感指数呈正相关（P＜0.05）.FBS总分及各因子分均与幸福感指数呈负相关（P＜0.01）.多因素分析发现FBS总分和经济负担是影响幸福感指数的最重要的因素.结论 疾病的家庭负担,尤其是经济负担会严重影响家属的主观幸福感.     

The predictive factors for perceived social support among cancer patients and caregiver burden of their family caregivers in Turkish population

Objectives: We aimed to identify the predictive factors for the perceived family social support among cancer patients and caregiver burden of their family caregivers.

Methods: Participants were 302 cancer patients and their family caregivers. Family social support scale was used for cancer patients, burden interview was used for family caregivers.All subjects also completed Beck depression invantery. The related socio-demographical factors with perceived social support (PSS) and caregiver burden were evaluated by correlation analysis. To find independent factors predicting caregiver burden and PSS, logistic regression analysis were conducted.

Results: Depression scores was higher among patients than their family caregivers (12.5 vs. 8). PSS was lower in depressed patients (p?p?p?r?=??2.97). Presence of depression (p?r?=?0.381) was positively correlated and family caregiver role was negatively correlated (p?r?=??0.208) with caregiver burden. Presence of depression was the independent predictor for both, lower PSS for patients and higher burden for caregivers.

Conclusions: The results of this study is noteworthy because it may help for planning any supportive care program not only for patients but together with their caregiver at the same time during chemotherapy period in Turkish population.     

个案管理对社区精神分裂症患者直接照料者社会支持及家庭负担的影响

目的 分析个案管理对社区精神分裂症患者直接照料者社会支持和家庭负担的效果。方法 从 开展社区个案管理服务的中山南朗镇选取符合研究标准的精神分裂症患者的直接照料者40 名作为个 案管理组,根据经济和人口匹配原则,从开展社区基础管理的中山民众镇随机抽取40 名精神分裂症患 者的直接照料者作为对照组。个案管理组患者及家庭接受社区个案管理,对照组组患者及家庭接受国 家要求提供的基础管理服务。对两组患者跟踪随访1 年,采用社会支持量表（SSRS）及家庭负担会谈量 表（FBS）在入组时及第2 年进行评估,对两组的社会支持和疾病负担差值进行比较。结果 个案管理组 的照料者在客观支持、主观支持、支持利用度及SSRS 总分的增加值优于基础管理组（t分别为5.84、5.02、 7.41、10.89;P＜ 0.01）;个案管理组的家庭经济负担、家庭日常活动、家庭关系、家庭成员心理健康和 FBS 总分减分值优于基础管理组（t 分别为-4.86、-2.73、-3.16、-3.80、-4.37;P ＜ 0.01）。结论 个案管 理相对于基础管理可更好地提升对精神分裂症患者家属的社会支持,降低家庭负担。     

The impact of caregivers' characteristics, patients' conditions and regional differences on family burden in schizophrenia: a longitudinal analysis

OBJECTIVE: Impact of caregiver characteristics, patient variables, and regional differences on family burden. METHOD: Two hundred and eighteen schizophrenia patients and key-relatives of an urban and a rural area were examined five times over 30 months. Patients' psychopathology, service utilization; relatives' burden, coping abilities and contact duration with the patients were recorded. Effects of interpersonal differences and intrapersonal changes over time were analyzed with regression models. RESULTS: Interpersonal differences (patients' positive and negative symptoms, relatives' coping abilities, and patient contact) and intrapersonal changes (relatives' coping abilities, patients' negative symptoms and utilization of community care) predicted family burden. CONCLUSION: Family education programs should help caregivers to improve their coping strategies. Therapy solutions must address negative symptoms just as much as positive symptoms, as these especially impact caregivers. Intensified community-based care can reduce burden, but provision alone is not sufficient. Psychiatrists and caregivers should motivate patients to take advantage of such offers.     

Feelings of burden and health-related quality of life among family caregivers looking after the impaired elderly

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between feelings of burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among family caregivers looking after the impaired elderly residing in a community located in southern Japan. Subjects were 85 pairs comprising elderly individuals requiring care and their respective family caregivers. Questionnaire items for the family caregivers related to demographic variables, caregivers' burden, HRQOL, use of public services, hours spent caregiving, duration of caregiving, and satisfaction with verbal communication with family. Questionnaire items for the elderly recipients of care concerned demographic variables, activities of daily living, and cognitive status. According to bivariate analysis, caregivers' burden was significantly related to cognitive status, hours spent caregiving, and each HRQOL subscore except physical function. From multiple regression analysis, subscore of HRQOL with respect to mental health and satisfaction with verbal communication were extracted as influential factors. Final regression coefficient was 0.72 (P<0.01) and coefficient of determination was 0.53. These results suggest that satisfactory mental health status plays an important role in limiting family caregivers' burden.     

Self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts and emotional eating in family caregivers

Objectives: Self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts was examined as a predictor of emotional eating by family caregivers of physically and cognitively impaired older adults.

Methods: Adult women (N = 158) providing healthcare assistance for an older family member completed an online survey about caregiving stressors, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and emotional eating. A stress process framework was used as a conceptual model to guide selection of variables predicting emotional eating scores.

Results: A hierarchical multiple regression was conducted and the overall model was significant (R² = .21, F(4,153) = 10.02, p < .01); self-efficacy for controlling upsetting thoughts was a significant predictor of caregivers’ emotional eating scores after accounting for IADL, role overload, and depression scores.

Conclusion: These findings replicate previous research demonstrating the relationship between managing cognitions about caregiving and behavioral responses to stressors, and point to the importance of addressing cognitive processes in efforts to improve caregiver health behaviors.     

Quality of life and family functioning in caregivers of relatives with mood disorders

This study examines the quality of life of caregivers of hospitalized relatives with mood disorders. Caregivers reported poor social, physical and emotional functioning. Family functioning was poor in the areas of roles, communication and affective involvement. It is significant that problem-solving, affective responsiveness and behavior control are within the normal range, indicating that these families do have strengths. Subjective burden but not objective burden was correlated with a poorer quality of life. Less than 30% of caregivers received help from other relatives and less than 5% sought help from outside organizations like NAMI, MDDA or VNA.     

Perceived burden and quality of life of caregivers in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Aim: The study aimed to examine the family burden and quality of life (QOL) of caregivers of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: A cross‐sectional assessment of 50 patients with OCD and their caregivers was carried out. The severity of OCD was assessed using the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. The caregivers were assessed using the Family Burden Interview Schedule and the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF version (WHOQOL‐BREF). Results: Fifty‐six percent of caregivers reported a high objective burden. Severity of illness correlated with burden and impaired QOL of caregivers. Age of patient, longer duration of illness and longer duration of treatment were predictive of poorer QOL of caregivers in the physical health domain. Greater objective burden, disruption of family leisure and interaction due to OCD led to significantly poorer QOL in all domains in caregivers. Higher financial burden, perception of poorer mental health, and higher subjective burden were predictive of poorer physical, general health and general and psychological QOL, respectively. Conclusions: The study provides important insights into the QOL and perceived burden of caregivers of OCD patients. It highlights the need for improving the quality of care not only for patients but also for primary caregivers.