Relationship between psychopathology and problem behaviour of schizophrenic patients and burden experienced by primary caregivers
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Date
2001-05
Authors
Othman, Zahiruddin
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The recent trend towards community psychiatry appears to
have shifted much of the burden of care of the chronically
mentally ill from the institutions to the family. The aim
of this study is to assess ยท the relationship between
psychopathology and problem behaviour of the forty five
schizophrenic patients and burden imposed on their primary
caregivers. Patients' psychopathology and problem behaviour
were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale
(PANSS) and Social Behaviour Schedule (SBS) respectively.
Caregivers' amount of burden was assessed using Burden on
Family Interview Schedule (BFS) . Majority of the patients
were unemployed (71%), single (,64%), male (68%) suffering
from chronic schizophrenia (82%). The caregivers were
mostly married (76%), female (62%), parents (73%) and from
lower socioeconomic status (36% had monthly household
income less than MYR 500). The prevalence of burden was
extensive with forty percent reported severe subjective
burden. The commonest severe objective burden was treatment
expenses affecting one third of primary caregivers.
Schizophrenic patients' psychopathology (particularly
delusion, hostility and hallucinatory behaviour) and
problem behaviour (particularly hostility, overactivity and
restlestness, and destructive behaviour) were found to be
significantly correlated with the amount of burden
experienced by primary caregivers. Grandiosity and
stereotyped thinking were the , least burdensome symptom
while panic attack and phobias were the least burdensome
behaviour imposed on the caregivers.
Description
Keywords
Psychiatry