Effects of Psychopathology, Functioning and Anti-psychotic Medication Adherence on Caregivers’ Burden in Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of the level of psychopathology and anti-psychotic medication adherence on caregivers’ burden in schizophrenia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-seven schizophrenia patient/caregiver dyads were interviewed. Caregiver's burden was assessed using the Yoruba version of the Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS) and 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Patients were assessed using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale, Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS), and medication compliance questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 29.7 SD (8.6) years. About 82% of the 368 caregivers were parents of the patients with mean age of 58.1 years (SD 19.6). Total mean objective FBIS score was 22.69 (6.21), with 324 caregivers (85.3%) reporting total objective burden and 310 (84.2%) reporting subjective burden. FBIS scores were positively associated with PANSS scores but negatively with GAF P<0.001, respectively. Mean FBIS reduced with medication compliance categories A and B, P<0.01, respectively, but increased in category F, P<0.001. In all, 51.1% scored ≥3 on GHQ. CONCLUSION: Caregivers of schizophrenia patients experience enormous burden and are at risk for mental disorders. The severity of this burden is related to the level of psychopathology and medication adeherence, thereby adding to the available evidence pointing to the need for clinicians to optimize patients’ management to prevent psychological distress in carers of such patients.