Nazish Imran, Muhammad Riaz Bhatti, Imran Ijaz Haider, Lubna Azhar, Amna Omar, Ahsan Sattar.
Caring for the caregivers: mental health, family burden and quality of life of caregivers of patients with mental illness.
J Pak Psych Soc Jan ;7(1):23-8.

Objective: To examine anxiety, depression, family burden and quality of life in Primary caregivers of patients with mental illness. Design: Cross Sectional Study Place & Duration of study: The study was carried out in Mayo Hospital Lahore from January to June 2009. Subjects & Methods: One hundred Primary Caregivers of Psychiatric patients were interviewed and administered Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS), Family Burden Interview Schedule and WHO- QOL Bref. Results: Majority of Primary caregivers of Psychiatric patients were females (74%) and spending more than 32 hours/week with the patient (56%). High proportion of caregivers scored above the cutoff of HADS for Anxiety & Depression respectively (86% and 85% respectively). We did not found any significant association between anxiety and depression with various patient and caregiver related factors in our sample. Financial constraints and effect on family routine were found to be significant sources of family burden. Caregivers of patients with Mental Illness had impaired Quality of life(QOL). Conclusion: Primary Caregivers of Patients with Mental Illness have high rates of Mental Health Difficulties, family Burden and impaired Quality of Life. Healthcare Personnel in contact with Caregivers should consider screening them for psychiatric symptoms and QOL and if necessary, recommend evaluation by their doctors.

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