Burden of caregivers of adult patients with schizophrenia attending public health clinics in Jamaica

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent and socio-demographic determinants of burden of care of caregivers of adult schizophrenic patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 115 dyads of schizophrenic patients-caregivers attending public mental health clinics, March 24 u April 4, 2014 were consecutively recruited. Burden of care was evaluated using the 22-item Zarit Burden Scale (maximum score, 88). Multiple linear regression model explored factors associated with caregiver burden. RESULTS. Caregivers were predominantly females (75.7%) and were on average 50.8 ± 15.0 years. Most schizophrenic patients were males (65.2%) and were on average 43.6 ± 17.2 years old. Caregivers showed on average, mild to moderate burden (score, 30.0 ± 14.7; median, 28.0). There was a tendency for caregivers of patients who were parents or spouses to have higher levels of burden. In multivariable analyses, higher burden of caregiving was associated with inability to perform self-care, closer kinship and higher numbers of psychotic episodes in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Functional and social factors were important determinants of caregiver burden. Further investigations are needed which consider factors such as health status and health expenditures as predictor variables of caregiver burden.