RESILIENCE IN THE PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR AFFECTIVE DISORDER AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE SYNDROME

Abstract

Caregivers who possess resilience are better able to manage and overcome adversity that comes with caring for a family member diagnosed with major mental illnesses like Schizophrenia,Bipolar Affective Disorder and Alcohol Dependence Syndrome.Family plays a key role in the care of patients with mental illnesses especially in India owing to the tradition of interdependence and the lack of sufficient mental health facilities making it important to understand the resilience of the caregiver in caring for the mentally ill. Aim:The aim of the present study is to study the resilience in primary caregivers of patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder and Alcohol dependence syndrome. Methods: The crosssectional comparative study included 90 primary caregivers of patients, 30 from each group. The diagnoses of the patients were confirmed with the MINI screen scale.A semi-structured interview was used to obtain demographic data and resilience in the caregivers was measured using the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. Results: Resilience was found to be higher in males, mostly children of the patients hailing from higher income groups and carers with shared burden. Caregivers of the patients with schizophrenia were found to have higher resilience than those of the other 2 groups. Conclusion: Gender, age, socioeconomic status, family support and diagnosis were all factors found to be influencing resilience in a caregiver.