Impacts of informal caregiving among the family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Caregiving to patients with schizophrenia is burdensome for family caregivers and has profound effects on them. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impacts of informal caregiving among the family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on a purposive sample of 12 family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia and 3 health-care providers. Semi-structured interviews were held for data collection, and conventional content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Four main subthemes were developed during data analysis, namely threatened health, helplessness, patient abandonment, and personal growth. Together with their eight subcategories, these subthemes were grouped into the main theme of the “Consequences of caregiving burden.” Conclusion: Caregiving to patients with schizophrenia imposes heavy burden on family caregivers and has different consequences for them. The findings of this study can improve the knowledge and awareness of mental health and psychiatric nurses about schizophrenia and its consequences for family caregivers and can help them identify family caregivers who are at risk for negative consequences and design proper family-based interventions to reduce the effects of these negative consequences.