Disability and Rehabilitation Needs of Persons with Schizophrenia

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a major mental illness. It imposes significant disability which has a measurable impact on many aspects of a person’s life. Rehabilitation need is a major aspect of needs of persons with schizophrenia. The present study intended to assess the disability in various areas of daily life of the persons with Schizophrenia as well as to assess the rehabilitation needs, perceived by them. Method and Materials: The present cross sectional institution based descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary care centre. Fifty individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria were taken up for the study. The data was collected by administering Indian Disability Evaluation Assessment Scale (IDEAS) and Rehabilitation Needs Assessment Schedule (RNAS) after taking informed consent. Results: Results revealed that most of the persons with schizophrenia had mild level of disability with most disability in the area of interpersonal activities and least in the self care. Skills training were the most preferred area of rehabilitation needs followed by in finding employment, people’s or family’s/friend’s/ neighbor’s attitudes modification, providing help for families. Conclusion: This present study contributed to the knowledge of studied areas and given a new insight which can be use to plan and develop and psychosocial rehabilitation services. Keywords: Disability, need assessment, schizophrenia