A Study to Assess the Level of Burden among the Caregivers of Mentally Ill Patients in Selected Hospitals of Imphal (Manipur)

The care giving demands of mentally ill patients can bring significant level of burden for caregiver and affect their overall quality of life, including emotional, physical, financial, work, social life and relationship. The aim of the study was to assess the level of burden experienced by caregivers of mentally ill individuals. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the present study. A purposive sample of 184 primary caregivers were selected from RIMS Hospital, Imphal. This study was conducted using the Zarit Burden Interview Scale (ZBIS). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. According to ZBIS, mild burden accounted for 41.8 percent, moderate burden for 52.2 percent and severe burden accounted for 6 percent. Highest burden was seen in financial issues. Burden was found to be significantly associated with gender, religion and type of mental illness. The study concluded that caregivers experienced moderate burden as a result of taking care of mentally ill individuals.