Introduction: Due to paucity of organised care, families have been part of mental health care all throughout the history of India. The primary objectives of the present study were to assess burden of Caregiver of Chronic Schizophrenia, to assess burden of Caregiver of Bipolar Affective Disorder, make a comparison between these two and to assess the relationship of burden of the caregiver with the global assessment of functioning of patients of Chronic Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder.

Materials and Methods: It was a hospital based cross sectional and comparative study, conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Assam MedicaI College and Hospital with a sample size of 30 primary caregivers of equal number of patients of Chronic Schizophrenia and 30 Primary caregivers of equal number of Bipolar Affective Disorder patients. Appropriate statistical tests were used for analysis of obtained data setting significance threshold at p <0.05.

Results: Caregivers of Chronic Schizophrenia experienced significantly higher burden than the caregivers of BPAD. A strong positive correlation was seen between caregiver’s burden and level of impairment in functioning of patients of Chronic Schizophrenia whereas in the Bipolar Affective Disorder group although the correlation was positive it was weak in comparison to the Schizophrenia group.

Conclusion: The chronic nature of Schizophrenia puts more burden on the family. A stronger positive correlation between caregiver’s burden and level of impairment in functioning is seen in case of Chronic Schizophrenia compared to BPAD.

Keywords: Family, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Affective Disorder, Burden.

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Dr Abhilekh Das

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