Background: Schizophrenia is a disorder with psychological distress not only for the patients but also for the caregivers. The caregivers receive little support from medical services.

Aim: To assess the stress level in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive hospital based study carried out in Psychiatry Department of Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Gaya, Bihar after obtaining Ethical Committee approval. Hundred caregivers were included in the study during a period of six months. Socio-demographic variables were recorded on specially designed Performa. Stress level was assessed by using Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) with a cut off score of 9 being taken as stressed. Data was evaluated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc. version 17.0).

Results: Eighty-five (85%) caregivers were males and 15 (15%) were females. Fifty-six (56%) caregivers were having score of more than 9 on SRQ-20.

Conclusions: Psychological distress was found in a significant number of the caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. Our findings emphasise importance of screening and psychiatric counselling of this vulnerable population and highlights the burden of care in this often neglected population and the need for the psychological care of the caregivers.

Keywords: Stress, Caregivers, Schizophrenia

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Dr Satish Kumar Sinha

Department of Psychiatry, Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital, Gaya, Bihar, India

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