Effect of Psycho-educational Intervention on Burden and Quality of Life Among Family Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Schizophrenia is a disturbing and stressful disorder for both the patient and his caregiver. Psycho-educational intervention is believed to efficiently meet the informational needs of families to improve their quality of life when caring for a family member with schizophrenia, thereby reducing the patient’s relapse from the disorder. Aim: The study aimed to determine the effect of the psycho- educational intervention on burden and quality of life among caregivers of schizophrenic patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design [pretest -posttest] was used in the current study,  The subjects consisted of  50 caregivers of hospitalized schizophrenic patients, who were selected according to the inclusion criteria. The study was carried out at the in-patient psychiatric department of the Mansoura University Hospital. The instruments used for data collection were, Socio-demographic and Clinical Data Structured Interview Schedule, The Zarit Burden Interview and Quality of life scale. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in mean scores of the burden and quality of life between pre and post the intervention. Conclusion: Burden and quality of life of caregivers of patients with schizophrenia improved significantly after the psycho-educational intervention. Recommendation: Caregivers of schizophrenic patients should be counseled and encouraged to participate in psycho-educational programs to understand unnecessary behavioral changes and to to improve their burden and quality of life.

Keywords: schizophrenia, caregivers, burden, quality of life, psycho-educational intervention

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/63-09

Publication date:June 30^th 2019