The Coping Patterns among Primary Care Givers of the Persons with Schizophrenia - An Empirical Study

Abstract

"Over the past half century, the model for mental health care has changed from the institutionalization of individuals suffering from mental disorders to a community care approach backed by the availability of beds in general hospitals for acute cases. This change is based both on respect for the human rights of individuals with mental disorders, and on the use of updated interventions and techniques" (WH0, 2001). Recovery from schizophrenia is a long-term goal and a journey that has to be made. There will be good and bad days in the journey, and it may be easy to get tired of fighting the illness and give up. Support and encouragement for the   Person getting the family to take a constructive role in the journey are important. This is way it is so important to have someone who can help and guide the person and the families managing the illness and the social problems. The present empirical study on the Coping Patterns among primary   care   givers   of   the persons with schizophrenia by researchers would definitely through light to practitioners to intervene. By adopting systematic random sampling procedure the authors have drawn 60 samples, from every second name among the list of 120 universes. A self prepared questionnaire has been used to collect socio-demographic data and to measure the level of coping patterns the three point scale developed by  Priya Daniyal (1997)  has been used. The study reveals that the majority (72%) of the respondents expressed overall high level of coping mechanism.

Keywords: Coping Patterns, Schizophrenia, Primary care-givers and community care approach