FREQUENCY OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONG CAREGIVERS OF PATIENTS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA REPORTING IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Anxiety And Depression in Caregivers of Schizophrenia Patient

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of depression and anxiety among caregivers of patients of schizophrenia.
Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the department of Psychiatry, Combined Military Hospital Peshawar, from Oct 2013 to Oct 2014.
Material and Methods: Convenience non-probability sampling technique was used for the selection of the
subjects. The sample size consisted of one hundred diagnosed patients of schizophrenia along with one caregiver (parent/spouse) of each patient. Urdu version GHQ 12 with cut off score of 4 was administered to screen for the presence and absence of psychiatric morbidity. HAM-D (Hamilton rating scale for depression) and HAM-A (Hamilton anxiety rating scale) were used to assess frequencies of depression and anxiety. All the data collected in the study were analyzed using statistical package for social studies (SPSS) version 14.
Results: Out of a total of 92 caregivers of 100 schizophrenic patients who continued with study, 83 scored more than GHQ 12 cut off score. Out GHQ positive, 27 (29.34%) caregivers were found to have depression while 17 (18.47%) caregivers had anxiety.
Conclusion: Anxiety and depression were indentified in the caregivers of schizophrenia patients.