P-31 Caregiver Burden in Mental Illness

Methods: Cross sectional study done at GPHC from January 2021 to December 2021, consisting of 140 family car- egivers of newly admitted patients to the adult psychiatry clinic, using a convenience sampling method. Data collec- tion tools used were Brief Coping Scale & Pai & Kapoor Family Burden Interview. Bivariate analysis (t test, analysis of variance and Pearson correlation) were performed and variables with values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. 

Results: For the caregivers, 72.9% were between the age group of 31–50 years, 65% were females, 47.1% Afro-Guy- anese, 45.7% were not receiving help with caregiving & 45.7% worked for minimum wage. For the patients 62.1% were males, 59.3% were 18 to 30 years, 47.1% were Afro- Guyanese, 63.6% without partner & 45.7% had Substance/ Medication-Induced Psychotic Disorder. Highest domains of burden & their mean scores included financial burden 1.93(0.24), effect on mental health of others 1.72 ± 0.65, disruption of family routine 1.63 ± 0.62 & family interaction 1.25 ± 0.57 & Most employed coping mechanisms among caregivers were religion 2.0 ± 0.00, venting 1.99 ± 0.08 & denial 1.95 ± 0.20.

Conclusion: This study attempted to shed some light on the immense strain caregivers of the mentally ill face. The most prevalent areas of burden included financial, disruption of family routine and effect on mental health of others. Lower areas of burden were observed in family leisure and physical health of others. It was also highlighted that a significant number of caregivers employ unhealthy coping mechanisms, particularly within the avoidance category, with the exception of religion, to offset their burden.