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Bremmers LGM, Fabbricotti IN, Gräler ES, Uyl-de Groot CA, Hakkaart-van Roijen L. The impact of informal care provision on the quality of life of adults caring for persons with mental health problems: A cross-sectional assessment of caregiver quality of life. Health Psychol Open 2024; 11:20551029241262883. [PMID: 39118836 PMCID: PMC11307371 DOI: 10.1177/20551029241262883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
This study assessed the quality of life of informal caregivers for individuals with mental health problems in the Netherlands. An online survey was administered to a panel of informal caregivers in June 2020 (n = 261). Informal caregivers of persons with mental problems were found to have an exceptionally low quality of life. A high subjective burden (p < .001), lower perseverance time (p = .016), low caregiver overall health status (p = .004) and psychological wellbeing (p = .008), younger caregiver age (p = .011), child caregiving responsibilities (p = .025), and no social support network (p = .038) were associated with worse quality of life scores. These findings shed light on the significant challenges faced by informal caregivers of persons with mental health problem. This raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of informal care and mental healthcare reform.
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Girdhar A, Patil R. Caregivers' Burden in Patients With Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia and Its Relationship With Anxiety and Depression in Caregivers: A Narrative Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e47497. [PMID: 38022267 PMCID: PMC10663874 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.47497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental disorders affect a person's thinking, mood, and/or behaviour and can range in severity from minor to severe. Nearly one in five persons have a mental disease as stated by the National Institute of Mental Health. A serious mental illness called bipolar disorder causes extreme mood swings that can range from manic to depressive states. Schizophrenia is a brain condition that leads individuals to perceive reality differently. They cannot distinguish between what they are actually experiencing and what they are just imagining. Both illnesses have a variety of negative effects on the patient as well as the primary caregiver, who may be the patient's family or other relatives. In the case of a patient with mental illness, the family's role is crucial. Family members' long-term caregiving obligations may result in a caregiving burden that negatively impacts the caregivers' quality of life, career and personal relationships. Depression generally undermines carers' ability to fulfil their crucial supportive role towards their relative with a mental illness while contributing to their distress and handicap. Given the high prevalence of caregiver depression, it is critical to address this issue not just by creating therapies to treat caregiver depression once it has started, but also by preventing caregiver depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anshita Girdhar
- Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
| | - Ragini Patil
- Psychiatry, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND
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Cheng WL, Chang CC, Griffiths MD, Yen CF, Liu JH, Su JA, Lin CY, Pakpour AH. Quality of life and care burden among family caregivers of people with severe mental illness: mediating effects of self-esteem and psychological distress. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:672. [PMID: 36316688 PMCID: PMC9624032 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04289-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family caregivers are important allies for healthcare providers in facilitating the recovery process among people with mental illness (PWMI). The present study examined the factors associated with quality of life (QoL) among family caregivers of PWMI. METHODS A multi-center cross-sectional survey was conducted. Family caregivers of people with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder were recruited using convenience sampling. A survey assessing their QoL, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem was completed with self-rated psychometric scales including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Caregiver Burden Inventory, Taiwanese Depression Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Short Form. A mediation model was constructed with QoL as the dependent variable, care burden as the independent variable, and psychological distress (including depression and anxiety) with self-esteem as mediating variables. RESULTS Family caregivers of people with schizophrenia had worse QoL compared with counterparts of people with major depression and bipolar disorder. The sociodemographic of both caregivers and PWMI had less impact on QoL when psychological factors were considered. Caregivers with lower self-esteem, higher levels of psychological distress, and heavier care burdens had poorer QoL. Care burden had a significant total effect on QoL. Both self-esteem and psychological distress were significant mediators. CONCLUSION The findings indicated that caregivers' psychological health and care burden influenced their QoL. Interventions that target family caregivers' self-esteem and psychological distress may attenuate the effect from care burden, and further improve their QoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Lin Cheng
- grid.413876.f0000 0004 0572 9255Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Cheng Chang
- grid.413876.f0000 0004 0572 9255Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan ,grid.411209.f0000 0004 0616 5076Department of Health Psychology, Chang Jung Christian University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Mark D. Griffiths
- grid.12361.370000 0001 0727 0669International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Cheng-Fang Yen
- grid.412019.f0000 0000 9476 5696Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ,grid.412027.20000 0004 0620 9374Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ,grid.412083.c0000 0000 9767 1257College of Professional Studies, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Horng Liu
- grid.413876.f0000 0004 0572 9255Department of Psychiatry, Chi Mei Medical Center, 201 Taikang Vil, Liuying Dist, 736 Liouying, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Jian-An Su
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Medical Foundation, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan. .,School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. .,Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Chung-Ying Lin
- Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. .,Institute of Allied Health Sciences, Departments of Occupational Therapy and Public Health, and Biostatistics Consulting Center, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, 701401, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Amir H. Pakpour
- grid.118888.00000 0004 0414 7587Department of Nursing, School of Health and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden
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Karambelas GJ, Filia K, Byrne LK, Allott KA, Jayasinghe A, Cotton SM. A systematic review comparing caregiver burden and psychological functioning in caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorders. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:422. [PMID: 35733174 PMCID: PMC9219207 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-04069-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Informal primary caregivers provide crucial supports to loved ones experiencing serious mental illnesses with profound outcomes for the caregivers themselves. A comprehensive understanding of how different serious mental illnesses change the caregiving experience may provide important insight into the ways in which caregivers can be better supported in their role. The aim of this review was to synthesize the comparative literature examining caregiver burden and psychological functioning (anxiety, depression, distress, and psychological wellbeing) between caregivers of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. METHODS Studies were included if they compared caregivers across both diagnostic groups and used measures assessing either caregiver burden or psychological functioning of caregivers. Databases searched up until 11th of January 2022 included: Medline COMPLETE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL. Reference list scans and grey literature searches across government, organisational and dissertation databases were also conducted. RESULTS Twenty-eight studies comprising 6166 caregivers were included. Fourteen studies suggested that caregiving burden was comparable across both groups. The effects of caring on caregiver mental health and stress were comparable across both groups. However, methodological limitations were noted, including a reliance on cross-sectional studies, multiple and sometimes competing definitions of caregiving burden, variable sample sizes, and variation in measures used. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS The experience of providing care is multidimensional and complex. Symptoms and functional difficulties experienced by people being cared for may affect caregivers more so than diagnosis. Caregivers play a vital role in helping people with serious mental illness. Supporting caregivers by reducing their burden and improving their psychological functioning may help them to continue to provide support, and cope with, the challenges of providing care.
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Affiliation(s)
- George J. Karambelas
- grid.488501.00000 0004 8032 6923Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3052 Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia ,grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Kate Filia
- grid.488501.00000 0004 8032 6923Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3052 Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Linda K. Byrne
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Kelly A. Allott
- grid.488501.00000 0004 8032 6923Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3052 Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anuradhi Jayasinghe
- grid.1021.20000 0001 0526 7079School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia
| | - Sue M. Cotton
- grid.488501.00000 0004 8032 6923Orygen, 35 Poplar Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3052 Australia ,grid.1008.90000 0001 2179 088XCentre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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