Psychological distress among family caregivers of people with mental illness at Hyderabad, Pakistan

Muhammad Raza Memon; Manzoor Ali; Qasim Jamal Chachar; Bhaktawar Shaikh; Zuhaib Ahmed Qazi; Moin Ahmed Ansari

Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of psychological distress among caregivers of people with mental illness (PWMI).
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st Oct 2018 to 31st Mar 2019, at Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry, Hyderabad, Pakistan. Consecutive sampling technique was used to select 376 participants. Psychological distress among caregivers was evaluated by using the Urdu version of the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20). Descriptive statistics, binary and multinomial logistic regression analysis were employed.
Results: Out of 376 caregivers of PWMI, 299 (79.5%) were male and 208 (53.3%) were married. Mean age of caregivers was 39.10±10.38 years (range 18–58). High score of psychological distress were seen in caregivers of schizophrenia (68.7%, n=90), bipolar affective disorder (60.7%, n=51) and mental & behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance uses (66.2%, n=45)
Conclusion: Half of the caregivers suffered from psychological distress. Caregivers of mid-fifties and belonging to urban areas were susceptible to develop the psychological distress.

Key words: Psychological distress, caregiver, mental illness, psychiatric disorder, mental distress, Pakistan.

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