Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

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Socio-Demographic Influences on the Level of Knowledge and Expressed Emotions among Caregivers of Persons with Schizophrenia


Affiliations
1 Department of Psyehiatry, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Soeial Welfare Offieer, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
     

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Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder often associated with disability and poor quality of life. In India, almost the persons with schizophrenia are living in their families, the family caregivers play a vital role and hence they are to be integrated within the treatment plan. So, it is inevitable that they need to have knowledge about illness, treatment and available support for etfective caring and management. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of socio-demographic factors on the level of knowledge about schizophrenia and expressed emotions among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. The family caregivers who were involved in taking care of persons with schizophrenia diagnosed falling under ICD -10 criteria. There were 120 samples, in all. The study employed a expost-facto research design, where 120 caregivers of persons with schizophrenia were selected using purposive sampling technique. Knowledge about Schizophrenia Interview (KASI) and Family Attitude Questionnaire (FAQ) were used for assessment. Findings indicate, except age and gender, other socio-demographic factors did not play much significant role in any of the dimensions of KASI such as in diagnosis, symptomatology, etiology, medication, course, prognosis and management of schizophrenia and found to have a higher scores in their critical comments, hostility, dissatisfaction and emotional over involvement and less score in warmth. Caring for a person with schizophrenia is highly challenging and it might result in a negative emotional atmosphere in the patient's family if they lack knowledge about schizophrenia.

Keywords

Schizophrenia, Caregivers, Knowledge about Schizophrenia, Expressed Emotions.
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  • Socio-Demographic Influences on the Level of Knowledge and Expressed Emotions among Caregivers of Persons with Schizophrenia

Abstract Views: 298  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

V. Jaikumar
Department of Psyehiatry, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
N. Prabhu
Department of Psyehiatry, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
C. Jayakrishnaveni
Department of Psyehiatry, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
M. Fatima Jessy
Soeial Welfare Offieer, Government Institute of Mental Health, Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder often associated with disability and poor quality of life. In India, almost the persons with schizophrenia are living in their families, the family caregivers play a vital role and hence they are to be integrated within the treatment plan. So, it is inevitable that they need to have knowledge about illness, treatment and available support for etfective caring and management. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of socio-demographic factors on the level of knowledge about schizophrenia and expressed emotions among caregivers of persons with schizophrenia. The family caregivers who were involved in taking care of persons with schizophrenia diagnosed falling under ICD -10 criteria. There were 120 samples, in all. The study employed a expost-facto research design, where 120 caregivers of persons with schizophrenia were selected using purposive sampling technique. Knowledge about Schizophrenia Interview (KASI) and Family Attitude Questionnaire (FAQ) were used for assessment. Findings indicate, except age and gender, other socio-demographic factors did not play much significant role in any of the dimensions of KASI such as in diagnosis, symptomatology, etiology, medication, course, prognosis and management of schizophrenia and found to have a higher scores in their critical comments, hostility, dissatisfaction and emotional over involvement and less score in warmth. Caring for a person with schizophrenia is highly challenging and it might result in a negative emotional atmosphere in the patient's family if they lack knowledge about schizophrenia.

Keywords


Schizophrenia, Caregivers, Knowledge about Schizophrenia, Expressed Emotions.

References