Summary
The pattern of burden in 90 families with a neurotic patient, 30 each with dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder was evaluated in this study. Burden was chiefly felt in four principal areas; financial burden, disruption of family routine, disruption of family leisure and family interactions. This pattern was similar among the three study groups. Analysis of problems perceived as burdensome demonstrated an increased concern among relatives regarding routine household matters, restricted leisure and ill effects of the patient's illness on the family atmosphere. Burden was significantly greater in cases of married patients, married relatives, housewives and employed patients. Such data, it is hoped, will help provide guidelines along which an enquiry into different aspects of burden can be conducted.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fadden G, Bebbington P, Kuipers L (1987) The burden of care: the impact of functional psychiatric illness on the patient's family. Br J Psychiatry 150:285–292
Doll N (1976) Family coping with the mentally ill: an unanticipated problem of deinstitutionalisation. Hosp Community Psychiatry 27:183–185
Hinchiffe MK, Hooper D, Roberts FJ (1978) The melancholy marriage. Wiley, Chichester
Nelson B, Collins J, Kreitman N, Troop J (1970) Neurosis and marital interaction: II. time-sharing and scoial activity. Br J Psychiatry 117:47–58
Collins J, Kreitman N, Nelson B, Troop J (1971) Neurosis and marital interaction: III family roles and functions. Br J Psychiatry 119:233–242
Mayamma MC, Sathyavathi K (1985) Disturbances in communication and marital disharmony in neurotics. Indian J Psychiatry 27:315–319
American Psychiatric Association (1980) Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 3rd edn. APA, Washington, DC
Pai S, Kapur RL (1980) The burden on the family of a psychiatric patient: development of an assessment scale. Br J Psychiatry 138:332–335
Gupta M, Giridhar C, Kulhara P (1991) Burden of care of neurotic patients: correlates and coping strategies in relatives. Indian J Soc Psychiatry 7:8–21
Pershad D, Verma SK, Malhotra AK (1985) Measurement of dysfunction and Dysfunction Analysis Questionnaire (DAQ). National Psychological Corporation, Agra
Kuipers L, Bebbington P (1985) Relatives as a resource in management of functional illness. Br J Psychiatry 147:465–470
Brown GW, Bone M, Dalison B, Wing JK (1966) Schizophrenia and social care. Oxford University Press, London
Grad J, Sainsbury P (1969) The effects that patients have on their families in a community care and a control psychiatric service: a two year follow up. Br J Psychiatry 114:265–278
Gibbons JS, Horn SH, Powell JH, Gibbons JL (1984) Schizophrenic patients and their families: a survey in a psychiatric service based on a DGH unit. Br J Psychiatry 144:70–77
Gautam S, Nijhawan M (1984) Burden on families of schizophrenia and chronic lung disease patients. Indian J Psychiatry 26:156–159
Sethi BB (1989) Family as a potent therapeutic force. Indian J Psychiatry 31:22–30
Sethi BB, Manchanda R (1978) Socio-economic, demographic and cultural correlates of psychiatric disorders with special reference to India. Indian J Psychiatry 20:199–211
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chakrabarti, S., Kulhara, P. & Verma, S.K. The pattern of burden in families of neurotic patients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 28, 172–177 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797319
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00797319