Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Psychopathology and subjective burden amongst primary caregivers of people with mental illness in South-Western Nigeria

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Most mentally ill persons reside with family members in sub-Saharan Africa with the primary caregiver having to cater for the patients’ needs. The burden of this care giving may be associated with psychopathology in the carer.

Aims

To examine the rate and correlates of psychopathology and subjective burden amongst primary caregivers of people with mental illness in South-Western Nigeria.

Method

Adult psychiatric outpatients (n = 338) from three centres were assessed for clinical and functioning status, while their adult primary caregivers (n = 338) were assessed for psychopathology (using the General Health Questionnaire-GHQ-12) and level of burden (using the Zarit’s caregiver burden scale-ZCBS).

Results

The mean caregivers’ GHQ-12 score was 3.11 (SD 2.57) and mean ZBCS score was 42.85 (SD = 19.31) with a significant correlation between the two (r = 0.638, P < 0.001). 118 (34.9%) caregivers had significant psychopathology and 205 (60.7%) had significant (moderate/severe) burden. The independent associate of psychopathology was poor patient functioning either measured objectively (OR 6.43, 95% CI 3.12–13.29) or subjectively perceived by the carers (OR 6.28, 95% CI 2.46–17.94). Caregivers burden was independently associated with patients’ poor functioning (OR 5.97, 95% CI 2.56–15.45), caregivers’ being employed (OR 5.40, 95% CI 3.02–9.64) and being male (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.50–4.59).

Conclusion

With the high level of psychopathology and burden amongst caregivers in this region, clinicians should be sensitive and review them periodically and to pick up signs of psychopathology which may necessitate attention. Caregivers should be encouraged to meet regularly to share their experiences and ventilate their emotions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Samele C, Manning N (2000) Level of caregiver burden among relatives of the mentally ill in South Verona. Eur Psychiatry 15:196–204

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Gutiérrez-Maldonado J, Alejandra C-U, Kavanagh DJ (2005) Burden of care and general health in families of patients with schizophrenia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 40:899–904

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ohaeri JU (2001) Caregiver burden and psychotic patients’ perception of social support in a Nigerian setting. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 36:86–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sefasi A, Crumlish N, Samalani P, Kinsella A, O’Callaghan E, Chilale H (2008) A little knowledge: caregiver burden in schizophrenia in Malawi. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 43:160–164

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Caqueo-Urízar A, Gutiérrez-Maldonado J (2006) Burden of care in families of patients with schizophrenia. Qual Life Res 15:719–724

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Awad AG, Voruganti LN (2008) The burden of schizophrenia on caregivers: a review. Pharmacoeconomics 26:149–162

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ukpong DI (2006) Demographic factors and clinical correlates of burden and distress in relatives of service users experiencing schizophrenia: a study from south-western Nigeria. Int J Ment Health Nurs 15:54–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Ohaeri JU, Fido AA (2001) The opinion of caregivers on aspects of schizophrenia and major affective disorders in a Nigerian setting. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 36:493–499

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martyns-Yellowe IS (1992) The burden of schizophrenia on the family. A study from Nigeria. Br J Psychiatry 161:779–788

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Yusuf J, Nuhu T (in press) Factors associated with emotional distress among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia in Katsina, Nigeria. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. doi: 10.1007/s00127-009.0166-6

  11. Sheehan DV, Lecrubier Y, Harnett-Sheehan K, Amorim P, Janavs J, Weiller E et al (1998) The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.): the development and validation of a structured diagnostic psychiatric interview. J Clin Psychiatry 59(Suppl 20):22–33

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Folstein MF, Folstein SE, McHugh PR (1975) “Mini-mental state”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res 12:189–198

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Overall JE, Gorham DK (1962) The Brief Psychiatry Rating Scale. Psychol Rep 10:799–812

    Google Scholar 

  14. American Psychiatric Association (1994) American psychiatric association diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edn. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  15. Goldberg D, Hiller VF (1979) A scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire. Psychol Med 9:139–145

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gureje O, Obikoya B (1990) The GHQ-12 as a screening tool in a primary care setting. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 24:276–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zarith SH, Reever KE, Bach-Peterson J (1980) Relatives of impaired elderly: correlates of feelings of burden. Gerontologist 20:649–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Roick C, Heider D, Bebbington PE, Angermeyer MC, Azorin JM, Brugha TS, Killian R (2007) Burden on caregivers of people with schizophrenia: comparison between Germany and Britain. Br J Psychiatry 190:333–338

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Magaña SM, Ramírez García JI, Hernández MG, Cortez R (2007) Psychological distress among Latino family caregivers of adults with schizophrenia: the roles of burden and stigma. Psychiatr Serv 58:378–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Awadalla AW, Ohaeri JU, Salih AA, Tawfiq AM (2005) Subjective quality of life of family caregivers of community living Sudanese psychiatric patients. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 40:755–763

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Medicine, Lagos State University, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

    Abiodun O. Adewuya

  2. Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

    Olugbenga A. Owoeye

  3. College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria

    Adebayo R. Erinfolami

Authors
  1. Abiodun O. Adewuya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olugbenga A. Owoeye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Adebayo R. Erinfolami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abiodun O. Adewuya.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adewuya, A.O., Owoeye, O.A. & Erinfolami, A.R. Psychopathology and subjective burden amongst primary caregivers of people with mental illness in South-Western Nigeria. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 46, 1251–1256 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0293-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-010-0293-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation