Psychosocial dimensions of family burden among two groups of carers looking after psychiatric patients

In this study we examined the relationship between level of family burden and extent of psychological distress among family members of 52 psychiatric patients. Our sample consisted of 31 chronic and 21 subchronic patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The paper focused on the influence of psychosocial factors, such as the sense of personal control and coping strategies upon the extent and the perception of burden. The carers of chronic patients more frequently used a passive way of coping with everyday problems. Passivity and variability on behalf of the carers were significantly correlated with areas of objective burden. Consistent with a stress-process model, we found that the factor of mastery correlated significantly with family burden and distress scores. The findings of the study are discussed in the context of community family interventions.