Risk factors for burden development of caregivers of people with mental disorders

Abstract

© Serbian Medical Society 2015. All rights reserved. Mental disorders have consequences on patient’s family. Caregiver burden represents the extent to which caregivers perceived their emotional, physical health, social life and financial status as a result of caring for their relative. There is a large number of factors which contribute to the development of caregiver burden. Factors related to patients are objective burden of care, and they are: the type of the disorder, symptoms, patient’s needs, current prognosis of the disorder and their behavior, which is an objective burden of care. Factors related to caregivers, which are subjective burden of caregiving, are: their personality, emotional status and subjective perception of nursing. The mediator variables are: family relationships, social support, coping strategies, socio-economic status, gender, health status, culture and other life events. This phenomenon can be avoided and it is necessary to work on the prevention of caregiver burden.