Psychiatric Illness Impact on Caregiver Burden

The World Health Organization (WHO) states caregiver burden as the “the emotional, physical, financial demands and responsibilities of an individual’s illness that are placed on the family members, friends, or other individuals involved with the individual outside the health care system [1].” Several studies have concluded that mental illness has negative consequences for caregivers and functional impairment in their daily activities. The study was to explore the impact of psychiatric illness on caregiver burden. The sample was collected from the clinical psychology department, Vinayaka Missions Medical College Hospital, Karaikal, during December 2023 to November 2024. It includes 210 samples based on stratified sampling techniques with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Analysis revealed that caregiver burden was higher among males, middle-aged groups, unmarried, widows, firstborns, LSES & MSES, spouses, education, at higher secondary level, daily wages, homemakers, nuclear families, and history of psychiatric illness in their family. The study concluded that caregivers have experienced a high level of stress in ADS, schizophrenia, BPAD, depression, and intellectual disabilities compared to other psychiatric illnesses.