The Role of Psycho-education in Assessing Stress, Anxietyand Depression among Caregivers of Patients undergoingElectroconvulsive Therapy

Background: Psychiatric illnesses influence the entire relationship of a family unit.Caregivers provide useful contribution in maintaining the biological, physical, social, moral support.Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is proficient, non-pharmacological treatment that is implemented for the management of psychiatric illnesses.ECT is very common and famous treatment in many psychiatric hospitals of Pakistan and hundreds of ECTs sessions are conducted in a single day to treat thousands of patients with mental health illnesses.Unfortunately, many psychiatrics are not providing an adequate awareness regarding ECT procedure/ treatment to their care-givers/families which is resulted into stress, anxiety and depression in caregivers.Aim: To evaluate stress, anxiety and depression among caregivers of patients who are undergoing electroconvulsive therapy and highlight the importance of psycho-education of caregiver of patients who are undergoing for ECT. Methods: It was hospital based cross sectional study conducted at Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan. Sample of 35 individuals was chosen in the course of purposive sampling. They were acknowledged well regarding purpose of study. Each participant was interviewed at inpatient department of hospital facility. Interview was based on demographics and stress, anxiety and depression scale.Results: The research resulted into prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among the caregivers of patients undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy. Conclusion:The study suggests that caregivers played very important part in the management of mentally ill patients.Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can achieve miraculous progress in the recovery of serious mental patients if provided psycho-education to caregivers of patients who are undergoing for ECT.