A Descriptive Study to Assess the Level of Stress, Anxiety and Depression among Primary Caregivers of Patients with Psychotic Disorders at Selected Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Family members are the primary caregivers of individuals with mental illness and often employ various coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Mental health nurses play a vital role in assessing caregiver burden and identifying the support provided within hospital settings Objectives of the study: To identify the caregivers with stress, anxiety and depression and to associate stress, anxiety and depression with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A descriptive research design was adopted to carry out the study in the outpatient and inpatient departments of a selected tertiary care hospital. The target population comprised primary caregivers of individuals with mental illness. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS) was administered to evaluate the levels of psychological distress among caregivers. The collected data were systematically analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Results: The primary caregivers of individuals with psychotic disorders recorded a mean stress score of 18.38 (±1.27), an anxiety score of 16.08 (±0.96), and a depression score of 18.38 (±1.03). The analysis showed no significant association between selected demographic variables and the levels of stress and anxiety. However, depression was found to have a significant association with gender, family type, and monthly income, whereas no such relationship was observed with other demographic variables. Conclusion: The findings reveal the diverse levels of psychological burden experienced by caregivers and highlight the need for targeted mental health support