Burden on informal caregivers of people with schizophrenia: still a challenge for mental health care reform

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the concept of burden on family and informal caregivers, especially of people with schizophrenia. It is a polysemic concept, which refers to the relationship between adults, where the caregiver assumes a responsibility for the other they could not anticipate, which is not paid, where the subject of caring is disabled and cannot maintain reciprocal obligations, as it is socially expected in a relationship between adults. We differentiate the objective aspects (reduction of free time, attention and care, adverse health effects, economic costs, etc.) from the subjective aspects (emotional distress) of this burden. A few studies performed tend to show that it is a frequent and relevant problem that has become more evident during the process of psychiatric care reform, product of a more important role and greater empowerment of these informal caregivers. We reviewed the various factors related to the extent of this burden, emphasizing those related to health services and the importance of offering psycho-education, therapy and support to those who take care of these patients.