Burden of care giving in primary care givers of alcoholic patients

Alcohol dependence is a highly disabling condition associated with high rates of medical and psychiatric co-morbidities. Having a family member with Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ADS) creates anticipated crisis and alters family patterns in ways that are stressful. Admission of such patients in General Hospital Psychiatry Unit (GHPU) subjects their Primary Care Giver (PCG) to immense stress and burden. Thus, there is a need to study the burden of caregiving, in order to plan timely intervention for the caregivers, as how they cope with this will influence the quality of care they render to the patient.  Objectives: To assess the burden on primary caregivers of ADS patients. To assess the effect of the sociodemographic profile of PCG on the perceived severity of caregiver burden. Methodology: In this study, sixty consecutive PCGs of ADS patients, were interviewed on the 3rd day of inpatient care in a GHPU for assessing their burden of caregiving. The socio-demographic details of the PCGs were collected using a semi-structured proforma. Primary care giver burden was assessed using Burden Assessment Schedule (BAS). Results: Women constituted 83.3% of the PCGs. 86.7% of the PCGs were married men and women of whom 83.3% of them were patients’ spouses. Majority of them were from nuclear families (83.3%). 55% of the PCGs experienced severe burden of caregiving. Being illiterate and having no formal education (42.4%) was associated with severe burden. Also, 60.6% of those having a low income experienced severe burden. Conclusions: It is important to address the burden and psychological stress experienced by the PCGs to help improve their state of well-being, and to aid them in better caregiving.