Docs: Caregivers of schizophrenia patients need care

Noida: Caregivers and family members of schizophrenia patients undergo a lot of stress themselves and should have the right knowledge to manage them at home, doctors said.
“Some of the most common problems faced by the family members of schizophrenia patients are uncertainty, unpredictability, behavioural issues and often a feeling of anger, frustration, fear and stress,” said Dr Deepika Verma, a consultant psychiatrist at Max Super-speciality Hospital in Vaishali.
Around 30 lakh Indians are said to be suffering from schizophrenia, which is a debilitating mental illness that has significant impact not only on the patient but on the entire family as well. Despite being a relatively more common mental disorder that affects one in a hundred, an ailing family member poses a huge burden on the caregiver as well. “Having a relative with schizophrenia disorganises the family dynamics. Roles of each member are affected. Caregivers go through high levels of stress because they feel their capacities are overwhelmed or because the patient absorbs most of their time. This has a negative impact on them, such as uncertainty, unpredictability and stigma. They is also frustration, anger, fear, sadness and stress,” Dr Verma said.
The doctors said that in most cases, the families had little knowledge about the problem.
The word schizophrenia means a split mind, but the sufferers do not, in fact, have a split personality. They rather undergo a gradual or sudden breakdown and fail to distinguish between fantasy and reality, the doctors said. Many have mood swings without warning (lethargy to high excitement), while others suffer from sleep disturbance, neglect and even show despondency, which sometimes lead to suicide.
“Despite cultural diversity, the caregivers’ burden is a global issue in various parts of the world. So, the designing and implementation of family centred programmes are essential needs for the caregivers. Usually, the caregivers’ stress increases due to communication difficulties, lack of appropriate intervention, strategies for patient’s symptoms and financial problems,” the doctor said.