DOI: https://doi.org/10.53350/pjmhs221610652 ORIGINAL ARTICLE 652 P J M H S Vol. 16, No. 10, October, 2022 Impact and Burden on the Quality of Life of Primary Caregivers of Schizophrenic Patients Presented in Lahore General Hospital UMAIR 1 , SAJID ZAHEER 2 , MANSAB ASHFAQ 3 , RIZWAN FAROOQ 4 , GHULAM FARID 5 , RANA SIKANDAR IQBAL 6 1 Medical Officer, Punjab Medical Complex 2 Medical Officer, THQ Malakwal 3 Shalamar Medical and Dental College Lahore 4 Assistant Professor Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences PGMI /AMC / LGH, Lahore 5 Senior Librarian, Shalamar Medical & Dental College Lahore 6 Post Graduate Resident General Surgery, Lahore General Hospital Lahore Corresponding author: Dr. Rana Sikandar Iqbal, Email: sikandariqbal265@gmail.com ABSTRACT Background: Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that incapacitates & overpowers the way a person conceives, perceives, conjectures and executes his internal thoughts and reciprocates with the external world. It can also be defined as a persistent deficit in cognition with the negative and positive symptoms, which typically starts in young age. Schizophrenia is characterized by social and functional disabilities not only of the affected patient, but also for the society and the family. Therefore, the current research focused on the impact and burden on quality of life of the primary caregivers of schizophrenic patients. Aims & Objective: To determine the quality of life, predictors of QOL and caregiver burden among primary caretakers of patients having schizophrenia. Methods: The cross-sectional research design was used in the present study and was conducted in Lahore General Hospital from January 2022 to June 2022. Using purposive sampling technique, 150 patients who attended the Psychiatry outpatient department of the hospital were recruited for this study. Results: It shows that out of total 150 people, 98 (65.3%) males and 52 (34.7%) females were present in this study. Mostly parents 101(67.4%) were primary caregivers in the present population along with spouses 13(8.7%) and 26(17.4%) were real brothers/sisters. The frequency and percentage of son/daughter 3(2.2%) and 7 (4.3%) caregivers were with other relationships. Most of the caregivers 121(80.4%) were married, and 13(8.7%) were single. It also shows that the mean age of the male patients was 43.50 (14.73) years and mean age of the female was 48.91 (16.50). Family Burden Schedule interview identifies that financial burden has highest mean and effect on physical health of others has lowest mean. In WHOQOL-BREF physical, psychological and social health subscales has highest mean than environmental one. And that significant inverse relationship of financial burden has been found with social relationships, physical health and environment of caregivers. As financial burden increases environmental conditions, physical health and social relationships of caretakers decreases. Conclusion: Caregiver burden is found to be negatively linked to QOL of the caregivers of individuals having schizophrenia. Moreover, caregiver burden is found to be a significant negative predictor of QOL of individuals taking care of people having schizophrenia. Keywords: Schizophrenia, Quality of Life, Caregivers, Patient Welfare, Burden of Life INTRODUCTION Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disorder that incapacitates and overpowers the way a person conceives, perceives, conjectures and executes his internal thoughts and reciprocates with the external world 1 . It can also be defined as a persistent deficit in cognition with the negative and positive symptoms, which typically starts in young age 2, 3 . The clinical picture depends on the phase of life of the patient and includes Positive and Negative symptoms (hallucination, delusion, conceptual disorganization) and (blunt effect, lack of spontaneity, cognitive deficits, social & emotional withdrawal) respectively 4,5,6 . However, these symptoms vary drastically from one person to another. The cognitive deficit experienced by patients with schizophrenia serves as a predictor of occupational functioning and adherence to treatment 7 . The warning signs of schizophrenia include hostility or suspiciousness, inability to cry or express happiness, oversleeping or insomnia, expressionless gaze 8 , lack of awareness of personal hygiene, odd or irrational statements, inappropriate laughter or crying, forgetfulness, severe reaction to disapproval and failure to concentrate 9, 10 . According to ICD 10, schizophrenia is further differentiated into disorganized, paranoid, residual, catatonic, and undifferentiated types majorly depending upon the clinical presentation 11 . When the main etiological links are explored, the schizophrenia is found to be caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors 12, 13,14 . Schizophrenia is characterized by social and functional disabilities not only of the affected patient, but also for the society and the family. Over the decades, the care of schizophrenic patients has been moved from the hospitals to community, where family members provide the greater part of concern to these patients 15, 16 . In Pakistani culture, family is incorporated for the treatment of patient, living with them. When schizophrenic patient is admitted to hospital and is also suicidal or disturbed, family members were anticipated to perform the patient’s part and bear expenditure of the treatment, manage and treat the patient and involve the patient in significant rehabilitating activities. All these experiences put a significant amount of burden on caregivers and affect their quality of life. Research suggested that most of the primary caregivers experienced psychological morbidity due to their role of providing care. Therefore, the current research focussed on the burden and quality of life of the primary caregivers of schizophrenic patients. PATIENT & METHODS Research Design: The cross-sectional research design was used in the present study. Sampling Strategy: Purposive sampling strategy was used. This sampling strategy was used because of characteristics of caregivers who were coming with patients with schizophrenia in Psychiatry department indoor/outdoor facilities at Lahore General Hospital. Sample: The sample size of the current study was determined with the help of formula of sample size in proportion. Determined sample size was 96 rounded off to 100 with α= 0.5 and β= 0.95 with medium effect size. In the current study a total of 150 caregivers (98 men, 52 women) were taken from Lahore General Hospital Lahore to minimize the representative sample. Inclusion Criteria  Caregivers of patients with diagnosed psychiatric illness of schizophrenia, according to ICD 10 Criteria.  Caregivers of patients with schizophrenia who were above 18 to 60 years of age.