Some Demographic Variables of Chronic Psychiatric Patients and their Caregivers

H. Hayyawi, Ali; H. Razoki, Ali

	Some Demographic Variables of Chronic Psychiatric Patients and their Caregivers
IRAQI JOURNALOF COMMUNITY MEDICINE
Article 1, Volume 22, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 224-227
Authors
Ali H. Hayyawi; Ali H. Razoki
Abstract
Background: Social care services and relative caregivers constitute an important part of the supportive network around patients with chronic psychotic illness. Family intervention reduces relapse and admission rate, and improves compliance. Good family outcome is predicted by the period of hospitalization, level of education, gender, marital status, and the age at onset of psychosis. Objectives: To explore the effect of demographic variables of patients with psychotic and mental disorders on their relative caregivers. Methodology: A total number of (438) medical files of patients with chronic psychiatric and mental disorders were studied. Demographic data were collected about the patients in addition to data about social relationship of their family-members who care for them. Results: Males attended visits at a higher rate than females. There was no significant association between the social relationships of the family-members with the patient's educational level, while it was significantly associated with marital status of the patients. Conclusion: Patient's demographic characters play a role in determining the level of the family care. Better understanding is needed through further studies to enhance the relationship between the patients and their caregivers. Keywords: demographic variables psychiatric caregivers
Keywords
demographic variables psychiatric caregivers

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