Abstract

Background: Caring for patients with schizophrenia is associated with considerable stress and can potentially predispose to, precipitate and perpetuate depression. This study assessed prevalence of depression and correlates among primary caregivers of outpatients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 244 caregivers whose age ranged between 18 and 64 years were recruited. Sociodemographic questionnaire and MINI-PlusDepression Module were used for data collection; the Psychotic Module was used to re-validate diagnosis of schizophrenia. Associations between caregivers’ sociodemographic variables and depression were tested using chi-square, while multivariate regression analysis was done to identify independent predictors.

Results: The prevalence of depression was 16%. A higher proportion of those who were separated, divorced or widowed (32.6%) had a diagnosis of depression than those who were single (12.1%) or married (10.6%) (χ2 = 10.687; df = 2; p = 0.005). Those who spent 36 hours or more per week in a caregiving role (32.8%) had more diagnoses of depression than those who spent less (10.0%) (χ2 = 18.297; df = 1; p = 0.001).
Diagnosis of depression was noted to be more in those who reported having had inadequate income (29.4%) compared to those who reported having had adequate income (12.4%) (χ2 = 8.654; df = 1; p = 0.003). Compared with those who reported being supported (12.6%), a higher proportion of those without support (26.2%) had a diagnosis of depression (χ2 = 6.358; df = 1; p = 0.012). Multivariate regression analyses revealed that spending 36 hours or more per week in a caregiving role (OR=2.66, 95%CI=1.04, 6.83, p=0.04) emerged as the only independent predictor of depression.

Conclusion: Prevalence of depression among caregivers of patients with schizophrenia is higher than in the general population and independently predicted by a more prolonged duration of time spent in caregiving. It is therefore pertinent to bear in mind that, aside from caring for patients, there is an increasing need for integrated caregiver support services, including provision of structured respite care.

Key words: Depression. Caregivers. Schizophrenia. Mental disorder. Nigeria.