CAREGIVERS BURDEN OF PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL USE DISORDER: COMPARISON BETWEEN SPOUSE & OTHER CAREGIVERS

Abstract

Background: Caregivers are individuals who carry the responsibility for the physical and emotional needs of another, who is incapable of self-care. Burden is described by the presence of issues, difficulties, or adverse events which affect the lives of the psychiatric patient’s family  or friends in other words their caregivers. Identification of caregivers who are burdened by the caregiving experience is significant for the prevention of problems associated with caregiving especially in case of spouses. The Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), a well-known measure of care giving burden with a distinct domain structure is used to study burden of the caregivers of patients with alcohol use disorder. Purpose: Alcohol dependency is a "family disease." Alcohol dependence affects both the person & others around them in terms of jobs and social instability. The other aspects affecting the Family includes physical and emotional pain and financial strain that have a major effect on the lives o significant others. A significant research emphasis remains on the mental and physical health of caregivers, theirsocial support system, coping mechanisms, and levels of stress and burden. The purpose of this study is to analyse and compare the burden of patients with alcohol use disorder using CBI between spouses and other caregivers Methods: A total of 100 primary caregivers of patients with alcohol use disorder completed survey questionnaires. Caregiving burden was measured by the CBI. The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder was made in accordance to the DSM 5 criteria. Results: Severe Burden was seen in the spouse caregivers as compared to other relations. Conclusion: The findings provide evidence that spouse of patients with alcohol use disorder experienced severe burden as compared to others. Keywords: Alcohol use disorder, Caregivers, Zarit Burden Inventory, Severity of burden