DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.034

Pages: 1199-1205

Caregivers experience a multidimensional range of problems, often associated with their care giving role. It is important to identify these areas of burden and provide necessary support. This cross sectional study was taken up to determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity and burden among primary care givers of mentally retarded (MR) subjects. Sixty diagnosed MR subjects and their primary care givers who met inclusion criteria were recruited in to the study. Primary care givers were assessed on Zarit Burden scale, GHQ-12, MINI, and Modified Kuppuswamy scale. Sociodemographic details were entered on intake proforma. Mental retardation was diagnosed as per ICD-10, IQ assessment was done as per Bhatia battery. Majority of primary care givers were mothers and expressed mild burden. The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity as per MINI was 28.6% (25% Depression, 2.4% Alcohol abuse and 1.2% GAD). As burden increased psychiatric morbidity also increased but the association was not significant (p value= 0.097557). 50% reported physical illness. There was statistically significant association between physical illness and burden (p value =0.00001). There was a negative correlation between care giver burden and IQ (p value=0.000169). There was a weak positive correlation between GHQ and burden (p value=0.752313). Medical services offered to mentally retarded should therefore move from individual to family level. Government should look in to need for starting interventions directed towards caregivers.