Factors associated with the overburden of male and female caregivers of psychiatric patients

Various studies have investigated the factors associated with the overburden of family caregivers of psychiatric patients. This research sought to identify the factors associated with overburden in groups of male and female caregivers, analyzed separately. Fifty people of each sex participated in the study of family caregivers of psychiatric patients who filled out the Family Overburden Interview Schedule and a standardized sociodemographic data questionnaire. The results showed that different factors were associated with overburden in male and female groups. In the female group, the predictors of a greater degree of overburden were: no children at home, greater number of people living with the family, the patient not performing activities outside the home, the presence of comorbidity and greater incidence of patient problematic behavior. For men, the associated variables were: the family caregiver member not living with the patient, having income, reporting illness resulting from the caregiver role, number of children of the family caregiver, the patient not having a single room at home, patient's age, physical illness and quantity of drugs taken by the patient. These results point to the need for differentiated strategies in the family interventions developed by the mental health services.